Happy birthday to Jason! - who left the 'teens forever on 30 December.
(The following photos and message have not been approved by Jason.)
Photos -
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Jason's birthday, from Mommy's blog.
Words of polite commentary...
"What an unmitigated piece of junk!"
"I don't call that 'sprawling suburbs'. I call that an irresolute housing development."
...and words to eat later...
"Ardith prides herself on thinking she can cook."
Next to Daddy, Jason has probably put in the most work on the house. He's even now out in the garage, spending part of his Christmas break at helping Daddy to put up the wood sheeting that will finally permit complete and total garage insolation! What a milestone that will be.
Monday, December 31, 2007
Ethan's birthday!
Happy birthday to Ethan, who turned 11 on 17 December!
Photos -
Mommy has pictures of Ethan's birthday here.
Ethan has such a talent for fantastic faces! Just look at this and this.
Words of encouragement...
Melinda: "Nolan! This is a big day! You lost your first tooth! Now go look in the mirror."
Ethan: "You'll see a lot of blood."
Ethan (to Carolyn, the horse lover): "What can horses do? They could make you lose your lives, even!"
...enlightenment...
Ethan: "I know what I was born for! To be loud!"
...and wisdom...
Ethan (describing the laundry he carted down the stairs): "It was 2 feet by 2 feet, compacted-"
Kendra: "Really."
Ethan: "-like 500 clothes in 1 square foot!"
...and wheedling...
Ethan: "Carolyn, Melinda and I want to do something with you."
Carolyn: "What is it?"
Ethan: "It's a cree-tlimb -- a tree-climbing contest."
Carolyn: "How about we just climb trees for fun?"
Sharon (nailing in the garage roof above them): "You know, Ethan, that might result in..."
Ethan: "What, Sharon?"
Sharon: "Never mind. I changed my mind."
Ethan: "Come on, Sharon, what did you say?"
Sharon: "I didn't say it, so I don't have to finish it."
Ethan: "Come on, Sharon! Say it!"
Sharon (laughing helplessly): "Ethan!"
Ethan: "Come on, Sharon! Ple-e-e-ease?!?"
Sharon: "Ethan, do you know how tired it makes me to laugh on an empty stomach?"
Ethan: "Sharon, p-l-e-e-e-ea-s-e?! Please?"
Carolyn: "Ethan, stop acting like a baby."
But of course he wasn't, he was just being his cheerfully and loquaciously persistent self.
Photos -
Mommy has pictures of Ethan's birthday here.
Ethan has such a talent for fantastic faces! Just look at this and this.
Words of encouragement...
Melinda: "Nolan! This is a big day! You lost your first tooth! Now go look in the mirror."
Ethan: "You'll see a lot of blood."
Ethan (to Carolyn, the horse lover): "What can horses do? They could make you lose your lives, even!"
...enlightenment...
Ethan: "I know what I was born for! To be loud!"
...and wisdom...
Ethan (describing the laundry he carted down the stairs): "It was 2 feet by 2 feet, compacted-"
Kendra: "Really."
Ethan: "-like 500 clothes in 1 square foot!"
...and wheedling...
Ethan: "Carolyn, Melinda and I want to do something with you."
Carolyn: "What is it?"
Ethan: "It's a cree-tlimb -- a tree-climbing contest."
Carolyn: "How about we just climb trees for fun?"
Sharon (nailing in the garage roof above them): "You know, Ethan, that might result in..."
Ethan: "What, Sharon?"
Sharon: "Never mind. I changed my mind."
Ethan: "Come on, Sharon, what did you say?"
Sharon: "I didn't say it, so I don't have to finish it."
Ethan: "Come on, Sharon! Say it!"
Sharon (laughing helplessly): "Ethan!"
Ethan: "Come on, Sharon! Ple-e-e-ease?!?"
Sharon: "Ethan, do you know how tired it makes me to laugh on an empty stomach?"
Ethan: "Sharon, p-l-e-e-e-ea-s-e?! Please?"
Carolyn: "Ethan, stop acting like a baby."
But of course he wasn't, he was just being his cheerfully and loquaciously persistent self.
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Why we have sisters
Today's entry is in honor of my older sister Ardith, who kindly put me up on the way home, not to mention put up with me - especially for getting there way too early.
This is Ardith shoveling her drive! - early on a Sunday morning with a windchill in the single digits.
Not to mention that she cleared all the snow away from my car.
And this was the view from Ardith's front window. Doesn't she have a lovely neighborhood? Especially when it's decked out with snow.
By the way, no matter what you may hear from skeptical acquaintances or cynical family, Ardith is a fabulous cook. She fixed up a delicious creamy chicken curry for Saturday's supper. Everyone who knows her should go pay her a visit sometime in 2008 and let her show off her cooking.
This is Ardith shoveling her drive! - early on a Sunday morning with a windchill in the single digits.
Not to mention that she cleared all the snow away from my car.
And this was the view from Ardith's front window. Doesn't she have a lovely neighborhood? Especially when it's decked out with snow.
By the way, no matter what you may hear from skeptical acquaintances or cynical family, Ardith is a fabulous cook. She fixed up a delicious creamy chicken curry for Saturday's supper. Everyone who knows her should go pay her a visit sometime in 2008 and let her show off her cooking.
Monday, December 24, 2007
How to beat the sleet
It is so good to be safely home for Christmas!
