Fun Day Today!

It seems I'm updating in pictures rather than words lately.

We went to see Santa this morning. He actually asked if they knew the real meaning of Christmas. And J answered, "Jesus". Made my heart smile.

Afterwards, we had the Raingutter Regatta with the Cub Scouts. The boys put together a small wooden boat and raced them by blowing on the sails. J came in 5th place!

SNOW DAY!!!

Okay, so I was wishing it would snow. I mean really, if it's going to be under 30 degrees, it might was well be pretty, right? But I wasn't exactly expecting this...

At least we got some baking done (after I hiked across the road, in nearly knee deep snow, to borrow eggs from my neighbor)

A Midwest Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving, in the Midwest coinsides with hunting season. Hunting is tradition, a part of life, a means for food, and just plain fun for those from this region. It is vastly different where I come from. Back in California, you go to Whole Foods and buy your organic turkey like nice, respectable citizens. (please hear the sarcasm)

But here in Wisconsin, to hunt for your food is quite normal. So much so, in fact, that the Thanksgiving program put on by B's 4K class incorporated the sport. There were children dressed as Pilgrims and Indians, as I was accustomed to seeing. But then I noticed one child dressed as a turkey... and another as a hunter, complete with orange beanie. As the singing went on, there came a point in which the "hunter" (played by B's best buddy) snuck up on the turkey to capture it in his sack (after all, we can't go around bring a gun into school the way they do it out in the woods). It was all pretty funny, but at the same time it brought back to mind how very different my life here is from what it once was. The things that have become normal that were once unthinkable. I'm sure someone from PETA would have protested such a program in California!

Halloween

So, I did it... I got the kids to dress in matching outfits for Halloween again! (insert evil laugh) They tried to get out of it. B asked to be a policeman or something. But once I got these costumes and said they could keep the lightsabers to play with, that sealed the deal! Enjoy!

They had to wear jackets under their costumes, so J looked like a husky Obi Wan. :(

Hello Winter

It's only November 4th and the forecast is calling for snow showers. Something is very wrong. Where is this darn global warming they keep promising me??

The leave are mostly all fallen off the trees. Now it's just going to be ugly. Depressing day.

Happy Anniversary!

Eight years! I win!! If you don't know what that means, don't worry about it. Actually, it's kind of pathetic that I even care.

But, Mr. OCD and I have been married for eight years now. He tried to surprise me with a trip to Washington Island. I say "tried" because the fool used his debit card rather than a credit card to reserve the hotel room. Of course, I found out about it the day after he made the reservation. Opps.

It was our first time away from the kids overnight, at the same time. It felt very weird. We found ourselves saying "the boys would sooo love this" a lot. Especially when we spotted a van that someone had painted to look exactly like the Mystery Machine from Scooby Doo.

So, Washington Island. Ever been there? You're not missing much. A few bars and... well, that's it really. The hotel we stayed at was over 100 years old. It was sort of like a B&B. There were six other couples there and many of us found ourselves at this eclectic little place with live music and a half bar. The live music was seven dudes (and I use that term loosly) with various musical instruments. And the bar only served beer. It was sort of like a piano bar... minus the piano, add in a few guitars, a banjo, a bass, and some hand drums. The building itself used to be a general store, so it was just a big open room filled with some old (probably second hand) sofas and chairs. The ceiling was covered in some sort of textured metalic material. The lighting consisted of a variety of rummage sale lamps and random strands of Christmas lights. Now, I make it sound really cheesy, and maybe it was, but it was also a really good time (or maybe that was the beer talking).

After we left there, we headed to a bar with a long history. Actually it's one of the longest running bars in the country. It was even open during Prohibition. They say that they owner got some sort of pharmacy license and distributed "bitters" for whatever ailed you. Of couse, we had to partake. And let me just say... that stuff is NASTY! The funniest part was that they give you your last drink in a plastic cup so you can take it with you. I asked a girl (who happened to be our waitress earlier that night at another location) if the cops hang out and wait for people to leave the bars (like they do here). She just laughed and said, "Oh don't worry, he's asleep."

The night ended with a very drunk me laying on the front lawn of the B&B proclaiming how amazing the stars are when it's 2am and you're on an island in the middle of the Great Lakes. I don't remember much after that.

Dogs are Dumb

Seriously Dumb, with a Capital D! Anything that runs out into the yard, finds the foulest smelling thing, then rolls around in it, is just beyond stupid. Then to do it over and over again. I'm ready to take this hound back to the humane society!

BTW, the stinky thing she rolls in is...

SKUNK SHIT!!!!!

I'm not even joking. There is NOTHING nastier than crap from a freakin' skunk. The sickest part is that we have to clean her, which means touching her. It's not like she has the means to clean herself. And if I take her somewhere and pay them to do it, that means she's getting in my truck. Um, NO WAY! So, I repeat... Dogs are Dumb!!