Happy Halloween!

Mooo! The cutest baby cow in Wisconsin celebrated Halloween with a party with his friends, pumpkin carving festivities, and two opportunities for trick-or-treating. This Halloween was all treats and no tricks for the Brasel family.


Happy cows come from Wisconsin


Mmm...milk!


Farmer Cory and his family in the Halloween party "photo booth"


College friends (and kiddos) continue pumpkin-carving tradition


Helping scoop pumpkin guts


Figuring out the pumpkin lid


Trick-or-Treat at Daddy's work


Practicing trick-or-treating at our house first before hitting the neighborhood


Where are all the trick-or-treaters, Daddy?


Watching trick-or-treaters is great pre-bedtime entertainment


Sharing treats with Daddy

Wedding Weekend Up North

Eli dusted off his fancy clothes to attend a family wedding in northern Minnesota. It was great to see all the family again, and Eli was most intrigued by watching his big cousins (and then trying to get in on the playing fun, too!).


As close as we came to a family picture


The Brasel men clean up well


The "little professor"


Munching away at the reception


Exploring all the fun toys with Grandpa


Just sitting for now...maybe next year Mommy will let Eli take a four-wheeler ride with Daddy

Busy Baby

The title of this post should more accurately say "Busy Toddler", but the alliteration was too appealing to pass by...here are some of the recent activities that have been keeping Eli busy at home and around town.


Helping Mom Make Sweet Potato Gnocchi


Enjoying a smoothie while visiting the Farmers' Market


The stool train rolls into the station

Thinking Outside the Box While Inside the Box

Eli spent some time thinking inside (and outside) the box. Or rather boxes. As in any box that comes through the door has the potential to be the next great race car, or cave, or whatever a 1-year-old brain comes up with.


Row, row, row your box, gently down the stream...


This modern furniture looks a little box-y


Percy joins in on the box fun


If only the ceiling were a bit higher in this house


Some see a box, I see an adventure!

Blue(berry) Beard

Arrrrgghhh...maybe it be due to Halloween lurking around the corner, but methinks there is a pirate in our midst. At least he looks friendly...


Our favorite pirate: Blue(berry) Beard

Fun with Friends

Eli has enjoyed quite a bit of time hanging out with his buddies lately - he is a lucky boy to have such sweet friends.


There's a cute girl in my living room


As close as we'll come to a posed group shot at this age


it's just lunch


Giraffes make good friends too

Brasel Family Fall Fun - 2011 Edition

Last weekend, this branch of the Brasel family participated in the almost annual Brasel Family Fall Fun. This included Eli's first trip to the pumpkin patch to select his pumpkin, first trip to the orchard to pick (and eat!) many apples, and a trip to the corn maze to test way-finding skills (turns out the maze is pretty low-key when you ride on Dad's back the whole time). It was fun to see everyone, and wonderful weather to enjoy a weekend outside.


Surveying the pumpkin patch with Daddy


This one looks good


Picking pumpkins with cousin Cooper


Riding on the John Deere tractors


Fun with Grandpa


Eli the happy pumpkin


In the apple orchard


Everyone knows that you need to sample a few apples while picking.


Into the corn maze


Who has the map?


Did we leave anyone in there?

Celebrating Summer...in October?!

Eli took advantage of the wonderfully warm, sunny weather to enjoy one more round of his favorite summer activities.


Picnic lunch on the deck


Evening park fun with Daddy


Exploring Olbrich Gardens


There's an elephant in the Thai garden!


A friendly, local kitty joined us on our picnic outside Olbrich Gardens


Visiting the zoo...and the kiddos are most interested in the stroller


Watching the buffalo (or as some called it, "doggy")


Out to eat with mommies and babies

Fifteen is Fantastic (and Go Bucky)!

Even though Daddy is not a fan of counting age in months after one reaches the age of one, at least a brief mention must be made that Eli is now 15 months old! And what a handsome little boy he is growing into.


It is hard to get a 15-month-old boy to sit still for his 15-month-old picture...


Eli must get at least some of that charm from his Grandpa Gore, who recently celebrated his birthday here with cake and a Badger victory! Although Eli did not get to view the game in person (lucky Eli stayed home with Grandma), he was still showing his Badger pride.


Coloring a birthday card for Grandpa


Go Badgers!


This story is so exciting that I can't even sit down!


Happy birthday, deeeeaaaarrr Grandpa!


Big Badger win = happy Badger fans