Visit to Anoka

Here are a few photos from our trip to Anoka, Minnesota; the Halloween Capital of the World.

Great G-ma Mimi's house in Anoka is the cookie capital of the world.
If you didn't/don't have a "cookie grandma", I'm sorry.

Cookie grandmas let you help... and let you lick the spoon, too.And cookie grandmas always have time to read you a story.
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We got over to my niece Rachel's house, to finally meet baby Owen.

Luke was intrigued by this little person smaller than himself.

Reiley practiced his lacing cards.And of course we went to the Halloween kiddie parade.

Fall Back

Theoretically, we can all get an extra hour of sleep tonight. In reality, some of us will be catching up on the sleep we lost last night driving home from Minnesota.
It was a good plan: two drivers take turns while the children sleep. Theoretically...

Actually, this trip home was much better than three night earlier traveling to Minnesota, when Luke decided to "serenade" us for half the trip. Still, it was interesting to hear the sounds of Bob the Builder and VeggieTales coming from the back seat at 1:00am.

I've already turned my clocks back, and I'm off to dreamland. Good night.

Busy, busy, busy...

I've fallen behind on this weblog. Gee, I wonder why....
Just got back from an interesting road trip with my daughter and her two little guys. Hopefully, I can get back here to sweep away a few cobwebs from my computer keyboard; right after I decimate a pile of laundry, fill the trash dumpster in the alley, and find the kitchen floor underneath the toast crumbs and Cheerios Reiley and Luke left behind.

Planning a Move

Our lives will soon be taking a whole new direction, as we plan on leaving Chicago. It's been a hard decision, after being here for over 13 years. Difficult in many ways; and the most difficult is moving away from Daniel, Andrea and Josiah. But, it's only two hours away and not the other side of the world... yet.
On the plus side, we'll be close enough to Karina, Jason and The Boys to be able to give them a hand, especially since they're expecting Two Pink Bundles in February.

We'll need jobs, so we're trusting God to provide in every detail.
It's an adventure.

Reiley wants to know when we're moving in.
Closing date: November 3rd.

Early Winter?

The view from my computer desk this morning gave me a start. Snowflakes! Nooooooooo! I'm not ready for another long, cold winter.
But I agree with my sister, that thoughts of the grandkids are a great way to warm a heart.

Just like Daddy

"Daddy's having fun with a broom."

"I have an idea..."

"Two brooms!""I'm having fun with Daddy."

"This is a big job, and I'm a big helper."

Homecoming

Last Friday we went to watch the high school homecoming parade.

Jason squeezed into this PT Cruiser as a fill-in driver. (Good thing it was a convertible. Not much leg-room, either... Jason's 6'5")

Here's Luke's reaction to seeing Daddy in the parade.

Reiley had never seen people throwing candy from cars and trucks before, and it took him a while to figure it out... ...but when they threw these "wiener balloon" noisemakers, he really latched on.

What's in Your Garbage?

On our morning jog today, we came across a full-sized billiard table that someone was throwing away. It was next to their trash dumpster in the alley behind their house. My first thought was, "How in the world are they going to get that into the garbage truck?" Here in Chicago you can throw away anything, and it magically disappears on trash day. I've seen full-sized sofas, windows and doors, piles of bricks... you name it, it's been thrown away. Just this morning during a 30 minute jog, (besides the billiard table) I spotted a computer, a toilet, a bathroom sink, a 6-foot tall/4-tier metal shelving unit, and a very large box labeled "Sleep Pants". That last item was intriguing; I wanted to go back and check out the picture on the side of the box, but PR was already several paces ahead of me, so I let it go. I'm still wondering, though...