Decorating for Christmas

Since we would be gone for Thanksgiving, we decorated our house the previous weekend. Abigail is finally old enough to help with the ornaments - and she derived SO much delight from this activity!

Somehow we neglected to photograph our big tree, but here is the small one above the fireplace.

Kohl's Children's Museum

My mother purchased an annual "grandmother's" pass at her local children's museum. We were able to join MY childhood friend's daughters there for an afternoon of playing!






(about 18 weeks pregnant here)

The Circus

Since Justin had a business trip to NY this week, Abigail and I took our own little trip to Chicago. On the spur of the moment, my mother decided to take us to the circus, and my brother Lawrence was able to join us after work. (Since returning last June from his year in Mexico, he has been living at Mom's and working as an engineer in another Chicago suburb.)

We were enthralled by the acrobats, animals, clowns and various circus stunts... "The Greatest Show on Earth" - right?


Lawrence was actually in a college circus where he concentrated on developing his juggling, tight rope walking and unicycling skills. He's a regular hero to his many nieces and nephews.

Brown County

While our friend Cindy was visiting from Wyoming, we drove through Brown County state park. We were a few weeks late for the famous fall foliage, but it was beautiful nevertheless. Most of all, I appreciated spending time with my dear friend and "auntie" to Abigail.

Happy Halloween

The morning of Halloween began with a Mom's Club party at a local retirement home (coordinated by yours truly). The moms contributed to a potluck lunch and dessert.


The kids played games like a pumpkin bucket toss, pin the nose on the pumpkin, coloring/craft pages, ring-around-the-pumpkin and bouncing balloons.

After the party, the children paraded their costumes and interacted with the seniors/residents.


Trick-or-Treating in our neighborhood began at 5:00. Since it was a beautiful day in the 70s, we ate pizza and veggies on our driveway. Then Justin got a fire going in our firepit while I took Abigail around the block. After dark, we roasted marshmallows with some friends.

Music Store

On an entertaining trip to the music store...

Amelia's Party

Abigail was greatly amused at her friend Amelia's 3rd birthday party, where the girls dressed up as princesses. Amelia is the second Snow White from the left...

Bug-a-Boo

Abigail, who normally wears a 4T (and up) dressed up in her 24 mo. ladybug costume... What a silly little bug!