OktoberFest @ the McLeods!

Oct. 13 Ashley and I hosted an OktoberFest party at our house. This event was inspired by our Christmas in Germany...we went all out on the decorations, food, and drinks. It was a lot of fun! The backyard decorations...we even strung lights up like a beer garden.

We bought plastic hats for everyone--Ashley had an authentic hat thanks to Buffy and Leighton.

And even Lyndsey came (she's about ready to have baby Nats)

Max had a good time, too...this was taken a few days afterwards.

Oct. 18-21 I was in Baltimore for a conference. Lucky me, I got to see some of my Tyler Place girls-- Lesley, Kim, and Katy!

Ms. B. Haven's last voyage of 2007

Our 1978 pontoon spent her summer at Lake Murray. The lake dropped to very low levels in September and we had to go extra measures to pull Ms. B. Haven out of the water. First we hauled the equipment to the Taylor's, where we kept the boat. Then Ashley surveyed how stuck the boat was. Notice that she's about 3/4 out of water.

Ashley used the machine to push her out into the water.

And then I drove her around to the loading ramp at Turner's Pointe. It was a beautiful day on the water!

When I got to Turner's Pointe, Ashley was waiting with his truck, the trailer ready in the water. I thought he would have me drive up close and then he would get on and then drive the boat onto the trailer. But we were rushed (because there was a Parade of Homes going on --and we weren't supposed to be using the boat landing)...and so I drove the boat onto the trailer. Luckily I did it right the first time!
Here's the boat on the trailer, heading back to Gilbert.

Max's latest favorite activity is waiting at the top of the stairs to see if there are any bats hanging out in the roof vents. He LOVES the attic!