Sad Halloween

This year was a sad Halloween for the Smead Family.  Eli woke up in the middle of the night and had gotten sick.  A couple hours later Selah woke up with a very stuffy nose.  A couple hours after that, Luke woke up and got sick too.  By 5:30AM, I had three sick children in the house.  Needless to say, there were tears about missing the Trick or Treating.  Tears then turned to pleading and trying to tell me that they really were well enough to go.  Fevers, upper respiratory infections, and vomiting won over Trick or Treating this year.  This pretty much sums it up...

First Snow of the Year

 We had our first Maryland snow of the year!  Our boys played outside to enjoy the splendor. 

 

As you can see, there wasn't much to shovel but they were giving it their all.

Baking Day

I am instituting a weekly baking day!  We decided that it would be healthier and more economical if I would make some snacks for our family rather than buying them on grocery day.  Here is the first round...

This is my Grandma's Applesauce Bread recipe.  I don't think it tasted as good as when she makes it.  

These are chocolate brownies made from scratch from a recipe my Mom gave me.  They were moist and delicious!

These are chocolate chip granola bars.  They are sweetened with honey and OH SO GOOD!

Larriland Fieldtrip

One of our homeschool co-ops sponsored a field trip to a local farm called Larriland.  We had a great time!  We had a hayride to a pumpkin patch to pick a pumpkin.  The children got to go through a hay maze.  We drank some apple cider.  It was just a fun day to celebrate fall.

All My Children

All my children will eventually start wearing things I don't like.  However there are three things that I will stand firm on not allowing them to wear.

Number 1-Yoga Pants
I understand that Yoga Pants are comfortable.  I want to be comfortable too.  That being said however pants that have another title with them are designed for doing a certain activity.  Suit pants-  worn while wearing a suit.  Sweat pants-  worn while sweating.   Pajama pants- worn while sleeping or preparing to sleep.  Yoga pants-  worn while engaging in yoga (or at least working out to some degree).  Why is it that young people have decided that wearing yoga pants everywhere is the best thing for them to do with their life.  Men are visual creatures.  It is hard for young men to think pure thoughts when things (girls walking around in yoga pants) pass by in places where such things are not needed.  Yoga pants have a place.  It is called on a yoga mat.

Number 2-Boots
Boots have a purpose.  They are to protect your feet or allow you to do some task easier.  They also usually say what that purpose is in the name of the boot.  Combat boots-for combat.  Snow boots-for snow.  Hiking boots-for hiking.  The list goes on and on.  Why then are young girls wearing giant rubber boots all over the place.  Are they going wading in a pond.  Maybe fishing.  I used to wear giant rubber boots to clean the pig pen. I don't think that is the case though.  And what about the giant fuzzy boots (UGG).  Those boots look like the same ones worn by antarctic explorers and eskimos.  Rule should be-If your boots look like they are made for driving a sled dog you can't wear them in a shopping mall.

Number 3- Men's Skinny Jeans
 I don't really feel like I have to explain this one.  Seeing men walking around looking like they couldn't find pants that fit so they borrowed their little brothers is not cool.  They need to go away.  I think I looked more manly when I had to wear tights for a play in middle school.

So these are a few fashion tips from me.  Honorable mention goes to women and girls with writing on the rear of your pants.  The only thing a word in that place is going to do is make people stare at you which is not the way to go through life.

Justin Bieber Hair

Luke approached me this evening after his shower to ask if I would comb his hair like Justin Bieber.  This is new territory for The Smead Family.  This is the first time one of our children has taken such a liking to a "superstar."  I obliged him and combed it that way but it really isn't long enough.  He then put on his vest and beaded necklace so that he could be sure to dress the part.  Here is the result of our "Bieber Fever."

As The World Turns

As the world turns and people go about their daily lives I can't help but consider the wonderful place that is Michigan this week.  Wonderful because well it always is but especially this week if you are a sports fan.  This past Monday the Lions won to go 5-0 for the first time since 1956.  That is before the first Super Bowl and well before any of the current players were born.  The Lions hosted the Bears on Monday Night Football for the first time in 10 years.  What makes this week wonderful is that they are home against the 49ers this coming Sunday too.

I just got done watching the Tigers win game three of the ALCS.  With the win that means that three games will be played in Detroit over the course of the next week.

Last but not least we arrive at the college football scene.  This week also brings us Michigan vs. Michigan State.  As a fan of the good school I look forward to this and have since childhood.  As a young boy my siblings and I actually were forced to wear green for the family picture one year. This upset us because that was Michigan States color and we hated them.  Even though Marlene likes green I don't hold that against her.

So this week as the leaves change I miss Michigan.  I would love to sit with a cold Vernors and watch my hometown teams on the biggest stage.