Wisconsin Dells 2017

We took advantage of a long weekend (which seems like happens quite often with our school schedule) and headed north to The Dells. The first night we were there it started snowing. It was the first snow of the season so we were all pretty excited - OK 3/4 of us were excited! I tried to take pictures that I know I have taken before to compare from year to year. It is safe to say that they didn't need Daddy to go down the water slide with them this time. But we had such a good time on the family slides or on the slides that accommodate a big tube full of people! 

This was at a new restaurant we tried - wish I could remember the name! We passed on Moose Jaw and Buffaol Phil's this time around (don't worry we still hit the outlet mall on the way out of town!)

 The only real drama we had was with the redemption of the arcade tickets. Apparently we didn't put enough emphasis on "playing the game is the fun - not the tickets that you get for playing the game!" The kids each had credits loaded onto a credit card and at the end of the night Grant really wanted to play this baseball game, but didn't have enough credit left and Elizabeth voluntarily, unprompted (proud parent moment) offered Grant the last of her credits. Unfortunately at the end the dat we had 986 tokens to redeem for a very special prize. Yes, just shy of the 1000 mark. And to divide it evenly was equating to really junky items. But you could get a really cool football for 900. So in our smart credit redemption minds we tell the kids we are getting the football! Our very generous daughter who has just done a very nice act of kindness is a bit disappointed in our decision. After a big hoopla, and a family powwow back in the room, Brandon took Grant back to get the football and he ordered Elizabeth 2 stuffed animals on Amazon to even the playing field. Goodness - our love for arcades runs deep!

Yes this is the KenDucky Derby and sadly we had no winners this time :(

Elizabeth's Art

Elizabeth has been taking art classes from a dear friend who has recently opened an art studio. She absolutely loves her time there and the work she brings home is pretty amazing. (it might just be a mom using her rose colored glasses!)

You Very Sleepy

When I look through pictures I consistently find all of these pictures of Grant sleeping! This kid will pretty much fall asleep anywhere! And Auggie is very partial to a pillow under her head or a blanket over her!

Fall Campbell Visit

Right after the homecoming parade was over we came home and the Campbell's were there! I mean does it get any better?!

Art lessons with Aunt Sandy

Making an apple pie!

I got to have breakfast with them before they took off - it was so windy!!

I mean, what can I say - "This is Us"

Poor Stella was missing her Johnny Appleseed play at school, so like any supportive family we did the play with her. She casted our roles, Uncle Brandon had the starring role as Johnny himself!

Homecoming 2017

Daddy came back from his trip on Friday so he got to join us for the Homecoming parade!

Bountiful

We didn't quite get the pumpkins that we wanted on the farm but we have gourds coming out our ears! And while Brandon was in Asia the tomatoes came on in full force. I spent one day making sauce from this gathering. We did this 2 more times! We are working on perfecting our own tomato sauce. Perhaps it's time to learn how to can.

Brandon, part 2, Japan

I don't really have much to add here, but these are pictures of his time in Japan. Perhaps he can guest author and share some stories. They called him "The Giant" - easy to see why!