Friendswood Halloween

Sean the Lion plays with his Halloween countdown calendar

Friendswood's Chamber of Commerce held its 8th annual Halloween party Thursday at Stevenson Park in downtown Friendswood. Grandma, Dziadziu and Joanne came with us, as well as Rhonda and her 3 kids. I drove through the crowds on the way home and so new it was better to walk (downtown is 2 blocks away :-) )

We expected 3 or 4 booths with a couple of hundred kids. Instead, it was HUGE. There were probably 35-40 booths with at least 1,000 kids. The booths were run by area organizations and businesses that handed out candy and flashy trinkets. The kids loved it.

Sean walks towards the festivities

Sean and the parrot (?) size each other up

Sean and the Parrot (?) decide to be friends. Sean was awestruck by the giant bird.

Rhonda with her brood

Abby's 5th Birthday

Princess Abagail Turns 5!

Abby tries to help Sean smile

It took a lot of work but Abby got all the candles to go out

Sean and Morgan investigate

Wrapping Up Our CO/WY Vacation

Friday we headed out from Lander back to Denver. We took a scenic detour through the Snowy Mountains in southwest Wyoming.

Partly frozen lake in Snowy Mountains

Anida, Daniel and Rachel in the cold

Rachel and Sean in the double stroller

Daniel, Sean and Rachel contemplate all the leaves

Sean and Rachel help clean up leaves

Thursday in Wyoming

Thursday morning we woke up in Thermopolis, ate breakfast and then went to the Dinosaur Museum. It was surprisingly well stocked with fossils and bones, however it still only took 40 minutes to see it. Daniel, Sean and Dave had the most fun.

We then headed south to Dave's Uncle Phil and Aunt Bonnie's ranch. The kids had a blast riding around on Phil and Bonnie's horse drawn wagon on their property, seeing the scenery, cows and horses.

We had dinner there and feasted on homegrown steaks. The kids all fell deep asleep on the ride back to our hotel in Lander.

Sean and Daniel "read" about Anklosauras dinosaurs - Dave's favorite

After getting rather lost, our traveling party arrived at Dave's Uncle Phil and Aunt Bonnie's ranch. Here they are driving their horse drawn wagon to meet us at the gate.

Barb, Sean and Daniel ride to the house with Phil and Bonnie

After we got everybody to the house we all went for a 2 hour ride on the horse drawn carriage. Here is Bonnie holding Daniel at the front of the carriage while Phil drives.

Here Bonnie sits with Barb, Anida, Daniel, Sean and Rachel on the back of the wagon.

Sean takes a turn up front in his snow/mud boots.

Rachel reaches out to pet a horse while Anida, Bonnie and Daniel look on.

Daniel and Sean look like they are doing something they should not be doing...

Sean admires the mounted moose heads in the living room. I think moose is now one of his favorite words.

Pastas and Wheatleys in Wyoming

A people photo focused blog update for Grandparents, etc. Nature photos to be posted later.

We left Denver for Wyoming Tuesday morning.  A brief stop at the Cheyenne public library was great fun for the kids.  They have a great children's section with wonderful interactives for kids.  We then traveled relatively uneventfully through eastern Wyoming.  We  stopped at Ayer's Natural Bridge State Park. The most fun there was the playground with TWO merry-go-rounds (which have been banned from most playgrounds for 15+ years!) No injuries were to be had, except for Sean who fell backwards down the stairs on the MODERN play structure.



We got into Thermopolis late on Tuesday and ordered pizza in. We had a pizza party in the Wheatley motel room and then a bounce party.


Tuesday morning we went to the Hot Springs Park. The kids had a blast in the many pools, inside and out, and the outdoor slide. The indoor slide scared Dave, but Barb and Anida liked it.

After the first visit to the Hot Springs we took a "Driving Nap" for the kids. Ah, bliss.

In the afternoon we made a second visit to the hot springs, again the kids loved it.

Bubble Bath Time

Sunday night the kids got to take a bubble bath in the jacuzzi tub. For Dave it was the most fun of the trip so far. The kids all had a blast.

Daniel shows his diving skills

Beer Festival and Friends

GABF Crew: Oystein, Eric, Barbara, Monica, John, Elizabeth, Tim, David

Friday evening we all went to the Great American Beer Festival featuring 1,800 beers by 400 breweries. We had one first timer, the rest of us have been many times. Eric and Dave have been 11 years straight and Dave attended once before that in 1994. Our crew featured 3 Norwegians, an Italian, an Irishman and folks who live in California, Wyoming, Texas, Michigan and Colorado. (Jan Robert is behind Monica holding a beer above her head.)

Texas did not do so hot this year, getting only three medals:

• Gold Kellerbier/Zwickelbier: Helles Keller, Fredericksburg Brewing Co., Fredericksburg, TX
• Silver Kellerbier/Zwickelbier: Hell In Keller, Uncle Billy’s Brew & Que, Austin, TX
• Silver Munich Style Helles: Saint Arnold Summer Pils, Saint Arnold Brewing Co., Houston, TX
  

Sean Tickles the Ivories

Saturday was our hosts', the Wheatleys, annual chili cook-off. Dave reportedly won for the 3rd year in a row with a new entry: Potato Chili. Many of the Wheatley's friends attended, including the extra 8 adults and 2 children staying at their house. Thanks Eric and Anida!

Dave's day was also consumed by the Texas-OU game. It started at 10am Colorado time so for the first time in 39 years of life he ate pancakes while watching football. Texas won and Sunday was vaulted to No. 1 in the country in both polls due to losses by Missouri and LSU. Dave may eat pancakes during every game from now on!

Rachel and Sean Nap in the Stroller.

Sunday was a day of rest and walks. Most folks headed home from Denver. We continue to visit with the Wheatleys. Tuesday all of the Pasta's and Wheatley's, minus Eric, are headed to Wyoming to visit Thermopolis and Dave's Uncle Phil and Aunt Bonnie in Lander, where they got 1.5 feet of snow yesterday.

Sean and Rachel at the Playgound at 39F

Colorado 2008 Part 1

We are on our first day of a 1.5 week vacation to Colorado and points north. We flew into Denver at about 3pm and had a nice autumn day at the Wheatley's house.

Daniel, Sean and Rachel taking a bath

Sean eats his first crispy taco

Sean and Daniel play with a wheel barrow

Sean in a Wheatley kid car

Pasta New House

We started the move into our new house last Saturday. The major move by contract movers was Monday. It was only Friday that we had internet and TV hooked up through AT&T.

The move was tough and we do not want to do it again anytime soon.

The new house is awesome. The extra space is great. Sean loves it. Thursday we went back to the old 'Hood to watch the VP debate and afterwords went by the old house to check the mail. As soon as we pulled into the driveway Sean got upset and said: "No! New house. New house!

Unfortunately the contracted buyers of the old house have backed out due to a plumbing inspection that indicated $8,000 in repairs were needed. The real number is probably closer to $2,000 and we will have done next week.

Sean starts at Friendswood Montessori tomorrow. Thursday we fly to Denver for a 11 day vacation. After that the turmoil should be over. Sean is a trooper for what he has put up with for the past 4 weeks.

Sean sleeping after a walk in the breezeway between the house and garage.

The garage with room for a car! Barb is so happy.