Denver Art Museum

On Saturday we took the kids downtown to the PBS kids fest and then to the Denver Art Museum.
The PBS had all kinds of fun things to do like games, tranatulas, parrots you could even run a TV camera. at the art museum made pottery at the Marvelous Mud exhibit. Unfortunately it will be closing soon so we won't be able to do it again. Both boys had fun experimenting with the clay. Baker made a handprint and Quinn made a dragon. Ava made a plaque with flowers on it-very clever. Ava and I also got a chance to use the pottery wheel, which I have always wanted to do.

Afterward we wandered around and found many different ways to experiment with art. I love this museum and so do the kids. It is an excellent place to expose them to different works of art.

At the end of the day the kids decided they wanted to go to Parry's Pizza. Quinn made us all laugh with his own commercial advertising Parry's...he told us " If I want good pizza-I go to Parry's" The waitress thought he was a hoot.

ava working the camer at PBS

the art museum has a gigantic broom and dust pan outside

Baker loves the clay

I could get into this

look we are making a bowl

the museum has stations set up all over with different ways to make art. Here the kids are coloring cup coozies

pictures of fun things on Lilly Gulch Trail

picnic dinner in the rain

need i say more?

this one is for you Heather. Ava made a picture of the Price is Right

fun I Spy game I made for Baker 

Play date with Cadhan

Super Heroes

Being a brother is better than being a Superhero....

Welcome back Fall

Fall has finally arrived in Castle Rock. We have gone from 90's to 70's over the weekend. Ava has a new favorite outfit thanks to Nanee Sylvia. She finally was able to wear it to school today. You can see the excitement on her face.

ava is wearing the headband I made out of old t-shirts

Quinn read his first book yesterday. It is a simple book from school but he is so proud of himself. He can also spell his first word: Police. His drawing is getting much better. Brent took the kids over the weekend to Home Depot and they made dry erase boards. Quinn has been drawing police stations and k-9 units. Grandpa Bill do you have a spot on the force?

it says God and Police

He changed it to Dog:

quinn thought grandpa bill would be so proud of him. This one's for you Grandpa.

Brent hikes his first 14er

So for all of you not familiar with the term "14er" that is 14, 000 feet... not ounces. Tim and Brent hiked Pikes' Peak last Saturday. It took them 7.5 hours. They were both tired but had a great time.

Baker gets tubes!!!!

Early this morning Baker and I went to the Surg Center to have Dr. Rao put tubes in his ears. He cried most of the time because he was scared. He refused to put on the hospital gown instead they let him keep his puppy pjs on. He also wanted to keep his shoes on and kept saying, "all done Momma" "I go" and pointing to the door. Dr. Rao said that he had clear fluid in one ear but thick fluid in the other which means that the ear never cleared up from the last infection. Good thing we had it done.

Stauffacher Family Reunion in Estes Park

Quinn, Uncle Amjed, Sahra, Haithem and Ava climbing rocks in the Rocky Mountain National Park

at Sprague Lake

the Al-Zoubi's

Quinn and Haithem showing off their new camelback backpacks.

Quinn with his new buddy Travis

Alberta Falls

cousins Laura and Travis-Ava was in their wedding when she was 2

Uncle David gave Baker this bear that he loves

Ava and Nanee take a picture after opening gifts

Baker-you are too big for that now

the girls--Ava and Sahra

The Goof Balls-Haithem and Quinn

Sami and Baker

Schools back in session

Ava and Quinn had their first days of school this week. Ava started 1st Grade with her new teacher Mrs. Emmons on Monday. She had a great day and was excited for hot lunch-beef tacos. She forgot her water bottle in the classroom so she used her "credit number" to order a chocolate milk. I told that was fine it was good that she was able to get something to drink. At dinner she told me that she did not want to eat the carrots I served her because she had some at school.  I said that I did not send carrots in her lunch. Ava said she used her "credit number" to buy them. Thank God you can't buy purses, shoes or clothes with the "credit number". Brent had to explain to her about the "credit number" and that she is only to buy what we have discussed the night before.

new LL Bean backpack

showing off her missing teeth

Ava and Grace after their first day

Ava on her first day of 4 year old preschool. WOW has she grown.

Quinn started Kindergarten on Wednesday this week. He is so excited to have Mrs. Lamoreaux because she was Ava's interim teacher last year. He met three new friends and said that school was AWESOME. They read a Clifford book, went out for recess and went through all the rules of the classroom. I asked Quinn if he wanted me to walk him into class and he said, "No Mommy I am just fine." He is such a brave boy.

same backpack but new water bottle

First day of 3 year old preschool

his backpack is not as big on his back as it is in this picture