While I was away at Time Out for Women in Denver, the kids & Dad got to enjoy the first snowfall of the season! I think it snowed about 6 inches, but it didn't stick around for long.
Looks like Josh is getting ready to throw a snowball at someone.
Cute little snowman.
Emma got bundled up!
Gotta love that bright, beautiful, blue sky after it snows.
Feet in the snow.
Handprints.
I'm sure this is the first of many snowfalls to come!
We had our pictures taken again this year by the talented Rachael Sherwood. She did a great job last year, and we were excited to try out a new venue. We started out in a park in Manitou Springs.
Then took a few downtown, by the library and the shops.
Emma & Rachel both started some dance classes this fall. Rachel did dance when she was very little, then tried a variety of sports, before she decided to try dancing again. With us moving around a lot, we never really had a chance to find a good studio. Luckily, there is a great dance/gymnastics studio right here in Monument. Emma decided to give it a try as well.
Rachel takes Ballet and Modern. I think she likes the modern the best, but ballet is really good for improving your technique. She really enjoys what she is learning. I took this picture really quick one day with my cell phone, so excuse the poor quality.
Emma is taking a combo class - it's tap, ballet, and gymnastics. I'll let her decide which one she likes the best and focus on that next year. Again, another cell phone picture. I need to keep my camera handy!
Emma's class had a little "recital" for the parents. Emma's class won't be a part of the official recital in the Spring, because it is a special combo class.
Emma thinks she likes gymnastics the best, I guess we'll wait and see!
After a fun and enjoyable summer, the kids were ready to get back to school. They were also glad they got to wait until the end of August to start, instead of the beginning like their old school.
Rachel had to get up bright and early to catch a 6:56 am bus. She started 8th grade at Lewis Palmer Middle School.
David, Josh, and Emma were also excited to begin their new school year at Lewis Palmer Elementary.
Emma is a big first grader now, ready to go to school all day long.
Josh is ready for 3rd grade.
Last year, they decided to move 6th grade into elementary instead of middle school. I was glad that we got one more year before moving to middle school. David doesn't seem to have a preference but he's just excited that he can learn the trumpet.
David insisted on riding the bus to school, but I drove the other kids and got a quick picture of Emma and Josh by the school sign.
Emma's waiting for her teacher to come out and get the class.
We tried a cute, fun hairstyle for the first day.
Here's Josh with his teacher, Mrs. Hilton. He was lucky to have her last year as well!
Emma also had the same teacher as last year, Mrs. Besler. She was excited to get her name tag and wait to line up.
Here is Emma with some of her cute friends, Morgan & Dryden.
Of course I had to embarrass David by taking a picture of him as he got off the bus.
Time to go in!
And here is the very important second day of school.
Rachel and I both share a love for Owl City His music is cheerful, poetic, creative, and easy to fall in love with. When I found out he was coming to Denver, Rachel and I decided it would be fun to go to the concert. We were excited to realize it was at a somewhat small venue (standing room only).
Here's Rachel waiting for the concert to start:
It had been raining a little when we were waiting in line to come in, so imagine a full room, packed with people who were slightly damp.
We weren't too far away from the stage, it was just a little hard to see, and we had to stand on our feet for a very long time.
The concert was at the Fillmore Auditorium and they had these cool purple chandeliers.
We could have done without the first opening act, Unwed Sailor, which was just an instrumental group. Next up was Mat Kearney.
I was pretty familiar with Mat Kearney's music, and he did a great job. I think Rachel liked him as well.
After lots of hours of standing on our feet, we were finally treated to the main event, Adam Young, the creator of Owl City. Owl city is not really a band, it's more the creation of Adam Young. He does take a band with him when he's on tour, but initially it was a one man show. He writes all of the music.
And plays a lot of instruments too:
It really was a great experience! After the concert was over, and we went outside to find our car, it was pouring rain - like flooding in the streets, thunder and lighting, raining cats and dogs. Needless to say, we got extremely soaked running to the car. It just added to the experience of the night.
Here's a video of Fireflies.
Give him a listen on MOG if you want to hear some more!
Hopefully we'll be able to see him next time he's in town!
