‘Tis the season to watch basketball games!! I’m becoming quite a fan of the Melrose-Mindoro 8th Grade Girls, Varsity Girls and the Varsity Boys teams, but my absolute favorite player is #4: Ashlee Nicolai! She’s definitely the MVP from my perspective. But Honorable Mention goes to the Concession Stand staff, who graciously exchange their Skittles and popcorn for my Dad’s paper notes. (I’m definitely getting the better end of that deal!) I can’t wait for the next opportunity to eat Skittles basketball game!!

Question: What’s better than trains?!

Answer: Holiday Trains!!!!

…Even if it requires braving below-freezing temperatures, and even if the train is running 40 minutes late, and even if the Amtrak train sneaks in first, getting my hopes up before whizzing by at 70 mph, and even if you can’t tell how ecstatic I was in the below pictures because my entire face quickly became numb…

The answer is still: Holiday Trains!!!!

Look who found himself a part-time job!

…And then found himself unemployed just a few minutes later due to low performance age discrimination.

So if anyone is in need of fast, quality snow removal services, I am for hire call my dad!

I usually like a good campfire, but not when it’s on the dinner table, inches away from my signature eyelashes. Yikes! Is that supposed to happen? This was my first experience with a Hibachi Grill restaurant (Shogun Sushi & Hibachi) and the open flame terribly concerned me. I was on the verge of a meltdown (literally and figuratively), but luckily, the delicious food and great company offset my impulse to stop, drop, and roll.

After I survived this near-death experience, we continued the night with mom and dad’s college friends by enjoying a festive walk through La Crosse’s Rotary Lights! LOVED IT!

So, if you’re looking for a super cool way to get fired up for the Christmas season, check out Rotary Lights and Hibachi Grills! You might cry and shiver a little bit, but you won’t be disappointed. 

Here we are at Shogun – Front row seats!

“Dad, he’s a good cook!”

Geoff catching some Sake

Whoa! Should someone call 911?

Is it safe now? ‘Cause I’m on the verge of tears.

The food was delicious!

Warming up in the heated Igloos!

Say Brrrrr!

It’s beautiful out here!

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

We got photo-bombed!

Rotary Lights Family Photo

Dad proposed to Mom!

Reindeer!!!

The tunnel of lights

Most of the crew

A festival of lights!

P.S. Mom said Yes!

It was close to 50 degrees with no snow on the ground, but despite the “miserable” weather conditions, we still managed to find the perfect Christmas Tree! I was so excited to decorate it until Mom banned me from touching all glass ornaments. That’s rude. So I decided that she’s not allowed to play with the train that Dad and I assembled under the tree. And that’s how you perform the holiday spirit, folks!

Last year, on Thanksgiving, Dad hunted for our holiday meal in the canyons of Arizona, while Mom and I visited Aunt Nay Nay and family. This year, we stayed close to home, where dad was able to put food on the table by hunting in our backyard. The bacon-wrapped venison steaks were enjoyed by all, except for Mom and Grandma who decided to be vegetarians that day.

But besides delicious food and phenomenal family near and far, this year, there is so much to be thankful for: the genius who invented the iPhone YouTube app, Paw Patrol episodes on TV, nightlights to make the dark less scary dark, chapstick for my always-chapped-lips, the perfectly-placed couch that I use as a gymnastics springboard to launch myself onto the nearby bean bag, band-aids and ice packs, Zinger snack cakes and Lucky Charms cereal marshmallows, anything mom is drinking, dance parties in the living room, a scooter to transport me across the house at record speeds, band-aids and ice packs, and quality train time with dad.

The whole gang

Hanging with my dad and Cortney

Checking out a video on the iPhone

Look at me playing cards!

It never ends well for Mr. Buck when Dad is hunting in the woods

Reading with Great Aunt Mary

Great Aunt Ellen and Aunt Julie

Thanksgiving meal = YUM!!

More, please!

Practicing my mad face

Making tornadoes

Showing my card skills to the Nicolais

Well, well, well…. guess who went to his 30-month Well Child Visit and was declared “Well”?!

This guy:

Actually, I’m better than “well.” I’m remarkable! Check out these stats:

• Weight = 31 lbs and 12 oz. (70th percentile)
• Height/Length = 39 inches (97th percentile)
• Head Circumference = 48.3 cm (26th percentile)

Pay no attention to my small head. Nobody’s perfect. But do notice “those killer eyelashes,” as Doc always points out. And, it’s also worth mentioning that I took my flu shot like a champ! No screams or tears or fist fights.

So basically, I’m “well” beyond incredible and “well” on my way to amazing. Keep up with me if you can!

This Halloween, I wasn’t afraid to make terroriffic memories boocause October only comes around, well, in October. (See what I did there? If not, keep reading at your own risk and beware the puns that might creep in.)

We carved out time to find the great pumpkin, devour frightful amounts of candy corn, and decorate the house with spooktacular window clings. This was the month to channel my inner Mickey Mouse and declare “Boo!” every five minutes. It was fangtastic beyond a shadow of a doubt!

Dad, mummy, and I maximized the season by embarking on adventures like roasting (and consuming) the most ghoulishly delightful pumpkin seeds,

collecting Tootsie Rolls as I Mickey-Moused my way through the Enchanted Forest,

tricking several treats into my bucket at Dad’s 10th floor office suite and the Omni Center Halloween Bash,

and having a hair-raising good time at the Country Bumpkin Farm Market in Wisconsin Dells, where I zip-lined, played tug-of-war, rode the tractor/train, fed the petting farm animals, raced on pedal karts, helped launch the pumpkin catapult, played tether ball, and so, so much more!

In summary, we took fun to scary levels because we know how to have a wicked good time.

Witching you all were along for the hayride,
Jaeger Mickey Mouse

Last weekend, I was busy making an appearance at AJ’s wedding (congrats to the happy couple!), attending Todd’s finished-patio/deck/backyard-party (looks awesome, Todd!), and inspecting the entire Myrick Park playground (several times over)!

We. Were. Busy.

It’s not easy having such a packed social life. And by “not easy,” I mean, it’s totally easy! And totally fun! And totally should happen all over again this weekend!

I’m loving school! From the family pizza parties, to the decorated room for each weekly theme, to the opportunities to tap into my inner artist… I am thriving!

On Monday, my parent-teacher conference was a success! According to my mom, I’m getting an A++ in the subjects of Awesome and Super Star. According to Ms. Angela, my teacher, I have an extensive vocabulary, I like to ask questions, I enjoy learning, I am knowledgeable about a wide range of topics, and I bring my imagination to life on the playground.

But as much as I like school, I sometimes look forward to the end of the day, particularly when I get to attend campus events hosted by the college students. Not only do I get lots of love and attention from my older buddies (shout out to my sister, Jamie!), but occasionally I score a free cupcake too! And you know what they say about cupcakes, right? Well, in the spirit of school, here’s a pop quiz:

Cupcakes….

A. make the world go ’round.
B. make good days gooder.
C. are the way to my heart!
D. are Jaeger tested and approved.
E. All of the above.

Check out my cupcake decorating skills!

Me & Jamie

Mom & Me at the Loving Day photo booth. (An event to celebrate the anniversary of the 1967 United States Supreme Court decision Loving v. Virginia which legalized interracial marriage across the country.

(In case your progress report wasn’t as stellar as mine, the answer is E.)