A fall field trip

Last month Sam had a field trip to the Littleton Historical Museum. It is a working museum with animals, and gardens, and a few period buildings to show how things worked "back then". I was able to go with Sam's class and bring the boys along. We came here in the Spring with Sam's preschool class, but it was fun to come in the fall and enjoy the huge pumpkin patch and hay maze. Her teacher put together a little "Signs of Fall" scavenger hunt for the kids as they toured the museum. Sam had a really fun time trying to check off everything on her list. So, in honor of our quickly departing, beautiful Colorado Fall, I thought I would share a few of my favorite photos from that day:

We were lucky enough to have the blacksmith there that day. He showed the kids how to make rod iron decorative garden flowers. They were mesmerized! Watching him work, with his authentic, period tools, really gave me an appreciation for how people on these farms lived and worked back then. Our definition of "work" can't even compare to what their's would have been!

The boys liked the piggies.

Sam was not a big fan of the "stinky mule".

The kids in the hay maze.

Here are a few from the pumpkin patch :

Thoughts for Veteran's Day

I had to run a few errands today, and one of them took me to the post office. Of course it was closed when I got there, but until I was there I had forgotten why it would be closed today - Veteran's Day. I had noticed that it was coming up a few days ago, and thought that I needed to remember to call my dad, but until I got to the closed post office, it had completely slipped my mind that today was Veteran's Day. Then I took the kids to the grocery store after I picked Sam up from school. Right as you walk in they have a huge cupcake/cake there for anyone to have that says, "Thank you Veterans!" Sam asked me what it said and when I told her, she then asked, "Mom, why do we need to thank the Veterans? Who are the Veterans?" After I answered her, I thought a lot about it as I was going through my grocery shopping, and thought how important it is that we do take some time to remember those service men and women who have served our country in so many ways. Although not all those who have served in the military have had to serve during a war, thankfully, each and every one of them deserves our respect and gratitude for the sacrifice they make each day, as they fill a duty that so many are unwilling to share.
My family has a rich military heritage. My father is a retired Colonel in the US Army, my brother is a Sargent in the Army, currently serving in Afghanistan, both my grandfathers fought in WWII, my great grandfather fought in WWI, and one of my uncles served in the Vietnam War. This list could go on and on, not to mention many of my friends and their families who also serve, or have loved ones serving in the military. My point is, we all have similar lists. Not one of us does not have a tie to the military in some form or another, and those ties should make us proud, not only of our loved ones, but of our country as well, and the freedoms and rights that make it great. It is to those freedoms and rights of this great nation that these men and women devote their lives to protecting. No matter your opinion on the current war, or past wars, these men and women deserve to be honored and given our gratitude for not only their large sacrifices, but for their day to day service as well.
I am extremely proud of my military heritage, and for the bravery and courage my family has shown in service to their country. I am the woman I am today in large part because of my father's military service. Were it not for his choice to serve and honor his call of duty, this army brat would not have had the tremendous opportunities or desires that have so wholly shaped my life. So, thank you, Dad! Thank you, Donny! Thank you to all of you who are serving our country and making my world a better, safer place. Thank you for your sacrifices; the sacrifice of your time, your family, and sometimes even your lives, as you uphold your duty and protect what I hold most dear. You are all American Heroes!

My Father, Retired Col. Donald O. Bills
currently teaching ROTC to the next generation of Heroes

