Classic

I was a parent helper in Andy's class today for the Halloween party. I snapped a few pictures while I was there, but haven't pulled them off my camera. I also came home with this treasure.

Andy obviously had a black eye (from the neighbor's playing with beyblades in an unsafe manner).

But the face

!!

I better watch my back because I am pretty sure social services is going to be sent to us.

Seriously.

What a poor little orphan boy.

Reminds me so much of Goob from Meet the Robinsons

Brian, you better not submit this to one of those "awkward family photo" type of websites... I know it belongs there!

I seriously can't look at this picture without cracking up. When I showed it to Andy's teacher she said, "they do retakes". I replied, "Oh, NO WAY! This is absolutely a keeper!" And it is. I will treasure it forever.

A haunting we will go

The boys are off of school after their Halloween parties on Wednesday.

Thursday.

Friday.

Saturday.

Pumpkin festival, carmel apples, carving pumpkins, spooky movies, lots of art projects to do.

It's going to be a fun weekend.

Tomorrow we are going to make this snack for Andy's preschool class. I am going to try to track down some spider rings to put on one of the fingers.

Lunch idea for Thursday , day one of Russell Halloween Extravaganza

And movie night Friday night.

And hot chocolate after walking home from the pumpkin festival //idea from here//

Life with kids is so much fun!

And a few Andabear pictures, because I love him so.

Happy Birthday, Trudy and Steve

Happy birthday to my truly wonderful mother-in-law and father-in-law.

You raised an amazing son who is a gentle, thoughtful father and patient, compassionate husband.

I will be forever grateful for this.

Even from my earliest memories, you have always been kind and patient, generous and good. Marrying so young, we needed a gentle, guiding hand to help us figure things out, and you guys were just that. I love that I know you so well. That we were able to spend our first 6 years of marriage living only a few miles away. Going out for pizza on Friday. Sunday dinners on... well, Sunday. Meeting up for lunches frequently during the week. The guys golfing on Saturday, and Trudy and I spending the day together, working on projects, shopping at country stores (I miss that one in Amana!), developing a love for TJ Maxx (which still holds strong today!) I felt instantly included and part of the family, equal in all things, including love. I think I have taken this for granted, not realizing how rare a gift it was....thank you. I am so lucky to have married Chris not only for the wonderful man that he is, but also for the wonderful family that I married in to- constantly and unconditionally supportive in all things. I know I would not be the mother and wife I am today without you. Thank you. I love you.

Happy Birthday.

Pumpkin Patch

We spent the weekend in Iowa City with Chris's parents (who celebrate their birthday tomorrow!)

It was wonderful.

(more to come)

Under the weather

Nate is sick and this morning I asked him how he felt. This is how he described it for me:

"If you take a rotten egg and then crack it and mix it in to cookie dough and then eat that cookie dough. ..... that's how I feel....Yucky".

I love the mind of a 5 year old.

Sunday Night Brownies

//Recipe here//

Licking the bowl, optional.

Every Day

The neighbors, minus a few

(Andy was having a hard day)

Every day after school we meet up with the neighbor kids on the school playground.

We walk home together on our treelined streets as leaves slowly fall and dance to the ground just in front of us.

It's magical.

After arriving home, the kids drop their bags, get a snack (usually a fresh baked treat from one of the moms- today it was chocolate chip cookies from us) and go out to play until dinner while the moms lounge on patio chairs reading books or chatting, taking turns to go in and work on dinner.

Yeah, it's a good life.

This Makes Me Happy

Book 2 from artist Ursus Wehrli, The Art of Clean Up, is due out soon.

i.

can't.

wait.

The organized control freak in me is in love.

i'm not kidding. looking at these images (see more from link below) seriously make me giddy.

Strange?

//see more here// read more from NPR here// other Wehrli books here

October Roundup

//Peacock costume here// sock skeleton here// felt bat template here// Mermaid costume here//

Animal skeleton prints are fun printed out,framed, in a grouping.

A creepy, but not too scary touch.

Found here

//Explorer's bag here //disposable wooden forks here//

Happy Birthday to Me

We met up with my family at Yellowstone Lake in western Wisconsin over Labor Day weekend, and celebrated my 28th birthday. Favorite parts: s'mores and campfire stories by Grandma Jo and Chris, running trails in the morning with my dad, Nate falling in love with fishing, watching Andy and Jackson play together, dad's breakfast crepes, just spending time with the family. My, I love you guys. Thanks for thinking of me.