I got all these comics for 50 cents or a quarter each at the Chaska Library book sale.

Culinary Arts Competition

I was a judge for the Kitchen Window Culinary Arts Competition during this year's Uptown Art Fair. I saw they were looking for jurors to rate the art, so I applied for that originally. They didn't pick me as an art juror but asked if I'd be interested in eating food instead, which was even better!

My favorite photo is above and here's the whole photo set on Flickr. The competition was a lot of fun and it helped promote our craft fairs a little bit.

Between heats I walked around the fair and talked with artists. I met someone we'd rejected from Craftstravaganza, which was awkward, but I asked her to try again. Also got a nice leather belt from some dudes from Texas.

Wild turkeys and whitetail deer (mother and fawn) in our yard

Natalie playing our made-up Lego game

Date Night

Jenna and I don't get out of the house much--together without the kids, I mean. I don't remember the last time we went out alone. Jenna says it was my company's last holiday party, which was seven months ago. So when my mom offered to babysit we leapt at the chance!

Jenna was in the mood for sushi and Kai's has outstanding online reviews, plus it's relatively close in Chanhassen. We both ordered a plate of gyoza (vegetarian for her) followed by sushi: cucumber, avocado, and a spicy crunchy crab and tuna roll. Dessert was ice cream mochi. I had red bean; Jenna got mango.

Best dinner I've had all year. And the best part was spending it alone with my wife, while we tried to have conversations about something other than our kids or our craft fair (applications are open for Craft'za btw).

Fun With Bugs

We had some Great Black Wasps in the house. I don't like it. Even more I don't like the chiggers I picked up while I was in our woods two weekends ago. Only now has the itching mostly subsided. Nasty little things!

Natalie's 5th Birthday Party

Natalie asked for a cowgirl-themed party and Jenna--as always--delivered big time. My Little Pony Rides brought in a Shetland and an American (Buddy and Charlie) for the girls to ride. Natalie looks very serious because she is listening intently.

I made a wooden horse for this lasso game and drilled a hole in a block of wood for a horseshoe stake. Jenna gave the horse its mane and tail, and sewed some soft horseshoes. I'm grilling wieners in the distance.

Paisley and Lola, best friends forever.