We raked leaved today in the back yard. We had already got the front yard raked out into the street so they would pick them up -- which they did last week.
We have a mulcher shredder that we use to shred up the leaves in the back yard. Turned a giant pile of leaves into about 2 cubic yards of shreds in the compost pile. Should make for good garden additives in the spring.
The playhouse also serves as a nice shed for winter storage. We put a lot of things in there. Also took down the deck cover so the light comes in the dining room windows.
We might be ready for snow now.... since they are talking about it next week.
Sunday, December 03, 2006
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
Monday, April 24, 2006
The new Living Room
It's finished! Mark did a great job. The carpet and new colors on the walls make the room much more livable. Erin is going to love it when she starts crawling.
Saturday, March 25, 2006
Boo Hoo
Legoland.de doesn't open until April 8. So much for our plans on Monday. Luckily we did not advertise L-E-G-O-L-A-N-D to Emma prior to discovering this. Daddy is sad.
The Mid-Way Point
Today we're doing fun stuff like laundry, bath time and naps at Jonathan's house. He's away at a volleyball tournament while we stay home and relax.
Yesterday we drove to Köln (Cologne) for the day to visit the Kölner Dom (Cologne Cathedral). It was very big, chilly, and had lots to see. We went to the Antiquities Museum and saw some Roman walls, relics and other golden things. Daddy liked the newer organ that was suspended up on the air halfway down the main length of the building. He didn't know how he would have been able to play it since it looked like it might be easy to fall. He asked - how do you tune it?
We also went across the street to the main train station in Cologne and saw lots of busy trains coming and going under the giant curved glass cieling. Emma wanted to get on a train and go some where. We were tempted, but kept her.
We had parked at the Hilton hotel parking garage which was a great idea. They had nice bathrooms and nice comfy chairs to sit and feed Erin. We took advantage of the hotel even with the higher garage rate.
We had a real pub lunch of bratwurst and potato salad.
On the drive back at one point Erin did her thing and generated a giant poopy while we were in the car. Luckly for us, we ran into a traffic jam. We came to a dead stop and waited giving us a chance to change the poopy. Just as we got her back in the seat, things started to move again. Good timing.
Erin didn't want to go back to sleep - she wanted to eat - but the traffic was still slow so Jonathan got to hear what Erin can really sound like when she's mad at us. Eventually she gave up and went back to sleep. (We know Erin can survive on more than 2 hours between feedings.)
That evening we met a friend of Jonathans and went out for ice cream. Emma had gelato to make sure we didn't break out ice cream rule. Daddy ate her wipped cream because she didn't like it.
On Thursday (the day before) we went into Heidelberg for the day. Jonathan dropped us off and had to go to work. We ate American breakfast at a diner inside an old railroad car. We road the tram from the train station into the center of town. Emma road in the squeaking stroller and Erin was wrapped up in the carrier harness. We strolled through the streets, bought some chocolate and other toys. We got to the castle, but the incline railway was "under renovations" so we had to walk up. Emma was a trooper and we all walked up the long long long ramp. We toured the castle, and then walked back down a side alley. We found another bus back to the center of town and had a nice lunch. Finally we took a tram back out of town to meet Jonathan.
We tend to spend a lot of time eating breakfast, coffee, danish, lunch - any excuse to take a load off our feet, change diapers and/or feed Erin.
Yesterday we drove to Köln (Cologne) for the day to visit the Kölner Dom (Cologne Cathedral). It was very big, chilly, and had lots to see. We went to the Antiquities Museum and saw some Roman walls, relics and other golden things. Daddy liked the newer organ that was suspended up on the air halfway down the main length of the building. He didn't know how he would have been able to play it since it looked like it might be easy to fall. He asked - how do you tune it?
We also went across the street to the main train station in Cologne and saw lots of busy trains coming and going under the giant curved glass cieling. Emma wanted to get on a train and go some where. We were tempted, but kept her.
