High Country Fletcher's: Feeling the winter storms a-brewin'!

The leaves have peaked, the air is crisp and we are getting wicked excited for winter this year. Winter last year was fun because it was our first winter with our two wild boys, but every winter from now on out with them is going to be straight up FUN, since they are old enough to enjoy it with us! Lochlan started walking about 6 weeks ago and we figure by February or so, he'll be good to go to try on some skis! We are planning on getting him some of those little fiberglass/hard plastic skis where he puts his snow boot into in the bindings. We can take him out on the bunny slope ourselves and guide him, so he can get used to his balance on skis. I think we're going to try and get Gavin in an occasional ski lesson here and there and possibly get him some used ski equipment, depending on how well he does. He is not very coordinated, so we figure skiing will probably help with that. Also, we got him a Strider pedal-less bike for his Christmas gift, so that should help as well.
Since we returned back from our New England trip 10 days ago, we have been going on hikes, playing outside, going to our buddy's, Ryder, first birthday party at an educational learning farm, having our friends from Denver come visit to see our new house and getting Gavin in to the hang of school. He started school at this little Montessori about four blocks away from our house. I asked Matt when we bought this house if we could start sending him to school there this fall, so that I can ride the kids there and back in the Burley to drop him off and pick him up. We looked into their program, and it seemed right up our alley. We told Gavin's mom we were going to send him there, and she agreed to take him there on the school days when he happens to be visiting her. He turned 3 last week, so he started his first day last Friday, the 22nd. I got him up and fed him a big, healthy breakfast (of course), got him decked out in his glow-in-the-dark Halloween shirt that I got for him last year and took a couple photos of him on the front stoop. His mom wanted to take him to school for his first day, so she pulled up a couple of minutes later and brought him. It is definitely still taking him some getting used to, but I have faith it will help with his social and developmental problems and in continually bettering him!
We have a lot going on with Halloween stuff this weekend, and I got Gavin a Thomas the Tank Engine costume and Lochlan an alien costume. I will post photos next week of the boys in their costumes and all of the different things we are doing!
Here are photos from the past week and a half since we returned home from our trip. Enjoy all!

Opening card from Grandma Ann:

Opening card and money from Joannie:

Just opened Thomas the Tank engine book from the Garvey's:

Just opened Spooky Halloween Pop-up book from the Rendall's:

Gavin seeing his birthday gift from us for the first time (the Guidecraft Kitchen Helper):

We moved the Kitchen Helper to the Great Room. When not in use, it doubles as a great puppet theater, fort and climbing gym:

Our buddy, Ryder's first birthday party at the Spotted Horse Barnyard. By the way, best first birthday I've ever been to (Thanks Jenna & Dave for such a fun day)!!!