First Snowboard

We purchased Carter's first snowboard Monday night. Got a great deal at a shop in Boulder. Carter chose the dragon board.....out of several options...he was immediately drawn to this one and could not be more proud of it. I took the kids over to Carter's section to have him fitted while Blake purchased bindings and had his board put together. As soon as we were free to go, Carter raced through the store looking for Blake to show off his new board. It was really cute.

We had planned to ski this coming weekend and now that we have our gear ready, we can. However, we're going to hold off a few weeks. As tempting as it is....Keystone opened last weekend and Breckenridge opens on Friday.....it's not the best conditions out there right now. A friend in the neighborhood went last weekend and said there was a lot of ice and not much open, run wise.

The guy at the tech shop suggested waiting, too, since Carter will be taking his first snowboarding lesson. Ice hurts to fall on....much more than powder.....so we don't want to deter his progress by making his first experience a tough one. We'll wait until after Thanksgiving to go. It will still be WAY TOO EARLY as far as local standards go, according to Belinda and many others. We don't care! By all accounts, we're still tourists in this area.

Fresh out the bath, Carter poses with his new board.

And, a close up of the dragon. He insisted that I post this.

Dinner In Boulder

A few pictures from dinner last Thursday at Jax Fish House in Boulder with Pa. It is a funky restaurant with good food and despite the minor meltdowns by the two youngest, we had a nice time.




Fall color.

The boys' favorite....the rock playground on Pearl Street.

Lainey, In Her First Dress

Since she's basically lived in footie pj's since her birth, we haven't had the opportunity to put Lainey in a dress yet. My Aunt Donna sent me this darling one recently, so I got her dressed up for dinner one night. Having a girl is so much fun!


She's also started smiling and it's just about the sweetest thing in the world.

Looking Like His Daddy

When Jack was born, he seemed to have some Clemens traits....but as he gets older....he resembles the Starnes family more and more. Can't complain!

Trick-or-Treating 2007

Lots of pictures from Halloween night.....

The 3 kiddos.



Precious Carter and Lainey.

Earlier in the day....checking out the candy to give away.

All the bags, ready to go. This is the first year Carter refused to take his spider bag....because he said it was dorky. Our biggest boy is growing up!

Filling the pumpkins with rocks.



We were thrilled to have Pa in town this year for trick-or-treating!

Lainey on her darling blanket made by Linda. It says "Lainey's First Halloween" on it.

The trick-or-treaters arrive!

And, ours are ready to go out. Carter chose everyone's costumes this year and they did a Star Wars theme. Here is Darth Vader.

And, Yoda.

And Princess Leia.

Out in the neighborhood.





The night became very much about Jack because this was his first to walk and get candy.

Here he is trying to get in this person's house. He didn't quite understand the goal for the evening......all he wanted to do was go in! He even made it to one family's dinner table, sat down in a chair and reached for a child's cup!



And, he's off!

Spooky house.





Since we were all out, we left the obligatory bowl of candy....hoping the first kid to arrive didn't empty it into his bag. I tried to discourage that with my sign....and it worked!

Back at the house.....

Pa, Blake and kids.

The fam.

Our Little Pumpkin, 6.5 weeks old.

Yearly picture of Carter in the candy.