Me and my dad

When my parents bought their house about 13 years ago, there weren't enough bedrooms for all of us to have our own. So my dad built one for me out of an old attic space that was completely walled off from the rest of the house. I lived in it, and then my brother, and then my other brother, but for the last few years it's just been used as a spare room. For quite awhile my dad has entertained the idea of having a golf room, one in which he could display his golf memorabilia, as well as watch golf (and other sports, too) and practice putting. I think he realized recently that in order for his dream to come true, he'd better get down to business before one of us moved back in and took over the room yet again (which, if you know my family, is not altogether out of the question). So with a little bit of paint, some comfy chairs, and all of his golf collection, he's made himself quite the cozy retreat. I was able to spend some time with him this weekend, and I will say this: Sitting with my dad in his new room, eating Liverwurst while he serenaded me with his harmonica, makes for some pretty sweet memories. Love you, Dad :)

Caleb Jeremy

It's an interesting thing to know someone from the very beginning of his life, and to love that same someone right from the start, too. I don't think either of these boys will understand how much they enrich our family or how much they are cared for until they are daddies (or uncles) of their own. On a practical note, Brent & Danny say that already Caleb is proving to sleep much more soundly than Derek did as a newborn. I have witnessed this myself while watching Caleb nap on the couch as Mr. Big Brother pranced around, hollered about different things, pounded on his wooden work bench, and said "Hi, Baby! Hi, Baby!" while giving the baby pat-pats and love pinches. Caleb would stir a little, and then fall right back asleep. Hooray for small blessings! (Although maybe this shouldn't be considered something small...) More pictures tomorrow! I was clearly born to be an aunt. So, keep 'em comin! (And this is not directed at just Brent and Danny....)
My mum brought Derek a new book about cars, and it's entertaining for people of all ages!
It's hard to resist taking a picture of a smiley-faced bottom :)


BABY FEET!! (Very long baby feet! I think he will be tall...)
Happy, happy, beautiful family :)

He's heeeeeeeere!

Jan Michael and I became a proud aunt and uncle for the second time as Caleb made his much-anticipated appearance this morning around 3:00. More info (and pictures, about a thousand, probably) to come.....

Your smile for the day :)

I found the following on the internet. It's good on a rainy, blustery day to have something to laugh about. (And please excuse the weird line breaks. I can't figure out why that's happening.)

ON WHAT FALLING IN LOVE IS LIKE
~"Like an avalanche where you have to run for your life." - Roger, age 9
~"If falling in love is anything like learning how to spell, I don't want to do it.
It takes too long." - Leo, age 7

CONFIDENTIAL OPINIONS ABOUT LOVE
~"Love will find you, even if you are trying to hide from it. I have been trying to hide from it
since I was five, but the girls keep finding me." - Bobby, age 8
~"I'm not rushing into being in love. I'm finding fourth grade hard enough." - Regina, age 10

HOW TO MAKE LOVE ENDURE
~"Spend most of your time loving instead of going to work." - Tom, age 7
~"Don't forget your wife's name...That will mess up the love."- Erin, age 6
~"Be a good kisser. It might make your wife forget that you never take out the trash." - Randy,
age 10
~"Don't say you love somebody and then change your mind. Love isn't like picking which
movies you watch." - Natalie, age 10

SURE-FIRE WAYS TO MAKE A PERSON FALL IN LOVE WITH YOU
~"Don't do things like have smelly, green sneakers. You might get attention, but attention ain't
the same thing as love." - Alonzo, age 9
~"Shake your hips and hope for the best." - Camille, age 9
~"One way is to take the girl out to eat. Make sure it's something she likes to eat. French fries
usually work for me." - Bart, age 9
~"Yell out that you love them at the top of your lungs ... and don't worry if their parents are
right there." - Manuel, age 8

Man alive, Brent is 25!

Today is the birthday of Brent, one of my favorite people in the whole world. In honor of him, we will now take a trip down memory lane. I present to you "Brent, Through the Years." This first picture is circa 1995-ish.
July 1997

December 1998
July 2000
December 2000
July 2002 (This fiasco of a camping trip deserves a blog of it's own. Incidentally, Brent was the only one, at the end, who was still smiling.)
December 2001 (Oops, these pictures are out of order. Sorry.)
November 2001
2003, I think

May 2004
August 2004
January 2005

Ground turkey is for the birds. Heh.

