Birthday Weekend

Last weekend I went on a women's retreat with my friend Liza. I took Andon to his Hockey practice, but missed Devin's first wrestling meet :(  (they were at the same time, same day, different locations). After hockey practice I met Deon at Liza's house, passed the kids on to him and headed to the store for snacks and then Estes Park bound!
We got there just past lunch time and the second activity of the day was starting: I did Ukraine egg painting. It was fun, mine did not look like the one on the sheet, but I learned tips in case I ever do it again :)  We had free time after, Liza and I headed to do some window shopping, when we returned it was yoga time for an hour, we went on a mini hike instead. Then it was time for dinner. Dinner was good, followed by a sermon about the role our hands play in our lives. We changed partners and chatted with several different people.
Liza and I were the youngest, most were 50+. The best part of the weekend {besides the mountain views} was all the ladies thought we were college age kids and were surprised when I told them my age and the age of my kids! Liza too.
While I was there, I thought about my grandma a lot! I think it started when I first got there, it was sing-a-long time and they were singing a couple songs my grandma would sing in church. Then I got asked a question from the scavenger hunt about a childhood memory {paper doll cut outs at my grandma's house},  I just felt a connection with her over the weekend.
I woke up on my birthday in the mountains feeling refreshed! Liza treated me to Starbucks and more window shopping in Estes before the drive home.
Home for my birthday...The kids overfilled my 'cup' with gifts, I got cards with .36 cents because I am 36, a card with a heart that pops out, and a bracelet from para cord.  Deon is in the process of making a towel hook instead of a towel bar for the bathroom {it was on my wish list}. We went to dinner at Nordy's and picked up an ice cream cake at DQ!  I got birthday wishes from my mother-in-law, mom, sisters and BFF plus all the FB wishes.
Every year my birthday seems to get better and better despite the fact that I get older and older.

Happy Halloween

Trunk or Treat

With these skeletons

Straw bale Fun

Halloween day/evening: I went to school and helped with Kendall's party {I actually planned the party}. I got several comments on how well it was planned.  A little secret...I once wanted to be a party/wedding planner ;)

Snack center was ghost waters,

cheese cloth with ribbon and faces{don't mind the bad picture quality}

 Cuties that Kendall and I drew faces on-parents brought in crackers, cheese, pretzels, apple slices, ect.

 I made a spider web bean bag toss and a spider web weaveing center (paper plate with hole punches around the edges and gray yarn that was wove through the holes to make a web and then placed a spider ring in the center.

Halloween eve, The White's joined us, bringing enchiladas, I made tacos and bean with chips and avacado dip. We trick r treated and ate dinner together!
Atfer my morning hockey date {I get to take Andon to Hockey Sat.} I am heading to Estes Park for a relaxing Women's Retreat with Liza for the night!
Deon is taking Devin to a wrestling met Sat. morning same time as Andon's practice. That about sums up my weekend except for my Birthday on Sunday !

Hockey Saturday

Andon joined a new league for Hockey. He is now a Junior Eagles hockey player!

 He still wants to be a professional hockey player when he grows up and

 wants to be a goalie still. Coach rotated players and he got to be goalie several times during the game. He loved it and would pass up a Nintendo 3Ds for goalie pads!

Hockey is one of my new favorite sports to watch and I love watching this boy more than any other team sport!! 

Homemade goalie pads: these are swim "skate boards" with tape and straps cut to it. I love it!

Practicing in the garage with roller blades



Devin starts wrestling today, I am not a fan of that sport-but I will be Devin's biggest supporter and fan!

Catch up time...

Since my last post...We went to KS for a friend of ours wedding. Cody is a friend to both Deon and I, more so Deon since they were friends since elementary school. I met Cody at gatherings during high school and before that when our moms would get together with my aunt. Deon was a groomsman, the wedding was beautiful! Outside wedding at the park with the fall colors as the back drop, the weather was perfect!  Cody and Kim are so cute together-They are so happy together!
While there, I saw several of my friends from high school. I remeneced about the days we would meet out at Chad's farm, Jesse's garage/shop, and so many other memories!
I spent time with Sharon, brought her a latte and while I went up stairs, her dog managed to knock it over, tear it up and spill an almost full latte all over her white carpet!  I had taco shop of course and shopped with my mom-just us two!  Kendall and I got to see our BFFs Leigh and Georgia, we always loose track of time. Six hours later, we were still chatting, the kids were still playing and I got to snuggle baby Clare in the rocking chair while she fell asleep! Yey... I got my baby fix for now :)

Since back in Colorado:
Preschoolers went to the Farm for a hayride and pumpkins. The kids started gobbling like turkeys and these turkeys started fluffing feathers and gobbling back-halieriuous!

