Halloween 2011

This Halloween was so much fun. Cole decided to be a cowboy, complete with horse and all. Samantha was a bride, complete with vail, ring and boquet (which I had to carry!). It was so sweet, Samantha asked who we were going to trick or treat with this year and I said I wasn't sure. She said, "It would be really fun if we went with Grandma and Grandpa again. We have gone with them in years past, and let me tell you-they hand out full sized candy bars on his street!!! So I called my dad and he drove down from Prescott the night before just to be there with the kids. Thanks Grandpa! And of course I didn't get a picture with him-gotta remember to do that next year.
As we were driving to my dad's house Samantha said, "Mommy, this is going to be a fun Halloween. Last year I liked it, but I was kind of scared of those weird costumes. This year I'm not going to be scared because I know they are just costumes." She's growing up so fast!
Trick or treating was great. They yelled Trick or Treat to each house and Thank yous, which made me proud. And I will never forget, as we were walking Cole turned around and said to me, "I like trick or treating!" It was a cute moment.
Another year on the books, can't believe it.

Cole's Halloween Parade

Today was Cole's Halloween Parade at preschool. The kids got to wear their costumes and march around the courtyard. It was adorable. The morning started off a little rocky when Cole decided yet again, as he did last year, that he didn't want to wear a costume. Sigh. He tried on his cowboy outfit, didn't want to wear it. Tried on his blue, three-eyed monster costume. Loved it, then hated it. Then had a complete meltdown. This was all twenty minutes before school started. Well, he finally decided that he wanted to be a cowboy. But he wouldn't wear jeans, or jean shorts so he has on gym shorts. And he put his boots on the wrong feet. It was comical. But hey, he's only 3 right? He'd be cute no matter what he wore. Here he is loving life.

Arizona State Fair

Today was the day that we had the pleasure and pain of going to the state fair. We took Samantha a couple years ago, but this was Cole's first experience with the fair.  Let me preface this with the fact that Peter and I are not adreneline junkies and could care less about rides. Now, we will perk up for kids' rides. But apparently our kids have inherited our dislike for carnie fun because they weren't having it. They did ride the little kiddo train-Samantha remembered it from 2 years ago-sort of. She kept yelling to us, "How many times are we going around?" It was comical. We also rode on the "wiggle worm"-basically sit in a giant worm and go round and round. this was Cole's favorite part of the day. Or as he says, the "viggle vrrm."

The games were a big hit. They won a BUNCH of cheap stuffed animals, which is great for Cole (who could never have too many stuffed animals)! Peter did win them some prizes breaking plates and showing off his "arm". Good job honey!

Now let's talk about the food. It was was you'd expect. Corn dogs, curly fries, sausage, a fried twinkie, a snow cone, and popcorn. Yes, tonight it's salad:) By far the best value-snow cone. So good. And refreshing on a 97 degree FALL day! Ha! It was SO hot.

We cooled off checking out all of the tstinky animals. Chickens, roosters, llamas, cows and pigs. Samantha and Cole even fed some sheep. My favorite-the air conditioning!!

Love making memories with my sweet family. Thanks Peter for dreaming up fun ways for us to spoil our children rotten and have memories that will last forever. You are such a fun dad. Our kids are SO lucky! Samantha and Cole, I wish you could stay little forever.

Fall in Walker

We got to get out of this heat for the weekend and head up to the cabin in Walker. It was unseasonablly hot in Phoenix this week so it was more than refreshing to get up to Walker to 70 degree temps. We found a great, little pumpkin patch in Chino Valley called Freeman Farms. We got to cut our pumpkins right off the vine. Waaaaay better than any farm we've been to in Phoenix. The people who worked there were super friendly and helpful and the farm itself was adorable and had tons to do. We went on a hay ride, watched a dance performance, pet some miniature goats and horses in the petting zoo, watched a cowboy show (that part was kind of lame but Cole still loved it), had lunch, bought corn that was cut fresh that morning and all in all just enjoyed the beautiful day. This may have to be a yearly tradition.

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We also got to pick apples at the cabin. Samantha and Cole loved pulling the apples off the tree and eating them. Nothing like an apple straight from the tree.

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So greatful we have this beautiful place to go to. It's so fun creating new memories with my kids and comparing them to my memories from childhood!

Boys

Cole had a super fun playdate with his bff Tyler today. They are hilarious together. Here are the toughest guys in town.