Playing at the park

We've had a fun week--the weather has been beautiful, so we have been playing outside a lot. The boys love the Wellington city playground! Eli is still enjoying preschool, and Silas is busy learning new things. Enjoy the pictures!

I often ride my bike with the boys in the trailer around Wellington - and they LOVE it! Thanks again to Aunt Kerrie, Uncle Eric, Braden and Sawyer for the great gift!

Awww....they really DO love each other!

These goofy boys wanted to try on Mommy's glasses - I can't believe they can see straight through those coke bottle lenses!

Here is Chef Eli proudly displaying his spaghetti creation he made at preschool when they transformed the class into a cafe for Red Day! Eli's favorite part was making his own personal pizza (with pepperoni, olives, mushrooms, and peppers) for snack!

Our weekend with the family

We had a great weekend with Bryan's parents and grandparents! Some highlights are taking Eli to preschool and then climbing through the playland at McDonald's, touring New Belgium brewery, walking around old town Fort Collins, going up to Rocky Mountain National Park to hear the elk bugling (their mating call), and having a personal tour (led by Bryan) of Colorado State University! We also spent a lot of time reading books, drawing, putting together puzzles, and eating of course!

Eli's self-portrait

Even Grandma climbed through the playland tubes with the boys!

Silas, smashing his face against the window (how many other kids have put their snotty faces there?!?)

Great-Grandpa Howard reading (another) book to Silas.

Both Grandmas helped Eli put together a 3-D moon puzzle.

Eli and Silas wanted to do some mountain climbing. Grandma and Dad stayed close, but it sure made Mom nervous!

Big Daddy Elk (13-pointer) - he was bugling away and trying to show his ownership of the 18 females that were in his herd. It was really cool to see it up so close!

Fall color in Colorado--basically yellow, but still beautiful.

An evening in the Poudre Canyon

Today we went up into the Poudre Canyon and had a picnic supper at Gateway Park with Bryan's parents and grandparents who came from Michigan for a visit. We had a lot of fun throwing things in the river and climbing on rocks and rolling in the grass! It was the perfect temperature and the park was almost empty, so we had it all to ourselves. It was a beautiful evening!

Eli and Great-Grandpa Howard going on a walk to look for pinecones.

Looking at the Poudre River (and throwing lots of rocks, leaves, and pinecones in it!)

Grandpa and Grandma Longstreet

Grandpa Jack, grilling up burgers and brats

the family photo

Eli and Silas jumped off rocks and threw around some bocce balls.

Mother and Daughter

Silas and Eli had a great time lying in the grass and pointing out things they saw in the sky.

Hives, pancakes, and puzzles

Well, it's been a busy past week for us. Poor Silas had a bad case of the hives and has been on Benadryl since Sunday. We're not sure how he got them, but they seem to be getting better. Today, Eli had his first "show and tell" experience at preschool. For the past few days, whenever I have asked him what he wanted to bring, his answer has been, "a blueberry pancake!" And when I asked him what he would tell his class about it, he said, "You eat it with butter and syrup, and it's yummy, and it's round like a ball and a circle and a planet." But at the last minute, he changed his mind and decided to bring his solarscape puzzle - a 100-piece, 4-ft. long puzzle of the solar system that he puts together on the kitchen floor about 5 times a week. I finally convinced him that he had to leave the pieces at home and just take the box. He was thrilled! He actually held the box the entire way to school (about 25 min. drive) and studied it. He is a funny kid. We've also been getting ready for Bryan's parents and grandparents to come for a visit, and they arrived this evening! We plan to do some fun things while they are here.

Below are some photos of the past week! My next challenge is to figure out how to post a video on this web site! Anyone have tips for me??

Field trip day

Today Eli's preschool class took a field trip to City Park. Families were invited to come, so we all rode the mini train (Eli and Silas screamed with excitement every time we went through the tunnel) and played on the playground. It was a really fun day. Eli started Awana Club tonight. He is a Cubbie, and he loved it! Silas is enjoying the time he gets to spend with mom or dad when big brother is busy with activities.

Eli's preschool class (he's on the right) with his teacher, Mrs. Hopkins.

Bryan was able to take a break from work to go for a few rides with Eli and Silas on the train.

Eli looking out the train window (that's Silas to the left--he wouldn't look at us!)

In the bath after a long day, Eli spelled out the names of the planets with his bath letters!

Silas, all clean after his bath.

Eli starts preschool!

Eli started preschool this week! He had a great time (except for the snack - a bologna sandwich - which he described as "sour" and "ewww!"). He really enjoyed drawing pictures of the solar system and painting a heart. He is very proud!