December was a very busy month...dance recitals, Christmas parties, birthdays and Christmas!

Quinn's "holiday showcase" at Dance class was fun.  The girls got to pick their outfits and dance for the parents,

  

We stayed a weekend downtown Denver to see the lights and attend several Christmas parties.

Denver City and County building

The girls dressed up to attend a holiday party.

Off to dinner with Grandma & Papa while Mom and Dad go to another party

Addison's birthday celebration at school!

Taking pictures at the neighbors barn

Quinn and her American Girl dolls

Addison's new soccer net!  

Should have put it together outside!

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!