Birthday Cake

On top of bags of candy, Elliot had a chocolate cake.

Elliot's Birthday & Trick or Treating

Birthday craziness today. Took our band of locusts around the neighborhood wiping out candy bowls for blocks in every direction.

The McMahons won the family costume contest with the Rats (Toy Story) in a close second. After seeing Nata and Elliot in ties, we are considering sending them off to boarding school.

EBD birthday. Beet pasta redux

Grandma B's first game + FIREPIT!!!!

Grandma Bonnie made her first Poison Ivy game. Conditions were ideal. We gave her the full experience - beautiful fall day, victory, E.B. goal and assist, pho.

Then, in keeping with the Harry Potter costume theme, we bought a cauldron of fire for Elliot's birthday party. Julie cemented her title of Fire Queen by somehow scrounging up enough deadfall firewood on the block for a hour plus test run.

Halloween Party for Elliot's class

Julie and a crew of other parents organized a big Halloween fest today.

Picking a good pumpkin takes time and expertise

75 and sunny. Tot tote in effect.

Nice paseo. No boy. Headlamp in effect.

To the victor goes the spring roll

Halloween is a comin'

Julie and the kids put up spider webs and orange lights tonight. Also, as a result of a pre-Halloween game called Booing, the kids have marshmellow hamburgers and severed fingers to eat.

Truly vile stuff.

Miracles Do Happen

After the hike, Dad made Jiffy Pop and didn't burn a single kernel. Should have stopped at a casino on the way home.

Sunday on the dunes

Julie hadn't been here since she was a kid. We didn't realize how awesome the dunes were until we got hiking this morning. You start in a lovely forest and after a half an hour, the sky totally opens up.

Also, this may be one of the last pictures where I am faster than Elliot so I plan on enjoying it.

Nata got tired on the way back. Lucky Julie has been working out so much.

Big Weekend

Another win for Poison Ivy on Saturday. Right after the game we drove over to Warren Dunes State Park in Michigan. It turned out to be a fabulous night to camp. Early sunsets = long campfires. E. B. is a boy possessed by fire. Natalie is obsessed with smores.

Soccer training on the way to school.

E town with gma bonnie

The gang went for gelato on Central Street after a trip to the North Park Village Nature Center on the north side with Grandma Bonnie and a bunch of kids and moms from the neighborhood.

Loaded down for the bbq

The Mercs, McMahons and Rats came by. We had lamb brats, lamburgers and fresh veggies from the Wicker Park Farmers Market along with 80+ degree temps. Pretty sweet. Nata got pushed out of her stroller seat by a 12-pack of Goose Island Harvest Ale.

Gourds

Picnic and sky window viewing - wicker park

Steps are done.

Painting the front steps. Natalie helps.

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Soccer related

Poison Ivy won again this weekend in a cold driving rain. Sunday night, Elliot pushed for a Zidane haircut. It really worked out. Here's hoping his sweet footwork gets even sweeter with the new 'do.

Nata - Elliot hybrid

Kiss n go volunteer

Black tutu. Rainbow leg warmers.