My new Baby Katherine
Saturday, April 28, 2012
BIG Truck
Friday, April 27, 2012
P-L-E-A-S-E
On our way to Magnolia Community Center for Kathy's fantastic Tot Bop class this morning, we passed the large windows showcasing an enormous indoor Tot Gym. I could hear all the ride on cars calling his name. So did Master O. His please was so big, there was no way not to promise that after Tot Bop class he could play in the gym. After days, maybe even weeks of rain in Seattle, this is the day the sun finally decided to make an appearance. Fearing parental disapproval for allowing indoor play time, I took the risk. The outdoor playground was on his agenda, but if you could have said "no" to that precious little face and the fully animated big "PLEASE" complete with tummy signing, you would just be a big bad meanie.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Happy First Meeting
Big brother meets baby Katherine.
Is she real?
Eyes Open!
Proud Papa.
Rock a bye with GAB.
Monday, April 23, 2012
Happy Birth Day
Lucky me flying into town and crawling in just in time for the big event. Phineas, you're almost here....
Around 8:30 P.M. Mr. Daddy Kyle and Mama Betsy head out to the car for their trip to the birthing center. Almost made it to the car. A quick stop on the wooden bench between contractions. Cleansing breath, concentrate, ha...ha...ha... What a champ with her new Lamaze breathing exercises and relaxation skills. This is Seattle, there must be a Space Needle somewhere for a focal point.
Bye bye. Everyone wave good bye. Next time we see them there will be a new baby. Bye Bye.
Bye bye MomMomDaddy.
It's showtime, Bubbie time with the adorable Master O. (Oh Oliver, please don't stand at the door and cry MomMom MomMom all night.) Maybe he forgot that they are not here. No tears! Gab claims that it is her good training.
Keeping on schedule of course; nighttime diaper, check, jammies on, check, brush teeth, check, bedtime stories, check and tucked into bed, check. Did I forget anything? Then came the requests for BIG yellow truck, teenie truck, teenie yellow truck, teennie truck, the other teenie truck, teenie truck, and tow truck. We carefully lined up all the teenie trucks and tow truck along the back of his bed. But cuddling with the big yellow truck when he has so many soft stuffed animals? He really likes trucks, get it!
Sweet slumber for Oliver and without tears. It has to be the trucks along with Gab's training of course.
Around 8:30 P.M. Mr. Daddy Kyle and Mama Betsy head out to the car for their trip to the birthing center. Almost made it to the car. A quick stop on the wooden bench between contractions. Cleansing breath, concentrate, ha...ha...ha... What a champ with her new Lamaze breathing exercises and relaxation skills. This is Seattle, there must be a Space Needle somewhere for a focal point.
Bye bye. Everyone wave good bye. Next time we see them there will be a new baby. Bye Bye.
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Bye bye MomMomDaddy.
It's showtime, Bubbie time with the adorable Master O. (Oh Oliver, please don't stand at the door and cry MomMom MomMom all night.) Maybe he forgot that they are not here. No tears! Gab claims that it is her good training.
Keeping on schedule of course; nighttime diaper, check, jammies on, check, brush teeth, check, bedtime stories, check and tucked into bed, check. Did I forget anything? Then came the requests for BIG yellow truck, teenie truck, teenie yellow truck, teennie truck, the other teenie truck, teenie truck, and tow truck. We carefully lined up all the teenie trucks and tow truck along the back of his bed. But cuddling with the big yellow truck when he has so many soft stuffed animals? He really likes trucks, get it!
Sweet slumber for Oliver and without tears. It has to be the trucks along with Gab's training of course.
Then the text: It's a baby girl!
Happy Birth Day to my beautiful baby and her beautiful baby!
What a magnificent surprise! But, no Phineas. What is her name?
How can Betsy look so good?
When Oliver wakes up, should I tell him that he has a new baby sister or wait for his mommomdaddy to tell him? Can't wait to get to the birthing center. This is just too exciting. Ohmygodo! Try to sleep Bubbie. We need to go pink shopping tomorrow. Try to sleep. Pink, we need pink teenie clothes. Try to sleep.
