Over the past couple of weeks, fall has finally arrived in eastern Iowa.

Not everyone is a fan.

 The Producer turned 32, which was celebrated at an Australian themed steakhouse.  (He received a digital picture frame, which was exactly what he asked for. Maybe that makes me lazy, but it also made him happy.) 

Our dear friends are buying a house and will live closer to us, which brings us much joy and happiness.  We went to Queenie’s kindergarten conference, and learned she is meeting or exceeding all expectations, though she does pee a lot.    

Bon Bon is mobile now, in that rolly polly “hey! how did he get over there!” kinda way, and seems proud of himself but frustrated that he isn’t running yet.  He did manage to give Boy-o a bloody lip, of which we are all proud.

The perp:

The victim:

Can’t you see the pain in his eyes?

But OH! Joy of joys, we attended a wedding!  Not just any wedding, mind you…  It was a wedding where we left Queenie and Boy-o overnight with the Nana (Boy-o’s first!).  That’s right my friends!  Nearly 30 hours were spent with just the Producer, Bon Bon, and myself for company.   There’s nothing like having 3 kids to make 1 baby seem ridiculously easy. 

The wedding was nice too.  Bon Bon, however, displayed the family sense of timing, by deciding he was ravenously hungry during the vows.  You have never seen me whip out a boob so fast.  Luckily there was another baby there, so we spent the reception blaming that baby.

Look at our baby sleeping! Surely it was that other, naughty baby.

The reception was lovely, with an open bar (sadly, increasingly rare these days) that had me yearning for an ice cold vodka martini.  Or maybe a mohito - I’ve been meaning to try one of those.  Alas, Bon Bon has a wee cold, and is no longer sleeping through the night, so I had to behave.  The appetizers were amazing, and the food was so-so, but the ability to eat a hot meal without cutting anyone else’s meat was divine.

I always take a cake picture.  I don’t know why, I just always have.  Enjoy my obsession.

I also took advantage of the mood lighting to try out some of these great photo tips I learned online.

The next day got off to a poor start when we arrived at the hotel spa to find it “temporarily closed.”  Luckily, all was forgiven when we arrived at mecca IKEA.  If I ever snap and run away from home, that’s where you’ll find me.

We shopped, and then we headed home.  The older kids survived just fine, and were sad to leave the Nana’s, where all is cookies and pumpkin patches and sleeping in the living room. 

The treasures and memories from the weekend are lovely, but overridden by one very exciting, one very interesting, one very dangerous fact.

We can leave Queenie and Boy-o overnight with the Nana.

We are trying not to jump up and down in front of the kids.

FREEBIE OF THE DAY: As the days grow cold, my skin grows dry.  Be soft and frugal with this freebie.