We had parked at the Hilton hotel parking garage which was a great idea. They had nice bathrooms and nice comfy chairs to sit and feed Erin. We took advantage of the hotel even with the higher garage rate.
We had a real pub lunch of bratwurst and potato salad.
On the drive back at one point Erin did her thing and generated a giant poopy while we were in the car. Luckly for us, we ran into a traffic jam. We came to a dead stop and waited giving us a chance to change the poopy. Just as we got her back in the seat, things started to move again. Good timing.
Erin didn't want to go back to sleep - she wanted to eat - but the traffic was still slow so Jonathan got to hear what Erin can really sound like when she's mad at us. Eventually she gave up and went back to sleep. (We know Erin can survive on more than 2 hours between feedings.)
That evening we met a friend of Jonathans and went out for ice cream. Emma had gelato to make sure we didn't break out ice cream rule. Daddy ate her wipped cream because she didn't like it.
On Thursday (the day before) we went into Heidelberg for the day. Jonathan dropped us off and had to go to work. We ate American breakfast at a diner inside an old railroad car. We road the tram from the train station into the center of town. Emma road in the squeaking stroller and Erin was wrapped up in the carrier harness. We strolled through the streets, bought some chocolate and other toys. We got to the castle, but the incline railway was "under renovations" so we had to walk up. Emma was a trooper and we all walked up the long long long ramp. We toured the castle, and then walked back down a side alley. We found another bus back to the center of town and had a nice lunch. Finally we took a tram back out of town to meet Jonathan.
We tend to spend a lot of time eating breakfast, coffee, danish, lunch - any excuse to take a load off our feet, change diapers and/or feed Erin.
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Germany Trip
We're here in Hiedelberg with Uncle Jonathan. Emma's sitting here playing snowboard 1080 on Jonathan's Game Cube with the wireless gamepad. Jen's learning about the two buttons on the toilet. Erin's charming Uncle Jonathan. Mark's ready to go back to sleep.
The play ride was nice. Emma was a schemer. They were coming around the drinks. Mark talked to Emma about what she would ask for. They agreed she would ask for Orange Juice. We practiced speaking nice and loud. She came to our seats and asked Emma what she wanted and Emma announced soda.
Erin spent a majority of the plain ride flirting with the guy in the seat next to her, dreadlocks and all.
Jonathan picked us up at the airport with no problems and we drove really fast back to his house.
Erin slept. The rest of us did not. We just woke up at noon here in Jonathan's house.
We're all looking at our guidebook this morning but getting hungry.
The play ride was nice. Emma was a schemer. They were coming around the drinks. Mark talked to Emma about what she would ask for. They agreed she would ask for Orange Juice. We practiced speaking nice and loud. She came to our seats and asked Emma what she wanted and Emma announced soda.
Erin spent a majority of the plain ride flirting with the guy in the seat next to her, dreadlocks and all.
Jonathan picked us up at the airport with no problems and we drove really fast back to his house.
Erin slept. The rest of us did not. We just woke up at noon here in Jonathan's house.
We're all looking at our guidebook this morning but getting hungry.
Sunday, December 11, 2005
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
Saturday, November 26, 2005
We had Thanksgiving at Uncle Tod's house this year. Holly, Tod and Morgan have been hosting Gampa Earl, Aunt Lucinda, Uncle Davinder, Austen, Beerinder, Janet, Heather & Zack along with us. It's been a house full w/ 4 little girls, 2 of them still babies. The babies have actually been good, with periods of no crying to be heard.
Uncle Tod and Aunt Holly cooked thanksgiving dinner. There was turkey (brimed - yum), a chestnut stuffing, creamed spinach, mashed potatoes, mashed sweet potatoes with toasted paprika, peas, cranberry gelatin, and a hole lot of succotash. Emma got her own place at the table with her own name card. She got to sit between Daddy and Aunt Heather.
