Richard went ahead and gave me a Christmas present early this year- the Canon 100mm macro lens. I feel rather like a monkey with a typewriter; I just keep clunking away and eventually I catch something good! It's an incredible lens, fast, stunningly sharp, no aberrations to speak of, great for macro and portrait. 
Here's to Penny, the best dog I have ever met. She is great with the kids, she won't run off when you open the gate, and she's always happy to see me, even if I don't pet her (allergies).
Halloween day Hannah's preschool had a party and we decorated pumpkin shaped cookies. It was fun to see how each of the kids iced their cookies- the boys mostly heaped a buncha on, a few used the orange and green icing to make it look just like a pumpkin, and Hannah created an intricate purple-blue pattern with a pink center.
