A Dream Come True: A Guest Post by Rick

Can a post by one of the titular characters of a blog really be considered a "guest post?" Well, it is my first ever post on this blog which has been running for who knows how long so I say yes. So what's the occasion you ask? Good question. As the title implies, I have recently achieved a long-time dream of mine and, well, I wanted to brag a little. Am I referring to landing a job recently that had been a dream job of mine in college, a job I never thought I could realistically get? Um, no. So I got a job, big whoop. No, I'm referring to this:

A crummy fridge you say? How dare you? That's not just any fridge. That, my friends (ha, I can't even write that phrase without immediately thinking of John McCain), is my beverage fridge! And yes, I've dreamed of having this magnificent beast for many years. I can't trace my pinings to their origin, but I do know that the flames of this passion were certainly fanned by my friend Bunkero, who had a pop machine in his apartment(s) in New York. Visiting his place was such a treat, not only for the great company, but also for the comforting knowledge that a variety of ice cold sodies was always at the ready. The last time I visited Bunkero, at his new home in Utah, I discovered that his pop machine was out of commission. I was saddened, but Bunkero, to you I say, take heart buddy, and know that you're always welcome at my beverage fridge. Heaven knows I owe you a few (hundred). Now enjoy the pics:

Ready for Thanksgiving:

A Feast for All

We were lucky enough to host Thanksgiving this year. It was our first and one of my all-time favorites. I roasted a whole turkey for the first time. I'm happy with how it turned out and it wasn't as difficult as I was made to think it was. We were joined by three families that we've made friends with here in Cleveland. There were happy kids, good company, more than enough pies (despite Rick's worries that there wouldn't be enough), and a lot of great food.

Thanks to our Cleveland "family" for making this Thanksgiving an awesome one. All in all, an occasion to remember.

I made little Plymouth rock cupcakes with flags in them as place cards.

Proclamation of Thanksgiving

All I can add is "amen."

Washington, D.C.October 3, 1863

This is the proclamation which set the precedent for America's national day of Thanksgiving. During his administration, President Lincoln issued many orders like this. For example, on November 28, 1861, he ordered government departments closed for a local day of thanksgiving.

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The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God.

In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union.

Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defense, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom. No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.

It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility

and Union.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.

Forts and friends

We removed the cushions from the sun room furniture the other day. We took that opportunity to build an impromptu fort. It was a short-lived success.

We ran into Piper's friend Ellie at the mall the other day. They were ecstatic to see each other, to say the least, and took turns driving the car ride.

Playing in the snow

Piper loved playing in the snow except when she started getting too cold. (We've since bought her a proper snow coat.) I took an awesome video of her jumping in the snow; she was fascinated by making footprints. Now if we could only get a snowstorm big enough to make a snowman. That's what she's really excited for. We'll have to stock up on carrots.

First snow of the season

Birthday recap

This past weekend was my 31st birthday. Man, writing that makes me feel my age. Despite the torrential rain we celebrated by meeting friends for burgers and fries. Then everyone came to our house for cake and ice cream. It was such a good time. I loved all my gifts and being able to celebrate with my friends too. Piper was excited about my gifts and loved singing happy birthday to me. Thanks everyone for my wonderful birthday!

Gorgeous flowers from Mindy

Flowers and gifts from Mindy

Opening Piper's gift - 30 Rock, Season 2


Opening Rick's gift - a gorgeous new purse

From my in-laws - a red cashmere cableknit sweater

Enjoying some root beer and cake with some friends

Recent craft projects

Piper loves her craft class at the rec center. So much so that we signed up for the next installment. It's such fun and to boot she has a good friend from church in her class now too. Simple pleasures.

The owl on the left is missing his eyes and somehow got a star from the plate on the right instead.


The Q-tip skeleton was fun.


Indian corn, a fall foliage frame and a spiderweb made by putting paint on the paper and shaking it in a box of marbles.


A pitiful caterpillar, a leafed-out turkey, and snowflake bookmark.

The big day

Here are long-awaited pictures of our first American Halloween. And what would Piper be but a KU Jayhawks cheerleader?! We are of course both the NCAA football and basketball champions for 2008.

As for trick-or-treating, our town has time limits. I'm assuming that it's to avoid those crazy kids coming around at 11:00 Our alloted time was 6:00-8:00. First we went to a friend's house for some great company and chili and then I went home while Rick and Piper went trick-or-treating. We had great weather; I actually sat on the porch handing out candy. Piper came back after only 45 minutes because she couldn't carry her bucket any more. All-in-all a great night!

Our li'l pumpkin with our pumpkins. You'll notice the ghost jack-o-lantern I carved this year.

We taught Piper how to say "Go Jayhawks!"


Rick's costume got a few comments. Piper had insisted that he be a pumpkin so what else was I to do but take one orange sweater and scotch tape black fabric to it. I would have done safety pins but we didn't have any.


The spoils

Pumpkin painting

Yes this was last week. Gimme a break - I'm catching up.

Pumpkin picking

Last weekend we went to a local farm to pick pumpkins for jack-o-lanterns. We also got a free hayride out to the patch. That's three hayrides for Piper this season, if you're keeping count. Piper picked out a small pumpkin and then we went back to the barn so Rick could pick out a larger pumpkin. We had Piper paint her pumpkin and then I carved the one Rick selected.

Halloween party

The Rocky River Early Childhood PTA (that's a mouthful) hosted a Halloween party last Saturday. Piper's costume was in the wash so we had to resort to costumes from Halloween's past. Good thing I had pipe cleaners and a headband hanging around, and that her wings still fit. It worked out well that we had a butterfly t-shirt too.

There were lots of craft activities and trick-or-treating. We didn't stay too long but it was a good time. Rick got to meet some of the other families I have met in the last month or so too.

Dean's greenhouse

With the PTA Piper and I went to Dean's greenhouse last week. We got to go on another hayride (and not the last one either). We also got to play in a ball pit, jump in a bouncy house, go through another hay maze, have a snack, look at pumpkins and horses, and get a treat bag. We're Halloweened out now that it's over but we had fun participating in all these fall festivities.

Piper on the hayride


Witchy Piper

Pumpkin Piper

Monster Piper

In the hay maze with a new friend

Autumn leaves are falling down

About a week ago Piper and I went to the local park to play. A group of older kids were playing in the leaves. Piper was quickly invited to help make a big pile of leaves. She was very excited to be included.

Piper took her work very seriously. She would gather two handfuls of leaves and walk solemnly over to the growing leaf pile. She looked like a flower girl walking down the aisle.

What do you think Piper did when all of the other kids decided the pile was big enough to jump in? She just stood there. There was no reaction, and even with my suggestions to jump in, she just liked watching everyone else. And it's not like she hasn't played in leaves before; we had just done it the day before in our own backyard.