Do you know when it’s the best time to peruse the Rotary Lights Display at Riverside Park? Approximately 9:05 p.m. on a seasonably mild Saturday night when the crowds have gone to bed.

Do you know when Santa goes to bed? Yeah, neither did we, but apparently, he hits the sack at 9:00 p.m. because he can’t hang with us night owls.

Still, there’s something magical about this family tradition, so after recovering from the initial disappointment of missing Santa, I decided to enjoy all 3 million lights the only way I know how: by skipping, singing, running, dancing, jumping, and repeating. That is, after all, the proper protocol if you want to feel the magic.

Thanksgiving Thursday is nice and all, but what I love even more is Sit-at-Perkins-then-Search-for-a-tree Saturday! Because who isn’t grateful for pancakes with whipped cream and rainbow sprinkles?! (Answer: My picky-eater sister, but we let her come along anyway.)

After pigging out at Perkins, we bundled up to brave the terribly sleety and windy weather conditions, which prompted a record-time selection of our 2019 Christmas tree since there were no spare minutes for debating, voting, or pretending that dad’s demands for a smaller tree were being considered.

And just like that, we welcomed a beautiful Fraser Fir into our home, decorated our hearts out, and made Christmas official!

We’re ready for you, Santa! I think we can all agree that Genesee’s consistently questionable behavior should not be held against my good-all-year-with-an-occasional-lapse-in-judgment track record. We’ll leave the Christmas tree lights on for you.

Dear Turkey,

It was nice to see you at the table for the holiday! You have a wonderful way of bringing families together, like my loved ones who gathered under the same roof for a shared Thanksgiving meal, laughter exchange, Black Friday advertisement reviews, and a friendly re-match of Jenga. I’m sorry you couldn’t join in on the fun, but I do appreciate the sacrifice you made for my belly; your tenderness didn’t go unnoticed. I hope you understand I meant no disrespect when I gobbled you up; that’s how I show my love for you.

For what it’s worth, I returned to frozen pizza and ramen noodles the next day when Grandma and Grandpa were no longer hosting a fancy, delicious supper. So please don’t judge me for the teeth marks you endured while I indulged in that necessary second helping on Thanksgiving Day.

Sincerely stuffed,
Jaeger

This year’s gun deer season was a huge success…. if you were hunting for peace, giggles, and quality time with my dad, like I was!

I got to hang out in the deer stand 3 days this year, and when I was left behind, I just stared out our living room windows, waiting for dad to come get me.

It isn’t easy being the hunter-gatherers for our family…. This year, we had to battle a winter storm, we learned a painful lesson about how cold weather affects one’s phone battery, and I had to resort to playing my Nintendo Switch on the small screen.

Still, I love the part where we hang out at the warm and cozy cabin… kickin’ back, playing cards, and getting ready for a long winter. That’s the stuff memories are made of!

It had been too long since we visited Papa so we packed up the car, hoped Genesee would sleep most of the way, and then headed to the east coast (of Wisconsin). And let me tell you, even though we don’t see each other often enough, Papa Florence knows the way to my heart: a good train show! We had so much fun that G and I decided to win Papa’s heart right back: by wearing our best Green Bay Packer gear on Game Day Sunday!

We love our Papa time! In fact, we had so much fun that Genesee was asking if we could make a return visit to Papa’s place as soon as we left his driveway. And again, at the stop sign. And again, on the interstate. And ALL. THE. WAY. HOME.

So, we’ll be back, Papa. And if Genesee has any say, we won’t just visit for a short weekend; we’ll probably be moving in with you. Thanks for the fun adventure!

This year’s Halloween was a little sweeter than usual since we met at Colin’s house to terrorize his neighborhood and then reconvened in his kitchen for a hot chocolate and pizza party!

While out and about, I tricked everyone into believing I was the Joker, but the joke was on me when I tumbled over my own feet as I ran from the first house to the next. Whoops! After brushing myself off and making a full recovery, I had plenty of candy and smiles to show for my adventure. (I even grabbed a few extra treats for Genesee since she was a tired, shivering party pooper.)

It was so much fun exchanging Kit Kats and kindergarten stories with my old pal, Colin. But thanks to Todd’s costume party the following Saturday, Halloween didn’t end on Halloween this year. So, mom & I baked up our famous candy corn-frosted cookies, jumped into Dad’s Batmobile, invited a couple of our Mouseketeer friends, and arrived at Todd’s haunted house of horrors fashionably late (because… Mom).

