The Next Best Thing To Christmas... College Football Season Opener

It begins! WOW, can't believe we're at the dawn of college football. This truly IS a holiday for me -- circa 6:30am, I start getting restless; 7-8am I shower in prep for what will inevitably be a bit day; 9-10 I waste getting coffee and doing little things around the house; 10am: ESPN Game Day; 12pm, the expeditions start.

It will be a new challenge to keep Hunter occupied during game time but thank goodness for TiVo.

To my beloved Wolverines, M Go BLUE! Now excuse me while I go wake up my West Coast-time sleeping brother with a morining rendition of Hail to the Victors...

Fine Lights and Shameless City Streets

Amazing... after many, many years of hard work, Brad has finally finished the Great American novel, Fine Lights and Shameless City Streets.

Now the work begins with editing, and after that then who knows? You may see this fine piece of literary work on a bookshelf near you...Stay tuned.

It's Rock and Roll Wednesday! Love, Hunter

A Fetching Farewell For Gpa George

Yesterday marked the day of rememberance for a rare gentleman -- my grandfather, George Henry Mouilleseaux.

Grandpa George had a unique gift of storytelling such as his ability to delight grandchildren through tales of wild wolves that roamed the streets of Detroit during his postal career. In retrospect, these 'wolves' were likely a few neighborhood dogs searching for a friendly petting but the way he told us, saliva dripped from their yellowed gums as they ravished a carcass of a wayward hawk while he readied his night-stick for the imminent man-vs.-wild battle. :)

The aroma of Grandpa's pipe still strikes me from time to time, and returns me to the kitchen table in Cadiz, KY where PJ and I would watch him pack that pipe full of sweet tobacco. DYK I thought golden raisins were only available in Kentucky? Grandma and Grandpa always a had a box handy when we visited.

Grandpa also taught me how to shoot my first BB gun and dubbed my head the next Annie Oakley's. I was proud.

Grandpa passed away last November and we celebrated him yesterday with a beautiful military service at the Great Lakes VA Cemetary in Holly, MI.

The pictures I attach today are of the drive into the grounds with the flags lining the road, and the solemn view of the white stones where the soliders lay. Sadly, there were too many of them but it is an amazing nod to the number of men and women who dedicate their lives to their service.

After a touching service, we saw where Grandpa's final resting place will be: Plot #913. I will return after the stone is set. So until then, it seems only fitting that the man who brought out my natural Annie Oakley skill was sent off with a 21-gun salute.

I'll see you on the other side Grandpa...

This Week's Menu

As you may or may not know, I've become a total foodie... and it's been a blast. Coming from someone who used to have a horrifically limited palette and get freaked out by 'mixed' foods (pizza, stir fry, i.e. anything that encompassed more than 2 ingredients blended together), trying new things has become a weekly staple.

We create a menu every week, buy according to it, and try our best to use any remaining ingredients from week-to-week. Oh, and there's a mandate on one vegetarian dish a week and at least one night of leftovers.

So with that said, here's what's on the menu for this week:

• Sunday: Eggplant Timbale (amazing Giada dish. Try it! http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/everyday-italian/eggplant-timbale-recipe/)
• Monday: Leftovers
• Tuesday: Vegetable Stir-Fry with Tofu
• Wednesday: Open-Faced Egg Sandwiches with asparagus & hollandaise
• Thursday: Leftovers
• Friday: Coconut Curry Chicken
• Saturday: Take-out -- likely Benito's Pizza since family will be in town awaiting HWB's 1st bday party

And now I'm hungry...

Weekend Fun in Day-twah

Happy Monday everyone -- we had a great weekend, hope you did too!

On Saturday we accompanied the Welbournes (Neal, Carlee and HWB's 1st friend in life, Ethan) on a fun trip to Eastern Market in Detroit, one of the nation's oldest running marketplaces (think late 1800s). We revel in supporting our local economy and surroundings, so loved seeing all of the patrons milling around.

After snagging some eggplants and colored bell peppers, Carlee and I ventured up into R. Hirt Jr. Co, a remarkable store offering specialty foods. Neal remembered enjoying lunch there back in his Detroit days and buying blocks of cheese to indulge in; one look at their cheese selection and you’d be amazed. The boys stayed on the main floor while Carlee and climbed the stairs to the top to check out what appears to be the wicker basket capital of the world. Although I’m not a wicker fan, I had to refrain from buying everything in sight. Remind me to head back around Christmas – looks like there’s a lot of gifts to be had. Question is, how can I gift my brother with wicker and make it look totally original???

Since the Lions played at home, people were pouring into Eastern Market for tailgating (a prime spot for Detroit fans) so we high-tailed it out to Greektown for lunch.

Remember Trapper’s Alley? Well it’s no more, but at least the Greek eatery Pegasus is still there. The Alley now connects to Greektown Casino – a total sham because part of me wanted to dally through and smell fudge being made just like when I was little. But the boys loved Pegasus, oogling the waitress as she lit cheese ablaze and screamed OOPA!