Emma likes the peas and the turkey. Daddy made pumpkin cheesecake and lemon cheesecake. Emma likes the lemon and Mommy likes the pumpkin.
Emma found it hard to be the "big girl" in the house especially since the younger girls were not ready to play with her on her terms. Emma was really nice to her baby sister and younger cousins. Morgan had her family birthday party and got some cool presents. She did a good job opening them even when Emma had to help a little.
Erin was a good baby and enjoyed being held by all her relatives.
Daddy had a pretty bad cold and talked in a strange voice most of the time.
Daddy, Mommy, Emma and Erin got to sleep in Morgan's room (which Emma referred to as "My Room"). Emma got to sleep in the modified crib with one side removed. She slept all night without falling out. Erin got to sleep in a Moses bed and Mommy and Daddy had the air mattress. This was nice accommodations considering the number of people in the house. Uncle Tod had even setup a tent inside in the library.
We got the first set of pictures of all 4 cousins together.
Uncle Tod and Aunt Holly cooked thanksgiving dinner. There was turkey (brimed - yum), a chestnut stuffing, creamed spinach, mashed potatoes, mashed sweet potatoes with toasted paprika, peas, cranberry gelatin, and a hole lot of succotash. Emma got her own place at the table with her own name card. She got to sit between Daddy and Aunt Heather.
Emma likes the peas and the turkey. Daddy made pumpkin cheesecake and lemon cheesecake. Emma likes the lemon and Mommy likes the pumpkin.
Emma found it hard to be the "big girl" in the house especially since the younger girls were not ready to play with her on her terms. Emma was really nice to her baby sister and younger cousins. Morgan had her family birthday party and got some cool presents. She did a good job opening them even when Emma had to help a little.
Erin was a good baby and enjoyed being held by all her relatives.
Daddy had a pretty bad cold and talked in a strange voice most of the time.
Daddy, Mommy, Emma and Erin got to sleep in Morgan's room (which Emma referred to as "My Room"). Emma got to sleep in the modified crib with one side removed. She slept all night without falling out. Erin got to sleep in a Moses bed and Mommy and Daddy had the air mattress. This was nice accommodations considering the number of people in the house. Uncle Tod had even setup a tent inside in the library.
We got the first set of pictures of all 4 cousins together.
Monday, September 12, 2005
Monday, July 11, 2005
Sunday, July 10, 2005
Today we had a fun morning at the Vermont Teddy Bear Company. It was really a nice place. Emma got a new doggy named Emily. She put a heart and a wish inside and then they stuffed it and sewed it up. The tour was also fun.
We then travelled down US 7 to Middlebury, then over VT 125 to Hancock. We had lunch at the Old Hancock Hotel.
After lunch we went down VT 100 to Rochester to visit the Gillespie's who we knew from St. Philip's in Tucson. They have a house in VT and visit Tucson during the winter. The house and land were wonderful. He built and designed the house himself.
We then when back VT 73, and then south on US 7 to MA. We stayed the evening at the House on Main Street in Williams, MA.
It was quite. Probably the most expensive and least impressive of the B&B's we stayed at.
We went to Chopsticks for dinner. Mark has sushi and Emma and Jen had fried rice.
We then travelled down US 7 to Middlebury, then over VT 125 to Hancock. We had lunch at the Old Hancock Hotel.
After lunch we went down VT 100 to Rochester to visit the Gillespie's who we knew from St. Philip's in Tucson. They have a house in VT and visit Tucson during the winter. The house and land were wonderful. He built and designed the house himself.
We then when back VT 73, and then south on US 7 to MA. We stayed the evening at the House on Main Street in Williams, MA.
It was quite. Probably the most expensive and least impressive of the B&B's we stayed at.
We went to Chopsticks for dinner. Mark has sushi and Emma and Jen had fried rice.
Saturday, July 09, 2005
This morning we tried to get all of our wet gear into the car and headed back to Burlington.
