A Tale of 2 Cities: One Frozen and One with Palm Trees

We recently returned from a fabulous Walt Disney World adventure. It was such an awesome time and I will have pictures up here soon. I didn't bring my actual camera because I didn't want it to get damaged on the roller coasters, water rides, Dumbo...etc.. All the Es had so much fun and seeing other kids whine, complain, hit each other and generally act ungrateful made me appreciate mine all the more.

We got back on the 23rd and returned for a white Christmas. We did a lot of sledding and tunnel building, which was a big switch from swimming outside and wearing shorts. -RL

Thanksgiving....I'm a little behind on the blogging...

We spent Thanksgiving with my family, once again, at my aunt and uncle's ranch. They have lots of horses which provide plenty fun for these kids. Fun?! Without a video game or TV? What?! My cousins, Ashley and Melissa, gave Ethan and Emma some riding lessons and they got the hang of it and, of course, loved every minute of it. Emma is riding Levi and Ethan is riding Jag. -RL

Happy Halloween!

If you look at our picture from last Halloween, Chris and I look almost exactly the same. Same expression on our faces, differently costumed children...weird. That must be our "we're exhausted, but ready to kick ass trick or treating" face. This year, we had a Dorothy, Obi Wan Kenobi and Yoda. Ethan made sure people knew he was Obi Wan from Star Wars IV, A New Hope. Very important distinction among Star Wars geeks, I guess. Yoda did not make it far on the trick or treating, but Dorothy and Obi Wan made a haul.

We always have a special Halloween lunch on the weekend before. This year was no different. We had Halloweenies (hot dogs, wrapped with crescent rolls to look like mummies), a pizza calzone shaped like a snake, cookies that looked like witches fingers with red almonds for fingernails. Plus our Mac n Sneeze, and witches brew with gummy worms that we have every year. It was another fun-filled Halloween over here at the Schlien household! -RL

Little Men

This picture of Elliot is not real clear, but it just makes me happy. I was trying to get him to stay put to take a picture and he just kept getting in my face. He just looks cute. His newest words are "turtle", "deer" and "all done."

These are the Es on their last rendezvous to the park before the cold weather struck. We were in Brainerd and went to the park every day, knowing that we would be housebound for the next few months. With the exception of Disney World in December!

Who's Ready for a Change?!

Just a reminder to vote tomorrow, November 4! If you are like us, you've been waiting for this day for 8 long years. It's no secret who we are voting for, but whoever your choice is, just VOTE! -RL

It's Not Easy Bein' This Handsome...

I wanted to try and post a video on this blog and it seems that it works! Here are my boys at breakfast. -RL

A Foretaste of Things to Come...

I am really into Halloween. I love it. We got the boys costumes pretty early this year, as Ethan knew exactly what he wanted to be and Elliot doesn't have a choice yet. If you're a Star Wars nerd than you will appreciate this little gem of an anecdote. After Elliot got this Yoda costume, Ethan wanted to be Degobah Luke and carry his brother "Yoda" around in a backpack...like in the movie. Check back on Halloween to see if Chris and I dress up with these 2! I'd make a pretty mean Jabba the Hutt! -RLCute you are, I think.

Ethan Wan Kenobi