grape stomp ... North Dakota style

One of the traditions we had goring up in Sonoma County, California, was going to our county harvest fair and watching (and participating in) the grape stomp. Grape stomping is a fun and messy way to celebrate the grape harvest and the beginning of wine-making.

My mom made a connection with someone in Bismarck with free "you pick" grapes so she coordinated a mid-October family grape stomp ... North Dakota style.

We had so much fun! Amazing memories and a great way to break-in my parent's house.


The event started with festive photos




and there was lots (and lots and lots) of leaf-raking with Grandpa Z










Kya and my cousins Parker and Lauryn


Baby Gavin joined the stomp








Grape stomp footprints

Happy Halloween!

My parents were quite excited about Halloween this year. My dad and mom always dressed up for Halloween when we I was young. But this year they had two grandkids to celebrate with AND a house to decorate (extra points if you noticed the bats on their house). I'm not sure who had more fun — my parents or Kya. My dad was Zorro, complete with sword and goofy poses my mom was a witch; Kya was Gretel Von Trapp; Gavin was a baby skeleton.

Oh and by the way ... their neighborhood is the coolest, most magical place in autumn — historic houses, lots of trick-or-treaters (my parents had over 500), about a gazillion beautiful fall leaves ...


Meet baby skeleton and Gretel (Gretel VonTrapp from Sound of Music ... singing "Do Re Me" and "Favorite Things" to everyone/anyone who asked).
Best. Halloween. ever.