Know More Folklore

The Morton Arboretum summoned us again, this time to their seasonal train exhibit. 
The boys stood and watched for a half hour - no joke.

Then we ventured outside to search for gnomes

in the Children's Gardens.

gnome (noun)

  1: Greek gnōmē, from gignōskein to know

  2: an ageless and often deformed dwarf of folklore who lives in the earth and usually guards treasure

Announced by All the Trumpets of the Sky, Arrives the Snow

Announced by all the trumpets of the sky,

Arrives the snow, and, driving o’er the fields,

Seems nowhere to alight: the whited air

Hides hills and woods, the river, and the heaven,

And veils the farm-house at the garden’s end.

The sled and traveller stopped, the courier’s feet

Delayed, all friends shut out, the housemates sit

Around the radiant fireplace, enclosed

In a tumultuous privacy of storm.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Nevermind that you can't see the snowflakes in these shots...the boys were thrilled.

Hardly able to contain himself, Isaac ran to his microphone to help him scream to the rooftops, "It's snowing!"

Inside the Player

A ball bumped him in the mouth and gave him a bloody lip.  He's plugging his ears so he doesn't have to hear the buzzer.  A perfect juxtaposition of his two natures: rough-and-tumble yet sensitive.

Luke wasted no time in finding the mom who brings the cookies.

Coach's star player.

Watch out Coach....looks like these guys are brewing up some new strategy for you.

Sippie cup and Silkie.  Good Dad.

A successful coach needs a patient wife, loyal dog, and great quarterback - and not necessarily in that order. -- Bud Grant

Every Moment, an Occasion for Thanksgiving

Isaac rolling away on some Play-Doh awaiting the big meal.

Our friend, Brian joined us for dinner as his lovely bride and kiddo were out of town.  He is a "First Mate" at a local Trader Joe's thus he supplied us with some hors d'oeuvres to whet our appetite.

He also brought this homemade over-the-top dessert: pumpkin pie with carmelized walnuts on top!

Do not be alarmed.  This is an annual scene at the Schmidt house on Thanksgiving.  Despite having his temperature taken half a dozen times, the bird turned out delicious as usual.

Chris was up to some of his own dessert mischief.

A homemade three-layer chocolate cake.

Nevertheless, give thanks.