Fall & Halloween with the Strands

Here's the pumpkin Chris carved last week. The squirrels destroyed it overnight.

Chris and I are those weird adults that dress up at work. Chris's team dressed up as Nintendo characters. He is King Boo for those who didn't play Mario BrosHere I am as the Sock Monster from the Strand Dryer. I won 1st place at work. You'll see the prize coming up soon. I learned a few things from my costume. Some people don't have sock monsters! Also, the Strand sock monster eats much more than other sock monsters.Here's Penelope enjoying a Honeycrisp apple.

Isn't this hilarious? This was at the midtown global market today.Here's our house this morning. It decided to dress up like a tree. Anyone want to come help? 4 bags and I only cleared the alley and sidewalk!Now what you've been waiting for...Princess Leia! Notice the Mr. Pumpkin Heads. I got the witch kit as my prize at work, and we bought the princess kit at Target. They are a lot of fun. Penny enjoyed "helping" (pulling out the pieces as we were putting them into the pumpkins)

So we set out the pumpkins before we walked the dog...20 mins later we returned to find the squirrels performed a witch hunt and killed our friendly Mrs. Pumpkin Witch

Chris carved our big pumpkin minutes before trick or treaters started arriving. Maybe the candle will keep those darn squirrels away.

Reading books while we wait for trick or treaters. We've only seen a cowboy, peter pan and bride so far. Hopefully we get a few more so we aren't stuck with all this amazing candy!

Headed to Defiance Ohio

Have any of you read the book/seen the movie The Prizewinner of Defiance Ohio? I read it a few years ago. It is a memoir a woman wrote about her mother. During the 1950's her father was an alcoholic and rarely held a job, so her mom entered in every contest, sweepstake, and box top collection imaginable. There were tons through radio stations, magazines, mail etc. The winnings kept the family fed and clothed for years. I don't remember a lot of the details, but I know she'd win a year or soup or something crazy. Anyways, it is a quick read that has some funny points that can make you kind of nostalgic for all these crazy contests...

Well, fast forward to 2009 and the era of blog giveaways! I don't know how long this phenomenon has been going on, but I think there are thousands of women out there that would give the prizewinner of Defiance, Ohio a run for her money! There are scores of blogs out there that review and feature all kinds of products: homemade, large store brands, loads of baby stuff, tons of home decor, even appliances. It all depends on what blogs you find, and they can lead you to others. I've seen a few over my 2 years of blogging, but didn't want to get addicted to it. For one, I have never played the lottery. I know the stats. Put all those $1 bills in my 401K, thank you. But in these contests I have pretty good chances. It seems like some women must spend all day entering giveaways. I click on one and find another and then another, till I realize it is midnight, the diapers need to go into the dryer, I have a day full of meetings the next day and I've entered a ton of contests with just useless stuff. So I'm limiting myself to the following rules:

1. It is something I really want/need. (amazing black boots that are way out of my price range? check!, an $800 stroller with accessories? really, I did enter this one yesterday, check!, a new blow dryer? nah, mine works fine)
2. Only enter 5 a day--this will limit that whole addictive thing where I waste my life on trying to score free stuff.
3. Don't do all the entry requirements unless it is really worth it. This is another time thing. Some blogs only require a comment saying "I like this. Here's my email" But if you want multiple entries you can do all sorts of things, tweet, join facebook fan pages, blog about a giveaway, buy something from the vendor (that always gets you a gazillion points). As a marketer I understand this. You want to keep these warm prospects listening to your sales pitch as long as you can, but it's a lot to ask when all you are giving away is a $20 pair of booties, you know?

Well, anyways, I'll let you know if I win anything fun and exciting. Anyone else addicted to giveaways? Any cool prizes?

Playing with Penny

Chris went fishing and caught a Penny...look at the size of this one!!There's only one problem with this game. She likes it so much that when we pick her up she tries to throw herself backwards to force us to hang her upside down. Not good if you aren't expecting it! Of course, she thinks she is just being a silly wiggle worm and giggles like crazy.
The next best game is being tossed in the air.

And airplane is always funIf mommy and daddy are busy, it is a lot of fun to take all the books off the shelves. If you finish that, move to the TV cabinet and put all the DVDs on the floor...make sure to hide them under the couch too.You goof...we love you!

