New Sandbox

This past week Eric did a very "Dad" thing; he built the kids a sandbox.  All last week I put the kids to bed and Eric would work on the sandbox.  He took out our camping light and built the sandbox from scratch.  He built it at night because he really wanted to surprise the kids with the sandbox.  The sand was delivered on Saturday so when we got home from the gym the sand had been delivered and so we took the kids down to the sandbox.  They were so excited and we spent a lot of the weekend watching them play in the sandbox.  Here are some pictures from the weekend:  

We spent most of Sunday in the back yard playing in the yard and in the sandbox.  Cate and Ashton love their chairs and have a game where they move them around and chase each other around. 

Eric had an extra piece of wood and he set it up on the porch so Cate could push her stroller up and down.

Eric mowed the lawn and the kids sat on the porch and watched.  After he was done Ashton took his jeep and pretended to mow the lawn.

We also went to the park, and Cate and Ashton had a great time pushing Eric around.

The weather was fantastic this last weekend and we had a wonderful time with the kids.  

Eric is such a fantastic Dad.  The kids are so lucky to have such a wonderful Dad.  The sandbox is amazing and I am so impressed with how hard Eric worked on it.

Fun with the kids

Here are some pictures of us with the kids:

We went to the store to get a few things and this is where Ashton decided that he wanted to ride.  So we decided to let him do it and it was all fun until he got his finger stuck in the cart.  He was fine but we decided not to make this a habit.

Cate and Ashton coloring together with chalk on our driveway.

Ashton is really getting big.  His language skills have really increased and he is turning in to a little kid.

We decided since the weather wasn't very good today that we would carve pumpkins.  Cate and Ashton were both very excited to do it.

Here is a rundown of how the pumpkin carving went:

1.  Excitement from the kids

2.  Eric and I cut off the tops so that the kids could scoop out the pumpkins

3.  Ashton got upset that we cut the pumpkin and refused to participate in the pumpkin carving.  He threw a screaming fit that lasted for about 5 solid minutes and then continued to wander around whining.  

4.  Cate looked in the pumpkin and decided that she thought it was "yucky" and that she would "let" me do it.

5.  Eric and I proceeded to carve the pumpkins while Ashton was screaming and Cate was asking me when we were going to make cupcakes.

Luckily Cate liked the way they turned out.  Eric's is on the left and mine is on the right.  This is what happens when you have a screaming child and a daughter who is no longer interested in the pumpkin.  I have to say that we had better plans for the pumpkins before we started.  

Eric took Ashton outside to see if he could stop his temper tantrum.  While they were outside Cate and I made pumpkin cupcakes.  She wanted me to post this picture so that everyone could see the cupcakes even though they won't get to eat them.  

After we finished the cupcakes Cate and I went outside to see what the boys were up to.  Eric built this snow man for the kids.  (Yes it snowed enough for a snow man)

 

This is a picture of Ashton flying down the driveway on his tricycle.  He goes so fast!

Cate decided that she wanted to make a kid snow man and here she is posing with her snow man.

I just like this picture.  They look like they are thinking very hard about what to do next.  (Yes Ashton is wearing Cate's gloves and she is wearing his.  He loves her stuff)

On a separate note, here are some pictures of us from my cousin Emily's wedding in Park City Utah a few weeks ago.  I think we clean up pretty well.

Eric and I at the wedding

My sister came in from California from the wedding and Quentin drove over from Steamboat.  It was great to have the whole family together.

The last couple of weeks...

2 weekends ago I took the kids up to Steamboat while Eric was on a business trip.  We only stayed for a few days but we had a wonderful visit.

Up in Steamboat:

Cate and Grammy making homemade icecream

The kids riding bikes at my Parent's house

The kids got new Strider bikes from my parents.  They don't have pedals and are supposed to help kids learn to ride bikes faster.  

This last weekend we took a trip to Park City, UT for my cousin Emily's wedding.  We stayed at the St. Regis hotel which is a beautiful and very fancy hotel.  It was a short trip but we had a lot of fun and it was great to see some of my family.

The hotel had a funicular which is an inclinator that takes you up the mountain to the hotel. The kids had so much fun riding it.  

Eric and I at the wedding.  (We got a sitter for the kids so we could have a night out)

My Brother Quentin and Sister Steph

Back at the airport on our way home.  We had just a few things :)

I found a new park in Castle Rock that I haven't taken the kids to before.  We headed over there today and ended up staying there for 2 hours.  The kids had a blast and I had a great time too.  In the picture below there is a big red tube slide.  I think that I had more fun taking the kids down it than they did.

Fun weekend

I went to Once Upon a Child (a consignment store) and got the kids Halloween costumes.  Cate picked hers out on her own and I picked one for Ashton.  Cate picked out a "snow princess" costume and I picked "superman" for Ashton.  Here are a couple pictures of them in their costumes:

Eric and I had a house warming party this weekend and some of our friends and their kids came.  The kids were all so cute together.  The ages ranged from 1-5.  They played hide and seek, dolls, rode trikes, and then played "jump on/off the couch".  Here is a picture of the kids running and jumping on the couch.

Today we took the kids to downtown Castle Rock for the town Artfest.  We walked around and checked out all of the art and then stopped for some food.  The kids had a hot dog but loved the icee the best.  It was a bit difficult for them to share but they really enjoyed it.

Ashton hadn't finished his yogurt so we let him eat it in the car.  (Don't worry Eric was driving while I took these pictures).  You can tell by the pictures whether or not he likes yogurt. 

Energy

Sometimes I really wonder where my children get all of their energy.  Here is a video of them playing in the family room.

Labor Day Weekend

This weekend our family was very busy.  One of my best friends Heather got married up in Silverthorne.  I was one of her bridesmaids so Eric, the kids, and I headed up to the mountains early Friday morning.  The rehearsal was at 10:00am on Friday.  During the rehearsal Eric decided to take the kids to a park near a school to play.  When they got there the kids had just come our for recess and then there was a fire drill.  Eric and the kids ended up participating in the fire drill.  After the fire drill I called Eric to tell him that we were all done and I was ready to be picked up.  Heather's parents rented boats for the wedding party and family to go out on Lake Dillon for a few hours.  We took the kids and they had a great time.  

View from the back of the boat

Cate with the girls on the boat

Ashton and Daddy taking a turn driving one of the boats.

After hanging out at the lake we brought our exhausted kids back to the room.  (Ashton fell asleep in the car before we even left the parking lot).  After naps the kids played in the room a bit before we all got ready for the rehearsal dinner.

Cate and Ashton playing ponies on Cate's bed

The next day I went to get ready with the bridesmaids and Heather so Eric took the kids for the day.  He ended up taking them to Copper to play.  Smart Dad that he is, he packed both of their tricycles and the kids rode them all over the place.  They also saw some firefighters and a firetruck parked.  They went over and the firemen showed them the truck and gave them some fire hats.

That evening was the wedding.  Unfortunately I was very busy and didn't take very many pictures with my camera.  I did get a picture of Heather right after we got her dress on her.  She was such a beautiful bride and the wedding was amazing.  Eric and I had a great time and it was great to see Heather marry such a great guy!

The day after the wedding we headed up to Steamboat to celebrate with may parents the completion of their barn.  They threw a barn party on Sunday night.  A bunch of their friends came and we all partied in the barn.  It was a lot of fun.  Cate and Ashton brought their tricycles down and rode them up and down the barn.  They had a great time and loved hanging out in the barn.

Today we headed back down to Castle Rock.  It was a very busy weekend but we had a lot of fun.  I think that we are all going to sleep well night.