Sports!

I don't know much about baseball and post season and all that. But can't we just all agree to let the Cubs win this series with the Mets and then whoever they play next so they can win the world series? This would allow Back to the Future to be accurate and end their sad streak of not winning and tide them over for another 100 years. I just think idea has merit. So who do we need to talk to so we can make this happen?

In other sports news my fantasy football team could be considered the biggest yo-yos of my league. I win, I lose. It's not pretty. And when I come up short, my margins are not pretty. No they are not. We're talking beaten by 30 points kind of a thing. Yeah. I am learning a lot about football though I can say that. But I've got a long way to go before I get really good.

Coach Scott from England's car didn't work yesterday and so our final soccer class was pushed to today where we would blend with another class. As luck would have it, because we are on a school break it worked out! Most of our class had preschool today and so there were only 4 of us joining the other class. But it was good. C got to play his favorite games and Husband got to come see all the fun. C is legitimately not bad when he stays focused, but distractions run rampant so soccer has been hit or miss for sure. There's another camp in spring and we will see how he feels about signing up for it when it's time.

Yay sports!

So How Was Your Weekend?

We had a pretty good one thanks for asking. It all started Friday at noon when Husband left work but it didn't exactly go as planned. 

Husband works in Illinois, over the Mississippi River. There are 4 bridges to choose from. He went to Target for more formula (probably the one of the last ones ever, depending on how the transition to milk goes, maybe even the last!) because we were completely out after M's morning milk. On his way home there was an accident on the bridge he was closest to and traffic was at a standstill. Even with backtracking and going over a different bridge it took him a hour and fifteen minutes to get home. 

Then on our way to his cousin's wedding the highway had construction. We were warned of this by his uncle luckily so we had an alternate route, but lots of other people also knew the back roads so it was crazy busy. We made it to the arboretum by the skin of our teeth, we sat down just in time for the wedding to start. 

As anticipated, it was pretty cold. But they wedding party soldiered on with their little shawls and miraculously we made it through, not too cold and without disruption. Who is the patron saint of good church behavior? Probably St. Zellie Martin right? (Even though we weren't in a church a wedding totally counts as church behavior.) 

The reception went about as good as those go with small children. It was at a winery and there was a little room off to the side where our whole big extended family sat and the kids all colored, read books and goofed off together. There was an awful lot of downtime prior to dinner starting so we, along with a lot of the cousins pulled an eat and run, leaving around 8:00. 

Saturday and Sunday were super productive, we did yard work/played outside because our free yard waste pickups started today. 

We also processed a lot of our apples. 

All together we made 16 quarts of applesauce, in order there in the front, Regent sauce, Cortland sauce and chunky crockpot Cortland sauce. Next to the calendar you can see some of the 7 quarts of apple pie filling and 8 1/2 pints of apple butter. 

We still have a bushel and a peck (and a hug around the neck) of Regents left. They are among my favorites as an eating apple but also we are going to do some more pie filling and apple sauce. We typically go through a jar every 2 weeks give or take. The store bought jars are a little bigger too so 10 more jars would get us through the next year pretty well give or take. 

After we made the filling we had maybe 2 cups left so we made a mini-apple crisp with it. Husband wasn't really excited about it because he likes what he likes as far as apple crisp goes and pie filling to him isn't apple crisp, but he really enjoyed it. Which makes me hopeful that the filling is pretty good. 

Today was supposed to be our last day of soccer but it got rescheduled to tomorrow. Which works out since we are on a school break this week, otherwise we wouldn't be able to make it. 

