Life in the tank

Just for fun I tried photo shooting some fish

The Gold Sevrum on top is becoming a bully

The two clown loaches were a craig's list find and they are doing well....they are particularly happy to be out of the plastic bag. 

Random October Fun

Noah came over one afternoon with a pumpkin and was just itching to carve it - we had a couple on the front steps too so they came to the carving party as well.

These are five scary faces - if you look closely you might find one that looks a bit like Noah and one that looks like Nancy! 

With the pool closed it is back to indoor projects - (plus it rains every time I plan to rake leaves)   This is in the living room - after painting the ceiling and the walls - we decided the carpet should go - so it did - only to reveal a nice wooden floor.   It appears that in the history of this house - It had carpet at least four times - first time it was nailed down....I had to pull the nails!  second through four was on carpet strips - that were nailed and stapled to the floor - I shed a little blood on this project

I painted the brass doors and the mantle - The brown tile has been painted twice - once black and then brown.  I guess I can try a third time since the brown does not look that great.

So I painted it the same as the trim - Not sure if we like it yet - but it is better than brown.   New tiles may be in order before we do the floor.

We think maroon couch may have it's days numbered as well

This shows the fireplace from the upstairs  - we opened it up and built a balcony and stairs to the newly constructed loft

(just kidding ....this is not our house)     

Judah is Born

Whatever Grandma put in the Hamburgers did the trick as Judah Benjamin Bretschneider was Born October 8 at 2:13 AM.  

We brought Noah and Broden over for the day so Clayton and Michelle could get some sleep

Since temps were still in the 80's we might as well play in the water...too bad the big pool is "sleeping" til spring

Broden finding a new way to sit in a chair

Tailgate Party October 7

October has proven to be an "unseasonably" warm month for Michigan - on this Friday - it reached 82 degrees...at that temp our response is Head to the Beach - so Clayton and Michelle and the boys were more than willing to join us for a beach picnic

It turned into a "Tailgate" party since all of the picnic tables were put away for the winter. 

.  

Noah and Michelle taking a walk in the water - even for October we saw four people actually go out swimming.  Michelle is sporting her last hours of being pregnant!

There were many people at the beach and many children...Broden on the right and another boy spent endless minutes running through the wave puddle

Feelin Great!

Spectacular Sunset!

Yes Captain Sundae and the General store both did quite the ice cream business that evening.

Broden's overnighter

Broden came over to spend the night last Thursday..just for the fun of it, as it was "His turn"

It would have been a great opportunity for his mamma's bun to come out of the oven...but we think her timer is not set quite right

We walked down to Oriole Park for some fun on the slides and merry go round

We made cookies and tasted the dough

and we played farm and cars

Say Good Bye to Summer

Noah, Broden and Clayton came over for the last shot of summer on Sept 12.  It was 85 degrees just ahead of the cold front that is predicted to take us down to the 30's

The pool will be closed this week

Noah ready for underwater exploration

Baths should always be this fun!

last Chance to learn how to do that "Canopener"

sigh!

Kissing the pool goodbye

He almost did it!

A Visit to North Carolina

Labor Day weekend offered us the opportunity to go visit Adam and Sandra and Tahlia.

she is already practicing her cheer leading moves



I don't know about you - but I am ready for dinner...anytime!

We took one sunny afternoon for a few photo ops just after nap time....not sayin who took naps

The Proud mom and dad with Tahlia

Watch this blog in the next week or so for baby news from Clayton and Michelle

Late in the weekend the rain bands from Hurricane Lee made it's way to NC and kept us from being outside.  Adam had wondered how difficult it would be to put a fan in the bathroom - and I said - Not too hard at all - so off to Home Depot for parts and the father son project takes off.  Uh yes it was a tad bit warm working in the attic!

Hey - it worked the first time!