Much needed blog update...

I haven't updated the blog in a while.  We have been very busy and time is flying by.  Here is what we have been up to:

We celebrated Eric's Birthday about 1 month ago

Eating lunch

Ashton has started preschool.  He is so excited to have his own backpack.  He is going to preschool at Miss Juliana's which is where the kids go while I am working.  She has a preschool program in the morning and then watches the kids the rest of the day while I am at work.

The kids are really getting the hang of their strider bikes.

Ashton loves playing in the sandbox 

Cate loves coloring with chalk

 My parent's came down from Steamboat and spent a few nights at our house.  It was great to have them visit.  While they were here we took them on a hike up the Castle Rock.

Aunt Steph came for a visit too and brought presents for the kids.  She brought Cate a Barbie Dream House and Barbie clothes.  She brought Ashton some legos and a power drill set.  They love their new toys and they had a great time with their Aunt Steph.

My parent's gave Eric an ice cream maker for his birthday 

Grandpa Rlowe and Ashton running around in the yard

We had a great dinner with family and friends

Last weekend Eric and I had a garage sale and Cate and Ashton set up a Lemonade stand.  Cate doesn't look too excited in the picture but she had a great time and she ended up making $25.

When Eric is out of town we seem to spend a lot of time at parks.  We love this park because we can walk to it from our house.  The kids are growing up so fast and they look so big.  The older they get it seems like the more fun they become.  I love these two kids so much and enjoy every minute that I get to spend with them!  (Ashton only wanted to swing so I didn't get very many pictures of him)

August pictures

Once again we have had another very busy month.  Eric and I celebrated our 8 year wedding anniversary, I turned 30, and we celebrated living in our amazing house for one year.  Here are some pictures from August:

Cate wanted me to take a picture of her grapes because they look like a flower

Then of course Ashton had to have his picture taken

For my birthday Eric and I went up to Steamboat for the Steamboat Institute's annual Freedom conference.  It was a three day event with a lot of amazing speakers.  Some of the speakers were Ambassador John Bolton, Mary Katherine Hamm, Michelle Malkin, Hannah Giles, Kevin Jackson, etc.

While we were up in Steamboat the kids got to spend the weekend with Grandpa and Grandma Schmidt.  One of the days they met Aunt Pat at the zoo.  Here are some pictures of their day at the zoo:

Ashton and Cate enjoying the sunset

Ashton playing in the sandbox with Daddy at 7am on a Saturday

The other day the kids were playing in the backseat while I was driving home.  All of the sudden it got fairly quiet so I asked them what was going on back there.  Cate said "Ashton is a bloody mess".  I started to laugh and was about to ask her where she heard that saying until I looked in the rear view mirror and saw that he was actually a bloody mess.  He had gotten a bloody nose in the back of the car.  

Eric had a great day on Saturday---He broke 80 with a score of 78 at Red Hawk Ridge Golf Course.  He played with his dad and shot the lowest round he has ever shot.

First Day of School

Cate's first day of another year of preschool.  She was so excited to start school again.

Ashton wanted to participate in the picture taking

Cate on her first day of preschool in January 2011

Starting a full year of preschool 1 year ago in August 2011

Golf Clubs

Eric is very eager to teach the kids how to golf.  He found them both a set of clubs at Play it Again Sports.  They were both very excited to get them.  Eric took them out in to the yard to give them a little lesson.  I don't think they are quite ready for the tour yet but are enjoying practicing.  

Eric and I also decided that Ashton was getting too big for his crib so we got him this awesome "big boy bed" and he is loving it.

Harkless Family Visit

The Harkless Family came out to Colorado for a one week visit before Elyse starts school.  We also were able to celebrate Elyse's 5th birthday with her.  The kids all had a wonderful time together.

Dinner at our house