I Don't Need To But I Want To

There were a lot of birthdays to celebrate in late October/early November. After Grey's B-Day, Katie organized a surprise party for Brennan.


Once again, Kari made a kick-ass cake. For those of you who can't tell, that is Brennan playing disc golf.


There was a pirate theme or maybe it was just an excuse for Vijay to dress up.




Brennan got destroyed by Silly String as soon as he walked into the house.




Keeping with tradition, Jaxon helped blow out the candles.

A few days later, a group of us were planning to meet to make a cake for Kari's surprise party. Just an hour before we started, Kari showed up unexpectedly with Jaxon to drop off more treats.


Jaxon gave me a yoga lesson. Here he is showing me how to do Warrior.



Then we had to get Kari and Jaxon out of the house before everyone came over to decorate her surprise cake.






Look at that beautiful disaster!




Midnight showing of New Moon. Go ahead, make fun of me, I'm ok with it.


Of course I was the only guy in our group.


Next up was Rebecca's birthday. This "Kari creation" was a vegan ice cream cake with a chocolate ganosh topping and cookie crust. Wow!


The girls watched a strange video on the web. Go ahead, ask 'em about it.


You can't deny the fact that Grey has got style.


We topped off the night by playing some cards.

Halloween 2009

Rebecca and I were pretty excited about our costumes this year. She made this amazing mask of E.T. and I planned to dress up as Elliott.


Here I am attaching a white blanket around E.T.'s head. Our goal was to recreate the scene where Elliott is riding his bike with E.T. in the front basket.


How cute is that!


Here is the finished product. You can't see the bicycle handlebars because they are hidden behind the basket, but it was a nice touch.


Brooke and Heather.


Brennan was swine flu.


Two of my favorite film characters from the past few years: Anton Chigurh and Daniel Plainview.


The cast of The Wizard of Oz was pretty good.


The house from the movie Up was unique, but I don't think he needed to write "Up" on the front.


Pac-Man and ghosts.


We ran into Nashel and Megan dressed up as Dexter and a fairy.


This thing was by far the best costume i've seen in years. Remember the fortune teller booth from the movie "Big"? This rendition was a cardboard, wood, fabric, paint, etc. masterpiece equipped with wheels. The booth was constantly mobbed as it made its way slowly down Franklin Street. Some lucky observers were even given fortunes.


The End.

The Stars in the Sky Looked Like Teeth in the Mouth of a Shark

Halloween 2009

Pumpkin carving time.


Grey and Lauren prepping for the slaughter of their pumpkins.


Jaxon helped gut the pumpkins. I usually have the same reaction to that job.




We also celebrated Grey's birthday, and Kari made yet another amazing cake!


Jaxon helped blow out the candles.


Rebecca drew Grey this rad cephalopod for his birthday.


Cannibal Pumpkin.


Sea Turtle and Frog Pumpkin.


Here is the view from my sidewalk.




Pirate wanted to wish Grey a Happy Birthday as well.


After carving we played some games where the losers had to do weird or embarrassing things, like having Pirate lick peanut butter off your forehead. Lauren and Emily lost the first round.




Grey and Warren had to act out a passage that was read aloud by Maria from a book of erotica that was left at our house. I think this had something to do with a mermaid emerging from the water and the fisherman that was waiting for her.


Of course the dude that hates cut off jean shorts the most lost the round where you had to wear a pair of Grey's for the rest of the night.


Poor Katie had to eat a spoonful of salsa, butter, soymilk, and peas. Pretty nasty.


Guardians at the gate.

Out Here, Even The Prairie Questions the Horizon

Rebecca's sister, Laura, and her husband, Chris, just welcomed Caleb Dawson Pallavicini to the world.


One of Rebecca's other sisters, Katie, drove up from Florida to Winsten-Salem. She is determined to be the favorite aunt, so she is starting early.


After all the family members got their turn, I snuck in to hold Caleb only to get this face from him...


He knew I was an impostor.


Smitty the horse gave his approval.


Dollar bowling night is always a good reason to get a group together.


Brooke and Sabrina get ready for their head-to-head battle.


Rob watches his shot.


Leatherland threw the bowling ball a million miles per hour.


Krankin tried to cast spells on me from behind but it did not affect my bowling skills.


Proper form.


Katie showing good technique with the leg sweep.


The best thing about bowling? The stylish shoes.


Rebecca walking away from a strike.


My girl gots skillz.


Brooke trying to do what we all have wanted to do for so long.


While Brian tries to do it to himself.