Thanksgiving

Pictures express more than words. We had a traditional Thanksgiving feast with Wayne and Annamaria. Thanks to their company, the holidays were ushered in with great food, Chicago sights, games and the annual Leavitt Bingo game. Griffin LOVED the stuffing and kept saying, "MOR, MOR!" Jack couldn't get enough attention from Uncle Wayne and Annamaria. I suppose Steve and I couldn't get over the amount of good food in our typically sparse fridge!

Life as a tire swing ride

I absolutely love spinning and I have yet to reach my threshold. Life is like an ongoing tire swing ride. You do the same things over and over again and occasionally lose your stomach. My current rotation involves mothering, teaching preschool (okay more mothering and a little more academics), trying to get ready to teach Zumba, wife-ing, and serving in nursery and a few other little things that slip in and out of the rotation like good books and sewing. It's a pretty good rotation. Although it's sure helpful when Daddy isn't gone for ten days in a row. The lovely visuals are thanks to Rachael!

Happy Haunting

I was worried about Halloween falling on Sunday, but we have had Halloween all week and I'm ready to greet November. Thursday Jack and I dressed up for his preschool parade and party. Friday the boys trick or treated at the Outlets and came to the YMCA Halloween party (which was HUGE). The outlets lasted about thirty minutes and the weather was gorgeous. Griffin quickly understood the process of trick or treating. One saleswoman gave coloring pages instead of candy and Griffin threw a class nine tantrum. He slithered out of my arms and threw himself on the ground. We thanked the lady and took that darn coloring page out of his jack o' lantern! Saturday we trunk or treated with our ward (church friends and families) and today we visited the ladies next door. With all the events we gathered and passed out a disgusting amount of candy. My best reward was the fun size peanut butter M&M's from Jack.

Jack and Griffin were pirates this year, I was Pippi (with a pretty great costume, but no great pictures. Can you see Mr. Nielsen on my shoulder?) and Steve was Pippi's Papa. Jack decided to change things up and he alternated Skeleton Pirate with Captain Hook. Happy Halloween and good night!

Howell Family Reunion

These pictures show the bare minimum. I completely dropped the ball with picture taking! We had so much fun. From the moment the gang gathered at my place in Chicago to the moment right before we got in our old jalopy in Amy's driveway. We played and explored Chicago for two and a half days and journeyed to Michigan to see beautiful Ada. Steve and I are both more taken with Ada than Chicago. Ada is the charming lake place (absolutely made for Fall) and Chicago is awesome for a week vacation of exploring, but it can become a drag with way too much traffic and no outdoor recreation to speak of. Although I'm still lovin it!

Highlights include the visiting the Field Museum, seeing the Indiana shoreline, Amy and Rachael's shared birthday with a festive Barbie cake ala Steve and a really awesome day at the Friedrick Meijer Gardens. Oh and those are not at all in order. The most disheartening of all was watching mom and Amy wave and run after the car as we drove away. I went from maddening laughter to torrential tears. Split second swing. Steve tried to comfort me through laughter. This reaction is like clockwork every time I say goodbye.

Pumpkin Patch with the Starkey Clan

A week ago I was driving two tired boys to Michigan! We made pretty good time and we showed up at Amy's house messy, hungry and in need of their bathroom. I do realize this is totally inappropriate, but she's my sister! She hasn't ever turned us away!

Craig was gone for the weekend and Steve was busy writing a grant, so Amy and I played hard with five kids of fairly corresponding ages. The highlight was the pumpkin patch. This place had everything from a giant pumpkin to ride in, to a more than creepy, hodge podge western town to explore. We spent at least three hours playing and could have stayed indefinitely if Griffin had not completely fallen apart of exhaustion.

OH another highlight was the apple picking. Each guest receives a bag to fill and take home. The Starkey's had three bags to fill. The boys and I filled our two bags quickly and loaded the rickety wagon of fun, but the Starkeys..."umm Amy...we're leaving..." Katie came running after the moving wagon with terror in her eyes! Being a compassionate auntie I'm trying not to cry from fits of laughter. Then I see Taylor running and Amy hauling Sophie in the backpack.... They made it! Whew!

Advancement

The youngest is making progress, and Jack is crying in the background because Griff is wearing his underwear

THE TRUTH. Griff is not even close to using the bathroom on his own. Jack and Griff were getting out of the tub, and we couldn't help teasing Jack by putting his underwear on Griff. Jack was so mad we had to tease him a little more by recording Griff in his underwear. We were laughing at how long it took for Griff to walk and how funny it would be if he really could use the bathroom on his own. But he can't.

Rainy Gutters

Why didn't I run in those gutters too? I LOVE that feeling and I certainly haven't out grown the desire to sing and dance in the rain. Here is a little glimpse of Jack playing with "cousins" in the rain. We ate M&M, chocolate chip cookies and played in the garage through the storm. Later Jack really lucked out with a HUGE pirate ship. Thanks to Target and an amazing $6 ticket. So worth it, although I should have had some restraint and bought it for Christmas. Oh well!

round two

Hot off the Press

Okay so technically not super hot off the press...but still so great. Stay tuned for additional installments. We can't wait for all the Chris Howell and Associates to travel East. Craig, you're up for the next video!

