Fall 2023

In early fall our landscapers installed our sod, Allison made lots of fun art at school, and Nibbler was sweet.

On September 30th our district sponserd a 4.9K (since we're district 49). Several school mascots showed up. Allison hugged all of them (she hugged the cat too, but I didn't get my phone out in time to take a photo).

Tyler and Oscar ran the race while Allison did the kids' dash. The boys warmed up then started their race. Allison ran around the track once all the racers had headed out the gate.

There was a craft booth where Allison painted a mini pumpkin while the boys raced.

After the race we went over to our rec center's Harvest Festival. The kids did rock climbing and a few other activities. Ignore the speech on this video. I was talking to a friend about our upcoming Disney trip. 

There weren't as many inflatables this year, though Tyler did enjoy the inflatable basketball hoops

On the first weekend in October, we took a trip up to Elitch Gardens for Fright Fest. The kids went trick or treating in the kids' area first.

We finally got to ride Spider! It's either been closed or the lines have been crazy long whenever we've come before (it loads super slow, so even a line that doesn't look long can take over an hour).

Plus, Tyler and I finally got to ride Halfpipe! It's super fun. It's the first time ever it's been open in all our time visiting the park.  Tyler also got to ride the white roller coaster with Oscar, so it was pretty much his perfect Elitch Day.

Allison was crushed that she was too short to go on Half-Pipe. I finished the ride to find her telling her tale of woe to another mom instead of going on a ride with Oscar. 

Oscar and Tyler went over to the white roller coaster while I took Allison back to the kids' area. Fortunately she perked back up riding the balloons and bumper cars with some new friends.

On October 9th we took our last trip to the zoo before our annual pass expired. We first went over to see the penguins, hippos, lemurs, and monkeys. 

This was our first time seeing the hippo in the grazing area. We were right above him on the bridge and in the play area. Usually the hippos are either indoors or in the water.

Two peacocks came up super close to me while the kids were playing on the turf and sand.

We then went to the petting zoo and saw the moose.

It was nice to see the tiger up and moving. Usually he's just lounging around. 

We actually saw both pallas cats. Usually only one makes an appearance.

They enjoyed the reptile house, and we got to see cute baby leopards!

Alligators!

We saw the elephants then finished up over at the giraffes. It's been fun to watch Wednesday grow up big enough to eat lettuce from the zoo patrons.

The kids dressed up in the "Armor of God," Allison put together several new toys from her birthday, and she did tricks on the trampoline.

"Selp care is sticking your face into a very soft cat."

Nibbler is so cute when he plays with daddy's shoes and Tyler's sandals. 

Leela enjoys sunning in the front room.

After a pretty nice September and October, we got our first significant snow on October 29th. The sun came back out the next day, which melted the snow for all of us with south facing homes, but we had to watch for ice as the kids went trick or treating at north facing homes. We're happy to be south facing. We got even more trick or treaters than last year since we live close to a home that puts on a haunted house out of their driveway. We had a bunch of teenagers come to us after 8pm after they'd finished up the haunted house. I ran out of candy and had to start giving away granola bars and handisnacks. 

We get some mighty fine sunsets and sunrises here in Colorado.

Erica and I went hiking at Pulpit Rock park.

Oscar learned how to craft with a woodburning pen, the family put together this bird puzzle, I enjoyed Safeway's Eggnog ice cream sandwiches for months,

And the kids participated in the pinewood derby for primary activities.