dirt don't hurt

"Me no wanna go sledding no more." But that's what to be expected when we push our 2 year old down a giant hill. Go ahead and pin the 'parent of the year' award right here on my snowcoat.

Thankfully it was just our little family sharing these pristine birthday cakes, which really weren't all that pristine after all.

Basically, while in 10th grade doing environmental research in a river, I stumbled upon a stolen WWI machine gun. My 15 minutes of fame, used up when I was 15. (You can click on the article to blow it up and actually read it.)

If the hand on your heart doesn't break yours just a little, you need a lesson in patriotism.

My neighbors will have to pardon the nerdiness (you know who you are!), but this is a rather addicting fall habit and a fun game to play with your kids outside: Who can find the most nests in the bare trees?

Here we are, in the midst of the swine flu pandemic, and I dress her as a pig for Halloween. Niiiiice.

Thank you, Indian Summer, for this afternoon.

Dropping temperatures and leaves aside, Fall is pretty darn fun.

You too can become an [Ohio] Outdoorswoman, and find yourself swinging and screaming and loving every second of it, even though your arms are sore from shooting for 3 hours.

Nothing says Happy October like a frosty mum.

And they'll last longer than that rotting pumpkin on your front porch. (Directions here .)

The boat is gone, sadly the uncle is too; but looking like you did when you're five seems to last forever.

My mom makes me play with rocks. (note: Read this week's column to see what happened after we finished up our rock game.)

Right out my office window is a perfect example of why things happen for a reason, even a dead and drooping sunflower signaling the end of a great summer.

And my parents are taking me back to Ohio???

A mysterious man, only revealed by coming back to read the blog in a week or so. [insert evil laugh, which doesn't count as a line.]

They grow so fast.

Watch your fried green tomatoes, folks... (This one was just too good to not subscribe to the "Wordless Wednesday" idea.)