Regulations

Welcome to Illinois

RULES

No Hiking after dark

No rappelling or scrambling on the rocks

No hiking off marked trails

No swimming or wading

No bicycling on hiking trails

Do not pick or remove anything including wildflowers (and lichens)

Keep pets on leash

Camping permitted only in the campground

Prohibited possess alcohol

MORE RULES

No swimming

No splashing

No racing

No standing up

No switching seats

Some of us don't like too many rules-

but after a little sandstone and apple ice cream at least two of us decided we could stay a little longer in a place where they have way too many rules

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Warren Dunes

Climbing the dune.
Griff got the best deal.
I could have stayed at the top of the dune ALL day.
Where are those toes?
Griff and Jack scooted down the dune!

Scary pirate campers!

This weekend we had a chance to camp for the first time this summer. We met up with the Starkeys and the Jaynes. It was a quick drive into Michigan, the best company around, fabulous campfire food, awesome sights (the beach has the best sand and water and NO salt or sharks!). Thanks to Amy for reserving the campsites. We needed this brief oasis!

Happy Graduation Dr. Steven D. Leavitt

I'm near tears today. BOO! for not being at graduation and BOO! for graduating and not making a doctor's salary, but hooray for a super amazing husband! Steve should be somewhere amongst millions of zoobies today...cursing all the way....but receiving recognition for his amazing work. Pomp and circumstance perhaps, but I'm still sorry. We love you Dr. Steve! We're going to celebrate with a real date tonight thanks to Robert and Laura.

Perfect Saturday

You should have seen this man row! I tried rowing for a stint and the Captain nearly threw me overboard. (Captain Jack that is)

Did I mention this guy had a bad day?

Wow, that girl is really good at riding her bike.... :)

Yesterday was perfect. We worked and played and I know Griff was fussy all day, but the rest of us were happy! Steve made my new bookshelf look absolutely amazing and put it in our room. That project alone took care of several messes. We moved furniture around in the living room, cleaned the garage and kitchen and vacuumed and somehow kept children fairly happy (excepting Griff of course who was loud and crazy all day). We went to Blackwell Forest Preserve just a couple miles away and rowed around the lake. We got home and set off on a bike ride! We watched a movie together and I ironed a train load of wrinkly things and then we read books. There you have it. Way more information than anyone wanted, but it was such a perfect day. Tomorrow's Monday.

Chicago, Chicago

I'll let the pictures do the talking, but we have been exploring Chicago and having a lot of fun. There is an equal amount of exploring here in Naperville. We're so happy to have Dad home and into his new career. We get free entrance to tons of museums so we'll keep you posted as we explore.

my dream

As soon as I look this good I will begin chasing my true passion.

Merry Go Round and Growing Up

Last week I found a merry-go-round on one of my runs! I love merry-go-rounds! I mentioned this to Steve when we were dating and he surprised me once with a drive to Elberta, UT and the best merry-go-round. This is still one of my sweetest memories with Steve.

Well, the weather has been pure misery, but then this evening a cool tickle of a breeze came out. The kids and I walked to this new park and I introduced Jack to the merry-go-round. We took it nice and slow.

Enter: Michael. Our new, four-year-old friend. Michael wanted us to really experience the merry-go-round, but I encouraged him to keep things slow so that no one got queasy. Michael's mom was nearby listening and probably thinking I was too cautious.

Jack and Michael ran around to visit the teeter totter, swings, sand etc and then came back to the merry-go-round. Long story short. Jack gave Michael a ride that he'll never forget. It wasn't fast. Really! I was watching and right there. Michael did that nasty cough that any a mother will recognize with pain. Three times he puked right there on the merry-go-round with Jack horrified and my jaw dropping. Grapes. Oh man...I kept apologizing and hefty Mikey clambered down to the grass. His mom didn't seem too happy...

I feel like Anne Shirley after Diana gets herself drunk on Marilla's current wine! Oh good grief. Worst of all, I kept having fits of giggles on the way home and Jack wanted to know why. If Leisy were along she would have a picture of the vomit, but I couldn't do it. I did take a picture before the main event though.

A Few Glimpses

The window between the kitchen and living room

Thanks G&G Leavitt! Jack is constantly working on projects!

Isn't this awesome! I'm keeping this forever. I kind of feel like this picture (Griff was up sick last night and Daddy has been gone forEVER)

OH Utah...how I didn't think I would miss you, but the humidity here is suffocating me!

My first kiddo bathroom! Thanks to mom, it's all decked out and darling!

I've been meaning to walk around and take some pictures, but I'm so exhausted....okay and I'm in the middle of a really great book (These Is My Words!!!). Things have moved in quickly. By about day number five I really did feel at home. Now I need to get the courage to tackle the garage.

The Wiemers came just in time to cheer me up. Then they left and made me REALLY miss home and everything and everyone familiar. It was SO FUN for me. Thanks guys!
Here's the old gang reunited and they tried to convince me they didn't need bathes after playing outside. Look at those faces!
Being the "baby".
Being the mom-Uh Oh Erin! :)