It was all fun and games until Genesee fell down the stairs. She, too, made a full recovery. Next year’s costumes will consist of helmets and bubble wrap, according to Mom.

Bumps and bruises and all, I still love me a good Halloween party and can’t wait for Todd to outdo himself next year. Right, Todd?

We couldn’t let October slip away without a return trip to Country Bumpkin Farm Market. Genesee wasn’t even alive during our last visit, so it was nice to have someone to fight with this time around.

After we tired ourselves out at the farm, we grabbed a gourmet dinner at Culver’s drive-thru and then found a picnic table at Mirror Lake State Park to wrap up our fun day.

Fall family field trips are the best!

Question: What did the pumpkin say to the pumpkin carver?

Answer: Cut it out!

…your parks are cooler than ours.

Luckily, we’re not afraid to cross state lines to explore a recommended playground.

Since “the trees are about to show us the beauty of letting go of things,” it’s only right that I pay my respects to summer…

Fishing with Dad and Grandpa

Fish to fry!

Or maybe we’ll just head to Culver’s…

…and enjoy their fish dinner!

Genesee test-driving Ashlee’s first car

Uh-oh! I’d like to report a stolen vehicle.

Plant shopping

I lost my first tooth!

Fireside meal

Fireside chat

Fireside toes

I love my sister!

Seat swap!

Shady ladies (and Dad)

The Giggle Squad

‘Sup Dog

Gazing off into the distance. And eating a pretzel.

Enjoying the ride

Sprinkler shenanigans

When Dad dresses my sister

Washing cars all day…

…and all night.

Checking out my new school’s playground

Chalking it up

G reading to Ooh-Ooh-Ah-Ah

G loves Garrett!

Visiting Garrett & Morgan’s chickens

Pacified.

Family 4-wheelin’

Cortney helping Genesee eat her meal. (The irony)

My friends begging mom to let me sleepover

Powdered donuts for breakfast

If I seem traumatized by tornado warnings, this is the day that caused it.

Yikes!

Climbing the trails with Dad

Visiting Aunty Bethy

Enjoying stories in Beth’s garden

Meeting the Cooks

Summer walks with Dad

G learned how to eat full pieces of pizza

Practicing without training wheels

G screams for ice cream. Literally.

Climbing walls

More relaxin’

We love a good shopping cart

G loves when I read to her!

G never leaves Dad’s side

The proper way to eat garlic bread

McDonald’s is getting fancy

I love my Ash

G’s potty training sticker chart

Shh… we’re hiding

Cruisin with Cory

My sister is a goof!

Teeter-tottering

Double baths!

Always wear protection…

…at the shooting range.

Making sure Charlie drinks his milk

Parade of Homes…

…Just like a camper show, only funner!

Potty training Ooh-Ooh-Ah-Ah

Diaper change #307

And just when the caterpillar thought the world was over…

…it turned into a butterfly!

I love our patio nights!

The biker gang

I’ve got the hang of it!

Taking my sis on a spin!

Hang on, little one!

G’s first haircut!!

Frisbee at sunset

Sand hill

Summer splashing

Slip ‘n slide!

Watching me go Wee!!

She adores me. Can you blame her?

Silly face

Here G goes ’round the Merry-Go-Round

Cuties!

G hiking with Dad

Enjoying the fresh air

River rides

G loves wearing safety glasses

Checking out the steam engine (Big Boy) that came to town!

Riverside with Grandpa

I ran into my friends at McDonald’s!

A walking stick!!

Meet my new friend.

He likes to hang out on my hand…

…and shoulder… and sometimes my parents’ bed. (oops!)

Ribbit.

Future engineer

Ashlee’s surgery

Free rides from Cortney!

My new school! Time for pictures.

Playing at the pond

Puzzling puzzles

Cooking with Laura and Andrew

Yum! That’s a new twist on chorizo and eggs.

Best night ever!

We love going to Grandma & Grandpas!

Posing for the magazine cover of Better Homes & Gardens

It was the summer of catching fish and frogs and fascinating sunsets.

It was the summer full of sidewalk chalk, slip ‘n slides, sprinklers, sparklers, and sibling 4-wheeler rides.

It was the summer of parading homes, losing teeth, discovering walking sticks, and raising Monarch butterflies.

It was the summer of getting home-schooled by Grandma, achieving my goal of learning how to ride a bike, potty training Ooh-Ooh-Ah-Ah (G’s monkey), ending Genesee’s pacifier addiction, and starting my kindergarten career.

It was the summer of 2019.