Treatsylvania '10

A sneak peek at our theme of costumes this year....
For the second year in a row, we just took the little ones to Treatsylvania at the Farm. It was mild weather so quite a nice evening. Niko was hilarious, as usual. He wouldn't wear his red cowboy boots but was still super cute checking everything out and getting into going 'door to door'.

Tyla transformed into a veteran trick or treater this year- she was so focused! She kept telling Niko, "No eating your candy! That's at the very end!" He didn't quite get it though.

Diego had a halloween party to go to on Saturday so we were under the gun to get his costume complete up to his standards. 

A big thanks to Mallory for coming over Friday and Saturday to get the older two's ensembles in shape! SO much help!!! Can you believe she created this headdress and transformed a vampire's wig to Indian hair?? AMAZING!

Employee of the Year

SUPER proud of Keith for this huge honor last week! I think his assistant coach summed it up best when he said, "Heck, Keith got an award for being himself!" Keith is naturally SO good working with kids with special needs. He treats them like everyone else, giving them a hard time and pushing them to do all they can do. Just another reason why we love Keith!!!

http://www.coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=201010220305

Kayla is a senior this year and has been a team manager for two. Eric Sampson is a 2000 grad and Keith's right-hand man with softball, basketball refereeing, as well as baseball. Heck, Sampson helps out with football and basketball at FCHS, too! A true Super Fan and manager!

Employee of the Year

·         Nominees:  Anita Miller, Michelle Miller, Ella Gifford-Hawkins, Terra Eyl – all of the Larimer County Workforce Center

·         Award Winner:  Keith Aragon, Fort Collins High School Teacher and Coach

The Commission is please to recognize Keith Aragon, teacher and coach at Fort Collins High School, as Employee of the Year.  Keith was nominated by Rosanne McDonnell who says of his contribution:
            ‘Many times, the disabled community is not able to participate in athletics at the high school level; however, Coach Aragon has found ways to have disabled students and graduated students be “part of the team.”  He currently has a developmentally disabled student and a disabled graduated student acting as team             managers/dugout managers for the varsity girl’s softball team.  He includes them in every practice, assigns them jobs, and gives them responsibilities that are typically reserved for other coaches or team helpers.  Coach Aragon is a great role model for the players as well.  This act of including these two in managing the       team also helps the players to accept, include and realize that a disabled person can be able.’
For his exemplary work as a teacher, coach and advocate for students with disabilities, the City of Fort Collins Commission on Disabilities recognizes Mr. Keith Aragon as the 2010 Employee of the Year.

Happy Birthday, Keith!!

Keith turned 45 yesterday (gasp!)... where does the time go?
He didn't get to celebrate a state championship like back on his birthday in '98. That's okay; I think he still had fun getting a flat screen TV and some new Nikes.

Oldies but goodies- 1st grader age 7, three years old, HS senior class of '84

1st Field Trip

Tyla was super excited last week to go on her first field trip for preschool!

If she had it her way though, she would have been able to go to class thereafter as well.

This girl can't get enough of preschool!

We met at Bartles Farm which was super sweet in north Fort Collins. There was a cute 'petting zoo' on the farm- pigs, ducks, goats and such. Niko couldn't stop watching this ostrich. He kept pecking his hanging food basket and it would swing up and around. Niko would start laughing uncontrollably.

He laughed so hard one time, he fell backwards. Too funny!

The night before the field trip it rained. By our 10am meet up, it was beautiful outside but yick, yuck, muddy!!! It was up in the air if we were going to be able to have our tractor pull hayride. 

No one wanted to get stuck out in the corn maze! But it all worked out!

I have pictures just like this when Diego went on his preschool field trip many moons ago, and Tatum got to tag along. The little siblings just blend right in and get treated like one of the 'big' kids. They love it!

Goin' to State!

Keith's Varsity Softball players have advanced to the State Playoffs!

Their first game is Friday at 10am in Aurora.

Please note the upgrade to the dugouts this year! The district finally officially 'enclosed' them and one of the player's grandma painted the awesome sign!!

 Watching from the side so the little ones can run around during the game.

 Tatum the official Bat Girl! She gets to miss Friday from school to ride the bus and help her team to victory!! Think she's a tiny bit excited??

 Tatum is sitting on Kate's lap. She's our stud sophomore catcher (red head power!) and my kids' new best friend. Her mom, Marie, is team manager extraordinare! There was no school last Friday so after an early softball practice she took all four of my kiddos for over four hours and spoiled them rotten. What an amazing treat for Keith and I!!!

 Although Niko is crazy for football right now, he still can't get enough of baseball either! 

 How funny is this? During senior recognition on the field, Niko broke into the dugout and started putting on Kate's catcher gear. One of the coaches saw what was going on, snicked over, and helped him complete his outfit. When Niko walked onto the field just in time for the National Anthem, he truly stole the show. Priceless!

We're hoping for the best for Friday and Saturday! Go Collins!!!

FCHS Homecoming

 Another great FCHS homecoming!!!! On Thursday, we had a fun senior softball dinner at the field and then attended the school bonfire. The pep assembly was on Friday morning and the game was that night. Collins rocked cross-town rival Poudre!

Niko had SO much fun at the game. Don't know where his energy was coming from but he ran up and down the sidelines the entire second half. I think he thought he was part of the team!

The dance was Saturday night and Keith chaperoned once again (with the kids' help of course!). 

Diego's friend Ian was there too (his mom chaperoned as well).

 Being silly before the crowds arrived.

Tatum made the decision to change out of her flower girl dress into this diva dance outfit. She thought it was a perfect outfit choice for a night of dancing. AHHHHH!

Little Cubs

This mother of four is pretty overwhelmed at times trying to get her children to settle down and behave. Lots of energy only adds to the chaos.

I like the way one mom put it while observing my children on the sidelines of Diego's football game. "They're just like little cubs!" If you want to describe their 'play' fighting and wrestling as such- I like it!

Farm Festival

A friend of mine alerted me to a cute little farm in Loveland that hosts a farm festival two days in October. We went on Sunday and had a great time!

The kids were weirded out with this 'warty' pumpkin. They were certain someone glued them on!

Loved the barrel train ride- such a cute idea! They all wanted to do it again and again.

There were cute little booths and tables set up around the farm selling goods and such.

Face painting, tractor-pull hayride, pumpkin patch, and face painting... what fun!

What an amazing view!

This one's for my mom... "Hey, where'd you get your wedding dress?" 

"Oh, I got it at a farm!"