lunch break

...boo

...Pretty scary Halloween costume this year (I'm on the left).

We're all exhausted (Charmer the most) with an evening of up and down to answer the door. Calling it a night.

...ode to dogs

...if you have not read this book yet - do it! If you are a dog person, you will never look at your dog the same way again. If you don't have a dog, you might just go get one. My favorite takeaway? "I have only gestures." Think of that when looking at your dog.

And one other thing. I know where my family will be after Christmas dinner...

...so cute, it almost made me cry

...My mom (accidentally) ran into a Halloween parade the other day. I think if I had been with her, I would have squeezed this wittle pumpkin wumpkin. And then I would have been arrested for stealing him:

...alive

...and laughing. These arrived from a certain pregnant best friend:

...I love this girl...

Getting back on my feet. It will probably take until this weekend for me to catch the 365 blog up, but it will get there. Thanks for your sweet comments.

...me

...taking it easy - not feeling well - will be back in a few days. xoxo

...super duper secret keeper

...my middle school friends might not agree with the title of this post. But Mercer will. For weeks, I have kept the secret that MY BEST FRIEND IS HAVING A BABY! A little human being!

Mercer has been spending her pregnancy listening to soothing music, doing yoga,eating lots of oats, and reading stimulating literature (like US Weekly). I am so proud of her and I love her and her little bean.

...a few of my le favorites

...by far, one of the most humbling places I have ever visited were the beaches in Normandy. It is hard to imagine what happened here. Where these thousands of Americans are buried is just a few thousand feet from where they came on to to the beach on June 6, 1944.

This is, of course, not the James Ryan. But he was from Pennsylvania and was killed on D-Day.

...18

...This little girl turns 18 today. I hope she went out and bought lottery tickets and cigars and really lived it up. I remember very clearly the day Devin was born, and going to visit her in the hospital. She is the closest thing I have to a sister, and I love her. Lots. Even though it's not cool to say that.

(PS - Faraance update to come over the next few days. Charmer is recuperating.)

...outtakes

...Charmer is not always the willing model. Or in focus for that matter.

Please take this hat off me:

Excuse me? My ear is inside-out.

We can call this one "I break the bread":

...Day 9

...Le Charmer here. The day I've been waiting for has arrived. My parents are coming home, with just a quick stop through Germany (where my dad's family is from). I can't wait to lick zee faces.