attack of the leaves

When we were living in LA I really missed fall - the leaves especially. Fall out there is just another day of sunny, 70 degree weather amidst the palm trees. 

Now we live in an older Midwestern neighborhood, and the trees on our street are plentiful. And OMG you can not imagine the leaves. Tons. You get a few at first and it's lovely. You think, "oh, look at the leaves! fun!" And it is fun the first time you rake them, but not the second, third or fourth. 

I took this photo yesterday from our back door - week two of raking. It's been all Ben so far because I've been painting the kitchen. Just a few touch-ups on the trim left to do and then it's done. 

I'll try to post a photo of the leaf pile - seriously, this thing is every kid's dream - as long as the giant leaf vaccum doesn't come tomorrow.  

4 years ago

We were sitting in our Chicago apartment watching the results come in. A few states away, my brother and sister-in-law were anxiously awaiting the birth of their daughter. My mom was calling every hour with updates and the roller coaster election results coming in were making me insanely stressed out.

My niece finally arrived in the early hours of Wednesday, November 3. By that time on the election front it was looking like Bush was going to the white house.

It was a very good and very bad night.

Fast forward to today: Abigail just celebrated her fourth birthday and we are waiting (for what I am praying) is an Obama victory.

tootsie pops

Anyone need a couple hundred tootsie pops? I got nervous we didn't have enough candy for the trick-or-treaters since it was like 70 degrees here on Friday and I expected hordes more kids than last year....so I bought a huge bag of tootsie pops...and now we have nearly the entire bag left. We had about 150 kids (well, a few college students too) which is about the same amount we had last year. My favorite costumes: little red riding hood and 2 twin boy dragons.

I'm glad Halloween is behind us and Election Day is just ahead.

I spent another entire Sunday painting the kitchen. One more coat of paint and it's done. I'll post the before and after photos soon (hopefully).