Ashton's firsts

Ashton loves taking Cate's sippy cups from her and tries to drink out of them.  Last week he got the hang of it and can officially drink out of sippy cups.  He has also learned how to drink out of a straw.  He is getting to be such a big boy.

Yesterday we took Ashton for his first haircut.  His hair was getting so long that it was constantly in his eyes so we figured it would be a great time for a haircut.  Here is the sequence of events:

When we got to the children's salon, they only had a pink car chair and a pink smock for him to get his haircut in.  He started out happy...

Then he realized that he didn't just get to sit in the car and play.  I am holding up a lollipop trying to distract him...

Then I finally let him have the lollipop, and he stopped crying and sat pretty still for the rest of the haircut...

All done and a happy camper.  Over all it wasn't too bad and hopefully we won't have to go back for a while.  But now we know to give him a lollipop right away.

I had to add a picture of Cate.  This is a horse costume that grandma Schmidt has.  Cate loves to put it on and ride around the kitchen.

Thanksgiving

For Thanksgiving this year we went over to the Schmidt's to celebrate.  Uncle Q came down from Fort Collins to join us.  We took the kids over in the morning and spent the whole day there.  It was so great to be able to drive down for Thanksgiving and to get to spend so much time together.  Around 4 Aunt Pat and Uncle Don came over to join us.  We had a wonderful time and it was so great to have us all together.

Before Thanksgiving dinner, Cate played a lot of dress up.  Here she is dressed up as Snow White.

Cate helped me make what we call "the fruit thing we make for Thanksgiving".  It is a Lowe family tradition and this was the first year that Cate helped me make it.

A picture of all of us with the finished fruit dish

Cate and Aunt Pat coloring before dinner.  (Cate is dressed up as Super girl in this picture)

Ashton had a great first Thanksgiving.  He ate baby food turkey dinner and sweet potatoes.  

Fun while Daddy is here...

The kids are very happy to have their Daddy home (and so am I!).  Eric was in Rhode Island for a month and it is great to have him out here in Colorado with us.  

One happy family!

I really like this picture of Ashton.  

We took Cate and Ashton to a puppet show at the library. 

We took the kids to Monkey Business.  Ashton was totally in his element there.  He was climbing, crawling, sliding, and running all over the place.  

Cate had a great time there too.  

It has been great having Eric here and for us to all spend so much time together.

Steamboat

Over the weekend I took the kids up to Steamboat to spend some time with Grammy and Grandpa Rlowe.  On the way up there Ashton got sick in the car and then a couple days later Cate got sick.  My Mom and Dad then also got sick.  It made for a bit of a rough weekend but we did manage to have some fun before everyone got sick.  It was so great to spend some time with my parents.

Cate got to celebrate her birthday again.  She had a month long 3rd birthday celebration.

Grandpa Rlowe took her out skiing 

Grandpa Rlowe and his two grandkids

Ashton loved climbing under the island in the kitchen.  I can't believe how big he is getting.

Here is a video of Ashton walking.  I think that he walks like he has been riding a horse all day.  He is the perfect little cowboy!

Cate in her Dora jammies

Grammy and Grandpa Rlowe got the kids a Cozy Coupe.  Ashton loved driving around the car.

Since Eric isn't here yet I have been trying really hard to come up with things to do with the kids.  I put some tape on the kitchen floor to look like a road.  Cate and Ashton drove the cars all around the kitchen.

Life back in Colorado

We are really enjoying being back in Colorado.  The house is pretty much put together.  I have 2 boxes that I haven't unpacked yet.  The kids have adjusted well to the new house and seem to like it here.  We are really missing Eric though and can't wait until he gets here!

This is the open space right in front of our house.  It is so nice to have a great big grassy area to play in and we don't have to mow it!

Ashton and Buddy looking out the window

This is another grassy area by our house.  Cate was having a great time running in the grass.

Aunt Pat, Uncle Don, Grandma, and Grandpa came over to celebrate Cate's birthday.  Cate is opening the present from Don and Pat.  They gave her Cutes and Ladders:  Princess edition.  Cate and I played it today and she loved it!

Grandma and Grandpa gave her a Dora CD player and a personalized Micky Mouse CD.  Cate loves being able to push the buttons herself and loves listening to music.  

Cate and Grandma dancing to the music.

Grandma made Cate cupcakes.  Cate asked for vanilla cupcakes with chocolate frosting and a cherry on top...

...she loved the cupcakes!!

Halloween

For Halloween Cathy and I took the kids trick or treating.  Ashton was a pumpkin and Cate was Cinderella.  Both kids had a great time.

Ashton loved it when I put the costume on him.  He really enjoyed going out trick or treating too.

Cate was a beautiful Cinderella for Halloween.  She loved going out trick or treating.  It was so much fun going trick or treating with her.

What cute kids!!!