Halloween #2 - Pumpkin Patch

 Oh, how we love the pumpkin patch around here.  We always make a trip up to great pumpkin patch on a farm with lots of activities for kids (you can read about our previous trips with Caden here and here).  Unfortunately, we had an early snow storm and that caused the fields, corn maze, and children's activities to have to be shut down.  Such a bummer!  We had been planning this trip with Nana, Grandpa Kim, Nana, Auntie DeeDee, Kirk, Lacey, and Juanita for a month. We probably would have abandoned, but I didn't find out that the patch was closed until the day we were going, and I had already told Caden we were going to go.  That morning, true to form, he woke up and immediately asked for the "pu-kin patch."  We couldn't tell him no, so we all loaded up and drove out to the farm anyway.  They had saved some pumpkins from their impending fate in the field and had them set up on hay bales out front.  The kids never knew the difference and they had a great time picking out their pumpkins at the pumpkin patch.

Afterwards, everyone came back to our house to eat a pumpkin shaped pizza and carve one or two pumpkins...

or 11. 

We're now officially ready for Halloween!

Halloween #1 - Party at Ms. Amber's House

I have said before that we are so lucky to have found such a wonderful daycare for Caden.  They love on him, teach him so much, and have a ton of fun.  On Friday they even had a Halloween party for the kids.  All 8 kiddos came dressed in their costumes for a super fun day.  JZ says that Cade was a little overwhelmed at the beginning.  Apparently 8 costumed children swarming him at the door was a little too much.  Who knew?  After a few minutes he warmed up enjoyed playing with his friends.  JZ hung around for a little while to get a few pics.

When I picked him up at the end of the day, he had a whole portfolio of Halloween projects to take home. 

They even gave him a picture of all of his friends in costume

And a picture of him painting his pumpkin at the party

Definitely a good day for our little fireman!

Snow, Snow, Snow

On Monday we were raking and jumping in the leaves wearing shorts. We broke a heat record that day when we hit 79 degrees.  On Wednesday morning we had 8 inches of snow by 9am.  That's also how we roll in Colorado.  When I got Caden out of bed that morning and told him it was snowing he immediately said, "Make no-man."  Well, we didn't get to make a 'no-man' because the snow was too light and fluffy, but we did bundle him up and let him play outside with Daddy.  I stayed inside and  took these pictures from the comfort and warmth of the back door. 

I didn't even prompt him to put his head back to catch snowflakes.  I guess these things just come naturally to Colorado boys!

This pictures was taken at around 9am.  We had about 8 inches on our deck and ended up getting about 3-4 more throughout the day.

Belle got to play outside too.  She loves to catch snowballs as much as Caden likes to throw them!

Time elapsed: 30 min!  He would have stayed out longer, but his cheeks were freezing and he was starting to get frustrated that he couldn't walk as well in his snow boots.  We spent the rest of the morning explaining over and over why he couldn't go back outside.  All I could think about was how glad I was that he was still in diapers.  As soon as I bundled him all up I'm sure he would have had to go potty.  It's the first time I've ever been happy he's not potty trained yet!

My boys had a fantastic first snow day!

Wordless Wednesday: Belle's Toys

Just Another Ordinary Night

Tonight was like any other night - a little bit of this, a little bit of that, and a whole lotta' BOY!

Before dinner we went outside to rake and jump in the leaves.

Yep, raking and jumping while wearing shorts.  That's how we roll in Colorado!

After dinner Caden asked Daddy to "frow in a-yer." Which means that he wants him to throw him up in the air and on the bed.  I don't have any pictures of that because, honestly, I didn't want JZ to end up in jail for child abuse.  It just scares the bejesus out of me!  So instead I went to get ice cream (it's not my fault, the baby needed it!). When I got home, I was hoping to find Caden in the bathtub.  Instead I found this

There was some serious fort building happening in the living room!  I'm not sure who was in to it more, Caden or Daddy.  Actually, I do.  It was totally Daddy.  CP kept pulling off the blanket and yelling "peek-boo."  He was having a ton of fun though, and must have said "tank-oo, Daddy" a hundred times.  It was quickly decided that the quilt was just not going to cut it, so they opted for a sheet instead.  That seemed to be a little lighter and stay up a little better.

Once they finally got the fort up Caden grabbed his favorite book and his flashlight so he could do a little reading

And then he had a total meltdown because we were up too late.  Again, no pictures of that one.

Yes, just another ordinary night at Team Zahrte's house.

Let's Go Fly a Kite (Part 2)

This post is also known as 'The Toy Store'

So, after we bombed on kite flying round #1, we decided to abandon kite #1 and look for a replacement.  We headed down to our local toy store, Jake's Toy Box - a fabulous store with an even more fabulous story.  Of course they had exactly what we were looking for - a sturdy, colorful frog kite (Daddy took one for the team and let CP choose.  He really wanted the spaceship, but let the little guy pick).

While we were there we had to let Caden play with all of the toys.  He loves Jake's Toy Box and could spend hours there.  He especially loves the train set - chug-a-chug-a-choo-choo!

Seriously, the toy store is even better (and cheaper!) than the rec center.  Eventually we did leave with our kite (and no tears!)

We had to wait until after nap time to try flying kite #2.  And wouldn't you know it?  No wind!  We tried anyway

Well, JZ tried.  Hard.  He ran and ran and ran.  Caden and I blew on the kite from a far, but mostly he did this

And I sat

Our kite flying adventure was kind of a bust, but we had a lot of fun trying.  And the good news is we're ready for the next windy day

Sing with me now...

Let's go fly a kite

Up to the highest height

Let's go fly a kite

And send it soaring

Up through the atmosphere

Up where the air is clear

Oh, let's go fly a kite

You know you've been singing Mary Poppins this whole time too!

Let's Go Fly a Kite (Part 1)

 While I was at work on Wednesday, JZ and CP went on a kite purchasing/flying mission. It has been really windy around here and JZ REALLY wanted to fly a kite with Caden.  He was surprised at how difficult it was to even find a kite these days.  After two hours of driving Cade around to various stores around town, he finally found a cheap kite.  They have spent the last two days trying desperately to get this silly thing in the air.  Today I got to go too!

JZ worked really hard trying to get that bird in the air

CP flew for a minute or two, but mostly he played with sticks.  And dirt.  And rolled down the hill.  Such a boy!

After round two of kite flying, JZ decided that this flimsy bird was not going to cut it.  So we all packed up and headed to another store to find kite #2. 

Stay tuned for Part 2 of Let's Go Fly a Kite...