Halloween 2012

Trick-or-treat!

Smell my feet!

I would love to have something good to eat!

say the fairy

and Captain America!

Happy Halloween, everyone!

Blue Blaze and Mr. Fabulous

Earlier in October the Justice Confederation met for our annual meeting. Blue Blaze and Mr. Fabulous were in attendance.

As were Rabbitron and Shiver.

The usual suspects were there to lend their hand in trying to find the notorious villain, Da Bomb.

Nerdon was the only one who knew where Da Bomb was, and ended up being poisoned.

Then it was up to us to figure out who did it. Imagine my surprise when I found out it was me! Blue Blaze was the one who had killed Nerdon.

It was also me who knew where Da Bomb was...in my garage!

The weekend was a fun one because of this superhero murder-mystery piece. It's always nice to try something different that we wouldn't otherwise do. I mean really, who would wear those eyelashes just because? Maybe someone...

A Friend

Sometimes people say friends come and go. Or at least I've heard it said. I'm not sure who said it, but I believe them. Sometimes. But sometimes friends are here to stay. Those are the best kinds of friends.

Tonight I saw one of those friends. She's the kind of friend who will be there always. Like forever. And ever. She'll never go anywhere no matter what happens. She knows everything there is to know about me. Inside and out. I can't lie to her. She can't lie to me. Ever since we connected things have been like this. Starting in middle school, through high school, college, and now into adulthood (never thought I'd use that word), things are the same. Do you have that kind of a friend? Everyone should.

There have been times where we would see each other almost daily or talk on the phone for an hour or two, even after having just been together. And then there are times when we've gone many weeks between talking or seeing each other. Sometimes even months-life happens! But she's that forever friend. The stand by you friend. The I like to hear the good and the bad in life friend. The kind of friend everyone needs.

As an adult-and as an adult with kids-and as an adult with kids who is starting to meet my own kids' friends and their families, sometimes I feel lost. Like I'm stuck. Which way do I go as an adult making new friends? It's weird. To try and make new friends as an adult. But I've realized we're kind of forced to do so. I can't take my high school or college friends with me wherever I go. They can't live right next to me. Their kids can't go to the same school as our kids (although that would be neat!). I have to branch out. And sometimes I feel stuck. Are there other people like me who would want to be my friend? What if we don't get along? I almost feel like I'm back in high school. I try to put on a good face and try my best at making it work. But it's hard! And then I see a forever friend.

Like tonight. Where I can be myself. Ask those personal questions-make sure she's ok, her family is doing well, work is going ok (we didn't even talk about that tonight!)-and just be friends. There's nothing I have to impress her, and the feeling is mutual. We can be ourselves. I can love on her kids and she on mine. And it's easy. I love my forever friends, and nights like this are nights I wish to have much more often.

I'm leaving, on a jet plane

Tomorrow!

I can hardly wait to get out of town with this guy.

Heading to Chicago for the second time ever and we're trying to make it different than the first. You know how you go places over and over because they're your favorites? Yup. That's me. I'm a creature of habit. I know what I like (yummy pizza from I can't remember where in Chicago-starts with a G) and I stick to it. I know we'll go here

and probably back here

just because we I loved them both. I know J loved "The Bean," but could probably do without dessert. Ahem...he's married to me, so we'll have dessert. Just to make that clear.

But I also know we'll try some new places. Fun places. Places I'll want to go back to the next time we go. Whenever that is...

But we're leaving, and I can't wait! I am ever so thankful to grandparents who are close. But more than that, who LOVE having our kids. So thanks, Mom & Dad, for taking the kiddos this weekend! Not sure who will have more fun...

Pool Time

We had a lot of pool time around these parts this summer. Boy did we ever! J and I weren't quite sure about getting a pool pass at the beginning of the season, but I can tell you that we will be back and do it summer after summer after summer. See, our kids turned into fish. Fish with goggles. 

There was going down the slide. There was swimming in the shallow end. There was swimming in the "baby" pool-which secretly I'm sure the kids still love because of the water spraying everywhere. There were snacks eaten. Sunscreen was applied...and applied...and applied again (with no burns, might I add!). Friends swam with us too!

And swam they did! By the end of the summer the kids and their friends had all passed the swim test, no doubt due to the fact that we were at the pool 2-4 times a week. Passing the swim test means they all got to jump off the diving boards by about the middle of the summer. Hooray! That was their new favorite for the second half of the summer.

The deep end is where you found our fish kids. No more going where we can touch. They were all about the diving boards, doing flips under the water, jumping off the sides...all things to be done in the deep end.

Yes, our summer was spent at the pool. That is when the kids weren't at camp, church or the cabin. The pool was definitely a highlight for everyone. When asked what their favorite part of summer was, the pool is usually their answer. And that is the best answer to give with so many good memories made together!

Apple Time!

It's that time around here. Apples abound! About 4 weeks early at that. Some years are like that, I suppose!

We made our way to one of our favorite orchards the other weekend.

Actually, I'm pretty sure it's the only orchard I've ever been to. It's a small one. Cozy. Not a lot of frills.

Not a lot of extras. No, "Better bring more money because the hayride is this much and the corn maze is this much and the bouncy house is this much." Nope. Just apples. 

And a little hay.

But mostly apples.

Really, the apples were almost gone! Usually the orchard has about 15 different types of apples. When we were there 2 weeks ago there were only 3 left to pick off the trees. The rest of them had all been picked (in the beginning of AUGUST!). Who wants to go to the orchard in the beginning of August? It's still summer! But now we know. We still ended up with baskets filled and heavy at that!

Either way, we had a great time. We found some Honey Crisp apples which is one of our favorites.

It was really fun watching the kids this year because they could actually reach some of the apples.

Of course some of the best ones were up high...thank goodness Daddy was with!

Upon leaving the orchard J and I realized we hadn't been to the orchard last year.

The kids didn't remember going as a family. So we're really glad we made a point to go this year. And the best part is...I made my first apple crisp, with success!