another concert

Jazz band this time, and the dress code is different.   'Cuz we've got nothing better to do than purchase dress shirts and ties in multiple colors.  It was a pretty cool concert though.  Looks like those jazzers have fun.

no more braces = popcorn!

Got my braces off recently, yeehaw!  After almost two years, I can finally eat popcorn again.  I did eat some no-no foods while in them, like my cinnamon fire Jolly Ranchers, since life would be pretty bleak without them.  But I was afraid of having to make an extra trip to the ortho for an emergency hull extraction.

 

My vampire fangs have been tamed.  So, yay for straight teeth, and popcorn is just delicious!  Even though it was just the cheapo microwave kind.  Chemicals and corn, nummy.

Michael had his first band concert of the year last night.  The dress code this year includes a tie, which I don't think he'd ever worn before (clip-ons as a little tike excluded).  Dad had to help.

2013 Happy Halloween!

Michael didn't go trick-or-treating this year (sniff sniff), but he went along on his skateboard so he didn't miss out on the action entirely.  Nicky is probably not PC in his get-up, but hot dang, that sombrero was 25 cents at a garage sale.

mmm mmm mmm

Looky what my hubby brought me.  The box don't look like this no more.  Abdallah candies have been added to my heaven foods wish list.

 

# pictures of your food

Red Wing 2013

Our little brood is growing up.  Every few years on our annual Red Wing trip, we hike up Barn Bluff.  It goes a lot quicker without toddlers...and when we don't accidentally take the freaky trail that's recommended for experienced hikers.

A to Zebra

2013-14 school year begins!

This year's big change is 4 kids in three different schools.  We realized it'll be that way for the next several years, which is a bit sobering 'cuz the start times, schedules, etc. all vary and will keep us on our toes. 

Here they are in the order they went out the door this morning...
Adrienne, doing one last device check -

Her 12th birthday was just over a week ago, and we managed to capture the moment she realized she got that gadget...

And headed out the door around 7 to catch the bus, looking rather too old, our seventh grader -

Next, rocking some neon rubber bands on his braces, Michael headed out for his first day as a FRESHMAN at Minnesota's 22nd largest high school - ack!

He only rode the bus for the first day today.  Tomorrow when jazz band starts, poor dad has to drive him in around 7 since there's no bussing for "zero hour."

Nicky leaves at 8 to catch the bus to 4th grade.  I'm not too happy with the current bright colored clown shoes trend.  Those gray & orange shoes will never match his clothes.  Michael's unpictured ones are an obnoxious yellow-green.

And then Zach impatiently waited for his turn.  "When is it time to go?  Am I going to miss the bus?"  Finally, it was time to head out to afternoon kindergarten.  All four kids are officially public schoolers!

Land of Lincoln

We took a short 4-day vacation to Illinois last week to check out the Lincoln sites.  We saw Lincoln's tomb & house in Springfield, and some other junk.  The kids are going to give me a complex about my cooking, 'cuz their favorite part was all the restaurant food.

Also saw the Illinois State Capitol and the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.  The museum was pretty cool.  It focused on Lincoln's humble early life to his years in Springfield and then the White House, and of course the Civil War.  It all sparked some discussions with the kids.  I think they have a better understanding of how messy and painful history (and life) can be.  Not that it was all a big downer or anything, but yeah, life lessons...

summer orchestra concert

Nicky played in the GTCYS summer orchestra concert last night at the Como Lakeside Pavilion.  He'd been looking forward to it for quite some time.  Except for the steamy humidity and some mister stinky b.o. dude sitting next to us (and Zach asking "What's that SMELL?") it went really well.  Nana & Papa and Uncle Andrew & Aunt Monica and Nicky's violin teacher came out to watch.  Sitting a few rows back, we couldn't see him playing, but I snapped him coming offstage.

busy holiday weekend & baby Abigail!

This lazy blogger finally had to log on to talk about the extended 4th of July weekend.  We had a fun couple days with family in Iowa and saw the cool Clear Lake fireworks show.  Friday we headed home and then out to Waconia to meet our good friends Alesha & Nick's awesomely beautiful much longed for scrumptious new daughter Abigail Ann. 

What a blessing and a gift Miss Abbie is, and we were very honored to meet and cuddle her.  Congratulations Nick and Alesha!!

Rounded out the weekend with some yard work, a stop at the Elko flea market to look at old junk, and saw Man of Steel in 3D at the IMAX theater at the MN Zoo.  Don't think we'd been to the IMAX before. Wish the movie had been better.  It was 90% whirring images and deafening noise.  Relentless crashing, fighting and general destruction just doesn't trip my trigger.  Some of these new action movies have about as much plot as a fireworks display.  But for supper last night Nate and I had Cold Stone, so it all ended marvelously.