Happy Halloween!

Preparing the pumpkin

What city family doesn't take that annual fall trip to the hardware store parking lot to choose their pumpkins? Can't mess with tradition.

As Nori said, "lets jack-o-lantern" this one! She is big on making up her own verbs including getting "cozed" into bed and "hi-ing" people on the street.

My whole house smells like pumpkin, I might throw up. Despite posing in these photos, I did not touch any pumpkin guts...I just wanted to be there for the official memory.

Someone is super excited to be a tiger for the second year running but she has already learned that "too much candy makes me sick". I love to brainwash.

Time to rest up, the big day is tomorrow!

Saga of black jeans

This is the view from my kitchen window. Two years ago we were so impressed when our backyard neighbors finally fixed up their overgrown yard after their old, mangy dog passed on. It was a glorious summer, their gardens were gorgeous! Well, things have started to slide, but the oddest thing is this pair of black jeans. They have been hanging out there for months! They started on that overhead beam but the wind storms of this week blew them into the "decor". I think I should monitor this situation and see where the black jeans end up.

Halloween party at daycare!

Lana, Nori, Josie & Dagney. Not pictured: Tammy dressed as Snow White

The classic Lady Bug and Tiger dance

Age two and a half-ish

By Cider Press Studios

Sunday from here

Watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse before dawn

Guess who is home from Winona? We were so happy to have her back, despite her cranky attitude...must have been the gummy withdrawals. She won't say much about her trip but judging by her 4 hour nap yesterday, I think she had fun. Thanks Gramsie Hol, Grandma Liz & Grandpa Steve for taking care of her!!!!

Ever heard of a game called Settler of Catan? We have a date to play this with our life group and I am told, "it's really easy for smart people to pick up". Oh, S-H-I-T! I have a lot of good qualities, but picking up strategy games, staying up late, attention to detail, running & high impact sport, caring about action movies, math, proper grammar, punctuation & spelling, fashionable footwear, and drinking beer are not one of them. Shout out to my new reader Marie who is also playing SofC and thinks my blog is funny. Finally, someone who gets me..
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Another party!

Pizza party and bonfire! Make your own pizza bar, cheesy artichoke dip, salad and Smore's with some of our favorite people (most of them anyway). The kids even told spooky stories about rockets ships flying to the moon and witches in the forest. Pat is going to go as Don Draper for Halloween, pass the booze. We got to see the Ho's remodeled bathrooms and new mudroom/laundry room...ooh la la!

Julia with Child

Last night was Rachael & Joel's final elaborate dinner party before their baby is born. While anyone else would be curled up on the couch, she made a gourmet truffle dinner party for 12 with wonderful mushrooms Joel brought home from Amsterdam: Fillo crawfish appetizer, Manchego, wine, amazing salad with truffle oil, mashed potatoes, and red snapper. Perhaps the classiest part of the night was when I made the defleshed snapper open up and chew it's own eyeball.

Ready for relaxing day at home with the fam, you should be too!

Happy Wednesday!

I don't really have anything to say, but I thought maybe you missed me, so "hi". My babe is in Winona this week spending time with her beloved grandparents. It was kinda of a last minute plan, spontaneous even. She won't even talk to us on the phone, she is too busy having the time of her life. Yesterday, Gramsie took Nori to Bloedow's for a pretty sprinkle donut AND a pumpkin cookie. Today they were baking chocolate chips cookies with Papa Michael and Darlene. Don't forget the FRUITS and VEGETABLES!!! Just wait til Grampa Steve gets his gummy bear paws on her. Grandma Liz is hanging with her for the next two days and hopefully we can arrange a retrieval sometime on Friday.

Jake & I are kinda at a loss for what to do with ourselves without her home. We did rediscover that we have a dog! Where has she been for the past 2.5 years? I do miss waking up to my little pajama head in the morning begging for milky and her toys look so lonely strewn about the house where she last left them. However, I am happy she is so secure and in love with everyone over the age of 55 in Winona.