Happy Birthday!

I will hold back from getting sappy about how wonderful Bruce is. Either you already know it, or you would get bored reading it. Instead I will just mention that he's now closer to 40 than 30, and doesn't even have an iPhone to show for it!

We had a great day of celebration. Bruce arrived home after work to see his wife grilling, for the first time ever. I didn't even burn the pork chops, and the garlic mashed potatoes were a hit. Then there was the cake: Orange Chocolate Chile Marble Cake. Wow, right down to the last forkful of truffle-glazed gooey-ness.

After cake we went to see a new play, "Sleepy Hollow, The Musical," written and directed by our friend and neighbor (and doubtless inspired by our neighborhood). It was incredible! I can't do justice here to the clever lyrics, entertaining characters, and creepy staging, but when this show hits Broadway, I suggest you all attend! Anyway, we enjoyed every minute and were glad for the great company.

What do you say, Bruce? Was it a good day?

Riley the Red Nosed Reindeer

Earlier this week, Riley tripped while pushing a big car on hard, scratchy carpet (think church building carpet). He put the brakes on with his face. You can cringe in sympathy, but he's doing much better now (as you can see by the look on his face). I do a double take every morning the first time I see him for the day, but I still think he's cute!

Halloween at Hogwarts

We had a very fun Halloween weekend, and took way too many cute pictures. After trick-or-treating, we got to visit Hogwarts. Apparently, a wealthy doctor who is SO kind and fun turns his home and grounds into Hogwarts every year. This was our first trip, and it was incredible. Many of the characters from the books are there, and they have some little magical activities. Sammy and Riley loved it all, but they were also pretty nervous about seeing these characters in real life. That's why Sammy has such a strange expression on his face in the photos. But afterward, he told us we were "the best mom and dad in the world," and they both are anxious to go back next year. It was a perfect non-scary, totally enjoyable activity (and it kept the boys up until 10:30!!).

Here are the photos, with captions. (And I will say that our kids are at the perfect age to enjoy Halloween without getting into all the gory, gross, scary stuff. I love it!)

Happy boys looking forward to the weekend's sugar rush:


Agent 007 and his girlfriend of the week.


Trying too hard to look like dangerous spies.


Don't the kids look great? Here they are, on their way to trick-or-treat with some good friends:


I love our neighborhood, and this creepy old sign. Sadly, we never saw the headless horseman this year. (He's real--Bruce saw him once.):


Sammy chose a very tricky jack-o-lantern pattern for me to carve. He was supposed to help, but it's really not practical to let a 6-year-old use a carving knife:


George and Fred Weasley were the life of the party, true to form:


Gilderoy Lockhart autographed pictures of himself for the boys:


We met Albus Dumbledore. This was the highlight of the evening:


Riley dodging bludgers as he plays quidditch:


Hagrid gave the boys a ride in the sidecar of Sirius Black's motorbike:


Moaning Myrtle cheered up when she met Harry:


Luna Lovegood kindly informed Harry that a nargle was eating his brains:


Professor Umbridge acted sweet to Harry, but he was afraid of her anyway:


Harry landed in Gryffindor House, of course:


Ry getting sorted into Hufflepuff; Bruce was also in Hufflepuff, Zeke in Ravenclaw, and I ended up in Slytherin:


Medical attention from Madame Pomfrey and Dobby:


Harry getting interviewed by Rita Skeeter:


Ginny Weasley went through a strange time warp and is now older and taller than Harry. He is excited to catch up to her so he can ask her out on a date:


Colin Creevy was excited to have his picture taken with Harry.


With Stan Shunpike, about to get on the Knight Bus:


Getting our fortunes told by Professor Trelawney:


Harry with Uncle Vernon. Aunt Marge floated up and got caught in a tree: