Scoopin' Out

Yesterday, I decided that we would scoop out the pumpkins and have them ready for carving on Friday afternoon. We always carve them on the afternoon of Oct. 31, and it's always a little too busy by the time we do that, eat dinner, get costumes on and head out in our neighborhood. So hopefully, this will help some. The kids had a ball digging in the mushy mush and it was a gorgeous afternoon. We are supposed to have good weather all week. Our neighborhood is so much fun for trick or treating. Everybody is out together and all the parents have as much fun as the kids. I know that not all neighborhoods are like this and I'm thankful for the midwest family atmosphere of ours.



Austin, with his friend Travis





Austin cracked me up in this picture. What is he thinking about staring at an ice cream scooper?

Little boys and pumpkin guts means war!

Mischevious, but oh so cute!

Casey hard at work (I love her expressions)

Bella (with pumpkin seeds on her!)

Anniversary Dinner

On Saturday, Cary and I celebrated our 22nd wedding anniversary. We usually do not take the kids with us for our anniversary celebrations, but this year was a little different. Our first date was at a Japanese steak house down in Gator country. We've taken the kids a few times and they really enjoy the experience. We went to Ichiban's in Minneapolis and had such a good time. It's entertaining, as well as awesome food. We had our little camera and snapped some pics. Happy Anniversary honey - I love you with all my heart.

Cole took this of downtown St. Paul as we were driving through at sunset.

The Pumpkin Project

Each year at Hillside, the sixth graders get very creative with pumpkins and gourds. In the past years, I have been amazed at what they come up with! So this weekend was the "pumpkin project" weekend, and Casey had a definite "plan" of what she wanted. I, however, was a little daunted at how we'd actually achieve her plan (as usual). As everybody knows her love of the ocean, we were somehow supposed to create an ocean scene with pumpkins! We had a set of guidelines, including no carving - you could only add to the pumpkin. We had a great time this weekend working on it and coming up with inventive ways to turn gourds into fish. Daddy helped her take it in this morning. They will be on display all week, so I'll get some pictures of the other creative ideas and post them.


Presenting. . . "Under the Sea" , including a sea turtle, pufferfish, seahorse, anemones, swordfish, jellyfish, sea urchin and a clam.

Putting on final touches

Congrats to Casey & Austin

Casey and Austin both had big things to celebrate this week! Austin's football team won the championship for the season - they went undefeated! He learned so much as a quarterback this year and became "famous" for his fake hand off. Coach Vance told Austin that he hopes to get Austin in the draft again next year because his quarterback skills and quiet leadership are most desired (can you believe there is a "draft" in the 4th grade? I thought they were joking this year when I heard that). Anyway, as a mom, I loved the "quiet leadership". He was always very encouraging to his teammates and demonstrated great sportsmanship. We had a lot of fun times at the games and are very appreciative of the athletic association. This team had some great running backs that helped them stay undefeated, but more important, the coach let the boys be boys and toward the end of the season, most of their practices were the coaches and dads just playing a game of football with their boys. I think that's what set this team apart. There wasn't pressure, so when the boys went on the field, they felt confident and wanted to play their best. So congrats to Austin #66 for a great season!

The last game

We have another congratulations that goes to Casey for being elected Vice President of the Student Council at Hillside. This is her second year on student council and she loves being a part of it. Over the last few years, she has really developed a strong sense of self, what she believes, and has become aware of how she can have an impact on others. I love her student council speeches because she's sincere about what is possible and follows through on her ideas. I see her developing an interest in government and history. Unfortunately, there aren't a whole lot of great examples today. A few weeks ago, we were watching (or stomaching) the presidential debates and Casey came in to watch. She had been sitting with us about 15 minutes, and finally said "Oh my word! All they're doing is burning each other and neither one has said exactly what they are going to do." Out of the mouths of babes. She's the one of our three kids who takes a great interest in elections and politics (not sure where that comes from). Maybe one day she'll help change the world. Let's hope so.

The next two pics are from her field trip this week to Camp St. Croix. It was centered around teamwork and as you can see, this child has few fears! (Casey's on the right in the first pic and at the top in the second).

The Zoo

We had a "girls" weekend this past weekend because dad was flying and Austin went with his friend Travis to their cabin up north (yes, here in Minnesota, we can still say "up north" even though I never thought such land existed!). School in Minnesota was out last Thursday and Friday for MEA and it's always such a nice time of the year to be off - no holiday or busyness, just time off. So the girls and I went to the zoo on Saturday to see a new exhibit of Russia. It must've been the cool weather, because the animals were so active. We saw grizzly bears playing like kids in their large pool. When they would spash their paws it sounded like thunder! We also had a great time watching baby Gibbon monkeys - the mom was so sweet in trying to contain those two youngsters and to keep them from getting hurt.



Welcome to Moose Country





The Amur Leopard is almost extinct - there are approx. 30 left in the world. The beauty of their coats has caused them to be hunted to nonexistence.

A very short video of the bears playing - hope it works!

The sneak attack! 1. . .
2 . . .3!
Going to pout now . . .

Look at this sweet momma trying to keep her baby safe.

Casey, Nicole and a very cute lion - they didn't see him sneaking in - it was so cute.