COSTUMES

I know I'm ruining the surprise of their Halloween costumes by continuing to post photos of them half completed, but they're just so cute, I can't help it. Also, the kids have been wearing them a lot, so all of our pictures recently have some version of the costumes in them.

PROGRESS

One completed bat mask (you try to get him to stand still!)


and Robin's costume still on the way. We're going for Adam West Batman, not comic book Batman & Robin, in case you were all wondering...

APPLE PIE

After our orchard adventure, we decided to turn our delicious apples into apple pie. I've been trying to get the kids more involved in cooking, mostly because it keeps them from destroying the house and because they love it. In this case, they helped by taking bites out of the apples as I peeled and cored them.



Apple pie is simple to make and usually delicious. This was no exception. Here's my apple pie recipe:


AMAZING APPLE PIE
8-10 small to medium apples
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 - 3/4 cup of sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon salt


Peel, core, and slice applies to 1/4" thick. (Apples should equal about 7 cups).
In a large pot, heat butter until sizzling. Reduce to low and add apples. Cover & cook, stirring, for 5-7 minutes.
Add sugar, cinnamon, and salt.
Cook at a rapid boil for about 3 minutes.
Spread on a baking sheet and cool to room temperature.

Bake in a double pie dough at 425 for 35 - 45 minutes. I've always followed this method of making dough, and so long as you always deny how much butter you're using, it usually works perfectly. Be sure to cool the pie completely after baking. If you're like me, you fail and cut into it after an hour, and then ruin the filling from becoming completely set. It still tastes great, but it doesn't look as neat. There! Apple pie!

DEARDORF ORCHARD

Last weekend, Nikki and Andy took us and the kids to Deardorf Orchard in Waconia, MN. It was the last day of their season, and we had a wonderful time. Gus (Batman) met the barn cat and loved him.


You wouldn't know this unless you spend a lot of time at our house, but Gus loves to have long discussions with our cats. I think he appreciates that they will sit silently and listen to him talk, unlike anyone else in the family. This cat was no exception. Gus gave him the lowdown on his Halloween costume, and talked to him all the way up the drive.


There were other animals, too. Nova met a sheep. That's good, because she just learned to say "baa!"


There was a very tall llama.


And a goat with floppy ears.


Gus checked out the horse pasture, but the horse was too far away to hold up his end of the conversation.


There was also two beautiful black labs. Irene won't sit still for petting by Gus and Nova, so this dog was a real change for them. Look at Nova's face in this photo: pure joy.


She gave this dog 8 million hugs, and he just sat down for it all. What a sweetheart.


Before we left for the day, we were pulled by the tractor around the orchard to see where the apples and the grapes are grown.


The kids liked the tractor ride a lot.


Thanks for such a fun day, Andy & Nikki!

BERNIE

Having only seen Sesame Street a handful of times, Gus calls this guy "Bernie", which never fails to make me giggle.

NOVA'S SO PRETTY

FALL

BLUE MARKER!

LET IT BE

A friend of a friend moved into the Let it Be house, where the Replacements took their famous record cover photo. Another friend arranged a photo shoot, and invited us.


What do you think? Not half bad, eh?

HELPING WITH THE LEAVES