My very very first idea was to leave for Iowa right after work on Friday. That idea lasted all of about ten seconds. Because it then occurred to me that driving home in daylight on a good night's sleep with a properly packed car would probably work better. What were a few hours with a whole week of vacation waiting?
Of course, it didn't really work out like that.
Pack properly? The week before Christmas is full of all the non-family Christmas festivities. I had to make cookies and fudge for friends and colleagues, and get ready for the party that someone decided Stacey and I should host. It was fun, just a little late for a Thursday night. Then on Friday night I had to squeeze packing in around washing up the mountain of dishes and visiting a good friend just back for Christmas.
A good night's sleep? Well, I'm sure that would have happened if it weren't for 1) the excitement of going home the next day, 2) the excitement of driving home all by myself, and 3) the excitement of adventurous weather. Apparently the sleet was to hit Ardith's part of Iowa by early afternoon. So I set the alarm for 4 a.m.
Driving in the daylight? Yes, if you don't leave the house at 5 a.m. in December and drive west into dense fog, you might have daylight. Come to think of it, I don't remember even having gray skies till getting well past Chicago.
The most exciting parts of the trip?
1 - Getting off 30 West onto 65 North
2 - Getting off 65 North onto 80 West
3 - Trying to get out of the I-Pass lane at the 80 toll
4 - Getting almost completlely convinced that the car was tilted left and would flip at any moment - till getting back into the right lane
5 - Getting the car to go (around) 70 mph without the constant whine
6 - Getting off onto 380 North
7 - Getting off on the right exit and finding that the directions miraculously worked out to lead to Ardith's
9 - Driving onto Ardith's sidewalk, which was a solid sheet of ice, and trying to walk up to the door
Yes, Ardith's driveway was definitely the most treacherous part of the entire trip. But that's my fault. I arrived too early (10:30 A.M), before she could get back with the salt.
That was Part I of the trip home, and it was so much fun!
My very very first idea was to leave for Iowa right after work on Friday. That idea lasted all of about ten seconds. Because it then occurred to me that driving home in daylight on a good night's sleep with a properly packed car would probably work better. What were a few hours with a whole week of vacation waiting?
Of course, it didn't really work out like that.
Pack properly? The week before Christmas is full of all the non-family Christmas festivities. I had to make cookies and fudge for friends and colleagues, and get ready for the party that someone decided Stacey and I should host. It was fun, just a little late for a Thursday night. Then on Friday night I had to squeeze packing in around washing up the mountain of dishes and visiting a good friend just back for Christmas.
A good night's sleep? Well, I'm sure that would have happened if it weren't for 1) the excitement of going home the next day, 2) the excitement of driving home all by myself, and 3) the excitement of adventurous weather. Apparently the sleet was to hit Ardith's part of Iowa by early afternoon. So I set the alarm for 4 a.m.
Driving in the daylight? Yes, if you don't leave the house at 5 a.m. in December and drive west into dense fog, you might have daylight. Come to think of it, I don't remember even having gray skies till getting well past Chicago.
The most exciting parts of the trip?
1 - Getting off 30 West onto 65 North
2 - Getting off 65 North onto 80 West
3 - Trying to get out of the I-Pass lane at the 80 toll
4 - Getting almost completlely convinced that the car was tilted left and would flip at any moment - till getting back into the right lane
5 - Getting the car to go (around) 70 mph without the constant whine
6 - Getting off onto 380 North
7 - Getting off on the right exit and finding that the directions miraculously worked out to lead to Ardith's
9 - Driving onto Ardith's sidewalk, which was a solid sheet of ice, and trying to walk up to the door
Yes, Ardith's driveway was definitely the most treacherous part of the entire trip. But that's my fault. I arrived too early (10:30 A.M), before she could get back with the salt.
That was Part I of the trip home, and it was so much fun!
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
On a December evening
After a long, busy, enjoyable day at the office,
Is there anything more relaxing than stretching out on the living room carpet, to read the consolidation loan promissory note by Christmas tree light, and to laugh over its enchanting little remarks, such as,
Item 6: Enter the date of your birth. Be careful not to enter the current year.
Is there anything more relaxing than stretching out on the living room carpet, to read the consolidation loan promissory note by Christmas tree light, and to laugh over its enchanting little remarks, such as,
Item 6: Enter the date of your birth. Be careful not to enter the current year.
Saturday, December 08, 2007
The joys of winter
I had forgotten how exciting winter can be!
First, when you hop out of a warm bed into a chilly bedroom, then later put on your coat and scarf and gloves in anticipation of the cold outside... it wakes you up and makes you excited for the day.
Second, it is so much fun to drive in the snow. Especially when road work keeps creating new detours and you have to invent new ways to get to work every morning.
Third, power outages turn the morning get-ready-for-work routine into a new adventure.
Fourth, it's just so much fun to stomp around in boots.
There are lots more reasons, but my time is up. So please add to the list for me!
First, when you hop out of a warm bed into a chilly bedroom, then later put on your coat and scarf and gloves in anticipation of the cold outside... it wakes you up and makes you excited for the day.
Second, it is so much fun to drive in the snow. Especially when road work keeps creating new detours and you have to invent new ways to get to work every morning.
Third, power outages turn the morning get-ready-for-work routine into a new adventure.
Fourth, it's just so much fun to stomp around in boots.
There are lots more reasons, but my time is up. So please add to the list for me!
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