Rumspringa

Once again, we were fortunate to be included in Angie and Jorg's annual pumpkin carving festivities at Rumspringa. We've been looking forward to it since last year, and the day did not disappoint. The weather held out nicely so we were able to get in all sort of Norman Rockwell-esque activities including, but not limited to: enjoying breathtaking vistas of rolling hills, changing fall colors, streams and fields. Feeding horses with apples picked fresh off the tree. Playing gleefully on giant hay bales. Second...ok, third, helpings of delicious chili, corn bread muffins, and a life-time supply of candy. Tractor rides around the never-ending property. And of course, carving home-grown pumpkins into our very own Jack O' Lanterns.

Exhausted two-year old dropping off 15 minutes into the drive home: check.

Rumspringa in all her glory.


Our little musicians.

Belting it out with daddy.

We heart Elliot. Can you blame us? Just look at that face!

We see horses!

Hello Glenn.

Finally, it's time to carve us some punkin's!

I'm supposed to carve this?

I sigh deeply just thinking about this day. Thank you so much Jorg, Angie, Coco and Elliot!

Let the cookie season begin!

It snowed today. Really snowed. Seemed as good a day as any to make cookies. I used this opportunity as a practice run for the upcoming holiday season. Since this is my first foray into cookie decorating, I took Alissa's advice and used store bought dough, which freed me up to enjoy the decorating process. As you will see, it's very much a freshman effort on my part, but Millie was an old pro, pouring out a half bottle of sprinkles per cookie. I also made two Challah loaves and three batches of bars. Baking is both relaxing and creative, I am really enjoying it. Now if I could only bring someone in to do all the dishes that have stacked up...

First, we pretend to roll out the dough.

Then we smear.

Then we pour it on!

Yep, I think that's enough sprinkles. Too much?

For the next piece, she goes minimal.

"This one is for daddy."

"This one is for me."

"This one is for Betty."

The loot.

Sugar rush anyone?

Frolickin' with David

It appears that yesterday was the last nice day we'll have for a while, so it seemed wise to let the kids run wild and burn off as much energy as possible. Then of course, it was time for pizza.

Separated at birth.

It upset Millie's sense of order to be covered in leaves. This actually made her cry...for a minute.

But she got over it.

It's Alive!

Ain't she purty?

Dan (Zach's and Georgia's Daddy) took this photo of Millie at G's Naming Brunch today. It's one of my favorites already. And isn't the top of G's head the cutest?!

More later...

Welcome to Mid-October in Minnesota

Country Wedding

I figured since Zach can update his blog while taking care of a new baby sister, I can find time to update ours.

This weekend we went to a wedding in Iowa. We got to see family and Millie got to dance with her cousins. It was really lovely and we were so glad we made the trip. The best part was waking up at Grandma and Grandpa's house. It was so peaceful on the Cedar River. I could have stayed a week. Millie said her favorite part of the weekend was "breaking the ice in Grandpa's boat." His fishing boat had ice chunks that she was allowed to do Karate chops on.

On the way to Iowa, we stopped at Burger King. All hail King Millie.



All dressed up and waiting for the wedding to start. This is a little theater is the Youth Room. How cool is that? The beautiful girls in the flower girl dresses are Millie's cousins Julia and Hannah.


After Uncle Brad made her cry. She was overly sensitive since she missed her nap. On any other day, Uncle Brad is number one in her book.

Hmmm. Fizzy.


She made a quick recovery once the disco ball started turning.

The chicken dance with Grandpa and Aunt Susan.

What a great weekend. Congratulations Dave and Rita!

We Heart Ikea

Dinner for three for $10, airplanes flying overhead, tons of cheap toys, and carts that spin all the way around. What could be better on a gloomy Tuesday evening?

I get to watch T.V. while eating my dinner?! I love this place!


Yes, she's eating. And it's not ice cream either.

Dinning room, playground, it's all in there.