Halloween

Last night for Halloween we went over to our friends' house, the Wall's.  We had a group of 8 kids and 8 adults and went trick-or-treating just before dark for about an hour.

The kids did so well and Colby, who is 18 months old now, did a great job keeping up.  His bucket got heavy very quickly so Stephen tried to help him out but Colby would cry and say, "no no no no!" so Stephen would take the candy out of Colby's bucket and put it in his pockets and he would say, "no no no no!"  It was so funny, poor guy was really trying to protect his candy!  Kyla and Colby's hands were so cold but I don't think they noticed at all, they had such a fun time and got a hang of trick-or-treating very quickly.  Colby was always the last kid at the door, which I think is key to getting more candy!  He had WAY more candy than Kyla and they went to the same number of houses.

After trick-or-treating we went back to the Wall's house for dinner, football and hanging out with friends.

We made 'Mummy' Pizzas for the kids, they turned out really cute!

I didn't get any pictures of Kyla and Colby last night, but I did take these a few days ago of them in their costumes

Kyla with the pumpkin she made with Grandma and Aunt Laura

PlayDoh animals

Pumpkin, bat, alligator, duck and flamingo

what's that there on the pumpkin?  Oh, it's just a toothbrush.

Kyla was really sad I wasn't taking pictures of the play-doh animals with her in them, I just hadn't gotten that far yet!

and then there's Colby the Cowboy and Kyla the Peacock!

look at Hogan trying to catch leaves!  haha!

The end!

4th of July Parade

Last year Stephen decided he wanted to put his business, RML (Rocky Mountain Landscaping) in the Monument parade.  Over a month ago we figured out how to enter and I went to the dollar store and bought everything we used on our float for $10!  I went back this week to get more but they were fresh out!  Good thing I stocked up early!  Since going to the Monument parade is a MAJOR tradition of my family's and because 99% of Stephen's clients are in the Tri-Lakes area we thought it would be fun.  Then about two weeks ago I started getting nervous and embarrassed and didn't want to do it anymore.  Oh well, I did it and didn't die!  I mostly avoided eye contact with the crowd 1.  because I didn't want to see anyone I knew and 2.  we ran severely low on candy and I couldn't face the crowd  ; )

Our float

Thank goodness my sister Sara was there early to help us set up and feed my kids donuts and bananas ; )

She was there so early, in fact, that she saved our place in line before we showed up!  I should also mention that she ran 4 miles from Palmer Lake just before the parade, way to go Sara!

Colby

Stephen and Colby

Hogan thought he was a rockstar.  I could write an entire post on how 1.  People love dogs more than kids.  2.  People love dogs more than America.  3.  People love dogs more than anything.  4.  People LOVE dogs with stars and stripes on their hair.  5.  People think it's abuse to put stars and stripes on dogs' hair.  6.  People are MUCH more concerned that dogs have shade and water than if kids have shade and water.  MUCH.

But I won't.

cousins Carson and Preston

Our friends Rob and Sarah came to help throw out candy and pump the up the crowd with their two girls Julianna and Claire

Kyla remembered that she got a toothbrush from the dentist last year so when we saw them in line Sara walked her down and asked for one.

Me, cousin Jack, Sara, Carson, Stephen, Kyla, Preston, Nini (Terri) and Colby

Jack

Colby waving the flag

Papa and Colby

'

Here we are!

Ready to wave and throw candy!

Rob, Stephen and Josh (who came with his wife Amy and their 3 kids!)

We were in front of the El Paso County Queen and the Kit Carson Riding Club Queen

(on horses)

Josh and Gideon.  Gideon loves John Deere tractors more than anything in the world.  He felt SO COOL that he got to drive the mower, he could have cared less that it was in a parade!

Sarah and Claire

Kyla waving to the crowd like a real princess

There were a LOT of people, the pictures absolutely do not show the overwhelming sea of people on either side of the street.  You know, this IS the second largest small town parade in America.  I KNOW!

The home stretch!  Definitely out of candy here ; )

I am SO glad the parade was on the 3rd this year so we can relax today and the kids can be well rested for fireworks tonight!!  Not to mention I would gladly celebrate Independence Day, my favorite holiday, for a week straight!


Oh!  AND Stephen's sister, Kelli, had her baby, Samuel Jefferson Hawkins on July 2nd!

Congratulations Kelli, Sean and new big brother Jack!