They're Elmo and They Know It

It's November 5th and we've already got our Christmas lights on the house ready to turn on. To be exact, the company who puts up our Christmas lights got them done already...one of the perks--like the big early paying discount--we get to take advantage of doing it this way again. We ended up turning to a Christmas lights company last year at the last minute--and Matt still has no burning desire to go out and get a really, really tall ladder--or do all the installation himself this year--so that's the whole reason why we even have lights up at all--and up and ready the first week of November, no less. Unlike a lot of people (as I'm reading on Facebook), I LOVE celebrating Christmas early. I like going right into the Holiday Season the day after Halloween. I have no problem grouping Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years all into one, big, happy, fun season. It's all so cheery and positive, I'm partial to celebrating it all early and as long as possible. I really want to turn the switch on our lights for the house right now--but am worried our neighbors might report us, or something all bah humbug. Maybe after this weekend we can? 

My obsession. Pumpkin Spice Lattes are my ultimate favorite drink. Really, pumpkin/pumpkin spice anything is one reason why Fall is now a super close second to Summer as my favorite season. 

 We got to hang out with Maya and Cooper a lot the past few weeks. They love them so much. Everyday still, they ask if we're going to Maya and Cooper's house?

 Does she know how to pout, or what?! She's getting really good at this face. It worked, getting hugs and sympathy from Maya...

 Cole loves playing in Maya and Cooper's playroom.

 One of the times the kids and I were at Maya and Cooper's, Matt was down in Houston for work and some quality family time in light of recent events.

 Another Fall favorite: Honeycrisp Apples! What is it about them that are so crazy good?

 (an Instagram-ed pic of the pouter)

 Believe it or not, I'm doing some crafts. Well, whatever super easy craft is assigned to us at MOPS. Check out my notebook and matching pen. I also did a fall wreath with corn husks. Seriously.

 And I'm still continuing to make new dinner stuff on pinterest. These chicken parmesan mini's didn't disappoint.

 We got our first real snow--I think about 4 inches or so--the week before Halloween. Break out the electric blanket! Mario was thrilled to be out playing in it, once again.

 The kids had fun at their school Fall Festival. They were so excited to be Elmo this year. Whenever you'd ask them what they were going to be for Halloween, they'd say "Elmo Halloween". They learned the phrase, Trick-or-Treat pretty quickly and were ALL about the candy. I've officially gotten rid of all the candy as of today. They love it--and while it doesn't make them super hyper necessarily (I'm meaning like running around crazy, not sleeping, bouncing off the walls), I've noticed after a few days of it that it makes them REAL bratty! Like, more bratty than usual. They whine even more, they fight with each other more, they're super quick to yell NO back at me for anything. I've come to despise their behavior after eating a few things of their candy.
The only thing that would've made their costumes even better would be if they could walk/dance around to their favorite song "I'm Elmo and I Know It" in them. Cole was so proud wearing his "Elmo Halloween" and Camryn twirled around all happy in her Elmo or "Elmo's Dorothy" costume. I think they looked so cute!

 The weekend before, we went to Trick or Treat at the zoo. "Boo at the Zoo"! Maya and Cooper went with us and it was a lot of fun. They love anytime they get to go to the zoo and this was no exception.

 Besides that first snow, it's been pretty mild so far this Fall. Besides annoying wind, most days have been great to spend outside. I hear, though, that another snow is coming this weekend. Better continue to soak up the sun for a few more days here...

 Actual Halloween day was a great one. We had fun story time at the library, had a nice picnic by the creek in Golden, and had a fun time Trick or Treating around our neighborhood that evening. Matt took the kids around (because whenever I'm in the vicinity, Camryn only wants to be held and will cry and not go anywhere or do anything. Grrrrr!) and they did great. Once Camryn realized all the candy she could get at the doors, she was all in. Cole was even going up knocking on the doors all on his own. They both would say Trick or Treat and everything, Matt said. The next morning, the first thing Camryn said when she woke up was "Trick or Treat, Mommy!" The first thing Cole said that next morning was "CANDY!" Come to think of it, the most common thing either of them say--I mean, whine--these days now is "CANDY!"

Switching gears to another thing that's been consuming us here in Colorado--the election. Coming from Texas, I barely even remember seeing ads for anything political during election times. Guess it's pretty obvious which way Texas will always vote. I'm realizing now that although Texas is a crazy Republican place, it was so peaceful come election time because we weren't inundated with AWFUL, NEGATIVE, OBNOXIOUS political ads. Both sides are equally annoying and to blame. Not fun being in a swing state this time of year. But what is one good thing, they have mail-in voting here. One word to sum that up in my opinion: GENIUS. It was so easy and convenient, it almost didn't seem real. 

The kids had Fall pictures at their school. As usual, Cole continues to keep things very SERIOUS when it comes to his school picture poses!

 Cam's teachers do her hair so cute at school. I wish I could get her hair to look half as cute as they do. Of course, that would require her being still for longer than 2 seconds with me too. As well, as the fact that I can hardly braid my own hair--why would I think I could braid her hair decent? How cute is this fun braid in her hair? And notice the sucker--one always attached to her hand these days.

 Cole prefers to double-fist his suckers.

After these pictures were taken these two got into a hitting-screeching fight and whined at me with incoherent words for a few minutes.
No more candy in this house!

 Last Friday they had their second dance/gymnastics class. The opposite of what I thought is going on--Cole LOVES them, Cam cries through them. The first time, she wouldn't even go in the studio. She clung to me for dear life and scream cried the entire time--even while clinging on to me, not even in the class. ???? Cole had a great time and has fun doing some of the moves and talking about it at home. This past time he ran into the class-he was the first one in. I had Matt actually be the one to take them in so Camryn couldn't cling and cry to me. It worked...kind of. Camryn reluctantly went in when the teacher called her name, but cried the entire first 5 minutes. Luckily they have a nice teacher who held her during her meltdown. After she put her down, Cam soon stopped crying and had a good time in the class. The point is she went in, and stayed in the class. Hopefully she'll do the same when it's just me again taking them this Friday. Matt was a proud Dad after dance/gymnastics class so we all went to Chick-fil-A for lunch.

This weekend the kids and I are headed home for a few days for some good, quality family time. I'm seeing we won't need any jackets. Perhaps we'll get to break out some shorts one last time?