Fall Days

Thankfully winter wasn't here to stay! I'm so happy we have some days in the 60s so Penelope can wear her cute coats that aren't heavy enough for winter.
Here she is in her cute embroidered coat from Great Aunt Carolynne. I'm a sucker for embroidery and this one is adorable. I think she got it at a craft fair/market in Ohio. So cute!
Then who can resist a little red pea coat with corduroys? The leaves are pretty drab this year. In fact most of them haven't fallen yet. They were still pretty green when the frost and snow hit so now they are just turning brown and falling slowly. So this is about the extent of the "leaf pile pictures" for now.

Pigtails

How cute are these? I have no idea how the teacher at day care gets her to sit still enough to get them this tight. Here's my version. I think she was a little embarrassed. She did keep them in until nap time.

Chris jokes that I dress Penny in outfits I would wear. I think I had a shirt almost identical to this in college!Blowing kisses!

On the go

Tonight Penelope pulled herself up to standing! Chris was making dinner, and Penelope was sitting on the kitchen floor. He started yelling for me to hurry to the kitchen. There she was standing on both feet and holding onto the kitchen stool. We cheered as if she won the Olympics.

Recently she has become a speed crawler and is always on the go. Yet her favorite mode of transportation is "walking" on her knees. She pushes this little plastic box and pulls toys out to leave around the house. Occasionally she'll backtrack and put them back into her box. She kind of reminds me of a little old lady with a walker. Oh, and she says "uh oh" every few seconds while she is doing it. Hilarious!

Pushing the box towards her toys

Coming back to play with Mommy

Freeze this moment

This morning Penelope and I were playing and singing songs on the couch. She was being extra snuggly and before I knew it she fell asleep. I broke my rules of naps being in the crib, and she napped like this for over an hour. I know it looks staged, but I was really reading a book titled Home. So even if it is an early start to winter, I got a whole hour of snuggles and finished a pretty good book.

We can't complain

Here's our front yard at 6:30 yesterday morning. We chose to move here, which I remind myself every time I start complaining about the cold. It doesn't mean I never complain, but I don't think I have the right to moan about it like people who were born here (although, I guess they could leave if they hate it that much). So I'm just going to say one thing about the snow. OCTOBER 10th?! Really???

Still don't get it

As I read everyone's Facebook statuses, I realize there is one area of the midwest where I don't fit in: sports. Sure, there are devout sports fans in NY & VA, but I've never met so many people (men, women, kids, seniors) who know the names of every player and attend tons of games. If any of you follow sports at all, you'll know it has been a big week in Minneapolis. To be honest if I didn't live here, I probably wouldn't know what happened, so for all of you out there like me, here's the recap. Brett Farve who used to play for the Packers, now plays for the Vikings. The big rivals played against each other and the Vikings won which means Farve has beat every NFL team as a quarterback. Then tonight the Twins made it into the playoffs so they are off to NY to play the Yankees. It was their last game in the Metrodome because the new Twins stadium opens next year.

So with all of this going on I kind of feel like the person who doesn't like fireworks on the 4th of July. Jackie Lee said earlier this year that my middle name is anti-sports. In my defense I can name pretty much the entire 1992 women's gymnastics team with you a play by play of Kim Zemeskl falling off the beam. Also, I did watch Michael Phelps in the summer Olympics. In terms of the mainstream sports, I can follow along with baseball and basketball because I know all the rules, but football? I have never sat through an entire game, even though Chris has tried to explain it to me. I do watch the superbowl commercials but then read a book during the game. And I did go to a Homecoming high school game, but I was in the parade and didn't stay for the game.

I don't know that sports and home teams will ever excite me...unless of course, Penelope plays softball or something. Then, you bet, I'll be all decked out in the colors and attend every game. Until then, I guess I'll stay Laura Anti-Sports Strand. If you ever need a musical/ballet/literature person on your trivia team to round out all the sports knowledge, give me a call.

Baby on the move

Tonight after Penelope's bath she was too interested in exploring to bother with mommy and those silly pajamas. (Is there anything cuter than a diapered baby on the move?)Playing with Cece...she pets her once or twice and then has a giggle fit.
Drinking her milk before bed time Playing with daddy in her Curious George pajamas...with pink socks since she is a princess

Uh oh! The tickle monster made an appearance!