Lady Liberty and the Zombie Cheerleader

Happy Halloween! 

It's crazy to think it's already time for this.  Thankfully that snow we got the other day didn't stick around and although it's a chilly fall day, we know it could be so much worse.

Just like past years Dave got his trailer hooked up with hay and lights.  There are now so many kids in the neighborhood they could hardly fit!  Might be the end of the neighborhood ride to collect candy.  It's a good problem to have and now that the neighborhood is built up and the kids are older it probably wasn't making much sense to continue to drive them around anyways.

This year Hailey knew exactly what she wanted to be so we went out on the hunt for a zombie cheerleader costume while Hannah wanted to see what was out there before she decided.

Family Breakfast

Today the Anderson's had us over for a family breakfast for the early morning Vikings game.

I love our extended-neighborhood family.  We are so fortunate to have moved to such a great place surrounded by great people.

V-Ball 2017

Hannah has enjoyed playing softball through CDAA.  Mostly because Sammy also plays but whatever gets her there is fine by me.  The girls are having fun together and it's fun to watch them get better every game.

We also got to spend some time with Chloe today- those are always our favorite days.

Not Ready

We know it's coming.  Every year.  We know.

But that doesn't mean we are every ready for it. 

This year it seemed to come way too early.

The girls were very excited to wake up to see a yard full of snow.  They were thrilled!

Hopefully this will melt soon and we can finish fall.

I made the TOP OF THE LIST!

This may be the only time in history when I am at the TOP of Hailey's list.  It might not even last for more than one day and there's a very good chance that I have already dropped a few spots but in that moment, I was top.  YES!

Hailey has always been a daddy's girl and has never been too shy to admit it.  She has never held her real feelings back which makes this moment that much more special.  

On another note, slime.  Everywhere I go, slime.

If I am not picking up after it or making sure it's put away.  If I am not watching it form through it's production on my center island or looking for tupperware containers I am hearing about it.  I am being shown YouTube videos, Etsy shops, Snaps....wonder when this fad will be over?!

Grandma's Daycare

Grandma Doris, Bob, Grandpa Dan and Grandma Chris watch Davis and Charlie every Monday and other times during the week when they are needed.  It's hard to know who is enjoying this more.  The kids, the grandparents or the parents that get to leave their kids with the grandparents and cousins.

Every chance that my kids get to hang out at 'daycare' when they don't have school they JUMP at it.

They love being a part of the daycare and I hear they are super helpful when they are there :-)

I love that these kids get to spend so much time together.

Documented

Time to close up the cabin for the season.  As we were cleaning up the cabin I came across this beautiful piece of artwork that has been sitting on the dresser in our room.  Hailey wrote this a few years ago and I couldn't stand thinking of parting with it.  I finally decided tonight that I should just snap a pic, post to the blog so it can be documented forever.  Now it can get thrown away.

Not sure why I do it or when it started but from as long as I can remember I have a habit of burying my nose in my shirt.  I think it relaxes me and keeps me warm.  I sure hate it when my nose is cold.

Pumpkin Nights

Tonight Sara and I packed up the kids, went to Snuffy's for dinner and then went to the Fair Grounds to walk through Pumpkin Nights.  There was a path to follow that was lit up with thousands of hand carved pumpkins.  As you walked through there were different themes.  It was super cool!

Your turn

It's the backdoor's time to get a makeover!

Now we just need to get the sliding door in the dining room open and we will be FULL of fresh air!

Sleepovers and slime

I think we officially have enough slime in this house.  For some reason these little children of mine just keep making it.  Fluffy slime, with beads, without beads, scented, butter slime, floam, the list goes on and one.  I for one am not a fan of this stuff but it is all the rage and don't want to be the fun-killer so I swallow it down and let them go at it.

Both girls had friends over tonight, of course they made slime and forts.

Beef Gelatin

Steve's sister went to the World's Largest Candy Store and picked up a case (yes, a case) of candy cigarettes.  We got together at Katie's tonight for a cocktail and she pulled out the 'smokes'.  We were curious as to what these things were even made of and checked out the ingredients.  Beef Gelatin?! 

Ahhhhhh, fresh air

This has got to be one of the best purchases we have ever made.

We got a phantom screen installed on the front door and it is amazing to be able to open the front door and let the fresh air in.  I love that the retractable screen allows us to keep the bugs out but also not block our front door.  I love the look of the wood front door and didn't want a screen door that would block it.   I love sitting on the couch and being able to see outside.  Hope it stays nice forever!

Stop and smell the roses

Happy 14th Anniversary to Brian and I!

Celebrating Mia

Today Hannah and some of her friends went rock climbing for Mia's Birthday.

McKenzie T, Mia, Hannah

Megan, Ava and Leisy

Pretzels as big as your face

The day started off at the National Sports Center in Blaine where the girls had their first game at 7 am.  When we got to the field, it was so dark and early that the parents had to shine their car lights onto the field so the girls could warm up.

The day ended with the Chris Stapleton concert!

Sara and I sat together and Steve and Katie sat in a different section but we all went together and stopped in at New Bohemia for some cocktails and a bite to eat.  We shared some appetizers and of course had to get the pretzel!  Yum

As for Stapleton, he was AMAZING!  I wouldn't have expected anything less.

Ski U Mah

Joel and Denise took the girls to the U of M Women's Soccer Game tonight.  It is so fun to get pictures from Hannah's friends parents when they are out and about.  They had a great time!

Hey...Hello...!!!???

I secretly love that my kids text me from within the house.  As a matter of fact, our whole family texts from within the house.  I hate trying to call out for someone and sometimes you are just too comfortable to move or just too lazy to walk upstairs.

Tonight Hannah wanted me to tape her fingers together.  She jammed her finger and even though we used a Popsicle stick to tape them together she apparently needed more sticks and more tape.

Not sure what I was doing to not notice this text for 5 minutes but she was getting really impatient- oops, sorry Hannah.