Building towers

Kate and the neighbor girls building Lego towers.

Floor time

Brother's hanging out...

 Cat JUST out of reach....

Lovin' the Legos

Look what I got into!

O Christmas Tree

How lovely are your branches

 The 3 year-old goes side to side...

  If you're eleven, tall and high...

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,

you also hide the cat, we see.

 (The following photo is courtesy of Tray)

Time in Salem

Max and Grandpa

 Hey, I dig your watch.

 We both have stripes!

 Kate's first take in the jacuzzi tub turned a bubble bath into a very very very bubbly bath.  As in, bubbles so thick you could make a snowman out of them.

 Early morning play...

 Grandpa reading Kate LOTS of books.

 Zachary and Kate playing with the dragon.

 Beatrix enjoying an apple peel.

 Apple peels, music, and smiles.

 6 grandkids eating lunch.

Friedler Friday

On Friday, the kids and I drove down to Oregon.  Our first stop was the Friedlers.

Here's my self portrait with Owen.

 Sisters plus Henry.

 Hello, cousin.

Quote of Day

Doug and I were having a philosophical moment with Tray about how, "Real men don't run."  Both literally and figuratively.

After hearing a few times, Kate, without prompting, said, "Pretend men run."

And then her parents busted out laughing!

Thanksgiving prep

Preparations are under way at the Brouillard Household.  Tray is quickly becoming an experienced sous chef under Doug's guidance.

 In looking at all the ads that came with today's paper, we were mocking that Pier 1 is calling themselves "Cheer 1" tomorrow.  Doug promptly came into the kitchen, and while tending the bacon, said, "THIS is Cheer 1!"

 Max's job for the day is to look cute.  Mission accomplished.

Kate's job is to make art and look cute.  Check!

 More work in the kitchen.  Dishes, a day-long endeavor.  Doug is working with the garlic-butter-onion-spices mix for the stuffing.

Max at 6 months

First, a couple of cutie self-portraits.

 And here, he's trying to drink my coffee. (It's empty.)  But he's pretty determined in reaching for my coffee while I am drinking it, so I have to be very careful.

At Max's 6 month appointment, he weighed 17 lb 10 oz (51 percentile), 27.13 inches tall (73 percentile).  The doctor also said that Max is the palest of all his patients, so had his blood tested to make sure he wasn't low on iron.  The count was just fine, he's just pale.  That's my boy!

Laughter among siblings

My Pretty Flowers

Halloween

Kate and Tray before dinner.  (AKA pre-costume & candy)

Kate as "Clown" &  Tray as "Captain Bat Sparrow"

 The Eye of Sauron

 Curious George

 Jack-o-scary!