New sidekick.....

 

Chris convinced the family to join him on a trip to Chicago to a sports show that he seems to have a magnetic connection to finding.  We thought sure, we love Chicago....Brady immediately wanted in on the sports show, Chris tried to explain that it may be boring and you might not know all these older players. Brooke and I gracefully bowed out and decided to find something else to entertain us for the afternoon. So we got to enjoy some pie and found an outlet mall across the street from the show, how convienent! I wanted to stay close as I feared Brady would be over the novelty in 30 minutes and he would be begging Chris to leave. But nope, four hours passed and still no phone call to  pick him up....So guess who has found a new little sidekick? Brady loved it, and so did Chris. He said there aren't many kids running around these things so Brady was like his pawn to get to talk with these guys as they gave "the boy" a little extra atttention. win win.

 

Can't go to chicago and not drown yourself in this....

 

Brooke found her happy place a old fashioned candy store that I bribed her with if she complied to get matching Christmas jammies (the first year that she has fought me on it)....win win.

Mr. Kaline and Brady.

I joke that these look like Olan Mills family photos.

 

Issiah was nice enough to sign a ball for the Brady man. I think the verdict is still out on who is keeping that.

Olan Mills #2.

 

Mr. Reggie Jakson.

Mr. Don Mattingly

The weekend wasn't all sports....we got a chance to find some favorite eats.

 

Hit Wrigleyville with the kids.....not too many kids hitting the streets on Saturday night in Wrigleyville but wanted to try our friends new restaurant that they just reopened.

Kids also got to hang out with their buds the Wades.

 

 Its been a banner month for sports for Chris. Lions games, sports shows, Redwing games with an added bonus. Long story short he made his way down to the locker room after the RW game ran into Yzerman and this guy. Met the coach, sat on the bench etc..... etc.....he always finds a way.

Honestly I can't rembmer who this even is Alan Trammell? I can't keep track.

Kids also got to enjoy their first GR drive game, a new minor league basketball team that is in GR.



Can you say bleach?

Dad and Brady were working on "divers" the other day and what cracks me up is Dad was both throwing and taking pictures, but he seemed to get a few worth while.

 

Nice extension!

 Most people see the ball in the glove, I see the white pant making contact with the grass...haha....I told you I wasn't lying when his Halloween costume wasn't all that out of the box. This is his uniform everyday when he gets home. New item at Costco: Bleach.

 Eye on the ball.......

 Awesomeness.....

 But can't win them all......must. buy. dark. away. uniform.

Other random fall happenings....

 

We finished up another fall soccer season with Brooke's U11 team, great group of girls and Chris was the assistant coach.

 

 Brady enjoyed his new group of guys on his U9 team this year.

Brady and dad headed to the cub scout boat regatta and camp out.  You have to build your own boat and obviously name it too..... yup still in his Halloween costume too.

His boat actually won a few races this year, a step up from last year.

snoozing away.....Dad was glad they didn't have to haul out the tent and all the gear.

Not sure I enjoy this one too much but they went shooting in the morning, along with hot dogs for breakfast. Sounds like it is being run by dads huh?

Our pretty girl enjoying her own fall color tour.

Buds sorting and looking at football cards together.

Wedding in Chicago with some old dear friends.

These guys stuck together like glue this fall.....they had a game going almost every day. Switching home and away jerseys, pulling out a rain tarp to cover the dollar store bases. They are lucky they found each other.

This one sometimes will wear normal clothes and brush her hair before school this year.....part of me loves it, part of me hates it.

Never gets old.

Brooke's wheels are always turning.....

Brady was spreading his influence.....she looks thrilled.

Switchero......

I wish I had audio to this, but someone didn't like these guys on her playground....you should of heard her when they picked up her tennis ball.

 Brady had a random spa day for a new haircut place opening.

Apparently our free coupon included a shampoo, massage, hot towel....Brooke and I were cracking up.....Brady loved it.

Hot towel and temple rub.....the guy was laughing because I said "you know he is 8 right? you don't have to do all of this......"

Children of the corn......

 Making their way through the corn maze.

 

 



Halloween 2014

Another Halloween.....

The annual carving ceremony.....

This is the only reason Brooke carves, she could play with this stuff for hours.....

Brady and Dad were a joint effort this year, and by joint effort I mean Brady announced that he wants to carve an old English D in his pumpkin......and then left the scene . Enter in Dad and his artist skills.

What ever happened to the triangle eyes and some triangle teeth??

Brooke decided to do a polka dot pumpkin and enlisted the help of the power drill.

Not Shabby.....just don't look on the other side, this was second try.

The idea man and his worker bee.....

Turned out to be a cute little lantern.

School parades happened day before Halloween since these kids had the day off on Halloween.

Please take note that he is specifically Ian Kinsler, not just a Detroit Tiger baseball player.

So excited that Brooke's new school still does something, keeps them young, just a bit longer. Here is half of her ninja turtle group.

Since they didn't have school that day, the girls enlisted me for hair and make up starting promptly at 3pm for a 5 o'clock start. Oh boy.....here we go......Brady on the other hand went upstairs at 4:58 to throw on his costume.

These girls are so sweet and fun....

introducing

Rafael, Leonardo, Donatello, & Michelangelo.

Ready for action.....

Tortoise shells - check, weapons check, French braids and tutus - check????

They were chomping at the bit.....and this was pre-sugar rush....

Brooke and Ruthie, friends since young fives.

Ian Kinsler .......or Brady Munson on every other day.....His costume wasn't quite a stretch from his day to day attire.

Batter up.....

Dad decided to take part from the neck up.....

Notice Brady's pants - 4 minutes after putting them on slides into a mud puddle. These pants have been bleached so many times, I am surprised there is fabric left.

 

We got most of them before they were off on their way.......

The Boys stopping for a warm up pit stop.....Michigan did not disappoint. It was freezing per usual.

I tell my kids it is sort of a Midwest right of passage. Halloween will always be gross and cold, just roll with it.

 

Brady and Devin called it quits to go warm up.....Brady was in the hot bath before I could take my coat off, a kid after my own heart!

Brady had to wait until the next morning to sort and trade since Brooke left him hanging as she attended a sleepover.....

The next day we had a work bonfire at my bosses house.....so we thought Halloween right? Apparently no one else got the memo......Just us in scary makeup.

 

This was no ordinary bonfire.......



Creepy.......

Happy Halloween!