Happy Halloween

Elmo, Honey Boo Boo, and Ninja wish you a Happy Halloween!

Here are the two pumpkins that will greet Trick or Treaters to the McLaughlin residence tonight.

3rd Place at State

Photo off of SSP Highschool website

Congratulations to Asia and the South St Paul Packers girls soccer team for winning today and taking 3rd place in the state tournament!  Way to go girls!

Happy Birthday Grandma Ellen!

5 Years

Time goes by ridiculously fast.  It was five years ago today that Dad died.  5 years.  That's 1,827 days that we haven't been graced by his physical presence in our lives.  We have all found ways to continue on with our own lives but have never for a second forgotten about him and will forever be thankful for the time we had to spend with this wonderful and awesome man.  I love you Dad.

State High School Soccer Tournament

The SSP girls soccer team made it to the State Tournament!  Careline and I braved the cold night last night to watch the girls play their first game of the tournament...a 1-0 victory.  If they can pull off just two more wins they will be State Champions.  Good Luck Packers (and especially Asia...our Summer Nanny!)

Silly Girl

Adeline has hundreds of toys to choose from in the garage on nice days when we're outside playing, but she always goes for the same thing...an old car seat.  Oddly enough she loves to be buckled in and just contently hangs out strapped in to her car seat.  Such a silly little girl.

I thought just old men went with the comb-over look...but apparently 2 year girls do sometimes as well.

Uh oh...where did the baby go?!

Special Delivery

What's inside the package that was delivered to our front steps???  I'm way ahead of the game this year...and inside this package from Shutterfly are The 2012 McLaughlin Family Christmas cards!

Life becomes hectic the closer we get to Christmas...so I got a head start on my favorite part of the holidays...creating our annual Christmas card.  I'm so happy with the way it turned out.  And the best part...nobody cried during the entire process.  Bonus.  So...watch your mailbox in early December for a card  from us.

Adeline & Her Cute Little Classmates

Oh Goody...There's Another Presidential Debate On TV Tonight

Hockey Has Started Up Again

Practices have started up again for the year...which means we'll be running Buddy back and forth from the rink every Saturday and Sunday for the next several months.  I guess I should be thankful that at this age he only plays during the Winter months...as Krista and David are constantly taking Daniel to games and practices and tournaments at all hours of the day...and year-round!

Braden is wearing the red jersey in this little scrimmage at the end of his practice this morning.  I'd say that he's doing pretty well..considering a year ago at this time the kid didn't even know how to skate.  As you'll hear...Adeline gets quite the kick out of seeing her Brother out there on the ice.

2 Shots In 2 Days

I'm starting to feel like a human pin cushion with getting my flu shot today after having my cortisone shot yesterday. Today's shot was a breeze compared to that last one...but I must say that my foot feels a thousand times better today than it has felt in months.

Dinner Out Thanks To Grandpa

Grandpa Jer recently gave me a gift certificate to Old World Pizza and tonight we enjoyed a tasty dinner thanks to him. Thank You Grandpa Jer...it was nummy!

Why The Band-Aid On My Foot, You Might Ask

For about the past 3 moths I've been suffering from a case of plantar fasciitis.  Plantar fasciitis is inflammation of the thick tissue on the bottom of the foot.  It connects the heel bone to the toes and creates the arch of the foot.  The heel of my foot is what hurts the most, especially when walking on it for the first time of the day or after a long period of sitting.  When getting up in the middle of the night to go the bathroom I literally have had to grab on to furniture along the route and tip toe to the bathroom so as not to put any pressure at all on my heel.

Finally convinced that the condition was not going to heal (pun not intended) on its own...I went to see a Podiatrist today.  He injected a shot of cortisone directly in to the most painful part of my heel.  FYI...that hurt!  The good news is that the DR said I should feel better tomorrow.  I hope that's true because the alternative is to go back and see him again one week from today for a second injection...and now that I know how having a shot in your foot feels...that is something that I am really hoping to avoid!

Fall School Conferences

It was conference night tonight at school and as anticipated I heard only good things about Careline and Braden's schoolwork and behavior at school. It makes Mom and Dad very proud that they are such well behaved super smart students.

Someone Broke Into Buddy's OREO Stash

Careline and Asia

Highschool soccer sections started today and Careline was lucky enough to get to be one of the 4 ball girls at today's game.  She even got paid $10 for her efforts.  Don't tell anyone...but she would have done the job for free to be near her soccer idol Asia (who scored an unassisted goal today!)  South St Paul won 6-0 to advance to play Simley on Tuesday night.

GO PACKERS!!!

Look Who Has A Big Girl Bed

Daddy converted Adeline's bed to a daybed yesterday in order to lower the risk of her injuring herself....as she climbed out of her crib on a nightly basis.  She seemed to like the new look of her bed and spent at least part of the night in it.

Slumber Party in Adeline's bed!

Buddy's Rules

Braden cleaned his room the other night and it's obvious that he intends for it to remain that way by the note he composed undoubtedly for the sake of his Sister's.

If this approach works...I may just have to give it a try myself!

Two and a Half Years Old

Skating With Goldy

Goldy Gopher made his way to Wakota Arena in South St Paul tonight to skate with the kids for a while.  The big kids and I jumped at the chance to hang out with the University of Minnesota mascot.

Final Fall Soccer Game

Careline and her soccer teammates played their last game of the 2012 Fall season today.  Unfortunately today's game didn't go their way...but I would say that for the most part, it was a successful season.

There was definitely no shortage of fans in the stands for Careline.  The Kay's, Judy, Lily, Nora, and Grandma Ellen all braved the chilly windy day to cheer for #11.

Buddy was disappointed that he didn't get to come to today's game and hang out with his girlfriend Lily because he had hockey practice...so I took a cute photo of Lily to share with him.

I absolutely LOVE this picture of Judy saying Goodbye to Adeline.  We sure miss seeing you on a daily basis, Judy...and treasure any time we get to spend with you!

Nice Run Aunie

This morning I cheered on Krista as she ran the Twin Cities 10 mile. She finished in really good time, 1 hr 31 minutes. Awesome job!

The Little Girl Who Insisted She Wasn't Tired...

Happy 9th Anniversary To Us

Go Asia!

Careline spent a good part of her Saturday making this awesome sign to bring to tonight's varsity soccer game.  Asia was the kids Summer nanny and the kids simply adore her.  Careline also looks up to her so much as she is a very good soccer player.  Yeah to Asia and the Packers soccer team for winning tonight.  Let's make it to State for the 2nd year in a row!