Back to the Halloween Festivities

After we got back from Florida it was right back to the Halloween fun. Thursday evening we made some cookies to decorate on Friday. The girls had a good time with the cookie cutters - Brooklynn did the cutting while Chandler ate the cookie dough. After cookie making we started with the pumpkin carving. Here's Brooklynn cleaning out the guts - she refused to stick her hands inside the pumpkin. She was excited about the pumpkin for a few minutes before she was side-tracked.

Daddy doing all the work while the girls check it out

Pumpkin #1 done!

Friday morning the Hepp girls and J.D. and Steph came over to decorate the cookies we made. First the girls cut out more cookies.

Then onto the decorating! Too bad their attention span is about 2 cookies at this age. That left us adults with lots to decorate.

Friday night we went to grandpa's house for dinner and to carve another pumpkin. This time it was mommy who did all the work (although the pics show otherwise).

Pumpkin #2 done! (It's a cat - mom is definitely not the pro like dad)

Chandler checking it out while Brooklynn guards our work of art

More Florida

We arrived in Clearwater on Saturday and stayed with my grandparents for a night. We decided we'd try the beach on Sunday for a couple hours, which turned into many hours of fun. The girls loved it. Chandler loved eating the sand and seashells, and Brooklynn enjoyed swimming, building lakes and sandcastles, and burying daddy. We ended up going back to the beach the next day since we had such a good time. You really have to soak up as much of the beach as possible when you live in Colorado!

The girls actually playing togetherBeach Bum (you can actually see the sand on her face - by the end of the day she was covered in sand)

After 2 full days of sun and the beach we decided we needed to take a break. I don't know whether it was Chandler's bleeding booty (I guess that's what happens when you're pooping sand) or our back sunburns. We spent Tuesday hanging out at the pool at our condo and then had a yummy dinner with great grandma & grandpa.

Chandler sitting in my great great great grandmother's chair

Group shot

Wednesday our flight didn't leave until late afternoon, so we thought we'd break up the drive from Tampa to Orlando with a day at SeaWorld. We survived the 90 degree with 90% humidity. We had a good time and felt right in with the rest of the tourists.

The girls watching the dolphins underwater

Checking out Shamu

The girls seemed to like SeaWorld, but the heat really took its toll on them. When we got home Brooklynn was obsessed with her stuffed whales and put on "shows" for us that were hilarious.

The flight home was long and a little strange. We really thought tiring the girls out all day would be a sure bet for an airplane nap, but nope. No naps at all! Someone once told me, "Don't worry...you'll never see those people again." So thanks Aunt Peg - I thought of that through the entire flight.

Overall we had a great trip - lots of quality time with great grandparents! The girls did such a good job being flexible with all the outings and different beds. Now I feel more confident in planning more trips in the future but am looking forward to those no-kid trips!

To Sunny Florida we go...Part 1

On Tuesday we left for sunny Florida to visit grandparents and enjoy some nice weather (even though it's been so beautiful this fall in Colorado). The kids were great on the airplane. Who knew how wonderful a portable DVD player with endless Dora videos could be? After a long 2 hour drive to Dunnellon we finally arrived at our condo. The next morning we headed to Rainbow Springs Park, which is always one of our favorite spots. The river is crystal clear and is a constant 72 degrees.

Steve and Brooklynn dipping their feet into the swimming area

One of the many beautiful waterfalls

Chandler enjoying looking over the bridge

Thursday we went to Homosassa Springs Park with grandma. Again, one of our favorite spots! They have manatees, a panther, hippo, and lots of gators! They have some great educational programs. This one had a possum and gator. The poor lady holding the possum was getting scratched up the entire program and it hurt just watching here. Here's Brooklynn petting one of the baby gators. Even mommy petted the little guy.

Brooklynn the manatee

Aren't they so cute?

They have a boat to take you from the visitors' center to the main park, so we had to check it out. Unfortunately no gators to see on the river but lots of turtles and birds. Chandler took a nice nap in the stroller.

On Saturday we walked to grandma's friends' house to introduce the girls and they offered to let us take their pontoon boat out on the river. We even convinced grandma to come along for the ride. Again no gators (although Steve did see one off grandma's deck) but a nice ride. Of course Chandler slept again!

Brooklynn helping daddy drive - she was not wanting to help!

Steve and grandma - they're so cute!

Group shot

It was sad to say goodbye to grandma - we had so much fun and the girls just adore their great grandma! Now we're off to Clearwater to visit my grandparents and visit the beach!

Chandler walking update - she's standing on her own even better now but no official steps. We really thought it'd come on this trip! We'll see..................

More Fall Fun

Another weekend of beautiful weather and fun fall festivities. Saturday we had some good friends over for breakfast before heading to the pumpkin patch. We had a great time picking out the perfect pumpkin and then playing at the patch.

At breakfast we had our first "kids' table". They were so cute and did a great job eating by thenmselves. Jackson discussing the size and shape of the "perfect pumpkin" as she listens intensely
Looking around for Jackson to help her with that choice

How to test a pumpkin - if it's bigger than your head it's good!

Well we got them all to sit together - that's good enough, right?

On Sunday mom brought Kenz up, and we went to Longmont to Sunflower Farm for a girls day(my new favorite place). Steve had to work.....bummer! The kids had a blast feeding animals, riding ponies, swinging on everything!

Brooklynn had to feed the goats one kernel at a time - the goats were not happy with her and attempted to eat her hair at one point.

Brooklynn riding her pony "Cookie". I thought she would be too scared, but she loved it and rode the pony all by herself.

Even Chandler loved the pony!

Kenz on the zip line

They had a great time in the corn kernel barn. What a great idea!
Grandma and the girls on the hayride

Cousins!

Baby Lanning will be here soon!

Steve's cousin, Damon, and his wife Shari are expecting their first bambino in December, so we had a little manly shower for them. Although Shari is over on the island (St. Kitts), she was able to webcam and be a part of the shower. We're so bummed they'll be so far away, but we're excited for them as they embark on this new journey.

Everyone enjoying the "manly" snacks

Playing the "manly" games
Of course Brooklynn had to assist in the present-opening. You can see Shari on the laptop anxiously waiting to see the gifts!

Of course no party is complete unless a Wesling is hitting the bottle.

Halloween Festivities have Begun!

Halloween has always been one of my favorite holidays (even though we always seem to be out of town for it), but now with kids it's that much better! We started the Halloween season last weekend with a visit to Old Town Arvada for the "Festival of Scarecrows". Brooklynn got to wear her princess costume, so she was stoked!

Being silly with grandma & grandpa

Brooklynn walking the parade with daddy

On deck we have a couple pumpkin patches, pumpkin carving, Boo at the Zoo, and of course trick-or-treating. Wow!

October is Finally Here!

Last weekend we wanted to go somewhere new, so we packed up the kids and drove out to Hudson to visit the Wildlife Animal Sanctuary. They take animals that have been neglected or abused including tigers, lions, bears, and wolves. It was really cool to see the animals so close but sad to hear the stories of these animals. I can't believe people think they can have these animals as pets and then leave them when they grow too large. There is a walkway that you just walk right over the tigers - a little scary for a mom! Brooklynn watching the tigers play in the pools and pace back and forth

On Saturday we took the kids to book club at the Deegans. Kids at a book club = horrible idea! Only a few of them even slept. Here's Chandler ready to discuss "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo".

On Sunday we went to dinner at mom's. It's always fun to see Chandler and Braelynn play. As they get older they're getting much better at it. Of course Chandler is the bully always stealing Braelynn's pacifier.