Halloween week: Spooky parties, Halloween games, good times

We had a fabulous 2 weeks of Halloween.

The party. never. stopped.

Parties galore: class, neighbor, friends, church...

corn mazes, sugar cookies, haunted houses, decorations, pumpkins, spooky movies..

you name it, we did it.
Let me just say, our neighborhood is SO festive!
On Halloween Ashlyn and Jake got invited with their group of friends

for a Halloween gathering

(before trick-or-treating....)

so I hosted a party for Austin's buddies.

They all had a great time..!

Pizza, soda, donuts, brownies, cupcakes, juice...

Halloween was here..

Decorate~decorate~decorate~

Our Halloween week was filled!

So let me back up.....

Here are a few pics of the things we did before Halloween:

Mace's preschool party..

want to here something funny (or sad!) about the class parties...

uhhh.... NO CANDY at the party. none!

Just.... fruit trays, cheese and crackers and vegetables!

whaaat??

I about laughed out loud...no candy on Halloween.

Colorado is (super) healthy, but c'mon it's Halloween!!

(Jake's class didn't dress up (no parades! boo)

His official party was held at night!

and his class made trail mix...a bit boring!)
(Mace just stared at his plate...)

(he was the only kid who wouldn't finish his broccoli :)

My cute friends and I held a party for our youngest kids....

(while our older kids were in school...)

I did Halloween Bingo.

I sketched my cards...but forgot to switch the squares around!

whoops, they all got bingo at the same time!
We did crafts, cake walks, bingo, sugar cookies..it was great!

Our ward did a trunk-or-treat on Friday.

Our first ever.

It was great! the entire ward came! 250 plus.

the kids loved it.

Jodee and I!

We also went with friends to dinner

(Texas Roadhouse..yummmy)

and a

Haunted House.

(it was like we were 12 again~ it was fun!)

On Saturday after all the soccer games

we

carved our pumpkins!

It was a lovely 74 degree day~

THis is one of our favorite traditions.

On Saturday we went to Jake and Austin's soccer games.

There teams are both so good.

THe boys did great.

Scoring goals and both winning!

(Jake undefeated! Aus 7-1. woot woot!)

I ran 12.1 and 10.2 on Fri and Sat (Ry was off! lunch and shopping yay!)

and enjoyed the weather as well! (no coyotes this time :)

(pics of Aus below)

We also went on Fall walks all week.
We couldn't resist.
The weather was to good.
We went back to our favorite spot.
Just down behind our house.
We love it here.
Peaceful, quiet, the sunshine....just us!
nice!

I love love this pic of Ashlyn running through the fields...

Cheers to happy days!

OUr Halloween week (s) have been great!

so many parties, maybe glad it's over! phew!

But trying to love every minute and make new memories.

We do have to say we missed our Utah cousins on Halloween.

We can't help but miss them!

Happy Halloween everyone!

loves!

Happy FALL day.

Today was a perfect fall day.

I love Saturday's...they belong to the Stott's...our family.

(me...barefoot!)

Today, Aus's soccer team won and Aus had an awesome goal.

Today, Jake went and played with his new buddies from his team and loved it.

Today, I went on my long run: 13 miles...

and came face to face with a coyote. (really!) yikes.

( It was early morning..foggy and dark..and I was in the grasslands with the bunnies.

I backed away slowly (they won't hurt you..just your kitty) and BEEE-lined

across the trail up to the road.

A coyote wasn't going to STOP my favorite run!)

I love my moment for just me :)

Today, the sun came out, the wind blew a soft breeze. Ohhh I loved it!

(Mace in his stroller. wind was a blowin'!)

Today, Anthem (my neighborhood) put on a trick- or -treat street for all the kids....

(games, prizes, candy, lunch, pumpkins, dancing)

so cute!

(Michael Jackson Thriller)

Today, Ashlyn and I went on a walk in our neighborhood...dreamy..

do you see her running??

We took pics of the hawks, of the secret pond, and the pretty rolling hills...

Aus and Ash checking out a Hawk's nest.

Swinging from the branch. Secret Pond to the right...

Today, my neighborhood looked like Fall.....
Halloween decorations everywhere, carved pumpkins, and houses lit up with orange glow!

Today, I smiled loving our weekend with friends:

dinner together, Haunted Houses, hanging out and laughing :)

Today

we feel grateful.

We are doing fabulous in Colorado.

who knew?

we love it.

We have met many great people, families, friends.

The kids have great, schools, friends and teams.

We are exploring, learning, and doing so many new things.

Life...

Never sure where it will lead us...

but we like this direction.

(Jake's bus stop)

xo!

Utah LOVE. Colorado FUN. Family VISIT

Mace. Boulder. Pearl Street. The Candy Shop
My kids favorite store.

I love this pic..Mace and his scary face and the Halloween window

(Looking AT the window...reflection is Pearl Street.)

We love visitors. We love to show them what CO is all about.

My kids especially love to hang with their Utah family.

It was my parents first time out. and Austin's favorite cousins!

(they grew up together.)

We couldn't wait to have them arrive at our door!

And when they arrived...off we went.

So much to do and explore, it was hard to pick what to do..

We tried to do a little of everything...

We had a blast.

I didn't have to entertain much, they were so happy to just be together.

The kids were loving their cousin time!

hikes, lakes, fishing, Boulder, candy shop, movies, fire pits..

We did as much as we could fit in!

But I think Eldorado was one of their favorite afternoons

We stopped off at a perfect picnic location:

bridge, mountain water, cave, and lots of climbing rocks.

It is also the place where Boulder people come climb!

crazy (but so brave)! we watched them all afternoon

(do you see the kids??)

The kids were happy.

They hiked, explored and ran around.

And yes, in the pics, they are holding a snake.

Ashlyn wanted to pick it up...Grandpa told her not to,

but she couldn't help herself...she picked up the water snake and showed it off....

all the kids wanted turns

(sorry Amber and Misty...We told them to NOT to!)

They quickly held it and let it go back to it's hole.
The pic underneath we were all watching a rescue in progress.

A mountain climber fell and 15 plus Boulder RESCUE crew

were immediately up on the mountain.

They were carrying down the climber on a board.

Interesting to watch...(the climber was ok)

Such beautiful views...we love this hike.

It is easy and quick.

At the top we get to see Boulder valley

and then watch the mtn climbers at their level....scary!

Ry and Mace..(boys up ahead..)

see the views! Lovely.

And yes the mountains were a green and red color...

awesome!

Me and my mama! :)

WE ventured to Pearl Street.

One of our favorite places.

There is so much to do..great shopping, food and entertainment.

The kids had a great time...especially the candy store!

We ate street side pizza (yum!), gelato,

watched people perform, (sing, play guitars, etc),

we fed squirrels and bought little trinkets.

My mom and I ended it with chocolate Rice Krispies

from the Rocky Mtn Choc.

OH. so. good!

IN the evenings the boys just played and played.

On Saturday after the corn maze and Pearl Street, RY and Gpa took the boys to

fish at Thomas Lake. (no pics)

They all caught a few...they each hooked their own pole and fished away...

The other nights, we did a fire in our backyard and told ghost stories.

We ended it with GmA and Gpa telling us stories of their childhood...!

We had the greatest weekend...Mom and Dad and the cousins.

WE had a blast...

dinners, fishing, Boulder, corn mazes, movies, hikes, Pearl Street,

late night fire pit's, lake walks, exploring, Eldorado...

we had a fabulous 3.5 days.

we loved it.

good bye my Utah family!

I love u!

picture: Eldorado. Fowler Hike.

At the top...the colors of the mountains...so beautiful!

goodbye!