Apple Picking

And now for our annual apple picking photos! Josh was out of town so Abby and Jeff came along for the fun this year. We went during peak Honeycrisp season only to find out they won't let you pick your own. We settled for Cortlands instead. Many apples were picked and eaten in the process. A few even made it home. Pics below!

 this child, I swear...

Ever's First Field Trip

Earlier this year, just at the beginning of "fall" (It was approximately 85 degrees out), I got to chaperone Ever's very first field trip! It was a trip to Ramseyer Farms for pumpkin picking, learning about how a farm works and playing with friends. It was extra special because Lana is in the same class as Ever this year, so we got to hang with her and Miss Lori the whole time. It was a hot, but fun, time. 

Ev chose the tiniest little pumpkin :)

 The animals, equipment and activities at this place were UNREAL. So fun for the kiddos!

^^^^^ Ever in this one ^^^^^

"The Parade"

Have you heard that the Cavs won the championship? Ha! That is all that's on anyone's lips around here this week and rightly so. Because after 52 years without a professional championship to our name, this win was SO good for Cleveland. The last few seconds of game seven will be forever emblazoned in our collective memory, as will yesterday's HUGE victory parade downtown. It was a sight to behold. My office actually gave us the day off so we all could attend and with a free mid-week day off and a chance to witness history, how could I not?

Josh was out of town for work so I left the baby with Miss Lori and the boys and I glommed on to the Price family for the day who very sweetly let us tag along.  It was a long day with lots of walking but we did it, and I'm so happy we did. We were part of the 1.3 MILLION people who flooded downtown to celebrate our home team and our beloved city. Man, I love this place.

Nicole's 30th // Chef Sawyer's Metal as F*ck Dinner

I have sung the praises of Chef Sawyer before but get ready for an earful tonight ;) Josh's sister, Nicole, turned thirty last month and when we realized chef was hosting his annual Metal as F*ck dinner only a few weeks later we knew taking her would make the BEST gift. Josh and Nicole grew up on pretty solid diet of heavy metal in their household, and if you know them you know how perfect this night was bound to be. 

So, in a nutshell, the dinner is a ticketed event made up of tasting stations set up around the Greenhouse Tavern. Every dish has a heavy metal theme (read: blood and brains are key ingredients), the cost per person is $66.66 and it started and 6:66pm. Metal bands were set up in the loft playing live music all night long. You get the idea. 

Nicole doing bourbon shots through bone marrow :) :) :)

The food was nuts, no doubt about it. I can now say I've eaten just about every major organ including but not limited to brain bolognese and poached heart jelly. It sounds disgusting, but I'm telling you chef Sawyer knows exactly what he's doing. He made the unappetizing not only appetizing, but actually quite delicious. I think our favorite menu item was the roulette wings. Six wings are placed on a lazy susan and one is hot, five were not. The "sous chef of death" was secretly injecting one in six wings with the insane hot sauce that was making grown men whimper and reach for the whole milk...

 including Josh ;)

Dessert was red velvet cake disguised as the chef and chef's widow's decapitated heads.

We had such a good time that the three of us have vowed to make it an annual event. Just another reason to love Cleveland and all these unique events it has to offer. So, thanks for such a fun night, chef! We love your crazy, twisted mind and your cooking even more. 

xoxo