Happy Halloween

I can't wait to see how trick-or-treating goes in a real neighborhood vs figuring out from our plot in the woods these past few years!

Our Artist

Elaine brought this back from her drawing class the other night.

I was pretty impressed.  She admitted the teacher helped her with the shading.  But still, impressed. She said the only thing he added was a few extra branches on her tree.  

 

And the next day, she began tattooing her sister.

 

The turtle with the big eyes at the top of Alida's arm, crazy cute.

Friends for the Weekend

Since we live a little closer to the rest of the world now-days, we have the pleasure of hosting a few more weekend visitors.  This time a friend of mine and her kids for the weekend.  So we took the train into the city for a rainy day.

 

And then a bus. 

Nicholas was a touch tired from staying up the night before.

 

To the Museum of Science and Industry.

Note to self--it closes at 4 pm every day.  We didn't have much time after we finally made it there, but we made the best of it!

 

Then we snuggled in and it rained a lot.

A good time to just hang for a few hours.

 

Columbus Day

Daddy took a nap.

And the kids headed to Six Flags with a local group.

When I asked about all the great rides they went on, they didn't do the Viking Boat Ride, I was visually disappointed.  Then I was admonished by the children for not going with them.  Wonder how much longer I'll get those requests.

Flu Shots

Are not at all this fun.

This is sheer panic making them giggle as we waited.

Then from the little room at the Walgreens, it sounded as if there was a murder taking place.  The woman giving us the shots couldn't retreat nearly as quickly as she wanted to.

This Game

I watched it for a minute before shutting it down.

Tie the dog's leash to your ankle.

Have your brother throw a tennis ball.

Be drug across the lawn in chase of the ball....

Slave to his own Style

2016

 

2017

Charcol Masks

Because every girl needs this sort of spa day.

Creepy.

Halloween

Is coming.

Knockerball

One Fall Sunday afternoon, we suited the children up in large balls and sent them out to play soccer and various field games at the park near our house.

 

Hilarity ensued.  But not before we had to drag them all there because they were convinced they didn't want to do it. 

 

It didn't take them long to figure out they were wrong.

 

And then there were smiles.

 

And then we became comfortable there, and began attacking outside of our knockerball outfits.

And, so we knew, as usual, we were done.

2017 Hunting Trip One

He came home with nothing. I didn't weep.

He did help his friend haul in a doe for processing, watched two bucks spar, and shot at a turkey.

The Bulls

Four free tickets to a Bulls pre-season game from the neighbors?

Yes!

Aldia at a birthday party with mom as taxi, left four for the game--perfect amount of tickets.

 

Elaine--definitely the most excited for the game. 

She heckled the teams along with the best of them. And she single handedly cheered the Bulls to victory.

 

And then taped all things she brought home to her door--calendar, shirt, tickets, the parachute she caught with the things.  And yes, she even taped her cup up there.

 

Flashback Friday: September 2009

I will never, ever forget taking this picture.

It had been a very long weekend while Patric was away at National Guard on the other side of the state.

Let's just say, this may have been the only time there were any smiles that weekend because it had been a long one.

 

And then along came Sunday night at bedtime, daddy still not home, and there is a sudden outbreak of sweetness throughout the brood.

 

That.  That would melt away 47 crap hours in a heartbeat, and it still does.

After New York

I was up for sunrise coffee with my parents in Minnesota for a week.

 

Where there was some fishing for Northerns.

 

Even I managed to haul in one or two.

 

And the days were cool and bright,

 

And the nights cold and clear.

 

It was a good quiet to round out the month of here and there.

The kids--I hear all went well.  There were no pictures sent...but everything seemed in order upon return.

September Breaks II

Before New York, there was a solo drive here for Labor Day Weekend.

 

Yard Pick-up

Exterior cleaning

Porch washing

Wood hauling

Picking up all the things the movers left

And general 12 hours of audio books, quiet, and work.

September Breaks 1

Patric and I snuck off to New York for a few days to celebrate our 20th anniversary.

 

And while we were at the Met, looking at some artistic sorts of masks,

 

The girls went to Target with grandma, and looked at some masks of a different sort.

 

Then they made a cake with grandma.

A bit more normal-ish.

Thank you grandma!