My Brother, SGT Donald O. Bills Jr.
currently serving in Afghanistan

My Grandfather, Walter Rudolph Bills
served as a pilot during WWII

My Grandfather, Ralph Mason Gerrard
served in the navy during WWII

My Great Grandfather, William Smith Gerrard
served as an infantryman during WWI

Our American Hero

My brother Donny is on leave right now for about 15 days from his tour in Afghanistan. He got home to Texas just in time for Halloween and spent a few days down there with my parents and my sister's family. On Monday he flew to Utah for about a week, but had about a 3 hour layover here in the Denver airport. I was so excited when he told me he was coming through town! I haven't seen him since last Christmas, and have been anxious for him every day since. His flight landed just before noon on Monday, so we got Sam out of school early, picked up some lunch and headed for the airport. Luckily, Mike was off on Monday so we were all able to go. The kids were so excited to see "Uncle Donny" and right when Sam saw him, she ran straight to him and gave him a huge hug! We were able to spend a few hours together while he showed us a few pictures from his base in Gardez. It was really neat to see his pictures of every day life as a soldier stationed over there. It's nice to see he actually is working, some of the time. :) After a few laps around the airport, and after trying to squeeze every bit of information I could out of him, it was time to go. Of course I was the only one in tears. No matter how big he gets, he's still my baby brother and I worry about him. Of course he assures me that he is actually quite safe over there, but that doesn't really help much to ease my anxiety. He will go back next week to finish up his time over there. He comes home for good in February, which definitely isn't soon enough. Time is flying by quickly though, so I'm crossing my fingers, and saying many prayers until then. We love you, bud!

Trick or Treat...Again...and...Again!!!

So, usually Halloween only lasts a day...well, we decided it needed to last for a whole week!
Our Halloween celebrations started last Saturday with our annual Halloween pictures. Expressions photography in Highlands Ranch does free Halloween pictures every year. I found this out our first year we moved to Colorado and have only missed one year of pictures. How can you pass up FREE!! All you have to do is bring canned good donations and you get a free professional 4x6 photo of your kids all dressed up in their Halloween costumes. It always turns out cute too! Everyone there is all dressed up and the studio is all decked out in Halloween decor. They even have a cute little pumpkin patch set up where you can take your own pictures of the kids.
After we took our pictures, we were off to Boo at the Zoo. The kids did this last year and really had a fun time. Mike had to work, so this year Heidi and Christian came with us, so we had our own little Justice League! I wish I could say we were there to see the animals, but of course not - we were there for the candy! I think the kids spotted a few of the animals between candy booths, so we weren't totally uncultured.
On Tuesday at school, Sam had crazy hair day. We had a lot of fun with it and Sam thought it was so cool - especially when everyone commented on her hair when we were running errands that afternoon.
Then, on Wednesday our ward had the Trunk or Treat Halloween Party. Mike was working again, so Heidi and I took the kids - yes, we are both often widows! Of course the kids had so much fun. I didn't even see the boys half the time we were there, since they were off playing the games with other families in our ward, and Sam hung out with her cute friend Ally just about the whole time - it was torture when I pulled her away to spend time with me. She found Ally again for the Trunk or Treating and I didn't find her until it was all done. After the boys and I had finished making the loop once, Heidi went searching for Sam and finally found her struggling to keep her huge haul in her little treat bag. That girl definitely has the concept down!
So, by the time Halloween finally arrived, the kids had plenty of candy - but of course that just the beginning! Sam had her class party on Friday morning. It was really cute to watch all the kids all dressed up working on their "pumpkin math". wasPart of the game was to guess how big around their pumpkins were, and Sam actually cut her string exactly right! What a little smarty - she definitely gets that from her dad! After school the kids were super excited to have Grandma and Grandpa Hansen come over to celebrate Halloween with us. While the kids carved pumpkins with dad and grandpa, mom and grandma were inside putting together the traditional Halloween Buffet! This is something my mom did every year when we were little, and now my kids love it. They can't get enough of the green slime!
Finally it was time for the real trick or treating - as if they didn't have enough candy already! Grandma stayed behind to pass out candy so both mom and dad could go with the kids.

(NEWS FLASH! No I am not making this up, our high temperature on Halloween was 76!!! They said it was one of the warmest Halloween's on record! I was even wearing flip flops when we took the kids trick or treating!)

It was really fun taking them around the neighborhood and watching them run up to each house with bags opened wide, shouting Trick or Treat as loud as they could! They are at such a fun age, when everything is so exciting to them - hopefully it lasts for a while!