All

Finally, Halloween

Sophie dressed up as Rapunzel for her preschool Halloween party (she’s just a little bit excited).

a preschool Halloween craft

preschool Halloween goodies

Pumpkin carving time! (Somehow we managed to not do this until Halloween. As such, we only had time to carve one. Boys, if you’re reading this as adults someday, I’m sorry. But to be fair, you wanted nothing to do with carving Sophie’s pumpkin so I’m pretty sure we would have ended up carving all of yours for you.

Sophie chose Rapunzel for her pumpkin (of course).

Sophie did much of the carving herself this year.

Done!

The boys’ costumes, on display, because they refused to wear them.

family

Grandma and Pop Pop came this year and dressed up, too! The kids loved their costumes.

All three were excellent trick-or-treaters this year. Great at saying “trick-or-treat”—still reminding them about the “thank you” part.

It was so cold. And spitting rain. James had no hat and his teeth start chattering so I made him wear mine. Warmed by the excitement of it all, I’m sure all three would have stayed outside much longer than we allowed them.

“A grandmother pretends she doesn’t know who you are on Halloween.” —Erma Bombeck

Peanut Butter Cookies & a Parade

Great Grandma came to visit—with huge peanut butter cookies. Aunt Janeil was more than willing—and got everyone else—to participate in a parade. The kids wanted to try on their costumes before my parents left. This is the only picture I have of all three of them in their costumes—the boys refused to wear them on Halloween. Still, they do make a pretty cute Rapunzel, Thomas and Percy, no?

“Cookies are made of butter and love.” —Norwegian Proverb

A Halloween Party

Before Halloween a group of friends got all our kids together for pizza and a photo shoot. Not everyone was willing to wear their costume, and not everyone was willing to sit for a picture, but it was such a fun evening regardless.

All those kids and more are on the way! Thanks, Megan and Javan, for hosting such a fun get-together.

“You wouldn’t believe
On All Hallow Eve
What lots of fun we can make,
With apples to bob,
And nuts on the hob,
And a ring-and-thimble cake.” —Carolyn Wells

Welcome, Kayla Marie Brosenne!

Beautiful Kayla was born September 8 to our good friends Mandy and Bill. Every time I’ve seen her she’s been sleeping peacefully (although I’m sure that’s not true always!). Bill and Mandy fell into parenting seemingly so smoothly … I love when Mandy talks about dancing around her house with Kayla. And although we’re done, I have to admit, seeing Kayla makes me think how nice it would be to have just one more …

“Babies are such a nice way to start people.” —Don Herold

Sophie’s Skeleton

She loves her preschool. So do we.

“If you can’t get rid of the skeleton in your closet, you’d best teach it to dance.” —George Bernard Shaw

A Playdate

First up, playing with play-doh which, ultimately,

ends up on the nose …

and the head!

Every day Sophie begs me to have her friends over.

So they can eat popcorn on the window seat.

And play fashion show/princess/dress-up on the stairs.

Sophie has so much fun at and hosting playdates … substitue Play-doh with wine and dress-up with shopping, while keeping the friends and popcorn, and I’m in.

“Little girls are cute and small only to adults. To one another they are not cute. They are life sized.” —Margaret Atwood

Track-n-Treat

While Aunt Janeil visited we went to the 5th Annual Track-n-Treat at the wonderful A.S.K. Playground in Eaton, Ohio, which my Uncle Corey raised money for and helped build through his job at the Preble County DD. Owen refused to wear his costume and ride the hay wagon, but loved all the candy. Sophie loved to swing (I think, in part, to watch her long Rapunzel hair flow). James kept sneaking candy … I think he had at least five lollipops by night’s end. After we all went to Skyline, where a woman was nice enough to inform me that I left our side van door open (again). She assumed it was my van door based on the kids surrounding me at the restaurant and the large amount of kid stuff in our van.

“Bring forth the raisins and the nuts-
Tonight All-Hallows’ Spectre struts
Along the moonlit way.” —John Kendrick Bangs

A Fall Day At a Park

Several weeks ago my mom’s sister, Janeil, visited for two wonderful weeks. She traveled from her home state of California, a lovely place to visit her, but far away. These pictures were taken on a Saturday in October at Fort Saint Clair State Park in Eaton, Ohio. My grandma was there, along with my mom and my mom’s brother Corey, and his family. We had a picnic. We walked. We played at the playground and threw leaves. It was such a nice day, both weather-wise and family wise.

“Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.” —Albert Camus

Neltner’s Farm

Pumpkin hunting at one of our favorite places.

“I would rather sit on a pumpkin and have it all to myself, than be crowded on a velvet cushion.” —Henry David Thoreau

Dinner Dance Party IV

Every year we get together with a few friends for a dinner/dance party. This year’s theme was “foods that rock” and the dinner was hosted by our good friends Marty and Angel.

Wine accompanies every course. And the food is prepared by Angel’s incredibly talented brother, Stephen Spyrou. Check out his catering business, Vertigo Catering. He’s on Facebook, too. The food, and presentation, are nothing short of amazing.

We started off with white truffle popcorn with parmesan cheese.

Tuna tartare with limon salt and pop rocks (pop rocks!) followed.

Next, arugula salad with pine nuts, halloumi cheese, kalamata olives and lemon vinaigrette.

Then, herb crusted pork tenderloin (which I failed to take a picture of).

lemon zinger tea and whiskey sorbet

poached pears with blue cheese mousse

maple bacon milkshake—this was so good

Finally, flourless chocolate torte laced with tequila.

Next, we rocked our glow-in-the-dark necklaces and danced.

And admired Angel’s fabulous eye lashes.

Thank you, Stephen, for another wonderful dinner party. And seriously, if you’re hosting anything, small or large, check out Vertigo.

I want a maple bacon milkshake now.

“Truffle isn’t exactly aphrodisiac but under certain circumstances it tends to make women more tender and men more likable.” —J.A. Brillat-Savarin