Lisa, Rambling Conversation, & Great Music

Our sad attempts at Facebook profile pictures...

So I am really behind on posting -- in mid-October I had my dear friend and cousin Lisa come to visit me. She left her two young kids (Atticus & Dietrich's age) back in Chicago with her husband and came for about 24 hours to talk, to be with us, to get to know my kids better and to hear a great concert by Over the Rhine over at the Cedar Cultural Center. We've been fans of OTR since college. Lisa and I grew up on farms only a couple miles from each other, went to the same tiny school, same small church where our dads served as deacons together and switched being Sunday School superintendent. Anyway, I only get to see Lisa about once or twice a year and her generosity in coming all the way up here was just beyond over-the-top. We actually had some truly "real" and long conversations and had an entire evening at the concert courtesy of my sweet husband. Thank you Lisa (and Jason and Brad (-:)!!! I love you -- forever!

Our Niece Lilly's Pinkalicious 3rd Birthday

Our niece Lilly turned 3 and we missed her birthday party (down in Texas) )-: -- here are pictures from her party. Theme: Pinkalicious (a book series) -- Great job, Lindsey!!.

I love the cupcake tiers and the giant cupcake cake...

My brother and my nephew Grant...

Oh so cute...

That is a humungus pinata...wow!

Happy Birthday, Sweetie!!!

A Cardboard Highchair by Belkiz

Lilly & Grant's Halloween

My brother Aaron (down in Laredo, TX) carving a pumpkin with my niece Lilly...

Ewww....

My beautiful sister-in-law Lindsey with my sweet nephew Grant (only a couple weeks older than Lincoln)

Lilly as Snow White for Halloween...

Happy Grant!

Happy Birthday, Calvin & Isaac!

So we missed Calvin & Isaac's birthdays...but we love them so we threw them a tiny late party at our house (-: -- Hurray for our friends!

This is actually at the end with the cupcakes...but it's the only group picture.

At the beginning with fruit snacks (a big deal at our house (-:) and presents and crowns for all our young kings (-: Shortly after we started Leah and I were deciding what to do next and Calvin jumped in and said "Hey, I'm the king, you should do what I say!"

Brown Bear (on the left) was a preschool friend visiting for the day. He and Bear (right) celebrated too!

My sister came up briefly for the indoor part of the party...

Ready to take our walk to the pond to throw rocks...

Throwing rocks -- very important king stuff...

aww...

I like this one because they are all looking at the mud --
That is not what it looks like they are doing, it IS what they are doing.

Happy 5th, Calvin! Happy 3rd, Isaac!
The cool lunch plates I was so excited to give Cal & Ike --
Aren't they perfect Miller eating gear!!?!