Library news

For the last few months I've been involved on the planning committee to celebrate the ten-year anniversary of the St. Peter Public Library. Fourteen years ago, the previous library building was destroyed by the tornado that hit St. Peter. After much discussion on the part of the city and with the generosity of the Schmidt Foundation, the current library building was constructed alongside a new community center building, and was opened in 2002.

Fast forward to yesterday. The day was filled with local authors talking about their craft and reading from their books, musicians, a luncheon, delicious cake, popcorn and lemonade, and special story times for kiddos. Four of the cousins came to the evening activities to have fun and be entertained.

Our friend Margie Nelsen read a story about how her family 

got their dog Snuggie.

Grandpappy/Dad/Lar wanted to see the pictures, 

so he found a good place to listen and watch.

Westy got up to stretch his legs and to see what else was going on.

The most exciting part of the evening was seeing the talents of several 

therapy dogs, including this cute border collie.

Miles listened carefully when one of the trainers explained how to be safe 

when approaching and petting dogs.

Owen and Ethan were a bit doubtful for a while, but later each one 

 of them petted a therapy dog and thought it was "really soft."

The final event of the evening was music by two guitar-playing members of the Lost Walleye Orchestra. Owen, Miles, Grandpa Dave, and Westy had good seats.

Miles and Owen seem to have glowing yellow hair...must've been the music!

Hey--do Annie and Westy have purple hair here? 

Now I'm wondering about the radiation level at the library!

It was a fun evening. Glad you all could help celebrate ten years in the library!

Wrestlemania

Thanks for visiting us today, Miles and Westy!

Umbrellas

We've had a lot of rain lately...

Birthday weekend

The last weekend in April could only have been better if E, E, H, and V had been in St. Peter for the fun birthday celebration for Ethan and Owen. Okay, a little less coughing by Paco/Dad/Larry and me, would have helped, too, but that's beside the point.

On Friday, the Owatonnans (Owatonnites?) came in time for supper. Miles had a sleepover with Grandpappy and me (of course Rosie stayed, too) while the rest of his family camped out at Grandma Doreen/Grandpa Dave's house. Miles brought a matching game to play, which he is an expert at, so he was the victor whenever we played.

 

On Saturday morning after breakfast, Annie, Westy, Miles, and I went to the public library to see the cool fish tank and to look around a bit. When we got back home, Miles swept up the "oatmeal" seeds that are all over everything in our yard, on the driveway and sidewalks, and in the garage. He and Rosie rested up in kiddie lawn chairs when Miles was finished working. For an old and well-loved dog, Rosie is very photogenic, don't you think?

Next came lunch, naps, and party prep. Ethan and Owen's celebration of their advancement into the Tremendous Threes began promptly at 3:33 this afternoon. Look who was waiting in the doorway to greet us!

At the very moment we arrived at the party palace, Hannah and Vivi sent this picture to show their celebration solidarity. Very chic, chicas!

Within a few minutes of Grandpa Dean's arrival, he was swarmed by little boys wanting to get in on the latest iPad action. It was toss up as to whether technology or Dean's skill in talking like Donald Duck had the most lure, but he clearly had the charm!

The kids had lots of fun playing, whether downstairs in the "basketball room" or upstairs engaged in Ring-Around-the Rosie. Notice Westy. He was never more than six inches away from the bigger boys.

The birthday boys sat at their special table with their cousins. Personal pizzas, fresh fruit, and crunchy vegetables made the perfect birthday supper.

What's a birthday without cupcakes these days? Owen and Ethan helped their mommy bake and decorate the cupcakes, and they added candles with Daddy's help.

Two three-year-olds, smiling while everyone sings "Happy Birthday."

Same three-year-olds, posing for pictures while cameras click away.

Sweet Ethan (the older brother), and ...

... sweet Owen, the younger brother.

Blowing out candles.

Next, of course, came present opening. Miles took this picture. Thanks, Miles! Westy sure loves to be right in the middle of the action. What happened to his shirt??

New bike helmets!

 After all the presents were opened, Uncle Tanner and 

Ethan enjoyed some Magna-Doodling together.

Westy tested out Owen's Magna-Doodle.

And then came a rousing game of Candy Land.

I don't have a picture of the boys waving good-bye at the door when we all left for home this evening, which is probably a good thing because E and O were nudie and ready to jump in the bathtub. So, I'll close with a photo from May 16, 2009, when they were tiny munchkins. Happy Birthday #3, little boys. We love you.

 

 

Not feeling so well

Some days are worse than others. After more than a week of a cold that won't go away (coughing, fever that finally broke, aches and pains), Dad/Larry/Paco was starting to make progress with the help of an antibiotic and the usual over-the-counter cold remedies.  Today he's having a setback, complete with increased coughing and no energy. 

A few minutes ago, he hauled a dining room chair into the hallway near the front door (Or, as Ethan and Owen refer to it, the front-back door). He plopped down on the chair and announced, "This will make it easier for the EMT's to find me when you have to call the ambulance." 

Maybe I'll just drop him off at the hospital right now. I'm in the midst of getting snacks and dessert ready for my book group, which meets here in a couple of hours. Dad/Larry/Paco can sit in the hospital lobby until he decides it's time to get help. It will save the cost of an ambulance ride.

(Should anyone think I'm being uncaring, Dad/Paco/Larry asked me to take his picture.)

Hoppy Easter

Every spring our yard is over run by rascally rabbits. For the last three years, a bunny family has even taken up residence in the space under our sun room. And if that weren't enough, today several more hoppity friends stopped by to say hello.

Here's Miles Bunny...

and Westy Bunny.

Meet Ethan Bunny ...

and his brother, Owen Bunny!

Let's not forget Auntie Aunchie Bunny, or...

.

Uncle Funny Bunny. Er, I mean Uncle Charlie Bunny, 

who happens to be putting on a shark puppet show.

Here are the boy bunny cousins, posing together to say,

"HI, HANNAH AND VIVIAN!"

After the rabbits ate dinner together, they went out to hunt for Easter eggs.

 It was chilly and blustery, so the littler bunnies had to move fast 

to keep from blowing away. They hunted high...

... and they hunted low.

 

They collected the eggs they found and took them to Uncle Tanner, the Egg Man.

Auntie Annie did the close-up photography for the egg hunt.

Twenty-eight plastic eggs filled with tattoos and candy 

kept the young bunnies occupied. And quiet.

The littlest bunny enjoyed his treats, too.

Uncle Tanner, who claims to be a "self-taught street performer" 

amazed and delighted us with his egg juggling routine.

 After most of the candy had disappeared, the boys took part in the weekly Sunday clock-winding ceremony. Grandpappy always appreciates their help, since he usually has to do it all by himself. In their jerseys, the boys look like the starting line-up for the junior clock-winding team.

Thank you to everyone who helped with dinner preparations and clean-up. I appreciate it very much. Happy Easter to all the little cousin bunnies 

in Minnesota and in North Carolina!

I'm forever blowing bubbles...

There's a song by that name from nearly 100 years ago... not sure why I know it or why it's going through my head right now. Maybe it's the fun Angie, Ethan, Owen, and Gpappy had blowing bubbles yesterday. E and O were very excited to receive giant bottles of bubble solution from their friend Isaiah, and to try them out in our driveway (with varying degrees of success).