"Cake" Decorating
Cake Decorating

02/22/2010

Cake Decorating

02/22/2010

Cake Decorating

02/22/2010

Princess Tea Party
Princess Tea Party

02/16/2010

You can only begin to imagine the enthusiasm with which this table was set.
Princess Tea Party

02/16/2010

Door & Trim Project

02/06/2010

Progress
Door & Trim Project

02/12/2010

Installation is underway
Door & Trim Project

02/26/2010


I overheard this conversation this morning... after Andy had been telling the kids stories about the kitten from his youth, and before he left for TX on business.

K: "Papi's goin' on a trip. He's goin' to see his kitty."
A: "No he's not. His kitty is dead. It got really old and died."
K: "He needs a band-aid!"
A: "No, dead people don't use band-aids. They just close their eyes. And lay in a box."
K: "Oh."
A: "When you die you'll lay in a box too."
K: "Oh."

Sunday, February 14, 2010 at 8:47 pm

Keira's Bright Idea

"I'm going to put my hands in my pockets so I don't lose them!"

Wednesday, February 3, 2010 at 9:02 pm

After 3+ years of stalling, it's finally here. Now we have a big job ahead.
Door & Trim Project

02/03/2010

I'm going to be a pro doorhanger when we get done with this.
Door & Trim Project

02/03/2010

A shout out for Angie's List

We've known it's out there and always thought we might use it... someday. Finally got around to it because we've been looking for a painter for our doors & trim, signed up for a month. Cost $6. Andy needed a car repair, so he searched for a good mechanic near his work, found one with rave reviews, went there, the guy was a pleasure to deal with, saved us $200 (50%) on the original estimate for the repair, and now we know where to go the next time the car gets sick. So completely worth $6 for Angie's list. Wish we had done that for a roofing contractor.

Wednesday, January 13, 2010 at 11:41 am

Summary of the past 2 months

Thanksgiving in MN, girls got frilly dresses, which they modeled for us. We got a little snow. Kids liked it. Trim is off around all the windows, insulating behind the trim is half done, new doors and trim ordered. Spent christmas week in Hilton Head Island, SC. It was a little chilly, but we enjoyed a bike ride, a day at a great little children's museum, and a short hiatus from illness. Stopped in Virginia on the way home to see Andy's side. I got the stomach flu on the road, 3 hours from home. Not real fun, but I'm not whining too much because it negated my holiday weight gain. Now here's a few snapshots.

Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at 1:57 pm

Hilton Head Island 2009

12/31/2009

Hilton Head Island 2009

12/31/2009

Hilton Head Island 2009

12/31/2009

Hilton Head Island 2009

12/31/2009

Hilton Head Island 2009

12/31/2009

Hilton Head Island 2009

12/31/2009

Happy Anniversary to us. We spend our days a little differently now.
Hilton Head Island 2009

12/29/2009

Hilton Head Island 2009

12/29/2009

Hilton Head Island 2009

12/29/2009

On the run. Love the grin.
Hilton Head Island 2009

12/29/2009

Hilton Head Island 2009

12/29/2009

Hilton Head Island 2009

12/29/2009

First Snow 2009

12/07/2009

First Snow 2009

12/07/2009

Will you marry me?
Thanksgiving 2009

11/22/2009

She said yes!
Thanksgiving 2009

11/22/2009

Here comes the bride
Thanksgiving 2009

11/22/2009

Heh. We're silly.
Thanksgiving 2009

11/22/2009

But we do love each other. Sometimes.
Thanksgiving 2009

11/22/2009

2 year olds with a vocabulary crack me up.

Keira can't say her 'r's, so the other morning at breakfast she made the following declaration:
"I don't need a bib. I'm just the gail who doesn't get sywup on hew showt." Her poor tongue can't keep up with her grammar.

Thursday, December 3, 2009 at 4:05 pm

Hey look... there are 4 of us!
Family Picture 2009

10/29/2009

And 4 more!
Family Picture 2009

10/29/2009

Old houses are full of excitement. Like frantic fridge shopping with 2 kids in tow.

Our electrical box looked like this (after the electrician peeled back the melted breakers):
Breaker Box

Breaker Box



and my fridge now looks like this:
Cooler

Lesson Learned: If light bulbs are burning out relentlessly, have an electrician check the power coming into your house BEFORE it zaps your fridge.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009 at 10:30 pm

Change your mind and say, 'Yes'.

I hear this conversation (or some variant) multiple times a day.

Elder: "You be the baby, and I'll be the Mommy, 'kay?"
Younger: "No."
Elder: "Change your mind and say, 'Yes'."
Younger: "No."
Elder, increases volume, shrill-ness, and shows first signs of a hissy fit: "Say, 'Yes'!"
Younger, calmly: "Yes."
Elder, in a happy, sweet voice, "Ok, now you cry and I'll give you a bottle, 'kay?"
Younger: "No."
Elder: "Change your mind and say, 'Yes'."