Friday QT Party

one. We had book club last night and it was good. The book, Prayers for Sale was a solid "meh" but the discussions (both about the book and not) was great. In the book, Hennie, the main character, has a very giving heart and is always helping people in her town when possible.

two. At the same time I read an article about how food pantries have a serious need for feminine hygiene products. And I couldn't get that out of my head. I remember in junior high how mortified I was to have to go to the nurse's office once and ask for a pad. I can only imagine how it must be as an adult to go to a window and ask for some, and then after all that, hear that they don't even have any.

three. I couldn't just let that go. So I asked my book club if for our next meeting, which is the first week of December, we could also have a feminine hygiene product drive. It may be odd and I am sure it did seem weird, but this is one area of my life where I can absolutely afford to be more generous and as a group of women, to be able to help women directly means a lot to me. Perhaps you might consider donating a box or a pack to a place in need?

four. In other, non-book club or tampon related news, we have a wedding to go to today. Husband's cousin. (I threw her a shower at the end of August.) I would be excited as I usually love weddings but I am not feeling this one. It's outdoors. In the middle of October. And it's going to be cold. Also it is going to be a very low-key wedding, which is great in theory but what it actually resulted in is that the ceremony is at 4:30 and dinner doesn't start until 7:00. Luckily my kids are 2 of 26 great-grands who will be at this wedding and most are under age 10 so my kids won't be the only cold, tired and hangry ones.

five. My favorite girl is turning one on Thursday. I can't even.

six. We had a Halloween party yesterday for preschool while we learned about the letter H. It was fun and C did a pretty good job. Now, for weeks C has been telling me he was going to be a walrus and M a polar bear for Halloween. (Read: last year. And they don't sell the walrus costume in his current size.) So we have been playing up the dinosaurs like crazy and sure enough, he was very excited to "pretend to be a dinosaur" yesterday. 1/4 of the Halloween costume event done!

seven. We are supposed to answer the question of the favorite blogger we found through quick takes. And I've got nothing. I read so many blogs. And pop over to quick takes often... I'm just not sure? It's been a long time. But Colleen at Martin Family Moments and Beth at A Mom's Life are some of my favorite bloggers who also write 7QT and I've been reading them for a very long time. (5+ years!)

Linking up with Kelly because I hear that's what the cool kids are doing.

Theme Thursday is Back with (sun) Flare!

Today is Thursday. Many things are happening today. It's our preschool Halloween party. Breakfast for dinner night. I have book club. But... also it marks the return of Theme Thursday and I. am. excited.

Micaela is now hosting this very wonderful linkup that gives me stuff to blog about and practice my photography skills. I am not a great photographer but every once in a while, on Thursday, I manage to take an interesting one. 

This week we are doing a little throw back to the first Theme Thursday Theme of Sun Flare. Here was my original Theme Thursday picture... since we are throwing it back. 

My guy is so little here. It makes me cry. Want to know the slightly sad truth? This picture was taken with my cell phone that really cold morning. The same (now really old and still not that great) phone that I took this Theme Thursday's sun flare with:

The most perfect October day last Saturday and we played outside through the golden hour. It was perfect. It was amazing. The picture is just whatever. But it is a cool sun flare. 

I will get the good camera out going forward. (Let's be honest, sometimes the picture is still going to come from the cell phone.) 

Okay, happy Theme Thursday every body. Link it up! Do it! 

I Heart Food Show!

Yesterday was the worst kind of day. The no mail day that seems just like any other day. Sure, on Christmas it doesn't seem so weird for the mail not to come, but Federal Holidays that aren't observed by anyone other than Federal people leaves you wishing for the post man. Well, actually, we have a post lady but I digress.

Anyway, besides the no mail thing, the rest of the day was pretty good really. The weather has been wonderful. I know the Anne of Green Gables quote is everywhere right now, but seriously how glad are you that we live in a world with Octobers?! Because I am.

Today was kind of an exciting day, it was Husband's company's big food show. Their big event that they spend all year working toward. And I got to go! I had never been to one before. M and I dropped C off at school and headed out. The parking ramp was full. Like crazy crazy full. And the only spot I could find was between two really large trucks. That part was not fun. I should have tried to find another spot, but I didn't. I literally had to squeeze out of the car because I could barely open the door.

But we made it inside and it was a blast.

I had a pretty good idea what I was getting into but it was really a fun kind of trade show. I imagine many businesses have decent trade shows but the restaurant industry has to be a standout. A giant room with any food you can imagine. No seriously. Fruits, veggies, meat, sauces, nuts and every single person wants you to try some and to talk to you. (Because you'll probably buy something if you're not just there because of your husband.)

