Happy Halloween!

My friend Elise came over last night to carve pumpkins!  So much fun to catch up & make some really cute Jack-o-Lanterns  (if I do say so myself!)  I also tried on Willie's costume last night.  He's a construction worker & the back says "Dog at Work".  There was a really cute yellow "hardhat" that went with the costume, but Willie doesn't like hats.  Happy Halloween!

Voting = Free Donuts & Ice Cream

Yum!  Go vote & claim your sweet reward :)

Pilot Mountain Day Trip

He's a mountain Dog!

Beautiful fall colors at Pilot Mountain overlook

Our family pic

My two guys

Doug and I decided to take Willie on a day trip to Pilot Mountain on Sunday.  We were hoping to camp out the entire weekend, but it was cold and rainy on Friday and Saturday.  Sunday turned out to be a beautiful day here - 75 degrees and sunny.  The nice thing about traveling west during this time of year is that we see much more vibrant tree colors.  Driving up the mountain on Sunday, it really felt like Autumn in Missouri.  

Everybody else had the same idea that we did about taking advantage of the weather on Sunday and there was a wait for a parking spot at Pilot Mountain.  We did a short hike and then took our place in line to drive up to the top.  Once we drove up, we were glad we decided not to walk to the top!  It was quite a hike.

We took advantage of the many overlooks of Pilot Mountain and then did a hike around the base.  Willie was such a great dog.  We actually got him a dog pack to carry our water and wear him out a bit more.  It worked beautifully - he was really focused during the entire hike.  We passed countless people and dogs and he just stayed right on track.  And a bonus for us, it really wore him out and he was a calm, snuggle dog the rest of the day.

Pumpkin Time

One of my favorite things to do in the fall - pick out pumpkins for Halloween!  Doug & I have gotten our pumpkins from this pumpkin patch all three years we have been in North Carolina.  This year they displayed this huge 397 lb. pumpkin!  The photo op was too great to pass up.  This was Willie's first year to pick out pumpkins.  He enjoyed the trip, although to be fair - he enjoys going anywhere in the truck.  

MIZZOU Weekend

the quad!

The boys with the Golden Girls

Steve & Connie tailgating

Jon, Doug & Sarah in the cheap seats

Doug & Katie at the game

Doug & I met our friends in Columbia for a Mizzou Football Tailgating Weekend.  We had been planning this weekend for such a long time, so it was so much fun when it finally rolled around.  Friday, we flew to St. Louis and spent the night with Doug's family.  Early Saturday morning, we drove to Columbia and met James & Kim, Patrick & Amy and Jon & Sarah at the hotel.  We parked  and had drinks downtown (ah, rooftop bars).  Later, met up with Patrick's family for a tailgate right outside the stadium.  Perfect weather, great friends, unfortunately the Tigers couldn't pull out a win for us.  Sunday, we said good-bye to our friends over breakfast and drove back to St. Louis to catch our flight home.  

Home Safe

My brother has safely landed in Hawaii to mark the last leg of his current stint overseas. Because of all his hard work (extremely proud younger sis, here) Aaron was able to fly to Hawaii ahead of the ship and meet his wife Niki for a vacation and some R & R.  Then for the last leg home, he will then meet up with two of our uncles who are participating in a tiger cruise.

A long-standing Navy tradition, "Tiger Cruise" represents a unique opportunity for family and friends of the crew to experience shipboard life firsthand.  They will ride with Aaron the short distance from Hawaii back home to San Diego, CA.  While Hawaii is not his last port of call, it symbolizes the end of his deployment and being back in US waters.  

We are so happy to know that Aaron is home safe and thank him and his fellow shipmates for their service.  Welcome home!

That's not a carry on!

Our football weekend post is coming soon - but in the meantime - how cute is Willie?  We have done so much traveling this year that he knows it's bad news when we get suitcases out.  We took this pic when we were trying to pack for the weekend...

Short but Sweet

Waving (don't ask) by the Kashi-mobile.  No, it's not a taxi.

This week, we a had a short visit from our friend Brigette.  Brigette and I met at our old job in St. Louis.  Currently, she winding down a nationwide wellness tour with Kashi foods as their on-site yoga instructor at their Day of Change events.  She made a special trip to see us - driving all the way from Florida on her way to New York.  It's amazing how good friends just fall back into routine when seeing each other.  We wish it could have been longer, but it was great to see such a wonderful friend, even for such a short time.

Best Buds

Best friends share everything!  Willie & his best bud Bo.

Baby Boom

One of my favorite 80's movies & also a shout out to all our friends that are currently expecting.  So excited for Sara & Brad (due any day!) Justin & Holly, Laura & Marco, Carie & Jonathan, Karen & Mike and Laura & Nathan.  Plus Rachel & Nick who recently welcomed Carter Dean.  

Such lucky babies to be born to such wonderful parents and some of our favorite people.  Best wishes to our friends.

Beer Fest

Doug & I went to Beer Fest last year and had such a great time, so we have been waiting all year for it to come around again. Our friend Justin came down from DC to join the party. We invited people over to carpool to the Bulls Stadium - it was a beautiful night for the festival. There is no way to try all the 300 beers that are there - but we tried a few good ones.

Doug & Justin

With some old Koroberi friends - Chad, me, Corey & Sean

Trisha & I with the lemon

Me & Staci

How bout them Tigers?

We are so excited about our Mizzou Tiger's moving to #2 in the coaches poll this week after their blowout against Nebraska on Saturday!  Even more exciting?  Doug & I are meeting some friends and going to the game this weekend against Oklahoma State.  Should be a great weekend for football. 

As Promised...

Pictures from Megan & Jason's wedding...

So much fun - getting ready with all the girls.

My most important job all day :)  Lacing up the bride.

First Dance - Megs & Jason

Agency Life

Parody of the creative process between an agency and client.  Although it goes over the top, some parts are realistic.  Ah, the agency life.

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