A's Halloween Fun

The spooky fun of Halloween is wonderful for the A's, and that includes Daddy Andrew. The dressing up, the scaring, the free candy. Did I mention people giving out free stuff? Oh yeah, Dad is all over that!


We started with the pumpkins. Aubri's has a stomach flu, and so got sick on the table, Abby's is happy with his new toupee, and Daddy's has a bit of a runny nose. The cold and flu season starts early in the midwest!


Abby's school had a cute program a couple of days before Halloween.


Songs, treats, and here is Abby dressed as a mummy.


The whole class of mummies!


And make a mess... now!


Then it was "Sweet Street" at Shopko Hall that had a performance area, where Abby did a dance with the YMCA in her ballerina costume.


Then it was on to the free hair spraying station- pink with glitter! Like that didn't get all over the car... (Everything in there was "free". Of course it cost six bucks a kid and four an adult to get in, and they didn't let the adults get the candy!)


The finished product- so cute!


They went trick-or-treating, did the haunted house (tame even for the little girls) and saw the cool snakes.


Outside the spooky alley.


Then time for real trick or treating- our ballerina and piglet, ready to go!


Go get the free eats!


Our neighborhood is pretty good for Halloween- lots of participants, and plenty of candy! We'll be eating it for days, and started early, with candy eating by Dad and the kids before we were even half way through. Mom ended up picking us up after about an hour and a half- it was cold!

The Final Diaper!!!

After five and a half years of cleaning up the refuse of our two children, it is over! Aubri has decided she is done with diapers. We had been telling her for the last month that after she came home from Grandma's we wouldn't be wearing diapers anymore, and without us reminding her, the day after we got back, it was off with the diaper, on with the Dora underwear, and she hasn't looked back. Just one or two accidents, but that's it- her pull-up overnight has never been wet, and she loves being a big girl, though she is still little, according to her.




Her parents are just happy the expense, stench and all around gross-out period of handling the soiled messes has come to an end. And all her pants fit better! How about that?




Plus, what a day of firsts, Abby figured out how to blow a bubble! We now have a lifetime of self contained voiding, bubble blowing fun as a family!

A's at Grandma Smith's

Ahhhh, the trip to Grandma's house (and Grandpa's too). Our annual pilgrimage back to where the A's Daddy grew up. It is always a week full of trips to the Avenue Deli (Roast beef and swiss joe, please- three layers on rye with cole slaw and russian. Heavy on the Russian...) playing cards, helping Grandpa with the lawn, inpromptu teaching moments with the retired teacher Grandma, more food, watching the Yankees, playing some golf, swinging on the monkey bars at the park down the road, and trips to Delaware.

On the way there, a great and easy trip on the airplane- Abby and Aubri love to fly! A passenger on our flight to NJ said they were the best behaved children she had ever seen on a plane. Now if she had seen them in the airport...




Coming out of the airport, check out how close the guy parked next to Grandpa.




Didn't know he was so limber...


Grandma went on a grand daughter date with Abby to "Little House on the Prarie, the Musical!". Yes, it stars Melissa Gilbert, the original Half Pint, and she called in sick for the Saturday night performance. Way to step it up, Half Pint.



Sunday was church- the girls were very cute- and we showed them off to my old friends at the ward. Why is Abby holding Aubri's face? The ratio to "Aubri looking" to "Aubri looking away" photos is about 1:7.

Went to see Grandma's Cousin Phoebe- more than 90 years old, and we had a great visit!



It is always story time at Grandma's house! "Dooley and the Snortsnoot" was a favorite- one of Daddy's favorites as a wee one.




Always an adventure- the two A's in the teepee.




Home made pancakes! Auntie Allison's recipe- delish! Almost as fun eating them as making them.


Abby helped Grandpa with the yardwork- and got a free ride and $1 for the efforts. Yeah, big spender that Grandpa...

Halloween means pumpkins. Grandma helped with the decorating, Mom is in the picture. Sorry Grandma! (Notice Aubri isn't looking...)

Grandma did the solo trip to Turtleback zoo with the girls- Mom was in NYC, Dad golfing with Grandpa. Lots of fun had by all- Aubri still doesn't know where the camera is, however.

