Whovian Halloween

The Halloween costumes this year require a bit of backstory.

Last spring I got sick. Some nasty bug Dagny brought home from school got me and I was out for about a week.  If my kids were younger and needier I couldn't have spent a week in bed but because they are old enough to (mostly) fend for themselves and they have such a helpful father, I was actually able to be sick.  My head hurt too badly to concentrate on a book so I decided to just watch stuff on my iPad to pass the time.  I went through my Netflix cue looking for something that wouldn't be too involved and I settled on Doctor Who.  The next thing I knew I had watched 6 seasons of the show. (I may, or may not, have stayed in bed a day longer than I needed to just so I could finish season 6) So much for not getting involved.  For the next month I talked about Doctor Who in hopes of getting some member of my family interested in watching it so I would have somebody to share in my Doctor love. (I did get some of my friends to watch but what I really wanted was an in-house confidant)  None of them were buying it and they actually made fun of me. (like any of them have room to talk, being as geeky as they are) One day Dagny makes a comment and I realize that she has secretly been watching Doctor Who and she just didn't want to admit it to me. Now that she had been outed her love for the Doctor was in the open and we could obsess together.  (Dagny found out that most of her friends watch the show and she talked her boyfriend into watching so she feels very cool about the whole thing, but lets just remember who started it) Over the summer she discussed The Doctor with her Doctor obsessed friends and they came up with the idea of dressing up as characters from the show for Halloween.  The idea stuck, and they even talked other people into dressing up as Who characters.  So, there is the background. Me watching Doctor Who has turned into Dagny dressing up as Amy Pond and Austin as Rory Williams.  I have been working on their costumes and they are going to be authentic and amazing.  (I think they are even cosplay quality and they can wear them to WonderCon next year, how exciting) 

These are the looks they've chosen -

Rory from Vampires in Venice

Amy from Time of Angles/Flesh and Stone

(Dagny may have picked that particular look because it

 means she will get a brand new pair Converse, smart girl)

Giants Win The Series!

For us, the Giants 2012 season was 162 regular season games either watched or read about, and then thoroughly discussed over the morning paper. There were afternoons spent together at AT&T Park seeing it all live, and there was the night where we watched every pitch of a perfect game.  Giants games were a family gathering and a shared passion.  We followed every up and down from April through September and then watched on a tiny TV at the hospital by Steve's bedside as the clinched the NL West.  And finally, it was 3 epic post-season battles that ended in the Giants sweeping the Tigers and becoming the World Series Champions.  What a ride.

After the last out of the World Series Dagny and Dane rushed outside and ran around screaming.  Dane took his shirt off and was swinging it around over his head and then, before you knew it, Steve had joined them.  Two shirtless screaming guys and a completely ecstatic girl whooping it up for all to see.  Best Celebration Ever.

15

One day I was walking along and was suddenly startled by the large man walking next to me. It turned out to be Dane.  He had recently become taller than me and I wasn't used to it.  That was several years ago, Dane has been taller than me (and Steve!) for quite awhile and I still don't think I've gotten used to it.  It's a strange thing when you have to look up at your little boy.  Dane's birthday this year landed on a school day but we still managed to celebrate and Dane got just what he asked for - BBQ, presents and cake.  Happy Birthday Dane!  

presents

BBQ

no, he didn't eat it all himself

cake

Orange October, Again

This is the background picture on my phone.  Baseball fans are a superstitious bunch, they somehow think that something they are doing contributes to the success of their team.  When the Giants won against the Reds I changed my phone background to this awesome picture of Dagny's orange-laced converse.  I don't know if that's what's helping them win against the Cardinals, but I'm not going to chance it.  The picture stays until the Giants win it all.

Sabrina's Savory Secrets

In the last few years I have started to realize the joy in cooking.  I never considered myself a bad cook, just an indifferent one.  I have always cooked for my family but mostly uninspired, ordinary things. (which, ironically, Dane enjoys way more than any "fancy food" I put in front of him) Now that I am excited about cooking I am always looking for recipe resources.  Pinterest is a recipe goldmine, and there are a couple food blogs that I follow.  Now there is a brand new blog on the block written by one of my favorite cooks, my sister.  Sabrina is someone who loves to cook (remember when she came here for Thanksgiving?) and now she's sharing all her recipes and how-to's. It's very exciting, go check out her blog and try her recipes.

Homecoming '12

Last high school homecoming, 

talk about saving the best for last.