Thursday, November 3, 2011

First Snow

We have enjoyed beautiful fall weather here in Denver. The red maple provided a brilliant backdrop for grilling in our back yard. The tree in our front yard turned yellow and orange, with the leaves on the circumference a darker orange and the interior leaves a bright yellow.



However, this past week brought our first snow of the year as well. For two weeks in a row, Denver has given us 80-degree weather on Mondays, followed by windy Tuesdays that blow in snow clouds from the mountains, such that we awake to a world of white on Wednesday mornings. It doesn't make sense to post our fall pictures (as I am still behind on my blogging) when the ground outside is covered in white snow.




The girls are highly amused that "it is fall and winter at the same time," as the trees still hold Autumn-colored leaves beneath their snowy blanket.


Although we already had coats, hats, and gloves, I quickly figured out that we need snow boots as well. Little Katarina is fine with looking at the snow, but she hates walking in the 8-inch deep powder.


Last week's snow did not stick on the roads or sidewalks, so we had an easy walk through the Greenway to Gabi's school. I love how the sun still shines here in Colorado, even on snowy days!



The weight of the snow knocked down most of the fall leaves, so now the deciduous trees are mostly bare. The girls loved watching me "make it snow" as I knocked heavy snow (and leaves) off the branches that were weighed down perilously low.


Even on Friday, Wednesday's snow still hung around on grassy patches. It all melted over the weekend, leaving us more warm fall weather for Halloween.


This week, the snow covered the entire city, requiring snowplows to clear the roads. Even the paths on the Greenway were plowed, such that by afternoon, the sidewalks were not only clear but completely dry, and we were easily able to walk to the girls' schools.


I did have to shovel our front porch (for although it is covered, the wind blew snow everywhere) and sidewalk and driveway. Kati was happy to supervise my snow shoveling so long as she didn't step in the freezing snow.


Poor baby; her shoes quickly soaked through, leaving her socks and feet cold and wet. Thus we went inside to let her practice walking in her huge snow boots before taking a walk to pick up big sisters.


Monday, October 31, 2011

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween from Pixie Hollow! Gabi dressed as Tinkerbell, Bella as the fairy Silvermist (one of Tink's friends), and Katarina as Bumble (a pet bee for another fairy named Lily).



The girls enjoyed handing out candy at our house as much as trick-or-treating around the block.




The weather here in Denver is gorgeous, so most of our neighbors sat out on their front porches to hand out candy to the trick-or-treaters.


Poor Daddy got caught at work and missed the trick-or-treating, but he came home in time to see his girls all dressed up with their wings on, and then we video chatted with many family members before bedtime.


Michael carved a pumpkin for each girl last weekend. Kati-Lily especially loved her tiny owl pumpkin!



Only one jack-o-lantern survived the week, though, so we carved another one last night.


Gabi's school had Fall Break this weekend with Friday and Monday off, so their Halloween parade and party was last Thursday.


Halloween parade around the school


Decorating and eating cookies


Making a ghost


Bella joining in the fun at Gabi's school party

Bella's school party was Friday, even though they did have school today.


Bella and her friend Gabriela (as Cinderella)


Bella with her teachers

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Stapleton Markets

On summer and early fall weekends, the Green at the Stapleton town center hosts a flea market on Saturdays and a farmers' market on Sundays (in addition to the outdoor movie nights on Fridays).

Farmers' Market










Sweet William Market


This is my chariot (bike trailer) that carries two kids, plus my purse and goods from the farmers' market!

Monday, October 24, 2011

Outdoor Explorations

Morrison Nature Center
On Thursday mornings, Bella and Kati-Lily and I attend a free preschool education program at the Morrison Nature Center. An indoor presentation focuses on one letter each week, with interactive questions for the kids to ask the different animal (and plant!) puppets. Then we hike outside on a nature hunt, looking for the sights (or sounds) that they just learned about. The nature center also has plenty of hands-on activities and displays for the kids to explore and learn on their own.


Looking at a real bird up close


Bella dressed as a daisy


Kati wrapped in a rattlesnake pillow


Bluff Lake Nature Camp
The week before school started, Gabi attended a camp at Bluff Lake Nature Center to learn about the importance of water to all animals and how to conserve water.




Central Park
Stapleton has numerous parks and playgrounds for the kids, including this Dr. Seuss-like playground at Central Park. In this first picture, Gabi is sitting on a seat that moves down (or up) the pole as she twists around.





Skate Park
This skate park is in the Greenway right next to Gabi's elementary school.


Colorado Rockies Baseball
And, of course, we head downtown to Coors Field to watch the Rockies play baseball! This weekend back in August, Joe joined us from Boulder (although now he has moved to Germany).


Gabi took this picture of me with Joe!

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Picture Storage

I added five new pictures to the previous post (Labor Day at Winter Park). I had to use Michael's account to do that, as it turns out that I have reached the storage limit on my account. Hmm... perhaps it is time to find another image server.