Halloween Edition

Happy Halloween!

I did something this year that I've never done before. I sent out a few Halloween Cards. It was easy and inexpensive, so it's my fabulous find for the week. (I only sent out a few, so don't feel bad if you didn't get one.)

I realized a few years ago that thanks to digital photography, Christmas cards are tons easier than they used to be. It came to my attention this fall that you can do digital photo cards for just about any holiday or for no reason at all. You can get photo cards at a variety of places. Sam's Club, Snapfish, and Kodak Gallery are just a few. I've received photo post cards and note cards from some of you - super cute. I know some of you that design and print your own - impressive. You can even make postage stamps with pictures on them now. I love receiving photo correspondence in the mail, don't you?

Saturday School

To all of our loyal readers, this is Jon. I have something post-worthy to share with you.

Lindsay gave me a gift certificate for my birthday to attend the brew school at Saugatuck Brewing Company (Saugatuck, Michigan). I drove to the brewery and pub before they opened on Saturday and met the brewers that make the delicious beer there. Barry is the president and head brewer, I asked about his background and after 20 years as a traveling salesmen, (tasting the local beer in more than 50 countries) he enrolled in a brewing college in Germany to learn the craft. He shared with me a wealth of knowledge and a whole lot of in depth science behind the brewing process.

First things first, I had to sample a variety of Saugatuck Brewing's beers and appraise them. I had in mind to make a classic American Pale Ale, so Barry made me a custom reciepe based on all of my input. I weighed four different grains(23.5 lbs) and ground them up. Then I steeped the grains in my assigned brew kettle. We weighed out three varieties of hops for bittering, flavor, and aroma. With the reciepe and a timer everything is added at the proper time. When the wort (unfermented beer) is cooled and settled, we transfered it to a fermenting vessel and before adding the yeast I measured the original gravity and sampled the brew. It tasted like sweet tea with hops. Right now my batch of brew is sitting in the kitchen of Saugatuck Brewing. In one week they will transfer it to a conditioning keg and after two weeks I go back to bottle it. I can make custom labels for the bottles, but I am struggling with what to name it, any ideas?

Over and Over and Over Again

It's been almost two weeks of trying, and tonight we had a major victory. I was just about ready to give up. We've been introducing Brighton to veggies. We started with green beans and this week we've been doing peas. We've been at it for two weeks, and Brighton was not really interested. He almost seemed to plead with us to just move on to the rice cereal night after night. Then this week he learned how to shut his lips tightly to prevent us from getting in. He's really turning into the stinker we called him long before he was even here.
Tonight he ate a whole jar of peas! Two and a half ounces of peas. I am still in shock about it. I'm not sure yet if it was a break through or a fluke. We'll see. When he wasn't eating his veggies he would over and over and over again eat his feet with socks on. It makes for some great laughs and even bigger messes. Until tonight I would have told you he likes eating his socks better than eating vegetables.

Brighton is also rolling over and over and over again. He hasn't figured out how to get back yet, but he is pretty much obsessed with rolling over onto his stomach. He doesn't like being left there for too long, but the second we flip him back, he rolls over again.

What are you doing over and over and over again?

Brighton - person, place & thing

Even with a whole extra day added to our weekend, Monday came too quickly. We had a GREAT time in Troy. We did a lot of the things we would typically do on our weekend trips to Chicago, but the whole weekend was much less expensive and much easier with Brighton. We are already making plans to go back.

We only took a few pictures...

Brighton has the eating out thing down.

In case you can't read the glass, this is us in front of Brighton Collectibles. We passed Brighton, Michigan on our drive too. I just realized the name Brighton is the name of a person, place and thing. Anyway, we didn't tell the folks at Brighton that our son was named Brighton. The store is pretty fabulous, but I didn't want them to think we were obsessed super fans. This picture will probably require some explaining over the years. We didn't name our son after this store (or the city for that matter). It's simply an interesting coincidence and picture opportunity.

If you feel that Brighton Collectibles is a Fabulous Find, I can definitely support you in that. However, Brighton, the name of our son, wins the Brighton noun contest, wouldn't you agree?

Hope you have a great week!

Birthdays & Beans

I had a birthday on Sunday. So I'm 30, and my life has REALLY changed. All of you parents out there know exactly what I'm talking about, but I'm still adjusting to my new normal. Brighton's only just about five months old.

Here's the proof: the highlight of my 30th birthday was green beans. Yup, here is my 30th birthday picture. Yes, that's my hand holding the spoon. And yes, those are green beans.

Don't you dare feel sorry for me! Look at that face.

I loved every minute. It was the best birthday I've ever had.

Walcott Women Welcome Erin

The Walcott Women can officially invite Scott's girlfriend into our club. That's right...Uncle Scott asked Erin to marry him, and she said yes. Yippeee!

We are so happy for them both, and we're already looking forward to the Walcott Wedding this spring or summer.

Congratulations Scott & Erin!!!

90th Percentile

Brighton had a doctor's appointment today. He decided he didn't like the doctor before he even had shots. I'm glad he doesn't cry like that daily.

Brighton weighs 18 pounds and is 26.5 inches tall. This puts him in the 90th percentile for height, weight, and head circumference. He's a big boy. We knew that going in, I was waiting for the doctor to say, "He's off the charts."

The doctor told us because Jon and I are both tall that Brighton would always be 75% and up. It makes sense I guess.

He's already in bed for the night, so I'm hoping he sleeps well and handles the shots.

Hope you're having a nice week.

Fall Festivities & Family Firsts

A bunch of the Raterinks did something they never had done before this weekend. We picked our own pumkins from the pumkin patch. What an experience! It wasn't just a first for Brighton, but for all of us too.

We enjoyed a lot of the typical fun fall festivities this weekend at a place up north. I've told you about Lewis' before, but this year it's even bigger and better. What a place! They even have a camel now. What next? We had a GREAT time. If you're ever up in that neck of the woods, we strongly suggest you check it out.

The Return of Kim Sue

My dear friend Kim came home for the weekend. I hadn't seen her since her wedding which was just two weeks after Brighton was born. Time has really flown by. We've both been adjusting to our "New Normal" the last four months. She's now married to Aaron, teaching at Penn State, and living in State College. I miss her big time.

We had a great time catching up Friday night. We went to Carraba's in Grandville with Jo and Angela, our Calvin College roomies. What a blast! We all have a GREAT time together.

Combover

Brighton is developing some bald spots. He has the normal one on the back of his head, but he also has one on the right side of his head. We're not sure why. We're not worried, but because he has so much hair, it is noticeable.

While I was gone getting groceries, Jon was watching Brighton. This is what I came home to.

Jon decided to get out a comb. Brighton's hair was combed for the first time that night. Jon decided he needed a part and a combover. The funniest part is that it actually works! The long hair on the top of his head really covers up the bald spot on the side of his head. Jon was quite impressed with his efforts.