They say it's your birthday...

Happy 31st, Annie 

We love you lots! We are incredibly grateful for you, and for your beautiful smile.

30 years ago today...

Just after your daddy burned your finger!

December is upon us

The white stuff coming down this afternoon and evening is chilly evidence that December is here. I had a good start to this month on Thursday when I took a trip to Otown to play with Westy and Miles while Tanner reffed bball and Annie worked at a party for the Kids' Korner employees. We enjoyed Jimmy Johns sandwiches for supper (Westy ate the most and spilled the least), played, watched cartoons, and read books. Miles was in a photogenic mood. We also took a picture of ourselves. As a group, we are less photogenic, I'm afraid!

Ethan, Owen, and Angie came for supper on Friday evening while Charlie had dinner with his Public Policy in Higher Ed classmates in the Cities. A bath and then a towel-wrapped snuggle with Grandpa rounded out the evening with the boys.

Today Miles, Ethan, Owen, and Weston played with each other, napped, and went to the SPHS gym to run around and have some fun before dinner. Here is a jumble of boys, playing in the sun room.

And, of course, reading a book with Gpappy.

While the other boys read, Westy kept an eye on the 

gas stove thermometer to make sure no one got chilly.

 

Westy and I had some fun with Owen's baby.

Westy wasn't in much of a mood for a nap when the other boys decided to doze, so he and his mommy went outside to play. The winter snot faucet was dripping a bit. Cute!

We celebrated Annie's 31st birthday today,  a couple of days early, before sending everyone out in the snow to drive home. Here's Annie, making a wish before blowing out her candle!

They all home arrived safely, but Miles accidentally left behind his favorite puppy Rosie, and his special blanket. Miles, we assure you that both will be taken care of by Gpappy and me until we can bring them back to you on Friday. See? Gpappy is already looking after Rosie and your blanket. Can Rosie watch the news with him this week?

HGE 2011

This entry is intended for 2011 HGE Participants only, as it spells out the instructions for this year's Holiday Gift Exchange in detail. Your HGE Giftee's name has been or will be sent to you individually so you can keep it a secret until the HGE Gift Opening Extravaganza, 2011, date and time TBD.

The HGE Theme for 2011 is......... We wish you a MERRY MONOGRAM!

The gift item you purchase for your Giftee must start with one of the Giftee's initials (first, middle, or last name), OR it must be purchased from a place that begins with one of those letters. For example, if you are lucky enough to have MY name, my gift must begin with J, M, or P. OR it must be purchased from a store, online site, etc., that begins with J, M, or P.

Special recognition will be given to any Gifter who uses both criteria for the gift purchased for his or her Giftee. Extra special recognition to anyone who uses both criteria AND writes a poem or jingle to accompany it at the HGE Gift Opening Extravaganza, 2011.

Any Giftee who wishes to do so may send the HGE Gift Coordinator (me) a short list of hints via email for gifts you might like your Gifter to consider, and I will pass the list along to him or her. I will also serve as intermediary for questions or comments between Gifters and Giftees, as has been the custom for HGE Gift Coordinators in the past.

This blog may be used for comments and questions of a general nature that may be of interest to one or more Gifters and/or Giftees.

Price range for the 2011 HGE: $25 to $30, not to exceed $30 under any circumstances!  Happy shopping one and all!

FINE PRINT:  Gift cards, gift certificates, gift I.O.U.'s or other promissory notes do not qualify as gifts.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to family, friends, and winged creatures in the neighborhood.  

Here's Larry/Dad/Paco/Gpappy filling bird feeders in the backyard and on the patio with turkey and mashed potato flavored birdseed as a Thanksgiving treat for birds who couldn't make it home for Thanksgiving...

Another cousin is 4!

Happy Birthday, Miles!

This little guy is in the midst of a string of birthday celebrations with family and friends in Minnesota and Wisconsin.  He started off with a party at home in Otown on Sunday, sharing the Happy Birthday song and a yummy root beer birthday cake with Auntie Angie. I only got a couple of pictures with my phone, so you'll have to check Annie's blog for more, and for pictures of the Green Bay fiesta. Get your computer fixed, Annie and Tanner!!

Here are my party pictures. Miles, Ethan, and Owen had a private table. Westy sat with the adults, but kept his eyes on the bigger boys.

 Miles, lots of hugs, kisses, and Happy Birthday wishes to you!

 

Happy Birthday to Angie!

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday dear Angie,

Happy Birthday to YOU!

How old are you now? 

How old are you now?

How old are you Angie?

How old are you now?

November weekend

I'm not in a particularly chatty mood at the moment, but Dad/Paco/Larry/Gpappy said it was about time for another blog entry, so I'll give it a try.

The past couple of days the sky has been overcast and gray with a few stray moments of sunshine. Most of the trees are completely leafless, and the few leaves that remain are brown and wrinkly. If it were a few degrees cooler, it would be as November as it can get. I'll avoid sharing a photographic depiction of the gloom. You can take my word for it.

Fortunately, even on the gloomiest of days, spending time with certain little kiddos, either in person or on Skype, makes everything brighter. Today we skyped with Hannah, who enthusiastically referred to herself as Professor Bug, and with Vivian, who ate lunch contentedly, entertained by her sister's dramatic telling of her recent party adventures. This picture, sent several days ago by Elisabeth, portrays a similar situation, although in this case Vivian appears somewhat shocked by Hannah's vivaciousness.

On Saturday, Otown was our destination. We spent the day with Miles and Westy while their mommy and daddy shopped in Rochester.

Here's rosy-cheeked Miles, awake from a cozy nap, sporting a sort of Troy Donahue look for those of you who get that reference.

When we went outside to play, Westy's elf cap protected his 
soft curls from the blustery weather.

Miles showed us fast riding techniques on some of his vehicles.

After supper and baths, Westy plotted a sneak attack on Miles.

The weekend actually began on Friday for us because Ethan and Owen played with us at our house all day while Miss Gayle had a day off from daycare. We got some work out of the boys as you can see here.

They had stories to tell that were pretty darned funny.

And there was playtime in the front yard with the football 
and a rubber ball to kick around.

Well, that was our weekend in reverse. How was yours?