One of the things I appreciate about being a stay-at-home wife (and there are many, believe me) is the freedom to loaf around the house in whatever sort of get-up I want. I got away with quite a few things, outfit-wise, at my job in the doctor's office (flip-flops, etc) but my blue knee-highs and three-sizes-too-big sweatshirt would never have flown.

On a completely different note, I've heard it said lots of times that one of the things we can do with other people's mistakes is learn from them, so I will now post one of mine. Upon Jan Michael's request, I was fixing a big batch of Sloppy Joes for lunch. In an effort to be healthy, I decided to use ground turkey instead of hamburger. BIG, GIGUNDOUS MISTAKE. Let this be a lesson to all of you. I am a big fan of turkey, particularly on Thanksgiving, but something must happen in the grinding process to make it completely revolting. Maybe there are things ground up with the turkey that are better left un-thought of. At any rate, blech, blech, retch. A savings of 1 gram of fat and 20 calories is not worth it, my friends. Thank you for listening.

Jogging machines

This morning Jan Michael and I shaved 30 seconds off our jog time from yesterday. I, at least, am impressed by us.

Finished!

A new, shiny sink, a working garbage disposal, an leak-free faucet, and a smiling, handsome husband. Fabulous.

Jan Michael = handyman

Ta da! Just as I suspected, a white sink is much better than a blue one. Also, a word to the wise: Sometimes when replacing a sink, you discover that the person who installed the original sink cut too generous a hole in the countertop for standard sink dimensions. But no need to lose heart! You may only have a quarter of an inch of countertop on which the sink is supported, but with a good amount of precision caulking, you can get the job done. As I type this, Jan Michael is installing the sink strainer, and tomorrow, he tackles the replacing of the pipes.

New sink for me

Well, well, well. Jan Michael is on vacation this week, but does my husband decide to lie around all day reading comics and eating junk?! No sir! He's decided it's time to replace the kitchen sink (and the garbage disposal, too), so today has been phase one of Operation...Sink Replacement. Above you see the before shot, and can I just say I will not be sorry to haul that old blue sink straight to the dump.
He decided to see if using a car jack would be a good way to lift the sink out, and.....
we have lift off! Clever boy!
The pipes are pretty old and filthy, so we may end up replacing those as well, but for now, the old sink (which is not light by any means!!) is sitting on the driveway, and the new one is ready and waiting. Stay tuned, probably tomorrow, for more adventures of "Jan Michael and Hilary, Gallant Home Improvers."

So-rry!

John and Gayle came to visit today, and we played a suspense-filled game of SORRY. It was neck and neck at the end, but John managed to squeak to the finish just before Jan Michael. Brent and Danny had planned to come, but Brent had to work (BOO for Brent's job!) and besides, nephew #2/niece #1 is due any day now, and it seemed better for Danny to stick close to home. [Our bathtub is completely unacceptable for a water birth :) ] So, we'll wait patiently until we can see everyone again.

This is not interesting, but it's all I've got.

I am at war. The enemy is comprised of the thistles and dandelions in our yard. There are about 500 of them, and it's possible that number is a gross under-estimation. Lucky for me, I'm equipped with the WEED HOUND, a contraption which helps to rip them out of the ground. Even so, the eradiction is a daunting task. However, one of the many lessons I've learned the last while involves the value of tenacity and perseverence. So. I WILL NOT BE BEATEN BY A BUNCH OF RATTY WEEDS.

More birthday fun

Derek saw the smallest corner of his present sticking out of the grocery bag I was carrying it in, and immediately said, "Book! Book!" The little stinker! I'll have to be more clever about the wrap job next time :)
The black hair clip is a nice touch, don't you think? :)
Multi-tasking!
Lucky me to get kisses from such a cute boy! :)

"I'm twooooo!" says Derek.

An ode to October

We interrupt the birthday news to bring you.... a poem. Thank you Maurice Sendak.

In October
I'll be host
to witches, goblins
and a ghost.
I'll serve them
chicken soup
on toast.
Whoopy once
Whoopy twice
Whoopy chicken soup
with rice.

D's birthday continued

PRESENTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Only two, and already he understands the glee of ripping and tearing open his presents!

The grown-ups were having a fine time playing with the presents....
but then graciously decided to let Derek join in :) :) :)