Saturday, November 7, 2009 at 1:31 pm

I convinced the kids that their green pumpkins would make better faces than pie.
Pumpkins

10/30/2009

Confession: I photoshopped this picture.
My kids aren't cooperative enough to give me 2 real smiles in the same frame.
Pumpkins

10/30/2009

Jack O'Lanterns
Pumpkins

10/30/2009

Our picnic from the other day. I think I've gotten my $3 worth on that table.
Picnic

10/26/2009

Annika's assessment of her piggy bank...

"I have lots of papers but only 3 clinks. I need some more clinker moneys."

And here's some random shots from the past week or two.

Sunday, October 25, 2009 at 9:39 pm

This kid has a never ending stream of facial expressions
Playdough

10/21/2009

Playdough
Playdough

10/21/2009

K

10/20/2009

Tire Swing

10/20/2009

K

10/20/2009

Annika shows off her pipe cleaner crown
Corona

10/16/2009


Engineers should come with warning labels. Here's what might happen if you marry one.

A young father takes his children on a Saturday morning outing and calls home expecting his wife to be curled up by the fireplace, reading a good book. My husband? He married an engineer. He calls home to inquire about what I've done with my precious hours of peace, and the answer is... demolition.

When he left, the kitchen door looked like this:
Trimming Project 2009

When he came back, it looked like this:
Trimming Project 2009

Sorry honey. I'm just not much of a reader and we don't have a fireplace. And operating a crowbar is kinda fun. Even if 51 years worth of dirt falls in your face while you do it.

Sunday, October 25, 2009 at 2:32 pm

Apple Orchard 2009 Edition

Apple Orchard 2009




The other day I took my clean, combed, and color coordinated munchkins to the apple orchard for a photo shoot. It rained the entire time. We left looking like drowned rats, the carefully chosen outfits were muddy, and I didn't get a single picture. Not one. I cried all the way home. But another day is, well, another opportunity, and off we went again... new outfits, another round of baths, fresh hair-dos. And now I'm going to make up for the great lack of pictures over the past few months in one single post. Enjoy our second, more joyful trip to the orchard. I'm off to make applesauce.

Thursday, October 8, 2009 at 10:30 am

Apple Orchard 2009

10/07/2009

Apple Orchard 2009

10/07/2009

Apple Orchard 2009

10/07/2009

Apple Orchard 2009

10/07/2009

Apple Orchard 2009

10/07/2009

Apple Orchard 2009

10/07/2009

Apple Orchard 2009

10/07/2009

Apple Orchard 2009

10/07/2009

Apple Orchard 2009

10/07/2009

Apple Orchard 2009

10/07/2009

Apple Orchard 2009

10/07/2009

Apple Orchard 2009

10/07/2009

Apple Orchard 2009

10/07/2009

Apple Orchard 2009

10/07/2009

Apple Orchard 2009

10/07/2009

Apple Orchard 2009

10/07/2009

Apple Orchard 2009

10/07/2009

Apple Orchard 2009

10/07/2009

Apple Orchard 2009

10/07/2009

Apple Orchard 2009

10/07/2009

Apple Orchard 2009

10/07/2009

Annika was the chief apple washer
Apple Orchard 2009

10/07/2009


Learning about the world

Annika points at a pair of leggings laying on the floor and says, "Hey! I didn't know there was 2 kinds of tights! Some have no foots and some have yes foots!"


She also had an introduction to artificial flowers yesterday. After getting a stalk of her very own, she said, "I wanna put it in water." I explained that it was fake and didn't need water. "Are fake flowers already alive?" She asked. And then she left the room sniffing the pink and white blossoms.

Friday, October 2, 2009 at 9:30 am

Poodle

A few months ago, Keira met a standard poodle at the park. It was large, fluffy, and the color of cinnamon. Keira was delighted. She pointed at it and shouted with glee, "Lion!!!"
We all agreed that it did look quite a bit like a lion.

Friday, September 18, 2009 at 3:00 pm

Ask Keira...

Q: "Would you like bread?"
A: *Nods enthusiastically* "With a bun!"

Q: "Would you like a quesadilla?"
A: "Yes. With cheese on it!"

Tuesday, September 15, 2009 at 1:21 pm

Happy Birthday Keira! (a few days early)
Happy Birthday Keira!

09/13/2009

Happy Birthday Keira!

09/13/2009

Happy Birthday Keira!

09/13/2009

Big sis made her a special card
Happy Birthday Keira!

09/13/2009

Lesson learned: Never underestimate the excitement of a new doll.
Happy Birthday Keira!

09/13/2009

Grammy couldn't get baby untied fast enough
Happy Birthday Keira!

09/13/2009

It has a pacifier!
Happy Birthday Keira!

09/13/2009

Happy Birthday Keira!

09/13/2009

Happy Birthday Keira!

09/13/2009

Big sis got a present too... a new blankie. She was delighted.
Happy Birthday Keira!

09/13/2009