Happy Thanksgiving!

the vampire and his "bat servant"

the best fall day:)

On Sunday we took the boys to Ft Harrison for a pony ride and Toby's first trail ride. I don't think either of my boys were as excited and giddy as i was. i think for my mid life crisis i will buy a horse...is it ok if you plan for those moments of crazy?

apple days

A couple of weeks ago we ventured to the apple orchard with the katie and her girls. we were able to take a wagon ride through the orchard and the kids were allowed to pick one apple. while we were there we ran into my sister in law and my adorable niece, Ali. We walked along the path to the petting farm and even slid down the slide a few times before heading back downtown. it was a very fun morning with good friends.

happy dog

i can rest now. poor scout has not been swimming in years...literally. i seriously have laid in bed on occasion feeling immense guilt that our lab with webbed feet has not been able to swim...to enjoy the very things she loves and was born to do. but the guilt is gone now, on monday we ventured to brown county for a morning of hiking and throwing sticks for scout. she was soo happy that she didn't want to get out...but alas, all good things must come to an end so she is back in the kitchen today.

if only every day could be like this...sigh.

chicago by storm

this past weekend, we snuck away for one last summer getaway. we headed to Chicago, home of the Chicago cubbies, to take the city by storm. we arrived at our hotel on Friday night and jumped in the pool 15 minutes later to begin our weekend of family fun. Saturday morning we woke up early and began our search for breakfast. we stumbled upon a farmer's market where we feasted on homemade donuts and jelly rolls. yes, we were able to find the only food in the market that had zero nutritional goodness! we are amazing, i know. we then took a taxi (without carseats--woohoos from the boys!) to the Lincoln Park Zoo where we fed cows, watched polar bears swim and ate runny, sticky popsicles. we took a lunch break by the river in our hotel and then retired to our room for a quick nap. in the afternoon we took to the river by boat and toured the city's architecture and historical waterway. We had dinner at a famous deep dish style pizza place and ended the day with a few rides at Navy Pier. Word to the wise...don't take a rowdy two year old on the ferris wheel...