Thanksgiving

We had a nice Thanksgiving spent with family. Everyone contributed and we had a delicious feast!

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When I Grow Up

Today Brooke announced with certainty "Mom, I know what I want to be when I grow up!" I was sure she was going to say the usual ballerina teacher or sommier but no, she went on to say that she would like to be a newspaper delivery person or a doctor. I told her she could certainly do both! Like many discussions we needed to act on these words right away! Luckily, we had a legit delivery since we received some mail that didn't belong to us. Brooke informed me that she needed to deliver it herself and by bike although it was already dark out. So after I was "healed" by this doctor I watched her first delivery to the neighbors, Michael and Lesley. They played along so well and even gave Brooke a tip for a job well done!

Sad news... kinda

Today, Ellie the birthday fish, died. We only had her for one week. She was a cute little black fantail goldfish. I was certain it was going to be tough on Brooke but as Bob suggested we just won't make a big deal of it. So we told Brooke "Ellie got sick last night and died. Should we bury her or flush her?" Brooke said, "Let's flush her but I don't want to watch." Then we discussed whether a fish can get to heaven via a toilet and we opted to call the pet store to see if they had a special place for Ellie. So off to Petco to deliver the coffin and an hour later we were home with a new fish. Meet Joe!

Joe is getting along just fine with his fish friends, Chelea and Kim! He too loves the new colorful cave Brooke purchased with birthday money from Aunt Joyce and Uncle Ouie (Uncle Ted).

Halloween 2008

Here is our little bat! We went trick-or-treating in our new neighborhood down toward cousin Lucy's house. The whole family went including Chinook. Half an hour was enough in the chilly air. As expected, we ate more candy than we gave out!



Our friends and neighbors , Lesley and Michael, visit "Miss Brooke"...

"Chinook needs a costume too." Um.. she's now a pickle!

Here's Brooke as a fairy in 2007 (age 4)...
... and as a cat in 2006 (age 3)

Brooke's 5th birthday!

What a spectacular 5th birthday for Brooke! Ever since we read, Stellaluna, Brooke has decided she wanted to be a bat for Halloween and have a Halloween theme for her birthday party. Thankfully Grammy came to the rescue with a homemade "Bootiful Bat" costume, with bling and all! Brooke also requested a black cat for her birthday cake! Although there was a veto on the black frosting mess she agreed to white frosting with orange and black sprinkles! Oh, and I learned coconut is my friend. It hides all frosting mistakes! So it all worked out. The weather was perfect, we had a fun party with wonderful friends, she got a new goldfish and I must say her cat cake turned out fantastic!

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Autumn fun!

Here are a few things we have been up to this month...

Pumpkin Carving

Making carmel apples...

and eating them of course!

And, of all things, continuous "dog training" for dear Chinook!

Dinner with Lynn and Aaron

Last Saturday night Lynn and Aaron came over for dinner. Bob and Brooke made a great shrimp bisque and homemade focacchia bread. We enjoyed our visit with such genuine friends. Brooke loves her new (pink and flowery) legos from them!