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Early Planting
Next the lettuce.
Higgins chooses her plot.
Get ready TH, ice will soon be melting on the lake.
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Waiting for Phineas
Finn and Ollie! Now there's a good ring to those names together if I've ever heard one. My two grandsons, Finn and Ollie. Say it with me, Finn and Ollie, Finn and Ollie. I do however prefer the Oliver to Ollie, but now with little Phineas, my opinion could change. We'll see.
Whoever started with the "Sam" had magical powers as it stuck with both my uncle and grandnephew.
Skillful waiting is required to time my Seattle arrival prior to Phineas's. Do you think that is the proper possessive, Phineas's?
Speaking of waiting, Phineas please wait a little longer, more time is needed to get my bags packed. (yes Becky, BAGS) Packing light renders one not cruise ready you know. Our armchair travels have Becky and Bubbie entertaining Oliver on a Disney cruise giving Mama and Dada time to bond with baby Phineas. M-I-Ceee-K-E-Yeee M-O-U-S-Eeeeee!
Stuck, sitting in the Jeep last night, while waiting in the Menard's back lumber yard, took forever. TH decided that we/he would re-insulate the ceilings beneath my office/bedroom aka "the tower." Tom refers to it as the "ivory tower." (the Johns Manville up there is bright white Tom, not ivory) TH noticed that when I drop a pencil on the floor it sounds like a sludge hammer and of course he would recognize that sound.
So anyway, I was waiting for this sound proofing insulation that is "green" but actually it's blue, made from recycled blue jeans to get loaded into the Jeep. Since we are BIG tree huggers, it was naturally (pun?) the way to go.
Yes we are so Betsy! You taught us well. We take no part in the ritual of killing trees for Christmas. Someone else in the family does that oh so well. We'll mention no names Uncle Bobber.
Whoever started with the "Sam" had magical powers as it stuck with both my uncle and grandnephew.
Skillful waiting is required to time my Seattle arrival prior to Phineas's. Do you think that is the proper possessive, Phineas's?
Speaking of waiting, Phineas please wait a little longer, more time is needed to get my bags packed. (yes Becky, BAGS) Packing light renders one not cruise ready you know. Our armchair travels have Becky and Bubbie entertaining Oliver on a Disney cruise giving Mama and Dada time to bond with baby Phineas. M-I-Ceee-K-E-Yeee M-O-U-S-Eeeeee!
Stuck, sitting in the Jeep last night, while waiting in the Menard's back lumber yard, took forever. TH decided that we/he would re-insulate the ceilings beneath my office/bedroom aka "the tower." Tom refers to it as the "ivory tower." (the Johns Manville up there is bright white Tom, not ivory) TH noticed that when I drop a pencil on the floor it sounds like a sludge hammer and of course he would recognize that sound.
So anyway, I was waiting for this sound proofing insulation that is "green" but actually it's blue, made from recycled blue jeans to get loaded into the Jeep. Since we are BIG tree huggers, it was naturally (pun?) the way to go.
Yes we are so Betsy! You taught us well. We take no part in the ritual of killing trees for Christmas. Someone else in the family does that oh so well. We'll mention no names Uncle Bobber.
We compost.
We use less water for bathing than the rest of you. Even less than Phineas will as an infant.
We plant trees every Mother's Day with RLA.
Friday, April 6, 2012
Larry and Linda Have Arrived
It's shortly after twelve noon and they have arrived.
How ever did Larry and Linda know that the ice has melted off the lake extra early?
Currently they are floating out in the center of the lake. It seems rather rude to me that they have not even paddled over and tipped their feathers to greet us. Generally they spend a great deal of time by the deck observing us as if we were the featured animals at the zoo. And...we all know about the white deposits they gift us with in the swimming area. Hopefully that doesn't in any way represent what they think of our zoo performance.
The Common Mergansers have been here since last week, just hanging around. Lingering is not typical of them, nor is the fact that there are three. The two males have a Loon like appearance with their long pointed bills. Unfortunately, TH did not get the second male in this photo. Have you noticed, that Ms. Common Merganser always has an unsightly do on top of her head? Now this year she even has two suitors. Go figure.
