A Lazy Sunday

Yesterday we spent the day being lazy.  Jon and the girls carved a few pumpkins while I did some work.  They decorated the house for Halloween and spent the day enjoying the sunshine!

Pre-Halloween Party

On Saturday we went to a children's party at the golf club.  It was so fun to get them in their costumes and have a fun night.  The club had a haunted house, hay rides, a magician, and crafts for the kids.  The staff were all dressed up and it was so much fun for all ages.  

Resting before the party

Such a ham

We didn't quite have the wig right but we figured it out

She laughed all night, never a dull moment with Quinn

Gunner was having none of the picture taking.  

Steamboat

The girls had a few days off in the middle of October so we decided to take the long weekend and go to Steamboat Springs, CO.  It is a mountain town about 2 1/2 hours from us.  It is beautiful.  Some friends of ours were also there so the girls had a great time and we got to enjoy a quiet weekend.

The Big Easy!

Jon and I were able to get away for a few earlier this month.  Jon had a conference in New Orleans and I joined him for 2 days.  We had not been there since Jon lived there in 2002 so it was fun for us to go back.  I understand why they call it the Big Easy, no one is in any hurry and everything moves at a very "easy" pace!  Needless to say we had a great time exploring the French Quarter and eating such wonderful food!

This place was AWESOME, they make hand made gas lamps that run off propane.  They are copper and Jon watched a buy make them in the back-room the day before I got there.  You see these all over the city.

We watched this guy sing and play the trumpet for quite a while.  He was talking to people walking down the street.  He had an amazing voice and could be heard from several blocks away.  Quite the character!

Jon outside Jackson Square

Cafe Du Monde - a staple in the French Quarter for Chickory Coffee and Beignets

Buildings in the French Quarter - notice the gas lamps, they burn all day and all night

Tour wagon through the French Quarter

The famous Bourbon Street!  It was not my favorite as it is much more touristy...

Preservation Hall is another historical site.  Of course you can see the Pat O'Brien's sign just down the street.  We stopped in and had a drink although it was not a famous Hurricane!

  

Addison & the Mile Run

As most of you know from my posts our girls go to a great local montessori school not far from our home.  The school has been around since the 70s and has grown over the years.  They have quite a few traditions for each grade as they move through the school.  For the lower elementary (1st-3rd) every year they do a Mile Run.  All the parents attend and cheer on the kids as they make a loop around one of the many parks in Evergreen.  Of course they all love the popsicles at the end as well.  Addison did fantastic this year and had a lot of fun.

Before the run

Quinn

Quinn got to go on several field trips in September.  The first is an annual trip that her class makes to an Open Space park not far from the school.  They hike and have a snack...very fun.  She had a great time with her class.

It is MSE's tradition that all kindergartners go on a Night Hike.  Parents are not allowed to go on this hike with the kids, only teachers and school faculty.  We drop them off at 5pm and pick them up at 8pm.  They hike at a near by park and have hot cocoa and cookies.  She was a little nervous but ended up having a great time.

September Wildlife

September is always a great time in Colorado.  We are so lucky to live where we do and some of the benefits are the abundance of wildlife that venture through our neighborhood this time of year.  The elk camped out for several weeks, wallowing in our stream and keeping us up bugling at night.  

One visitor that we do not see very often although we do see their trail are the bears.  This year we have seen quite a few wondering around our neighborhood but this guy was by far the largest.  He came wondering through our property one evening about sunset.  He was pretty fun to watch...