Bunnies with antlers

No reason for this entry other than to add photos of all the reindeer from Christmastime. When I have my blog printed into a book at the end of 2012, I want to be sure these antler shots are included, which they won't be unless I put them into a regular posting. So here are the most famous reindeer of all... 

Minnesota weather, as usual, is predictably unpredictable. There is more snow on the ground today than there was over Christmas, so these dear little deer might want to rustle up a sleigh to help Ralph (the resident Easter Bunny) deliver eggs and Easter candy next weekend. Hannah and Vivi, bring your winter coats and boots!

Cousins play ball

I have so many sweet pictures from this week that I don't know how to choose which ones to put here. 

A few weeks ago, Ethan and Owen informed me quite emphatically that we didn't have enough puppies and other stuffed animals at our house. I decided to remedy the problem by adopting seven little puppies, a big cat, a giraffe, a kangaroo, a leopard, and an elephant. No reason for this particular combo of pets, other than that E and O requested puppies and then named another dozen types of animals.

Fortunately, Owen and Ethan made the critters feel right at home.

Annie brought Miles and Westy for a visit on Saturday to meet the animal menagerie as well as read, do puzzles, and play with their cousins. Miles put a map puzzle of the U.S. together in a flash, while Gpappy offered (more than enough) advice as to where to put each state.

While the rest of us were putting together the puzzle and reading some books, Annie and Westy took a nap. Here's how they looked when they woke up. Miles was happy to see them.

After naps, Annie, Miles, Westy, and Gpappy met Charlie, Angie, Owen, and Ethan at the gym for a workout. The boys were serious about the game.

 

 Here are the big boys...and Westy:

I'm not sure what this is all about... maybe I don't want to know!

Here's a snuggly shot of Owen, with Gpappy and Auntie Annie.  

And now for one more picture of each kiddo on the court...

Ethan

 Miles

 Owen

Westy

Today we had a long and fun Skype session with Hannah, Vivian, and their parents. While we looked out at a gray and white winter landscape, they had lunch on their porch! Let's hope the snow is gone before they come to MN in a few weeks!

Mid-week diversion

Dad/Larry/Gpappy and I went to the U of MN today to celebrate the Gophers' victory over Indiana last night. Well, not really. Larry/Gpappy/Dad had to have a fasting blood draw at the U of MN hospital this morning, so our celebration for the basketball win was purely coincidental. It was pretty dang quiet on campus compared to what it must have been like last night.

After visiting the Cardiology Department for the blood draw, Gpappy/Dad/Larry and I had a late breakfast at the Uptown Diner, where any cholesterol level progress gained by fasting was surely wiped out. The food is diner-delicious in the best sense of the phrase, but that also means it doesn't involve lettuce.  We each had an omelet, and I swear there was a pound of bacon in mine, and nearly a pound of cilantro. That's a lot of pork and green. I felt obligated to leave a generous portion of  the omelet on my plate for health reasons, which leads me to suggest that if you go there, split an omelet with a friend. You'll both be happy you did. Here's Dad"s mug, and a mug of coffee.

The Uptown Diner is an interesting place for people watching, starting with our delightful waitress. She resembled Penelope on "Criminal Minds", but with a couple of nose piercings and glitter all over her face. Similar personality, too. Here's Penelope (I didn't get a photo of our waitress):

The entire time we were at the diner, I expected our old friend Ron Haxton to come through the door, since the place he used to work -- or may still work -- is only five blocks away.  Now I'm feeling guilty that we didn't take a walk down the street to The Kitchen Window to see if he still works there, where he'd undoubtedly be teaching one of their cooking classes...maybe The Secrets of the Sushi Roll or Green Egg Cooking. Charlie and Angie saw Ron on Channel 9 News a week or so ago describing the perils of maneuvering along icy sidewalks in Uptown. The least I can do is share a picture of him. Here's Ron (for real, from his F***book page):

A trip to Cheapo's and another stop or two, and we were on our way home. For friends and relatives who don't live in Minnesota, it was a lovely weather day today. 39 degrees while we were in the Cities, and occasionally sunny. Spring is almost here!

February marches on

Snow and cold weather continue, with intermittent warmer opportunities (above 32 degrees) to clear off a few more patches of driveway and sidewalk ice. But you know that already. We live in Minnesota, after all.

Here's a sporty picture of Hannah the skier that Elisabeth sent last week. For a warm climate girl, she's got the hang of it!