Both girls got a chance to get a pony ride as well- heaven!

Abby took this one- not bad! Aubri- oblivious.

We also spent a day in Delaware- a family photo in front of Great Grandfather's studios- Frank E. Schoonover. Lots of history in this place- Daddy used to visit when he was Abby's age.

Uncle John being a tour guide- also gave Abby a small palette used by her great great grandfather at some point in his life. A treasure to be sure!

And the eating continues... Grandpa's famous Ceasar salad and NJ pizza- yum!

Last night in NJ- one more story!

The way home, not as good- 15 hours and four airports. We got the first class upgrade from Cincinnati to Chicago, a city we had hoped we wouldn't see, but went through in a re-route that got us into our final destination only 8 hours late. We got some looks from the passengers filing past our seats in the front, but we deserved them! A great and memorable trip to be sure!

Kindergarten Days

Despite our best efforts to find a half day kindergarten throughout the summer, from checking other school districts (they have open enrollment in Wisconsin) to private (rejected the place who's teacher's favorite phrase was "there's a rule in school..."), we broke down and sent our dear oldest A to all-day school, much to her parents chagrin. To much weeping and wailing from Mom, though not much gnashing of teeth, we had our first day of school, sending our baby off to the clutches of the public school system, opening her up to peer pressure and teasing, but also to a world of learning, which she absolutely loves.

After Dad dropped her off, without a backwards glance from his eldest, and returned back to the car with a lump in his throat, we realized this is where our Abby begins living her own life, the life she will remember. She has a sharp mind, and now will begin the cultivation.



Her teacher is absolutely fabulous, Mrs. Neuens, who has a reputation of one of the best in the district. Abby says "She is a great teacher and is my favorite so far, and no teacher is as nice as her on the planet." Abby's experience probably isn't as far reaching as she seems to think, but suffice it to say she likes her teacher.

Of course that doesn't mean she doesn't like home better than school. Here she is coming out from her first day- as usual in a blur of motion. School has started, and so begins the next 15 years of our lives!

"Wish you were a smart Mom"

So Mom was told to fix the prized possession of the 5yr old "A" (which is a pink blankie) while she attended school. Mom, of course, completely forgot. When the brilliant kingergartener found out mom had failed her she said "I wish you were a smart mom."

Later that evening, after a day of teaching, playing, dance class etc., mom put the 'hot' pan on the table containing the night's fare of roast. After serving everyone, the lid was replaced. Then, as if to punctuate the earlier statement of the 5 yr old, the smallest "A" picked up the lid to look in the roasting pan. Nothing worse than little chubby fingers getting burned. Screaming, water, ice, Tylenol, rocking, stories and prayers later, she finally was able to calm down and get to sleep.

Abby and Aubri deserve a smart mom. Know anyone?

Story by Jennifer (The Dumb Mom)

Apple begins with the A's

With fall coming to Wisconsin, it was time this weekend to head out to harvest. We don't have any land or trees or crops to harvest ourselves, so we went to the local apple farm to get our fill of local fare.

The farm has rows of apple trees of various types, from Courtlandt to Macintosh to Golden Delicious, and also has a play train and picnic area to have a little fun. Later in the year, they will have pumpkins and the like, but right now, it's all about the apples.

We headed out to the rows, and got our weapons, I mean apple pickers, and shockingly, no one lost an eye.

Here's a couple of pickin' pickers!

Abby with the long stretch to get the apples.

They also have the little measuring board- here's our two pumpkins.

Yes, Abby is twice as old as Aubri, and is in the 60th percentile in height, but Abubri is only three inches behind. The doctor says Aubri will be six feet, four inches. That is not a joke. We hope it is not true.

Now the question: what to do with all the apples? We're not the apple pie type, applesauce is too time consuming, and Aubri has already had a tummy ache from the apples she took a bite from and then threw on the ground out in the grove- luckily it is all you can eat out in the orchard. I think we'll just get some caramel, and do what those with a sweet tooth like the best- add the sugary substance and go to town!

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