this is the best day ever...{MAX}

I am pretty sure that any day a little boy can go house to house and get loads of candy is the best day ever.  (good thing it only happens once a year)

This year Max dressed as Luke Skywalker for Halloween.  Max and I ended up going over to a friends house for the night.  After some warm yummy pizza, we headed out to collect our spoils.  Max fell asleep in the car during the 3 minute ride home

should we turn the heat on...{BRAD}

 This weekend we got an unusual and unexpected snow storm here in PA.  That's right folks, I said snow storm.  And although 10+ inches don't really mean that much to Minnesotans, here in PA it is a big deal.

So how did the snow loving, hearty Minnesota raised Kutz family spend the weekend?  We played out in the snow for a few hours and then spent the rest of the day huddled up by the fire watching movies.

And for those of you still wondering about the heat...well, we must be true Minnesotans because we have yet to turn on the heat here.  (November 1st is our goal.)

(during the snow storm)

(after the 10+ inches fell and the sun came out)

we should buy one of these when they go on clearance...{BRAD}

This picture might be worth more than a thousand words!

did you see, we got your pictures buddy...{JEANNI}

Today Max's school pictures came home.  I always love this part of the school year.  Hopeful parents spend oodles of money on pictures that they pray turn out well, all the well knowing that the chances of that happening are pretty low.  And now with all the choices that Life Touch offers it makes it even more difficult for parents to get great pictures without spending the weekly budget. 

With all that said...here are this year's school pictures.  (Max picked out the background and what he would wear that day.  It is also Max's choice to have longer hair, which drives Brad crazy.)

have fun at the parade today...{BRAD}

A note from Brad to Max...

Max,

Have fun at the parade today with your LAX friends.  I can't wait to see pictures.

Love you,
Dad

Max was in the Dallastown parade today with his Wildcat Lacrosse team.  This is the first parade that Max has ever been in, and he was very excited.  Brad was unable to attend because of grad school classes, so he left Max this note for him to read at breakfast this morning.

let's show mom the giant crab...{BRAD & MAX}

After church on Sunday our family headed into the inner harbor to go to the children's science museum.  There are many fun areas to play and discover within the museum.  One area that Brad and Max love is the giant crab.  They both couldn't wait to show me.

This is not the giant crab, but one that we had fun watching!

They also have a really cool dino exhibit that allows the child to make project and email them home so they can keep a copy of their work.  So cool!  Check out Max's email...

I colored a Velociraptor at the Maryland Science Center's Dinosaur Mysteries exhibit, where you can see a 45 foot long Giganotosaurus (a meat-eating dinosaur bigger than T. rex!), a dinosaur nest you can sit in, and much more! Find out about the Maryland Science Center by going to www.marylandsciencecenter.org. Or better yet -- visit in person and see for yourself! Thank You, Your Friends at the Maryland Science Center

i'll give you a mani pedi...{BRAD}

Tonight, Max was in desperate need of a finger nail trim.  A long time ago it was determined in our house that I am the worst at finger nail trimming because I tend to cut the nail too short.  (and then Max gets a "bleedy" as he would say)

After Max's nightly shower he ran into our bedroom for Brad to trim his nails.  As I was in the other room I could hear Brad tell Max, "I'll give you a mani pedi."

even the name sounds yummy...{MAX}

Today at breakfast Max was discussing with me what he would like to do for his birthday this year.  (he is thinking that he would like to have a lego ninjago birthday) 

Because we had a school party last year, this year for Max's birthday we will do something special as a family...like going out to eat.  Max will get to pick the restaurant of course. 

During our discussion, Max told me that he would like to go to that pancake place.  (Perkins)  I told him that there are other places that serve pancakes that he might like...like IHOP.  As soon as he heard the name of the restaurant his response was, "even the name sounds yummy!"

we like the red ones...{MAX}

During a recent trip to an apple orchard, Max informed me that both he and Brad like red apples.  These warm fall days are the such treasures to my heart!

i'm gonna send them an email...{BRAD}

Our family has a new obsession...Stauffer's Chocolate Animal Crackers.  Every week I pick up a big bag for the family to snack on.  And Brad loves that they are only $1.97.

We recently opened a pack and Brad informed me that these crackers are not as good as the ones we usually get.  He was so disappointed that he decided to email Stauffers.  He wanted to make sure that these crackers were just some random mistake...that there was not a change in recipe or baking to change the taste.

Brad told me that he didn't expect to hear back from Stauffers.  And then the mail came today...