One of those early birds must have sent a message to the Loons.
How ever did Larry and Linda know that the ice has melted off the lake extra early?
Currently they are floating out in the center of the lake. It seems rather rude to me that they have not even paddled over and tipped their feathers to greet us. Generally they spend a great deal of time by the deck observing us as if we were the featured animals at the zoo. And...we all know about the white deposits they gift us with in the swimming area. Hopefully that doesn't in any way represent what they think of our zoo performance.
Pierre and Corrine were first of our feathered friends to arrive this year. Notice there was still ice on the lake.
The Common Mergansers have been here since last week, just hanging around. Lingering is not typical of them, nor is the fact that there are three. The two males have a Loon like appearance with their long pointed bills. Unfortunately, TH did not get the second male in this photo. Have you noticed, that Ms. Common Merganser always has an unsightly do on top of her head? Now this year she even has two suitors. Go figure.
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Forgive me please for documenting false information. The Loons could not be Larry and Linda, but a foreign pair that intercepted the early bird's message. The moon has risen and Larry and Linda would surely have greeted us by now.
April 6th moonrise at about 8:32pm. Yes Dad, "if you have seen one", so forth and so on. TH did a great job capturing what looks more like a Halloween Moon wouldn't you say?
Only a few minutes later - the moonlit shimmering waters of Lake Betty.
Not yet 9pm, go ahead, call me Uncle Sam if you like, but it's off to bed for me.
Good night moon.
Not yet 9pm, go ahead, call me Uncle Sam if you like, but it's off to bed for me.
Good night moon.
Good night last year's picture of Loons.
Good night Bapa wearing a plaid nightshirt in his living room.
Good night Oliver too big for his bed.
Good night Bubbie with Christmas lights on her head.
Good night Uncle Tim's Howie the Bear.
Good night Higgins on her brown chair.
Good night Shanty Town's people everywhere.
Good night Shanty Town's people everywhere.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Surprise Surprise Surprise
What a BIG surprise it was, RLA "driving" up to Walleye World to celebrate my birthday.
The surprise caused me to trip and fall into the rock garden.
Off into the woods we went following a well worn deer trail. When not too deep in, we discovered the remains of KT's hand built tree house. What could have been lovely sunny day for a hike, was cut short when Velcro dog collected so many burrs that her tail stuck to her leg and could walk no further. Very sad, poor little trooper, Higgins. After the hour long, two person job of gently brushing and cutting burrs out of her fur, TH informs us that often times the burrs are water soluble. Hopefully we will never know for sure. That particular deer trail remains off limits for Higgins.
Not sure who displays their affection more, Higgins human hugging Annie or Oliver hugging and kissing the computer monitor on a Skype call with R?
Just finishing our delicious Chicken Cordon Bleu dinner from Old World Meats, what a shock it was when Annie presented a chocolate mousse birthday cake to an otherwise desert-less meal. BBQs make for good birthday cake hiding places. Nice R! (btw folks, that's not wine in R's wine glass - cranberry juice and not a Cosmo in Bubbie's martini glass - it is empty)
Happy Birthday Bubbie - wish you all could have been here to celebrate with us.
Off into the woods we went following a well worn deer trail. When not too deep in, we discovered the remains of KT's hand built tree house. What could have been lovely sunny day for a hike, was cut short when Velcro dog collected so many burrs that her tail stuck to her leg and could walk no further. Very sad, poor little trooper, Higgins. After the hour long, two person job of gently brushing and cutting burrs out of her fur, TH informs us that often times the burrs are water soluble. Hopefully we will never know for sure. That particular deer trail remains off limits for Higgins.
Just finishing our delicious Chicken Cordon Bleu dinner from Old World Meats, what a shock it was when Annie presented a chocolate mousse birthday cake to an otherwise desert-less meal. BBQs make for good birthday cake hiding places. Nice R! (btw folks, that's not wine in R's wine glass - cranberry juice and not a Cosmo in Bubbie's martini glass - it is empty)
Happy Birthday Bubbie - wish you all could have been here to celebrate with us.
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