What's Thanksgiving with no snow

This is why

I need to find the battery charger. We have rechargable batteries to use for our digital camera, but since we moved 3 months ago, I can't find it. So I've been buying batteries for the camera. And they die and then cost more money. And right now I'm out of batteries, so that's why there haven't been any new pictures of life here in Idaho.

But you have these things to look forward to once I do get batteries:

• I've finished Hazel's new sweater, and it is awesome, if I do say so myself.
• A little house tour of our new apartment.
• And plenty of pictures of Hazel looking cute and being mischievous.
  

That silly child

I wish I had brought my camera to the grocery store today. Hazel was standing in the cart, waving, and yelling at every single person we passed. It was funny to watch and of course most everyone enjoys having a cheerful toddler scream hello to them as they sort through potatoes.

However, she has this one little groan/laugh/greeting that she does that, to be perfectly honest, sounds very strange and a little as though she was a few tacos short of a fiesta platter (if you catch my drift). So that one aspect was a little too ridiculous.

Let's see here....

what have we been up to?

We've been going to lots of play dates and moms groups lately. Mostly to socialize Miss Hazel and also so I can see my friends a bit more regularly. Hazel is definitely still at the age when "playing" with other kids means playing beside of them. It's funny to see 5 or 6 under 3 year olds just doing their own thing without really paying attention to the other kids. Until one of them takes something away or inadvertently touches another one.

Jason's been laying some beautiful hardwood floors this week for Keith and Nellie. And I do mean beautiful. I love their floor.

We've been going outside a bit and trying to take advantage of the semi-warm weather before it starts snowing.

We scored some almost brand-new snow tires for half price. Woo hoo!

Hazel's main choice of protein is eggs. She refuses to eat chicken or pork (too hard to chew) and will only eat cheese if it is mixed up with something else (e.g.enchiladas or lasagna). But she is in love with ground beef. Good thing too, since we're getting a quarter of a cow within the next few weeks. And thankfully our lovely friends, Keith and Nellie (the very same Keith and Nellie with the lovely hardwood floors) have graciously offered us some of their extra freezer space. Since I'm pretty sure that 1/4 of a cow won't fit in our freezer.

And we now like to coordinate our outfits with the sippy cup.

What she does when Jason's taking a shower: dumps her toys out and bangs on the door.

Fall Fashion

I saw these boots at Ross and just had to get them for her the other day.

Grumpy Ladybug

Today was a long and somewhat not-so-fun day. But we still had some good moments: watching the UI Homecoming parade.
And dressing up like a ladybug for the church fall carnival. Hazel had more fun just running around than doing anything constructive, like fishing for a toy. But we ended going home a little early due to a cranky ladybug throwing fits. She fell asleep within 5 minutes of getting home. Poor tired little bug.

Charlie won the infant to 3-year-old costume contest dressed as the Philadelphia Phillies Fanatic!

Poor lady

I feel sorry for the Meyer's hen that laid this huge egg for us! Only a single yolk though...

Our oddly dressed daughter

I need to fix this hat since right now it will fit her until her head is about 12 inches long. And you think that your kids will only start dressing strange when they do it on their own. But in reality when you put a variety of clothes on them to get out the door Saturday morning, you can come up with some unique looks.

Busy busy

Just to give a little update on the Schuiling casa:

I finally started decorating Hazel's room. Now the poor dear has more to look at than just blank white walls. Pictures coming soon!

Jason and I have been having some very nice Mormon missionaries over for the past few weeks. We're having fun trying to convert each other.

Fall finally showed up over here, though it got so cold a few weeks ago that a lot of the leaves just dropped without turning color. Hopefully there will be some lovely color before it turns to winter!

Hazel is working on being kind and not hitting. Slow progress on that front.

Today I'm canning tomatoes that I bought last week at the Farmer's Market. They were totally not ripe on Saturday and today I'm having to pick through the box to toss the disgusting ones that decided to grow hair. Is there anything grosser than picking through rotten fruit? I can't think of anything right now that can top that... I really should work on not procrastinating.

The Walks and the Giggles