It was 80s theme which was fun and there was a photo booth which was also fun!

M was the belle of the ball, since we got there right at the beginning and things weren't super busy yet. We saw the President of the company, M's Godmother, (she works with Husband) Husband's boss and a boatload of other people. It was so great. 

I would love to go to another one without a kid and just blend in to watch. It was really very interesting. Everyone was in their element. Schmoozing and fooding and selling. I am so glad for this unique perspective on what Husband does. 

Definitely a good Tuesday!! Plus today's mail way made up for no mail yesterday. It's the little things you know!

My 53rd 7QT

one. Everything that is good about family time has happened this afternoon. My kids woke up from rest cheerful. Husband came home from the grocery store shortly after and everyone was very happy with this week's food selection. We played outside for 1.5 hours on a PERFECT October day. Had a pizza dinner with cake for dessert because my guy has been talking about cake for days. We are now snuggled into the living room for a family movie night, watching Curious George A Halloween Boofest and having apple slices with popcorn. (We like Curious George and do not agree with Kendra.)

This is perfection. I love my little family. 

two. I thought I had book club Thursday but it isn't until next week. I am not even going to lie to you right now. I didn't care one little tiny bit because I didn't care for the book at all (Prayers for Sale by Sandra Dallas) and I really needed to see what happened on Scandal after Olivia said "Yes."

That Shonda is so frustrating but I totally get why Olivia and Fitz can't really be together even though I am totally team Fitz! There were a few moments of total girly squees coming from my couch last night.

three. We gave up on Grey's Anatomy last season though I am SLOWLY watching on Netflix. It's just not the show I fell in love with. No Yang was bad. Killing Derek was just bad writing. And we did watch the first season of How To Get Away With Murder on Netflix, but it's just a little too intense to take week from week so we'll wait until we can see it in one fell swoop again. (Or really, in about a week's time.)

four. So we had a funeral this morning. There was a visitation yesterday and Husband attended on behalf of all of us. Which is good because while funerals aren't anyone's favorite activity, they can be beautiful in their own way. But visitations are a circle of Hell I am quite sure. The funeral was maybe one of the better ones I've been to, with the most real homily and eulogy, and one of our friends was the cantor and he has a beautiful voice.

It was my very first funeral procession and it was one of the most terrifying moments of my life. The people in my town clearly forgot the rules of funeral processions from drivers ed and someone almost t-bones the Cadillac directly in front of us. We just decided to NOT drive through the red light and caught up a few minutes later.

five. It's Husband's busiest work week of the year. His major event in on Tuesday and this is the first time I have ever been able to go! I am taking M while C is at school. It should be fun.

six. This is apparently my 53rd 7QT post. Well on this blog. On Snarky's Op-Ed which was my blog home from 2010-2012 I am sure there were many more but I didn't even converge the two blogs up and I don't want to go count. Okay fine, there were 26 over there. Amen.

Also related to link ups... THEME THURSDAY IS BACK. My favorite. I am excited. The end. Amen.

seven.  We had a play date yesterday and it was just the best. Sometimes a play date makes a week end on such a high note!! It was the first play date where M could play with her playmate. (Sort've. Brynn isn't very big yet.)

Okay, linking up with Kelly. To win all the prizes. Or try. 

Photo Dump!

You may have noticed that my last post about visiting the orchard didn't include any pictures. It wasn't because we didn't take any (though we truthfully didn't take many) but it is because they weren't with me. My mom took a few and I did with Husband's phone. 

Painting his pumpkin.

She was holding on to an apple and wouldn't let it go. So she propped her bottle up with it.

On the hayride.

Tuesday we went to the zoo for letter z week. We read a book about zebras at the zebra exhibit and showed the zebras our zebra stuffed animal. 

They had a great time on the trip! One of the Colobus monkeys had a baby on September 1 and that's the little white thing with an extra tail. Super cute little baby monkey. 

Today M and I were snuggling and she just looked up and smiled at me. So I smiled back. As it happens I was about to take a selfie so I got one like this. 

We've just been busy doing life. Reading stories and snuggling. It's been a good week!