 Over the weekend, I took Devin up camping by Red Feathers Lake. We headed up after work and found our way! The camper we were staying in was not at the camp ground, cell service was not so good, so we decided to park by some others in our group and sleep in the car. We got everything set up, ready for bed and begain a few rounds of Blink. When we heard knocks on the window...it was Janet! We decided to follow her to the camper.

 The next morning we headed to the scout Haunted Weekend. Devin and Myles painted a tie slide and we hiked to the graveyard.

Lunch after the hike and then BB shooting, Archery playing at the wooden ship, meeting up with Andon(he had hockey and came up later), wrist rocket and pellet shooting. Deon left and the kids and I carved pumpkins, had dinner, did the costume party and haunted house. We headed home after being careful of deer & bears on the road. The guy told me to be on the look out for them since the fire this summer, more animals are lost and confused as to where they should be :(

Sunday: Deon and Wes went riding and the kids and I headed to the pumpkin patch.

Hunting for the perfect pumpkins.

We spent close to two hours searching{plus another 2 going on a hay ride and playing}...



giving Wagon rides{over the trench and back again, these are the things boys love}...

 Finding the perfect pumpkin...Big and

small...

and meeting friends!

Taking their little sister on a ride and going in the trench with the wagon...

Little Sis decided she does not like going in the trench and hopes on with William {her friend}

Pumpkin fort hiding

While the kids were playing, under Liza's supervision, I picked over 2 lbs of peppers for Deon. We all loaded up and headed to my house for coffee and pizza. On the way home I rubbed my eye and thought I was going to need to call Liza to drive us home! My eye was burning BAD from those peppers! I was driving one-eyed with a tissue on the other. All is good, I still have my vision..Lol

More fall colors

Deon and Andon spent Sunday hiking together with cub scouts. Andon's den went on the hike.

Water crossing

 Andon took this photo plus many others for his photography belt loop

 It was an awesome day out!

Perfect for Dad and Andon time together

Light house tower

While these two were hiking, the rest of our crew was selling popcorn at King Soopers! I had a great sales lady (Kendall) helping the boys sell popcorn!
I will be back at it again this weekend while Andon and dad are at hockey try outs...wish Andon luck!

My favorite time of the Year

Fall colors, Pumpkin spice lattes, Stews, Chili, hoodies

Fall colors weekend:
Last minute we decided to head to Estes Park, I booked a hotel at the Rocky Mountain Park Inn (aka Holiday Inn) The kids love the pool there!
We headed up Friday after work first thing -the kids swam!  I stayed in the room with Dixie :) while Deon took the kids to the pool. Then I  headed down to trade, since Dixie was not barking, we both stayed and hot tubbed -the pool was too cold therefore the hot tub was a bit crowded.
Saturday morning the kids swam again! I packed up and loaded the car then we stopped at coffee shop where I got my pumpkin spice latte...Perfect for the drive up the mountain! We entered  RMNP!

 

Hidden Valley {picture stop} The boys REALLY hate pictures :/

 Family Picture {some lady volunteered to take it}

 The top of RMNP...up in the tundra zone! My three babies...so different.

Pit stop on the way down...

climbing around

Views out the window!

A great weekend get-a-way! Apparently I needed one...when I called to reserve a room, the lady asked how many and the ages of kids...I replied 3 kids ages 6, 8, 10...she said wow you need a vacation!  Yes lady I did need a vacation!!
Sunday was Coltons baptism brunch at Janesas!! The kids had a BLAST! So did I :)

Food for thought...

Why do my children choose expensive sports...? Hockey and gear is not cheep, Horse riding (a horse is costly) and gymastics.  Rec soccer or football would be more in my budget...lol

hosre lessons with a borrowed horse(he would love his own horse and Deon wouldn't mind a horse either)

Kendall did gymastics when she was 3 and has wanted to return. I am hoping to get her back SOON!

 Just look at her...she is a natural(that is her with her toes to bar)

 She cart wheels her way around the house instead if walking and cross fits with her daddy-in am sure she is stronger then me..lol