For some reason, the leaves needed to be washed (hence the Ziploc of water), so we achieved…a wonderfully brown beautiful bounty in a bowl. If Holmes had his way, it would have been a dirt pile:) 

Best yet! Frank dry brined the turkey in buttermilk powder this year and, as always, it too was the best yet!

And there’s more dancing to come! Note the canned-whipped-cream-shot-action-shot in the background, that’s a thing too:)

Sharks! Xanna happened to call while we were watching the Seattle Aquarium Lightening Talks. We learned about how shark gill filters inspired the invention of a water filtration patent…creating water eddies within filter pores to reduce clogging. Nature!

Rehearsal night! Tomorrow is Grandparents & Special Friends Day at school and Meryl has been practicing her performance. Xanna, Lola, and Tito got a tease performance before the real deal tomorrow:)

All the holidays! We got together with friends to decorate gingerbread houses and it was a sweeeeet, sweet reminder of how nice it is to see people and hangout.

Holmes quickly realized that the building materials were the treat his belly ‘needed’…and I quickly increased my decorating pace as the two of us raced to see who could use all the materials faster. He used them to fuel his running laps thereafter:)

These two were on a mission:) Meryl had a vision, and she was very dedicated to her colorful, colorful craft.

Tadah!

Holmes is officially three! And, Beefaroni made yet another birthday dinner appearance:)

Meryl’s homemade cards featured green (Holmes’ favorite color) and garbage trucks (Holmes’ favorite vehicle, followed closely by pretty much any other construction vehicle).

Balloons galore, waffle bowl breakfast, so many Legos, and a whole day of playing with new toys…lots of whipped cream too! (Stay tuned for family birthday shoes!)

First vaccine dose for Meryl! With the Schuyler sisters on her side, Meryl earned her vaccine card. “How lucky we are to be alive right now!”