A Texas Thanksgiving and gearing up for Christmas!

Right before Thanksgiving we had a visit from Gramsey for Grandparents Day at school.  Clayton was very excited to show her around his Kindergarten classroom.  She also got to attend Clayton's last soccer game of the season and his awards ceremony.  It was a fun filled few days and the kids really enjoyed her visit!

We had fun celebrating Thanksgiving with family and cousins!  The kids had a great time and enjoyed each others company.

Gramsey came to visit!

Clayton's soccer team

Receiving his soccer trophy

Ready for Grandparents Day

Loving on Gramsey before she had to leave!

Cousin time in Texas!

Someone is a little busy!

Cousins!

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!!

And our friend Clark is back!

And we got our tree...

 Finally getting some help :)

I'm DONE!

Taking a break with the elves

Moving on to salt dough ornaments and gingerbread house!

More pictures to come! Stay tuned!

New Happenings...

Clayton 

- Enjoys building things out of legos

- Really into making robots out of pretty much anything 

- Funny conversation about Santa:

 Me: Clayton what do you want for Christmas?...

 Clayton: Transformers and a web shooter...

 Me: Oh I don't know if Santa knows how to make transformers?!

 Clayton: Yes mommy! He knows how to make everything - even Eve! (Eve is from the movie      Wall-E and he asked for Eve last Christmas and we found out she is "extinct" and he did not get her)

- We went to a Polar Express storytime at PB Kids.  At the end Santa came out and Clayton yelled at me as Santa got closer "That is a FAKE Santa! The REAL Santa has glasses!!"

Sam

- Talking a LOT! He is continuing his speech therapy.  He is talking in full sentences and asking full sentence questions.  

- He is still 3, and I can't wait for 4! :)

- He loves to FaceTime on daddy's phone! Especially calling Nana & Pops!

- Loves to help in the kitchen or setting the table at dinner

- Likes to help vacuum (sometimes we fight over it)

- He wants whatever Clayton has...

- He makes noises when he plays now (sounds of cars, etc)

- Becoming more independent in his play

- Still loving his Montessori school and all his teachers and friends

Colorado Trip and End of Summer Fun!

We had a great time in Estes Park this year! We met Nana and Pops there.  We fished, hiked and drove around looking for wildlife.  Some of the highlights were our hike around Sprague Lake, hiking up to Gem Lake (and running into a friend at the top!), Fun Park, boat ride on Lake Estes, climbing rocks at Alluvial Fan and spotting elk on the roadside on Trail Ridge Road.
We wrapped up summer with a fun block party in the neighborhood last weekend. We are all ready for school to start - hard to believe Clayton is going to Kindergarten this year. WOW time flies!

Ready for some hiking!

Hello Sprague Lake!

Our rock climber...

and jumper!

This activity makes me much less nervous


Testing the waters

Fishing near Cub Lake trailhead

Once he got the hang of it he became quite independent




Someone was upset they didn't catch any fish

A favorite (and not just of ours!)

Yum!

On our way up to Gem Lake, a bear cave?

We made it...Sam knows no stranger!

Yay! We ran into our friends up at the top which made heading down much less painful!

Admiring Gem Lake

The rule is you only get to take your picture at the trailhead sign if you finish the hike!  We had no idea the whole trail was completely uphill with many switchbacks! Proud of Clayton for hiking the whole thing!

Sam had a pretty sweet ride!

This was used as bribery for the whole hike up to Gem Lake

Love how Sam is hunkered down not wanting to get wet!

Sam loves to strum a tune

Heading out on Lake Estes

Watch out for this driver!

 


Trying to spot wildlife


Elk on Trail Ridge Road




Climbing rocks at Alluvial Fan




Clayton and I hiked as far as we could to the top of Alluvial Fan

"Worm amnesty day" - we ended up not needing them!






We got to do a couple of hikes without the kids in tow! Here we were on our way up to Emerald Lake, and then to Lake Haiyaha


A waterfall along the way


Lake Haiyaha

See you next year RMNP!

Back to school ice cream social night - he wasn't going to miss it!

Time for sliding fun!

Being silly down the slide!

Patiently waiting to check out the fire truck

I have this picture from last year too!

And with friends...

Checking out the inside of a police car - and testing the sirens

There seems to be a theme here!

Spiderman!

Clayton is still loving to make things out of paper! This is his version of a diorama (those are the Kratt Brothers from the Wild Kratts show)