 

  

And here's a sweet picture of two sleepy girls, also from Elisabeth.

 

E and O took advantage of one of those warmer winter days last weekend to build Snowman Willy. Or Willie. I didn't inquire as to the correct spelling. CP and APP, I hope you don't mind that I am plagiarizing these pictures. They're so dang cute! 

Miles and Westy were here for a short visit yesterday before heading over to Grandpa Dave and Grandma Doreen's to stay overnight. Annie and Tanner went to the Cities to shop for bunk beds. As you can see, Miles grew a dapper little mustache since we saw him last.

Miles and Westy played in the sun room for the first time in a couple of months. It's been too cold to heat it up enough for little boys to sit on the floor out there. Miles set up the western town and Westy objected to having his picture taken.

 

We were able to sneak in a bit of cousin play time yesterday, too. Owen and Ethan came over with their mommy and daddy after spending part of the morning at the Gustavus Interpretive Center learning about owls. Ask either of the boys where owl ears are located. It may surprise you!

After lunch the kiddos broke into song while eating mini-Oreos. I'm including three photos, taken within a few seconds of each other, to show you how energetic 3- and 4-year-olds can be. Ha ha!

No more news, other than that Dad/Larry is seeing better after his cataract surgery. He's got a couple more weeks of putting in various eye drops several times a day, but that's it!
____________
PS  We talked to the NC contingent on Skype a few minutes ago. Here's what they looked like...

As February 14 approaches...

... we MUSTACHE you all to be our Valentines!

Lots of love to six goofy little kiddos 
on Valentine's Day and every day.
 XXXXXX OOOOOO
Gma Jill and Gpappy.

Eye-popping news

Time to report in and put it on record that Larry/Dad/Gpappy left for Mankato at 5:30 this morning, he had cataract surgery starting at 7:20 (after check-in, pre-op, and answering the same questions over and over and over), was in recovery at 7:50, and we were on our way home shortly after 9:00. Nothing to it! Of course within the last week, he had a pre-op physical and a pre-op eye exam, and was prescribed 3 kinds of eye drops that he'll take for several weeks. Twenty or so minutes of surgery was the easiest part.

Here's the patient, with his eye patch.

I had cataract surgery all the way back in June of 2008, which you can read about here if you have nothing else to do today. 

If you're wondering about the title of this post (you probably aren't), this morning Larry made many references to going under the knife and getting his eye popped. He's teased Elisabeth about eyes popping for years and years. She still gets squeamish about it. I wonder why.

While driving up Traverse Road as we were getting home around 9:30, we noticed parents dropping off their kids at North. Because we'd left home so early this morning, we didn't know there was a two-hour late start today due to weather/road conditions. Those teachers, always getting time off! That was for Angie.... and because in my mind I can still hear the deep sigh of satisfaction I used to breathe when "St. Peter schools -- 2 hrs. late" would crawl across the bottom edge of the tv screen on blustery winter days when I was teaching.

Time to check on Larry/Dad/Gpappy and make sure he's comfortable. My guess is that he's dozing, or close to it. Between getting up early, anxiety about surgery, and the sleep-inducing effects of Versed, a nap should feel great. For me, too!

Neither snow, nor sleet...

...nor flooded dorm rooms, nor a delayed delivery from Lowe's could prevent the celebration of Charlie's birthday. It was almost impossible to find a day and time that we could get the St. Peter and Otown relatives together, and even when we did, Tanner had to miss the party because he was reffing. We missed him, and we missed the NC contingent! 

Charlie's birthday wish was to have the boys talk quietly rather than shriek. I won't tell you how that came out.

The boys were right by Charlie's side when he opened his gifts. They were almost as thrilled by the bag of Chex Mix as Charlie was.

Annie mentioned that Miles had been suffering from "bowler's toe", a condition in which his big toe was sore from ill-fitting bowling shoes, not a common condition for a 5-year-old. Miles had gone to a bowling birthday party last weekend, and was still feeling the pain. Charlie offered to show the boys his own toe condition, a missing toenail caused by his running shoes. Excited about what this might look like, the boys got in as close as they could to examine the affected toe.

  
Trying to keep up with the bigger boys can be daunting for a 2-year-old. Westy knew when it was time to take a break, making himself comfortable and settling in to watch the action rather than participate. 

The next birthday--a double-header--won't be coming around for a while, so I'm going to take a tip from Westy and sit back and relax until then.