My 4 Year Old Boy!

I just love this pic my friend Betsy took of Cole.  He looks like a little Gap Model to me!  He is totally into Cars 2, Football and Golf, Justin Blackmon, OSU football, playing with his brother and his friends at school.  He loves anything FAST....or chocolate.....!  And he hates to sleep :)  

Cole, you are a sweet little man, and I love you sooo much!  It melts my heart when you tell me, "I love you MORE mommy!"....but I know that I love you the MOST!

Happy 1 Year Carston!

Anyone else feel so far behind on their blog that they'll never catch up?  Yeah, that'd be  me.  So this is going to be short in words.  Carston turned 1!  He got messy...on several occasions, but this post only highlights one episode. :)  We had a small party here at our house for his formal 1 year party.  WE had 2 couple friends over for Pioneer Woman brisket, mashed potatoes, beans, and cupcakes!  Carston was barely walking, but he could do it.  Sweet little bear!  Love him!

He looks scared...

Daddy helping him blow out his cande:

His friend, Vivi

and Hutson

YUMMY!!

Carston 11 months

Carston, you are so sweet!  You are close to walking at 11 months, love your brother, love your mommy and daddy, and are just the sweetest thing!  You say "Du" for Duck, "Do" for Dog, "Mi" for milk, and "Ba" for bottle.  Smart little booger.  Love you so much! You hated this hat, and I had to distract you so that you would wear it :)  Aunt Angela took this pic at Thanksgiving!  

Carston 9 months

 Carston at 9 months.  Smiley boy :) YOu love your brother and laugh at him when he is silly.  You like balls and cars just like him, and you two are buddies!  I hope it lasts always!

 I never tried Teething biscuits with Cole, b/c I heard how messy they were, but for some reason I thought it would be fun this go around......Messy?

Affirmative!  Did you love it, Carston?  Affirmative!  Bath immediately afterwards?  Affirmative!

Haloween and Pumpkin Patches

For Halloween, we took the kiddos on the REAL train with some friends to go to the Charlie Brown Pumpkin Patch.  Here is the train we rode from Durango, CO out to the pumpkin patch (30 min each way)

Cool, huh?

We passed a bunch of pretty fall scenery on our way out there!  Gorgeous colors!

Cole and Carston dressed and ready to go at the Train Station :)

Chris and Carston on the train

Cute little Monkey!

Charlie Brown Characters.  Cole was excited to see Charlie Brown.

Chris and Boys having fun--Cole showing us his "tatoo"

Pumpkin Tatoo

More pretty colors on the way back home

 I also took the kiddos to another Pumpkin patch where Cole got to go through a corn maze:

And Carston got to play with some corn kernels and try not to eat them :

Fun times had by all :)  They trick or treated at a church on Halloween briefly before we went and hid out at Chilis to avoid trick or treaters at our house :)  I'm not the biggest Halloween fan....  Now for Thanksgiving and Christmas--WooHOO!!!!

Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta

Chris had to work the other weekend, so the kids and I went down to Albuquerque to stay with my Grandma, and we went with my family to the hot air balloon fiesta!!  This is a big deal in NM, and the most photographed event they say!  And you'll see why if you've never been!  We got up at 4:00 to leave by 5:30 to be there at the balloon field for the ascensions at 7am.  Was well worth the effort, even though Carston refused to sleep in his pack  n play until 12:30 and Cole then fell out of bed at 1:30, waking Carston up again.  I was exhausted, but it sure was fun!

 My Grandma Mary with the boys in stroller

Me and my Cute boys at the Fiesta

One of my favorite balloons!  I just loved his glasses!

My cousins Jesse and Michael who came with us!

Cousin Summer who was Magnificent in helping with the boys!

Summer helping Cole take pics of the balloons

We had lots and lots of fun balloons to take pics of, so I'm not posting all of them, but just some of our favorites:

Aunt Kim's favorite: Airabelle the cow--she is HUGE!

The ladybug--one of Cole's fav's

Bumblebee Family-momma, daddy, and baby

Butterfly obviously

At night they have a "Balloon Glow" where they keep the balloons tethered down but lit up.  Pretty cool.  Here's a couple pics:

 Cole with his little balloon GG Mary bought for him :)

Aunt Kim and Carston

 Summer and Carston

Carston enjoying the ride earlier in the day.  :) Sweet baby did great!

WE had a blast and can't wait to go back next year!!