October

We had a beautiful and warm October! There was one snow storm, but we had already done the pumpkin patch when it hit.  Halloween night was super warm, the kids went out in their costumes and didn't even need coats or jackets, it was that nice!!  We had the usual get together at my house with my sister's family, but we also invited the Whitaker's to come on over this year.  It was a fun addition!! We ordered pizza and then went trick or treating.  Russ and Robbie stayed at the house to hand out the candy and the rest of us went out with the kids.  Lindsey was a cowgirl and Taylor was a puppy for Halloween this year.  (I'm hoping my sister took pictures, because I sure didn't)  Some day!!!

Alli and Lindsey-best buds 

Cute Kenna!

Nick and Tanner

The pumpkins that Russ carved out for the girls. Can you guess which one Lindsey wanted??

The girls and their pumpkins-Lindsey deciding that she is going to start posing for the camera. Silly girl!!

My mom wanted to see the kids in their costumes on Halloween morning, since she would be working that night and not able to see them. So, we got together at Katie's house and grandma brought fun doughnuts for the kids.   

Pre-K

Lindsey started Pre-K in August and is loving it!! (Except for the mean boy, Mason in her class) She goes to TLC Preschool at the Good Shepard Methodist Church. Her teacher is Mrs. McDonald and she adores her.  One of her best buds, Tanner, is in her class.  At the beginning of the school year, they weren't really that great of friends, but that has changed now that it is December.  They are always wanting to have play dates, Lindsey claims that Tanner is her "boyfriend," and they have talked about marriage in the quick car rides to and from.  They are too funny! 

Camping!

I didn't take a whole lot of pictures on our camping trip, but we had so much fun.  Maybe not Russ, because he really doesn't enjoy camping with kids, but the rest of us had fun.  :)  Mid August, we went to Mueller State Park, outside of Colorado Springs.  Katie and Brian went here last year and had a great time, so we decided to all do it together this past summer.  Mueller State Park is the best place to go camping with families, they have a playground, showers, a sink to wash dishes, flush toilets, etc.  

On the way up to go camping, we stopped at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. Once again, no pictures, but such an awesome zoo. I really want to go back there again sometime, it was such a cool zoo. Then, we drove up to our campsites and packed everything in a few hundred feet.  We had three vehicles LOADED for 2 nights!! Yep, we are awesome like that! I think overall it was a success. It did rain everyday, sometimes were worse then other times. But, we managed to stay mostly dry and still have fun.  

Makenna and Taylor playing in the tent 

Russ and Taylor getting ready to hike, we were just starting so they are both happy.  Not too much longer, both not so happy.  Lindsey almost drove us all crazy!! Let's just say she is not much of a hiker..... 

Just getting started, so far, so good!

Towards the middle/end, taking a little break.  The "BIG" girls (Alli and Lindsey) are being carried in the carriers at this point.  

Random pictures from early August

I really should blog as the month goes by, because I really don't remember much. Darn it!! Katie and I took the kids to the "Pirate splash park" (Peter Pan theme). It was super, crazy, ridiculously busy with daycares/day camps galore!! So, I only got one picture at the very beginning before the crowds came. 

We ended up getting a little rain this summer, not much, just a little.  The girls would get so excited when it rained, that they HAD to go out and play or at least Taylor did.  So once again, here she is in her diaper, coat, and snow boots!! Such a crazy and silly girl!!

We went and had lunch with my mom one day in early August.  We decided to walk down Old Wadsworth to check out a new, potential place to eat.  We saw these cute chairs and so did the girls, so we had to snap a few pictures.  

Taylor had some candy in her pocket, so she had to get a "special treat" before she could focus on smiling for the camera.

I guess it was a little difficult to get a picture of the two of them! 

Royal Gorge Trip

At the end of July, we went to the Royal Gorge with Russ' family.  We stayed at a VRBO (vacation rental by owner) home in the mountains in Florence, CO.  It was such a great time with the whole Moses family!! 

We drove down on a Sunday (we couldn't leave Saturday, because I HAD to go to the Tim McGraw/Kenny Chesney concert-which was a blast!!)  :)  So, we checked into our home that afternoon and got settled.  We ate dinner and enjoyed time together as a family. Then, on Monday all of the grown up kids left to go rafting!  We originally were booked for a super boring trip and the owners told us that we would probably enjoy rafting the royal gorge bridge so much more.  I'm so glad they talked to us, I think we would have been a little bored on the very family friendly route. My in-laws were awesome and took the little kids on the royal gorge train while we hung-out, played and rafted all day! 

Ethan, Rayann, Trevor and Russ getting ready for our "first" trip-no helmet required, little bit of a problem!!!

The four brothers-Kelon, Russ, Ethan and Trevor. They have a little too much fun together!!

Once we realized we had signed up for the wrong rafting trip, we decided to go and check out the Royal Gorge.  Here we are on the bridge looking down on the train that the little ones were on.

A view of the bridge, so incredible!!

Pre-pregnancy, I might have been a little stupid and was talked into doing this crazy swing thing! Russ and I did it together....they pull you up about 100ft into the air and then you have to pull the ripcord (which Russ made me pull, I wasn't too happy about that!!)  Here we are waiting our turn. I look happy, but I was really FREAKING out!!!

Here we are being pulled up.......

And yes, I managed (somehow) to pull the ripcord. I literally hung onto Russ the whole time and screamed. It was so scary, I'm not a big fan of heights, especially at this level.  

We were slowing down, so I think I was able to let one arm go, but I wasn't happy about doing it. Russ made me.  :)

A picture of the adult kids on the bridge

Russ and I

Looking down, yep not a big fan of heights!!

The next day, the boys went golfing and the rest of us went back to the Royal Gorge and explored  with the kids this time.  Lindsey LOVED the carousel!!

Grandma and Grandpa with their girls!!

Taylor in heaven at the petting zoo

Cute Lindsey!

Trevor's daughter Ashlyn with Taylor, looking at the goats

Lindsey in heaven riding a mule (she was happy to ride something similar to a horse)

Silly, crazy eyed Taylor!!

Grandpa and Ashlyn

The house we stayed at had some beautiful views.  We really enjoyed eating out on the deck, until it got too windy.

Ashyln and naked Taylor hugging, they are "frenimies"

Russ "Mr. Cool" enjoying the mountain air

Cutie pie Taylor!!

We had a great trip! We did lots of fun stuff, but it was also nice to just hang-out together! After the kids went to bed at night, we played games, laughed and ate lots of junk food!! Thanks Shalia and Lance, we will have to plan another family outing!!