We hit the Detroit Historical Museum in the afternoon (http://detroithistorical.org/); a place Carlee and I have long talked about visiting. I learned enough did you knows to bore even the most enthusiast of historians like: DYK Detroit suffered a huge fire back in 1805 that virtually destroyed the whole city? Roma Cafe was originally a boarding house for farmers of Eastern Market? The city was developed as a site for fur-trading?

Of course, we couldn’t help holding HWB up to this cutout of a solider and screaming ‘THE BRITISH ARE COMING!’.

An ice cream stop rounded out our day. I think the boys just liked spending time in the wagon together. Poor Carlee was tasked with running after every stray water bottle the boys tossed out!

Happy Birthday Butch!

Are you 1? Are you 2? Are you 3? Oh this could take a while... ;)

To the ER, Hospital and Back

Well it's been a very draining past few days...


I got a call at work on Thursday afternoon from daycare saying Hunter's breathing was really bad -- 'can't seem to catch a breath' were their exact words. After picking him up and spending some time with him at home, I realized how bad it was and took him to the ER where Brad met us after leaving his Client dinner. Thankfully 'Aunt' Laura was there with me to help keep my nerves at bay until Brad arrived.


We got admitted to Beaumont hospital around 12:30AM with a diagnosis of RSV (respiratory virus. Find more info at the CDC's Web site here: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/revb/respiratory/rsvfeat.htm). As many of you know, this is not our 1st visit to the hospital -- Hunter was hospitalized for a severe form of bronchiolitis back in December, and then suffered bouts of it again in January, February and March although to a lesser degree. But this is our 1st RSV diagnosis, something that has the doctors baffled as it is typically a winter illness.


We fought to have him removed from all of the monitoring machines -- for an almost 1-year-old to be confined to an area roughly 3 feet in radius is as hellacious as you can imagine. Luckily the hospital has a fantastic toy room that children can pick from and take back to their suites so this picture is of Hunter enjoying all of his new-found goodies. :) As usual though, the nurses and respiratory therapists were amazing.


We were discharged late yesterday afternoon -- just in time to wade through the Dream Cruise -- and have been monitoring his breathing here at home. So far things seem to be going well although he does sound quite winded from time to time.


Thanks to my mom, Laura, and Pat and Katie for coming to visit. It really helped break up the monotony of bad cable television and also gave H someone else to look at other than his parents' mugs. I know he appreciated it and we did too. ;)

Will call for our follow-up doctor appointment tomorrow morning -- please keep your fingers crossed...

The Bday Countdown is on...

Thought I'd share Hunter's very first birthday present -- Brad and I found this boombox pillow at Pottery Barn Kids and just HAD to get it as it's the perfect addition to Hunter's Rock and Roll nursery.

The 1st bday party countdown has definitely begun and we are well underway with our planning. There will be games and activities to enjoy, as well as some great food. Come prepared to be outside (weather permitting of course). And yes, there is a pinata!

A lot of you have been asking what H needs for his 1st bday, so here are a few small suggestions:

1. Winter clothes (size 2-3T) <-- yes, he's a big boy!

2. Winter pajamas (size 2-3T)

3. Diapers (Huggies, size 5)

4. Gift cards to Target or Babies R Us are always appreciated :)

We are excited to see you soon!

Good Morning Everyone! Love, HWB

Vampire Breakout At Daycare

Poor HWB! According to daycare helper Jessica, a little girl 'picked up biting over the weekend' and decided to try out her new skills on Hunter's left arm.

The worst one was isolated to his forearm but he did take two to the upper arm near the shoulder too. Due to our little Chunk Monks having a bit more padding than the usual kid his age, the bites did not break skin (thank goodness).

Also, did some research and ALL kids go through this phase at some point... As the daycare workers love Hunter to death, they have removed the little girl from the Babies room and reached out to the parents to ensure the biting habit is curbed quickly.

Just add this to our list of growing pains and war wounds!

The Mountain Man Ray LaMontagne

So here goes Post #2: We bought tickets for Ray LaMontagne's concert at the Royal Oak Music Theatre on 10/6 and am SO excited... his music has been an inspiring addition to our library of artists over the 6 years we've been together.

[Modest Mouse, Ryan Adams, Wolfmother, The Killers, Bert Jansch help round out other new(er) faves too]

Here's a link to a YouTube video featuring Ray singing 'Jolene' from his first album, Trouble.




It'll be a mellow night to say the least (Leona Naess opens for Ray) but we'll snag a couple glasses of vino for me and a 7/7 or two for BDB and enjoy.

Day 1: Life In Generation Y Has Begun

Well here we go -- Blog Posting #1. I feel so high-tech and will definitely follow-up with a note to Uncle Juniper (nee my brother Jean-Pierre) to request my official entry into Gen Y.

With all of the time allocated to work, HWB, being a parent, transforming into a culinary artist, remembering to shower, etc., the monthly e-mails fell away, requests for pictures grew and I found myself writing 'send monthly Hunter update e-mail' on my to-do list somewhere between 'wash bathroom towels' and 'watch HGTV Design Star finale'. It's an exciting life I tell you...

No seriously, I'm excited to use this blog as a way to keep our friends and family -- far and wide -- updated on all things Bobenmoyer. So stay tuned: There's definitely more to come!