Happy Reformation!

Oh look–I’m writing a blog post! It was Larry’s day off, so I was able to meet my NaNoWriMo goal earlier today although I’m struggling to keep my “inner editor” from editing as I go. But I am up to 4000 words and that gives me time for a quick photo post while I wait for the last load of laundry to finish drying.

I will be honest: I’ve never been a Halloween person. I don’t have any major philosophical or theological exceptions, it just doesn’t appeal to me beyond an excuse to wear a costume. Last year Larry took the kids trick or treating for the first time ever; they brought home enough candy that I finally threw away the rest of it when it was time to hunt for Easter eggs. So all through October I had been hearing Halloween this and trick or treat that. . .I had had enough and told them so. They were welcome to wear something from the costume trunk all day long on the 31st but no, we were not trick or treating. I would buy candy in case anyone came to our door (no one did) and we would have a party at home that evening. We ended up with two lions, a grumpy pre-teenager, a Star Wars something or other, a frog, and a dog.

Being Lutheran, October 31st is also Reformation Day on our calendar. So while perhaps I should have worn a zookeeper outfit, instead I pulled out my Katie Luther dress I made several years ago (it isn’t terribly authentic, but it was the only early Renaissance pattern I found that was somewhere between princess and barmaid). Larry wore his cassock because, of course, Katie needs her Martin.

I made a sort of German dinner: pork roast with sauerkraut, rye bread, green salad, and apple kuchen.

After dinner, Larry gave the kids a short history lesson about Luther and the beginning of the Reformation, and then we played drop the indulgence in the coffer and nail the theses to the church door. There was much giggling–and since we hadn’t had any trick or treaters we used that bag of candy for prizes.

And after the younger children were in bed, we decided that Drama Boy was finally old enough to stay up and watch Luther with us.

Wordless Wednesday

Happy Baby

That’s what Baby Boy calls himself, and most of the time it is true.

He certainly has his grumpy baby moments, and he’s been called Trouble too. But most times when the house is a little too quiet and I go to find him, he is sitting on his own bedroom floor “reading” his favorite books to himself or playing with Playmobil or cars or whatever is handy. His laugh is contagious, and his quizzical eyebrows are a window into the perpetual motion of his mind.

He also is a little talker, and that’s been fun too. Except for Drama Boy, all our boys have been very late talkers. . .waiting, it seems, to open their mouths until they’re sure they can say the words correctly. He’s quick to let us know when his cup is “em-py” and loves to watch a “fooball dame” with Daddy and the big boys.

Calendar check

Nope, it’s still October. . .it doesn’t really look like it, even though Bouncy Boy was playing soccer.

It was Baby Boy’s first time to play in the snow!

Fortunately he had Silly Boy and Bouncy Boy to give him a hand.

Wordless Wednesday

Two

Baby Boy really likes the Sandra Boynton books, which is a good thing because Larry and I like reading them! So I took a cue from some of his favorites and made him a hippopotamus cake yesterday afternoon.

Dinner was running late, so he opened his gifts while the pizza was baking. Being the Baby means he needs gets a lot of help opening his gifts (it also means a lot of gifts, as the big kids were also generous with their spending money). Here Drama Boy is helping him open a stuffed lion from Boy Genius while Silly Boy, Bouncy Boy, and Twirly Girl watch.

Nose dive! Papaw and Mimi sent him a personalized bean bag chair “just like the big kids.”

Great Mimi gave him a nice warm winter coat.

And Larry and I gave him a nice big Tonka truck which turns out to be a great spot to sit and read the Belly Button book from Twirly Girl. Drama Boy also gave him a book and the little boys got him some little toys; he received cards and money from other relatives.

Once the pizza was consumed, it was time for singing and cake! This year he understood how to blow out his own candles. . .

. . .and  he needed no prompting to eat his cake!

One last dance around the kitchen before Daddy tucks Baby Boy in bed (and Mommy tackles the kitchen disaster).

Yellowstone in autumn

Earlier this week, we headed to Yellowstone. . .definitely our best trip yet as far as weather goes. Monday’s wind was a bit chilly but it was still sunny and warm; Tuesday was beautiful all around.

We stayed in Cody and not-so-early Monday morning found us on Chief Joseph highway, headed for the northeast park entrance.

The view was amazing, although the kids kept their eyes on the ground:

Once we were in the park, one of our first priorities was finding a spot to enjoy our picnic lunch.

Then we headed up the nearby trail to walk off our lunch. . .how is that for efficiency?

Baby Boy on board: can you see his wee feet?

Up the stairs: Silly Boy, Bouncy Boy, Twirly Girl, Boy Genius (no, they are not twins), and Drama Boy.

Petrified redwood tree. . .a good time to discuss Noah’s flood.

Admiring the terraces and hot springs at Mammoth. . .before we reached the stairs and had to abandon our stroller.

Tuesday was another late start, although we got to the park sooner as we used the east entrance. This time we picnicked beside Yellowstone Lake.

From there, it was on to Old Faithful. The older kids worked on their Young Scientist materials while we waited for the next eruption.

This being our third trip, I didn’t spend a lot of time trying to get a “best” shot of the geyser. . .it looks much the same as it did last year, but if you haven’t seen it in person you really should.

We headed out the south entrance, stopping to watch (and listen to) Lewis Falls.

Thanks to road construction, our plans to stop and admire the Grand Tetons on our way home were foiled. We caught a few distant glimpses before the sun went down, but it was the wrong phase of the moon for night views. But we bought an annual pass, so we’ll be back soon!

It was crazy-late when we got home Tuesday night, but the whole trip was well worth it. . .even though we had to hit the ground running the next morning, and haven’t stopped yet.

Wordless Wednesday

What are the odds of that?

Over the weekend we attended a fall festival; there was only one expensive option for dinner so we decided to get the kids a treat before going home to eat. Drama Boy opted for kettle corn but we got cotton candy for the rest of the kids.

Yes, those are frowns in that picture. None, and I mean none, of the kids liked it! Baby Boy refused to even try it; the other four took a bite or two. Larry ate some and the rest went in the nearest trash can.

I don’t know if it is because they are not used to heavily sweetened artificially flavored foods, or if it was something else altogether. Whatever the reason, I can’t say that I blame them! I don’t remember if I ever tried cotton candy as a kid, but it looks disgusting to me. Besides, if I’m going to eat sugar I want it mixed with a healthy dose of chocolate.

3rd down and 5 to go

With guest commentary by Larry. . .

“Okay, Bouncy Boy go out to the flat, Dad go long and I will throw you the ball.”

“I thought I was kicking the ball.” “No, I thought I was kicking the ball.” “No, I wanted to kick the ball!”

“Okay guys, 52 fake dive right, 46 slant left, on three. Trust me I know what I am doing, my Daddy played high school football and we watch the Vikings together all the time!”

“OH NO!!!! Here, you take the ball!” “I don’t want the ball, you take it!”

Injuries. . .timeout on the field.

“I don’t know, he looks pretty mean. Look at the way he is waiting to pounce on us!”

“You go left. You go right. You take the middle. I’ll cover the deep pass.”

HOG PILE!!!!!