Boo at the Zoo!

We took the kids to the Boo at the Zoo this year. This was Samuel's first experience to "trick-or-treat". I was unsure if he would actually wear the Elmo costume I bought for him. We talked about it on and off for weeks to prepare him. Yesterday he told us over and over that he didn't want to wear Elmo. We said that is fine but we were taking it with us just in case he changed his mind (we hoped so). Well, once we got to the zoo he put it right on after he saw all of the kids dressed up. The zoo had over 20 tables where the kids could trick-or-treat so after a few, he quickly got the hang of it and really enjoyed himself. We plan to go back again next year, too!

Here are the kiddos in their costumes...

 

Dear Samuel, Month 33

Dear Samuel,

You are turning into such a big boy these days! The biggest change this past month is that we started potty training! It's been almost 4 weeks now and you're doing great! You tell us when you need to go and can stay dry for quite a long time. Of course there are accidents here and there and you really haven't gone much but we know that will eventually come.  Your daddy & I are very proud of you and encouraged by how it's going so far.   

Whenever you take a bath and you had red socks on that day, you gently pick up the red fuzzies & say "Elmo's fur" and put the fuzzies on Elmo (he sits on the top of the toilet for every bath).

Lately you have started saying. "JUST A SECOND BABY!" You hear us say that when she starts to get fussy and so you are just repeating it. :) Your daddy  & I think it is pretty funny although we say Olivia's name and not baby. :)

One day I picked you up at Dawn's house and somehow you didn't have Elmo with you (he goes everywhere with you). As soon as we got to the car you were concerned and said "Oh, Elmo!". We went back inside and as soon as you saw Elmo you told him, "I'm sorry, Elmo."  It was so sweet. You were very apologetic.

You LOVE to play the Wii Sports! Your favorite games are baseball, bowling & golf.

 

You keep your daddy & I on our toes with your random sayings. We love you!

Love,

Mommy

Olivia playing

 

Olivia loves to play in her exersaucer! Whenever she plays, she likes to talk. In the beginning she is watching Samuel and in the end she gets fussy but the rest is one happy baby which makes mommy smile!

Dear Olivia, Month 5

Olivia,

Has it really been 5 months already?!?! Life is passing by at full speed these days. Work has been very busy lately so I feel like I'm running here & there & everywhere.  However, my most favorite time of each day is coming home to you and seeing your bright smiling face! It sure helps me unwind after constant busyness at work.  I love it when I first get home because Samuel is usually still napping and I get to spend some quality time with just you!

You have mastered eating carrots, sweet potatoes, and your most recent favorite - peas! You just started eating in the highchair which is so exciting. Your head barely is above the tray but you don't care...you love to eat and sit up. You will be sitting up on your own in no time at all!

One of your favorite things to do lately is to play in your exersaucer! You love to bounce & play with all the toys. You talk very loudly when you play with this (video to be posted soon).

I love this picture of you. It is a picture of you in your Great Great Grandfather's christening dress. I, too, wore this when I was your age.

Love,
Mommy

Olivia

Breckenridge

Every fall we do a day trip to somewhere in Colorado. Last year we went to Buena Vista and the year before that, Breckenridge. We enjoyed Breckenridge so much that we decided to go back this year & show Olivia how beautiful it is in the fall. It is so nice to live so close to amazing places like Breckenridge.  We wanted to go before the end of September this year so we could see more of the golden aspens before they were gone.

Once we arrived in town we strolled along Main Street and scoped out a place to eat. We decided on Quandary Grille and sat at a table that has spectacular views of Maggie Pond, the ski slopes of Breckenridge and a TV with College Football on (can't get too far away from the TV on a Saturday in the fall).  

After lunch we walked around Maggie Pond and Samuel enjoyed throwing rocks in it. Seriously we must have spent about an hour just walking around the pond. Once we successfully got Samuel to leave the pond and the rocks, we walked a bit more around town and found a cute little ice cream/coffee shop. 

 

 

On the way we drove through Hoosier Pass which is at the Continental Divide. I love the name of the pass...a little bit of Indiana here in Colorado. :)

Finally we just drove around town, came across an overlook spot and then left. It was a nice and relaxing fall day. The kids did great in the car. Olivia didn't make more than one peep the entire day in the car and Samuel enjoyed "Monsters" and "Cars".

Videos!

I'm a bit behind on uploading my videos. The first one is of Samuel counting before bedtime. He likes to count to 20. Of course, as soon as I got the video camera out he didn't want to count at all. He finally decided to count to 13 and then got distracted with a rock. Ah, the life of a 2 yr old...


Olivia rolling over! She is constantly rolling over these days. As soon as you put her on her back she almost instantly rolls to her stomach.

Here is of Samuel and his cousins (Kyra is next to him) from when Ben's family visited a month ago. Samuel enjoyed being the center of attention for a little bit.  

Here's an old one of Olivia talking which is just too darn cute not to put on here...