Pictures of the Week -- Week 47

We had a nice time in Iowa & Illinois for our Thanksgiving vacation.  We were able to spend time with our family and some friends.  We ate (a LOT), played some football, watched some football, went to Michael's Fun World, played cards and watched movies.  It was a relaxing time.  We also did our Christmas exchange since we are staying in Colorado for Christmas this year.  The kids got spoiled like they usually do.  Thanks to everyone for the wonderful gifts!

Pictures of the Week -- Week 46

Mattea was on a cupstacking team with some friends from her school.  Her, Caitlin, Sami & Caleb practiced for a month and then participated in a tournament at Liberty Middle School.  They didn't take home a trophy, but they all did their best and that is what matters.  Mattea got totally into cupstacking... she was always practicing and even got some cups, a mat and a timer for her birthday this year!

Happy 7th Birthday, Mattea Marie!!!

Today, our sweet, lovable, sassy, smart and full-of-personality daughter turned SEVEN!  Mattea started off her day being serenaded by all of us singing Happy Birthday to her while she sat in her bed smiling from ear to ear!  We brought her breakfast in bed and gave her presents.  She was so easy to please... when I had asked her what she wanted for her birthday, she said "I don't know.  Anything... even a toothbrush!"  We didn't actually get her a toothbrush, but it was nice to know that she didn't feel that she needed much.  She even told me after she opened her presents that what made her the most happy was being with her family.  Awwwwwwww... what a sweet girl!

Mattea celebrated her birthday with her friends at Sweet & Sassy.  The girls got to pick out a costume, got their hair & makeup done and their fingernails painted.  They practiced walking the catwalk and then had a dance party.  After that, it was time for the runway show!  The girls totally rocked the runway.  They showed lots of personality and it was SO much fun to watch.  The party was such a huge hit with Mattea and her friends.  It was a very memorable birthday!!!

Pictures of the Week -- Week 45

Jeff took Mattea to the Girl Scout Father/Daughter dance.  We had a fun time picking out her dress... it was all about how well it twirled.  She found the perfect dress, we got her hair all curled and she was ready for her date.  Jeff & Mattea met up with Hannah & Hailey Robinson and their Dad, Rod, and Sami Gordanier and her Dad, Troy for dinner at TGI Friday's for dinner and then went to the dance.  They all had a great time!

Pictures of the Week -- Week 44

We got more snow!  This time, it caused a school cancellation and the kids were SOOOOO excited.  Alex was even excited enough to help shovel the driveway at 7am!  Cody enjoyed romping around in the snow and Indy was content to stay inside on his bed!!!

All of the neighbor kids ended up at our house for hot chocolate after playing in the snow for several hours.  Since it was lunch time, I fed them spaghetti, too.

Happy Halloween!

We had amazing weather for trick-or-treating this year.  After our first snowfall and some chilly temps, I was happy to see the temperatures rise as Monday grew closer.  For trick-or-treating, Alex was Cookie Monster, Josh was Facebook (laziest costume EVER) and Mattea was a rockin' pink pirate.  Some explanations are needed.  See below.

Alex begged me for this hat he saw at the store.  I told him his Dad would not let him out in public wearing it, but he insisted that he couldn't live without it.  I admitted that he looked cute, so I bought it.  It's a blue hat with eyeballs at the top.  He added a blue shirt with a duct-taped "C" on the front and "M" on the back and some blue shorts and called himself Cookie Monster... worked for me!

Every year since we have lived in Colorado, Josh wants to be a ninja or something like that.  So, we go out and buy him a costume and then the day of the Halloween party at school, he changes his mind and wants to be a football player.  This happened a couple years in a row.  This year, I told him that I wasn't going to buy him a costume since he would just end up being a football player anyway.  The day of the Halloween party, he decided he really didn't want to be a football player, so he borrowed a zombie costume from a neighbor.  Seriously.  When it came to trick-or-treat time, Josh grabbed a bag and left the house on his skateboard.  I asked him what he was dressed up as and he replied "I don't know.  Nothing, I guess."  Oh Joshie.  So, I explained that it's part of the fun to dress up and that he shouldn't expect to get any candy if he doesn't dress up.  So, he got a marker and wrote "Book" on his face.  Get it???  Facebook.  Bahahahahahaha.  Okay, I must admit, that is pretty funny... but a very lazy costume.  I guess he can get away with it since he's so darn cute!

Mattea was easy.  She wanted to be a Monster High girl which is basically this cute vampire looking girl.  It's all the rage, ya know.  I had purchased a daily deal for an online Halloween store, so I told Mattea that I would buy it from there.  Unfortunately, they didn't sell those costumes on that site.  But, Mattea was very flexible.  We found a "Rockin' Pink Pirate" costume that looked close to the Monster High girl costumes and Mattea was happy with it, so we ordered it.  When it arrived, she was ECSTATIC and put it on right away.  She looked more like a pirate than a vampire, but I was totally cool with that.  Whenever someone asked her if she was a pirate, she said "I'm a rockin' pink pirate".  She cracks me up!!!

We had a fun night trick-or-treating.  Alex had dinner with Jacob Kilburg, then did some trick-or-treating and ended up "working" the Kilburg's haunted house they set up in their garage.  Josh, Mattea and I trick-or-treated with Mattea's friends, Naomi & Giovanni, and the neighbors, John, Holden and Harlei.  The highlight of the night was trick-or-treating at Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker's house.  I was surprised to see Demaryius at the door handing out candy.  I went in for a high five.  I just HAD to.  Hope you had a spooky and fun Halloween!

Pictures of the Week -- Week 43

We had our first snow of the season before Halloween.  The kids had fun playing in the snow .  Mattea made snow angels and a snowman.  Indy doesn't seem to enjoy the snow as much as he used to!