Long awaited update

We've been enjoying spring now that it's finally here. Phoebe and I picked "Dandi-o-lions" yesterday. She wanted to pick "all of them" but as you can see behind her, I wasn't up to that task.

Ring around the Rosy was led by Tona at Siobhan's birthday party last weekend.

At dinner tonight, Phoebe went with a green theme. She's really into color-coding her dinnerware these days.

And as you can see, our garage was demolished, and a new pad is to be poured Thursday. We're looking forward to a roomy garage that I can build some quality shelving for storage, a nice workbench for gardening and woodworking, and of course a place to park both cars. After last winter, this project moved to the top of our list.

The massive brown area is our newly tilled garden with a fresh 6 cubic yds of compost (aka "horse poop") all over it. Good thing our neighbors are cool. It smelled like the state fair cow barn around here until the rain last week :)

Otherwise, I have been working like crazy: I'm moderating an online class currently while also teaching all day. This summer I'm going to venture into the world of "consulting," for lack of a better term. I will work with teachers to improve teaching practices. The work will be with a small corp now owned by Scholastic. I'm travelling to Ocala, FL and Texas twice this summer. Really? Ocala, FL on the Summer Solstice? Not my idea of comfortable.

Remodeling's coming along here with not much planned after the garage. Alisa's painting and I'm still doing trim upstairs--neverending!

We're off to Portland to see Mat's family this summer. Phoebe talks about "flying on a plane when it gets hot outside." Should be fun! We're looking forward to the visit!

Andy

C'mon Spring!

We've been spending a lot of time indoors, but it's slowly, very slowly warming here. And snow is melting! But since it's going to flood anyway, a nice quick warm up and a huge meltoff would be great. I'd love to see some green grass again. The picture with her bib is my screen backdrop on my phone. Phoebe's taken to saying, "see picture of cute Phoebe on dad-dad's phone." I must have said something once :)

Breakfast with Eliza, Jane and Jen.

Elmo stickers from Grandma being put to good use.

A long, cold, snowy winter . . .

and I'm not enjoying it. Alisa taught me how to x-country ski and enjoy winter after being a winter hater. But this winter I have to say this stinks. Tons of snow, constant shoveling, cold temps (a colder than average January), and Phoebe seems to have back-to-back colds with terrible coughs.

Anyhoo . . . enough complaining! Again, I've been bad with the updates. I've been playing with my new cell phone too much and not taking good pics of Phoebe. Our phone pics are definately inferior quality, but they capture a good picture in a pinch!

The last entry is a pic I took with Alisa's old cell just minutes after Phoebe's birth. I finally was able to text it to our new phones, which allowed me to save the pic to our files. A good save indeed. This is the only picture I took of her first day of life as our camera was in the car at the hospital.

December Recap

December flew by and I haven't posted since Phoebe's 2nd birthday. So here you go. Pics with Grandma and Phoebe checking out her new playtable (my parents' gift to Phoebe . . . an MCC sale item), Christmas Eve babysitting Eliza while Jane and Jen both had to lead services at their churches, Phoebe wearing her blanky as a coat, and finally her nap at the Westby house on our big snow day last month.

We've finally moved upstairs and are enjoying the house despite the unfinished trimwork. Someday it'll feel more complete. But Phoebe loves "Phoebe's yellow bedroom."

Happy Birthday!

Unfortunately, Alisa had to work today . . . and is still there wrapping up paperwork at 10:15pm. We did have a nice breakfast this morning. Alisa made Pancakes (Phoebe's favorite!) and we gave her the gifts that arrived and that we had bought for her.

Phoebe's babysitter Kami and her daughter Ava gave Phoebe Ava's old Snow White dress. I picked up the puppy winter hat, grandma and papa sent some "starry tights," and Alisa bought some new block-beads. The Martinsons (we assume Laura made it)sent a "stripey puppy" and Oma and Grandpa sent Phoebe a book. Thanks everyone! Phoebe was well spoiled today.

See below for pics matching the following descriptions:
We got plenty of nice snow last night! Phoebe and I shoveled and then did some "tromp-stomp" up the block.

Matthew and I took the crew of kids to the Walker Art Center today. The most interesting thing was clearly the locker storage. After, Micahiah insisted on wearing Phoebe's new dress.

Princess Phoebe

Phoebe has clearly been enjoying her time with Kami, Ava, and William. Kami has been watching Phoebe since Alisa has started work (which we are very grateful for!). Today Alisa arrived to a very pleased princess talking about "some necklesses" that she was wearing.

Ava and Kami were doing Phoebe's hair in "piggy tails" last week when I arrived one day.

Halloween!

Phoebe and I started the week carving a pumpkin. Alisa sewed Phoebe's puppy costume mid-week and Phoebe talked about her "grey hat" and "paws" for the next few days.

Tonight is pretty lively on our street. Right now it sounds a bit like a block party run by 8 year olds out our door. Our neighbors all outdid us with ghosts hanging from trees, steroes blasting spooky sounds out their front doors, and gravestones in their yards. I was proud of our pumpkin.

Across the street, our neighbors have frogs ribbiting on stereo. Phoebe's been asking all night: "Why the pumpkins squeaking?"
We only visited a handful of our immediate neighbors, but Phoebe did a wonderful job of saying "trick or treat," "thank you," and then "bye bye."

It's great to live in a house on a block with such a great sense of community!

Trip to Maine

Alisa and Phoebe travelled out to Maine last Sunday and I joined them Thursday. We had a good chance to see Ben and Leslie's home at the perfect time. The timber frame was up and no panels were up yet. This allowed to see the unique joints used to hold these beams together. Very cool.

Phoebe enjoyed time with Oma and Grandpa as well as her cousins, aunt and uncle, and Glenn and Arlene too. Phoebe got some time with the "Goaties" at the farm too.