Hey Everybody! Karl's 8 today!

We celebrated Thanksgiving yesterday with my family, so today was all about Karl's birthday. He was up bright and early for his birthday breakfast.

Karl got right to work on his giant Lego space center after breakfast.

Karl has wanted to be eight for a long time. We have proof from 2005:


His birthday cake ended up looking like a giant doughnut, which is just fine in our house. We are firmly pro-doughnuts (especially with sprinkles!).

Happy Birthday, Karl! You're finally eight!

Piano Exam

Last Saturday, Laura had her first piano exam at the University of Saint Thomas in Saint Paul.

The exam consisted of performing three pieces, playing a bunch of pentachords, and some sight-reading. Laura usually performs well under pressure and her exam was no exception—she did a great job. Her results came back on Thursday, and she passed with high distinction!

Nice work, Laura!

Halloween 2011

Halloween is near the bottom of our favorite holiday list, but Laura and Karl always make the most of it. This year, Laura had her heart set on being a cheetah, but it's very tricky trying to find a cheetah costume that fits a 5'1" girl. Luckily, Pam found some spotted fleece material and whipped up a cheetah costume for her. Karl was a giant Whoopie Cushion. He's seven. Enough said.


On Saturday, we went to a costume party at Lynn and Chad Buehrings'. Even though Laura and Karl are not into anything too creepy or scary, they did enjoy the mad scientist (Jim Schoolmeesters), who assembled a body with various "parts," like tongue, brains, intestines, etc.

Then they colored pumpkins.

Laura's cheetah pumpkin:


Karl made this one:

On Monday, the Elliotts, Jennifer and Brian, and Mom and Dad came over for some Halloween fun.

Even Penelope got in on the costumes! She enjoyed reliving her racing days.

All the boys went trick-or-treating, but Laura stayed home because she's "just not that into the whole candy thing." Maybe the cloudy 40° weather had something to do with it...