Halloween 2011

Happy Halloween!

On Monday, I only worked half the day so I could spend Halloween with the kiddos!  When I got home from work we had some lunch and then changed into their costumes so we could head to Pearl Street to go trick-or-treating with Nana...

 Eli HATED the hood to his monkey costume and would scream when I put it on!  So I never did get that cute "Halloween" picture of both my kids - heartbreaking I know!

Oh well, there is always next year...

 Tinkerbell riding her bike around...

 We spent the afternoon Trick-or-Treating on Pearl Street mall which they specially do for the little kids.  The weather was beautiful, so it was a nice afternoon to spend at the mall.  I couldn't believe how every store/restaurant participated - BJ's Brewery even gave small samples of beer for adults and homemade cookies for the kids!

They also had craft tables set up, games and other activities throughout the mall for the kids to enjoy.  Ashtyn loved it and got TONS of candy!

 That is a HUGE bowl of candy...

 Again, Eli didn't care for trick-or-treating and just wanted to play at the rock park.  So while Nana took Ashtyn up and down the mall, Eli and I played on the rocks...

Whatever makes the Monkey happy!

 He loves walking or now running across this bridge - over, and over, and over again!

 He finally pooped himself out!

 This is my ONLY picture of the two of them in their Halloween costumes - not exactly what I was hoping for, but it will do!  It has too...

 I needed my Halloween treat, so we rounded out the afternoon at Starbucks!

...and then headed home for dinner and MORE Trick-or-Treating!

This year we went trick-or-treating with the neighbors - Sarah, Todd, Carlin and Louie.  I have to say this was the best part of the day.  First off we always have fun with them, it was very laid back, the weather could not have been more perfect, and the neighborhood was very "happening". 

It felt like the good ol' days of trick-or-treating!

 They all enjoyed themselves running or "flying" as Tinkerbell did from one house to the next.

I was impressed with all the decorating of the homes and the treats people were giving out - full candy bars even!

 Eli even got into the spirit!

 Carlin was Spiderman!

 Louie was a Dragon!

 Carlin cracked us up when he was at the door.  He would not only take candy for himself, but also explain to the person handing out candy he needed some for his big brother Wiley and his little brother Louie - the kid totally made out with Candy!  I just wonder if he actually gave his brothers their share?

Oh, Carlin - you will be such a good business man when you grow up!

 Eli is always trying to kiss Louie and Louie always pushes him away,

maybe they can just HUG?

After about an hour we headed back home and while the kids dumped out their bags of candy and played, us adults enjoyed some beers and conversation.

I LOVE our neighbors and our neighborhood - we enjoyed our Halloween Evening for sure!

First Phrase...

So Eli babbles constantly and most of what he says is totally non comprehendable until this weekend.  Eli said his first phrase...

"Look at that!"

over and over and over and over again!

At first I thought I was just hearing things, but then when everyone else heard the same thing I made it his official "first phrase".  Eli is talking way before Ashtyn - she was so quiet and still is, but not my boy!  He is a talker!  Some of the other words he is saying are:

"See"

"Up me"

"Me"

"Puppy"

"Daddy"

"Ma"

(I get a "Ma" and Matt gets a sweet "daddy")

"Drink it"

He is growing up way to fast!

Halloween FUN!

We have been celebrating Halloween since Last Friday!  It all started with Ashtyn's Preschool Party and then afterwards we headed to Nana's to make our Annual Halloween Cookies to give away to our family and friends.

 This year was little rough - Ashtyn was only interested in the activity for maybe a half hour and then just wanted to play, and Eli was well, ELI!  He has an attention span for one second, so in between decorating a couple dozen cookies and constantly following Eli around or finding something for him do it was an EXHAUSTING, LONG afternoon!  But for the 30 minutes they did enjoy cookie making I was able to capture the moment nicely...

 Ashtyn is very PRECISE when it comes to her decorating.  She would put each sprinkle on one at a time...

 Here is Eli's attempt at decorating...

 Started off pretty good - he actually put a sprinkle on the cookie...

 but after that (I think he got a taste of the icing) it was all over from there, and he starting licking the icing right off the cookie...

 YEP! That's my boy - licking the cookie...

 YUMMY!  Even up the nose...

 I think he was quite proud of his accomplishment to totally lick all the frosting off the cookie and make a complete mess!  The boy seriously drives me crazy sometimes - I don't think he is quite ready for cookie making!  The cookies did turn out very cute and we wrapped them up to give away.  After the afternoon I had, I headed straight to Starbucks for an afternoon snack, while my babies took a nap - Whew!

On Saturday the Halloween Fun continued.  We met The Harms family up in Longmont for a Halloween Parade and lunch.  The weather was fantastic so we enjoyed being outside, in our costumes and having fun with our friends.

 Sweet Payton was a little Ladybug...

 Eli having a snack while watching the parade...

 Miss. Diva Ashtyn!

 After the parade they let the kids trick-or-treat down Main Street - which Ashtyn LOVED!

She knew exactly what to do this year...

 Payton and Eli could have cared less about the trick-or-treating...maybe next year!

 After trick-or-treating we headed to the Pump House for lunch.  It was so nice to sit down and some what "relax" - with three kids it's never easy to eat out, but we still managed to enjoy our meal!

I loved our Halloween outing with our friends and especially the Fall weather!

Then it was off to home for NAPS!

It was an exhausting weekend - but great memories were made!