Thankfulness: Monday Edition

So this hasn't been the easiest of years, in a lot ways. HOwever, it has also been a great year. I plan to blog every day this week with a list of things I'm thankful for to remind myself how blessed I am.

I am thankful to have made it safely home! I traveled to Fox Lake over the weekend and the trip back was a long one. It was very misty and rained off and on throughout much of IL/IN/OH. There were lots of wrecks on the road, particularly on the Indiana Toll Road. I am very Thankful that I made it back home safely!!!! It was so good to sleep in my own bed, rather than a hospital bed :)

Beer Tour

While in Beantown we checked out the Sam Adam's Brewery Tour.  I reccomend it -- it is FREE!!!  They did the standard tour:  we tasted the hops, we toured the brewery floor, and then they did a group tasting.  We enjoyed a Boston lager, a Sam's Oktoberfest, and a Boston Brick Red (only available in the Boston locale).  We met some characters while there too!

Maybe you recognize this guy?

Pitt-UConn Game

We braved Hartford Connecticut and checked out the Pitt-UConn game.  Their stadium is in the middle of an abandoned airfield, which the nerd in me found quite cool.  If you look at an aerial there is no question at all whatsoever that is where you are at.  The runway is the 'traffic lane' for driving in and you park in the outfield.  odd.  yet cool. 

In an ode to my Palko peeps, I masqueraded as Tyler Palko for this game. 

Happy Halloween!

We celebrated Halloween in style.  Check out our pumpkins.  Pitt and skeletor were David's creations while I kept it cute with Boo.  That was the first pumpkin I've ever carved myself -- last time I carved a pumpkin I was too small to safely wield a dangerous weapon like a knife... It had certainly been a while.  David had an awesome Halloween party Saturday night, everyone had a great time to say the least.  Then on Sunday he attempted to float the keg by giving trick or treat parents beer -- no takers though. 



My first big girl pumpkin!

Party people.. or at least those who 'dressed up'

How has Mt Lebo NOT fined him for this one?

It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown

It is that time of year -- Fall is upon us.  All my friends with little kids have been hitting up the pumpkin patches.  Although I have no child, we are like a little kids at heart so we decided to join the fun.  We went out to Simmons Farm where they actually grow the pumpkins.. as well as apples and squash and flowers and an assortment of other vegetables. We took the hayride out to the field and picked a few pumpkins and some Indian corn, followed by a trip into the corn maze.  The pumpkin picking was serious business -- definitely had to find 'the one'. On our way home we stopped by Giant Eagle and found an even more impressive pumpkin.  Eventually we'll carve them!  No promises on showing you the finished product.

Acres upon acres of pumpkins!

Yup, they actually grow them here!

A little baby pumpkin hiding in the shade.

Seriously, Acres of pumpkins

Nope, thats definitely not "the one".

But maybe this one is!

Or this one?

Here are a couple more options...

I'll take this one -- she's a keeper :)

Picking Indian Corn

They had some amazing jack o'lanterns up at the farmstand.  mine will look nowhere near this fancy, for sure.

Mr. Ed's

 On the way home from Gettysburg we ran into this awesomely creeptastic place.  Mr. Ed's Elephant Museum and Candy Shop.  Unfortunately, the Museum burned down several months ago, but the creeptastic fiberglass elephants are all over the place to suck you in.  It was certainly something.

Weekend in Gettysburg

We spent Columbus Day weekend in Gettysburg PA for my cousin's wedding.  It was great to see the entire family!  We're happy to have Courtney in the family.  Here are some of the highlights of the weekend.

A cupcake for breakfast before the long ride to Grandpa and Nana's.  Sure glad I wasn't in the car!