the rody

and I don't mean the kind that you take in the car. Auntie Gigi, Uncle Amjed, Haithem, Sahra and baby Sami sent this gift to Baker for his birthday/Christmas. This is awesome!!!! Thanks guys.

Happy 2nd Birthday Baker

Baker celebrated his second birthday this morning with all of his friends, well we were missing the Brooks kids. Zak made the adorable wrapping paper for Scooty's gift that is at the top of the page. The theme was Little Einsteins. Everyone sat on the couches like they were riding in "Rocket".

Our mission was to get Rocket in the air to get a puzzle pieces of a famous piece of art--Van Gogh's Cafe at Place de Forum in Arles. We put the puzzle together then set off to find the art in our house.

We also decorated tamborines with markers and stickers. Everyone went home with sandpaper art and a shaker egg and a Thanksgiving bracelet (see below).

Baker loved the pumpkin cupcake with whipped cream and cinnamon sprinkle (Andrea's idea).

This is the poem for the Thanksgiving bracelets. Loved this idea from pinterest...

Starlighting in Castle Rock 2011

Nanee Lu and Papa Todd enjoyed their first starlighting ceremony. This marks the 76th anniversary of this tradition here in Castle Rock. Last year are very good friends the Bruce's were here to share our first time. The day starts with hot cocoa and coffee handed out by some of the local businesses. The fire department has a chili supper.  There is caroling and puppet shows as well. At the end of the ceremony everyone counts down and the star is lit on top of Castle Rock. The some stick around for songs and more hot cocoa. Afterwards we headed back to the car, Dad had to walk a long time so we treated him to his first Smashburger. Thumbs up!

Papa and Baker play a matching game together.

Papa has his ear muffs on while drawing. Not because it is too cold in the house but we are about to leave for the starlighting

that is one big nutcracker

Quinn takes a header

right into the blacktop at recess. Small abrasions but a lot of swelling. The camera did not capture all the swelling around his eye. The brave boy did not cry until we got into the car. Baker had brought Quinn his bear to hold. Once Quinn saw me and the Bear he let go of some tears. Little Brother kept saying, "Bin hurt, Bin ouch".

I wonder what it's going to look like in the morning.

Odette's Holiday Baking Class

Yesterday, Ava and I attended Odette's Holiday Baking Class at the Grange with Tiffany and Zak. Each month, Odette a retired chief, has cooking classes. This month we learned how to bake ginger bread and sugar cookies, also a delish almond cookie. We had a wonderful time and here are just a couple of pictures. I will get more from Tiffany later.

Trick and Treating in the Meadows

This October has been fun of Halloween fun. Once again we went to the Pumpkin Fest at the Grange (the Meadows clubhouse). There was horse drawn carriage rides, make your own scarecrow, bouncy houses, costume parade and other treats.

our scarecrow freaks us out sitting in the front yard. 

The week before Halloween we set in motion the "Ghosting" in the neighborhood. The Frankenstein went to the Reckseens, the Vampire stayed at our house and the pumpkin when to the Brooks'. The creepy trees are filled with Halloween candy. Our "Ghosting" did not go as well as Ava would have liked. We stopped at Trey and Andrea's first and since it was a 70 degree day they had their door open so Andrea and Leighton could see us. Leighton thought this was great but Ava was very nervous that they could see us. I explained to her that it would still be a surprise to Trey and Liam. I could not get our candle to light so I had to borrow a lighter from Andrea. In the meantime Ava slipped and scraped up her legs on the stoop and ran home crying. The Reckseen's were not much better. We talked about our plan and everyone knew their jobs and to run when we rang the doorbell. That would be everyone but Quinn who stayed on the porch while the rest of us ran. Too Funny!!! Ava was disappointed but I told her that it was not bad for a 7 and 5 year old. They will do better with more practicing. So everyone watch out the ding dong ditching from the Stauffacher's.

Dad: here is your tree the week after you left

Quinn and Ava before school on Halloween 

This sweatshirt has been through three Bruce children and three Stauffacher

Quinn's Kindergarten class-Mrs. Lamoreaux

Ava's 1st grade class-Mrs. Emmons

we had dinner with Nick and Shauna

Ava is a Green Bay Packer cheerleader, Quinn is a nice guy stormtrooper and Baker is a Batman - without accessories

Castle View HS vs Littleton

Ava cheered at the Castle View Saber Cats football game. It was a brisk 35 degrees. She did an awesome job and she loved every minute of it.

Ava and Grace

Kylie, Ava and Grace

Lisa (Ava's cheer buddy)

Check out the routine on YouTube

Vail October 2011

Over Fall Break we took the kids to Vail for the night. October is a slow time of year for them but we had a great time enjoying the fall colors in the heated outdoor pool at Vail Cascade. This is a beautiful resort. You would never have to leave. Dining, hotel bar, ski lift etc.  We swam in the infinite pool and at night we roasted marshmallows for smores. We had dinner in Lions Head at the Blue Moose and ate a Lindsay Vonn pizza. Delish.

showing off his leaf

Vail Village