Thanksgiving Puke Fest

Unfortunately our Thanksgiving was plagued with sickness. The week before, we all came down with the 12 hours flu and then proceeded to give it to 14 of our friends and then our entire family for Thanksgiving. This was the most contagious thing I've ever seen. Thanksgiving went on without Kathy and Dennis, but we were able to put on a good spread despite our Captians being down for the count. Luckily the family will be all together in 2 weeks to celebrate Christmas...although we're expecting coal in our stockings due to the 'sickness' we passed on.

Mark and Tom pealing apples for the pie

Tom is our pie maker (and they are DELICIOUS)...he got a little heavy handed with the pie crust this year.

We busted out the fryer again for our turkey. Quite honestly, it's the best turkey I've ever eaten. Please notice Mark's job of 'holding the fryer lid' in the background.

Shane comes to the rescue pouring out excess hot oil b/c the pot was about to overflow. I guess the 1 hour calculating how much oil to put in the pot didn't work. Please notice Mark is still 'holding the fryer lid' in the background.

Woo Hoo! Tom and Shane are safe after dropping the turkey in the boiling oil. Please notice that Mark successfully completed his job of 'holding the fryer lid' AND placing it on the pot. Go Mark!

We Are The Champions

Last night our bowling team took the high honor of the Beer Frame Bowling League Champions! Woo hoo! It was a very close match against the Three Hole Enthusiasts and I haven't been that nervous for a sporting event since my days running track (good lord, I'm a nerd). Thanks to Tom for organizing the league again and thank you to my teammates for another super fun year!

Here is the sweet championship trophy...a toilet seat that each winning team signs. Thankfully, it stays in the closet, although Tom threatens to hang it over our fireplace. But I think he knows I have final say on that, after all, his pinball machine is still in the garage (which he is still ticked about). :)

Thanks Gramie and Bob Bob

for watching our kids while Tom and I went to San Francisco and Napa Valley. What would we do without you?!?!?!?!



Here is a fun photo of the kids in my dad's race car. Of course Kyle is appropriately dressed. :)

So Tom and I headed to SF/Napa for a long weekend with our friends Matt and Julie. We literally ate our way through the area. Started at Slanted Door for lunch and A16 for dinner, delicious! I went power shopping, as most of you know, it's required because the shopping in Boise is not that great. We were planning to go to the Bear/49ers game, but couldn't find tickets (which I was not sad about).

Then we headed to Napa for 3 days. Tom and I have a friend from college that lives down there, so he was able to get us into some great wineries (Thank you Dev!). Went to a new winnery that we all thoroughly enjoyed, Cliff Lede. The guy pouring for us knew a mutual friend of Matt/Julie's, so we got more wine discounts! It's all about who ya know.

We did not have a camera this trip, so we bought a disposable one (didn't even know they still made those). So once we drop off our photos, I'll try and post 'em.

Good Old Friends

When we were in Chicago for Maren's 100th Birthday, we visited Tom's best friend from Chicago, Mike Colias. Mike and Tom lived down the street when they were wee ones, and they were the best of friends. Tom would get up at the crack of dawn, trot down the street in his jamies to ring the Colias' door bell and ask to play with Mike. Many a days he was sent back home because it was much too early to play. 30 years later, they still keep in touch and have kids the same age. Here is an adorable photo of Tom, Alice, Nico and Mike.

Wrigley Bleacher Babe

This is what happens when your 2.5 year old dresses herself every day before school. She can find the one shirt in the dresser that is waaaay too small, pair it up with some sparkle shoes and head out the door. She is officially ready for the Wrigley Field Bleachers (with the rest of the tarts). Sorry Alice, I'm not calling you a tart, that reference was for your Aunt Erin.

Here is a picture of Aunt Erin dressed up as a Wrigley Field Tart and Uncle Mark as a White Trash White Sox fan.

First introduction to the sippy cup

Mr. Happy

Sigh, our living room was clean and 5 minutes later...this! What the heck?!?!?!?!?! Blocks dumped on floor, mom's purse emptied, coloring books out, blankets all over the place, etc.

Trick or Treat

We had a great Halloween yesterday. We started out by trick or treating on Harrison Blvd which is insane. All the homes really get into it, and kids from all over the area come to join in on the fun. We hit it early because around 7pm, there are lines up to every house and you can barely walk up and down the sidewalks. Then we headed to the Thompsons for Malcom's bday party and handed out candy to all the trick or treaters.


The fairy princesses


And we're off......

The start of trick of treating. Alice loved it and kept saying 'I want to fill my pumpkin to the top.' I don't think so, someone was getting a little greedy with her first trick or treating experience.

A Wild Thing and Max...so cool

Shark Boy chilling

CT and Malcom

Baby Rowan as a cute crustacean

Keaton and Alice handing out candy to the hundreds of trick or treaters (and I'm not exaggerating on the #)

Here is the line to collect candy...every house had a line!

Charlie Brown times 2. You couldn't get too close to Matt because the permanent marker smell was soooo STRONG.

Serving up yummy birthday cake for Malcom's bday

Halloween Warm Up

We dressed up to trick or treat at Nanny and Papa's before they left for CA & for the parties at school.


Miss Green Fairy (with a droopy wing)


The Shark is back in action this year

Alice and her buddies Alyssa and Reyn at school

Kyle is not too sure about his first parade

Mini Farrah

Trying on Dad's wig