We got on board a train trip from Burlington to Shelburne on the Green Mountain Railway. It was sorta a let down since there was not much to see, but it was a train ride.
We had lunch at Shanty on the Shore which had some nice seafood. Mark and Emma ate fish and chips. Jen has calamari.
We arrived early to our B&B, The Elliot House. Anne and George were really nice to us and gave us a place to dry out. We also used their drier.
We went over to Shelburne Farms and Emma got to chase chickens around the yard.
We had a really nice dinner at Pauline's Cafe. This was the best meal of the trip. Emma had cheesy noodles. It was a $20.00 meal well worth the $20.00.
We had a nice evening at the Elliot House. Mark played some Bach on the piano.
We got on board a train trip from Burlington to Shelburne on the Green Mountain Railway. It was sorta a let down since there was not much to see, but it was a train ride.
We had lunch at Shanty on the Shore which had some nice seafood. Mark and Emma ate fish and chips. Jen has calamari.
We arrived early to our B&B, The Elliot House. Anne and George were really nice to us and gave us a place to dry out. We also used their drier.
We went over to Shelburne Farms and Emma got to chase chickens around the yard.
We had a really nice dinner at Pauline's Cafe. This was the best meal of the trip. Emma had cheesy noodles. It was a $20.00 meal well worth the $20.00.
We had a nice evening at the Elliot House. Mark played some Bach on the piano.
Friday, July 08, 2005
This morning we got going and drove to Burlington along US 2. We had a decent lunch at a Thai place on the main shopping street.
We also walked about and found some toys and books.
We found a really nice grocery store called the City Market. We picked up some dinner and supplies and headed north.
We drove up US 2 to Grand Isle and North Hero State Park. We checked in. When we got out to setup the tent, swarms of mosquitoes attacked us but we got out the bug spray. We got everything setup and had a nice time in the tent for the evening.
Overnight it rained, but we didn't get too wet. The tent leaked a little around the zippers. Emma had a blast sleeping in the tent. Jen slept on about 7 layers of various folded blankets.
We also walked about and found some toys and books.
We found a really nice grocery store called the City Market. We picked up some dinner and supplies and headed north.
We drove up US 2 to Grand Isle and North Hero State Park. We checked in. When we got out to setup the tent, swarms of mosquitoes attacked us but we got out the bug spray. We got everything setup and had a nice time in the tent for the evening.
Overnight it rained, but we didn't get too wet. The tent leaked a little around the zippers. Emma had a blast sleeping in the tent. Jen slept on about 7 layers of various folded blankets.
Thursday, July 07, 2005
Today we went to Ben and Jerry's factory tour. Emma had fun on the playground.
At the end Jen and Mark had ice cream, but Emma was too busy playing with another boy her age that she refused to eat any.
We had a relaxing evening at the hotel and ate at a really nice Mexican and Indian restuarant called Marsala Salsa in Waterbury. We through the Mexican food was just about the best we had eaten since Tucson.
We finished off the evening in the park.
More here.
At the end Jen and Mark had ice cream, but Emma was too busy playing with another boy her age that she refused to eat any.
We had a relaxing evening at the hotel and ate at a really nice Mexican and Indian restuarant called Marsala Salsa in Waterbury. We through the Mexican food was just about the best we had eaten since Tucson.
We finished off the evening in the park.
More here.
Wednesday, July 06, 2005
Today we stopped at the Vermont Toy and Train Museum in Quechee for a train ride.
We drove down US 4 and then drove up VT 12 all the way up through Randolph to Montpelier. We headed north east up US 2 to VT 215 to Cabot, VT to visit the Cabot Creamery Factory tour. We saw how they made cheddar cheese. Too bad it needed to be chilled or we would have bought some. Emma got a moose pop made of maple syrup.
We then drove back down US 2 all the way west to Waterbury.
Today we're staying in Waterbury at the Old Stagecoach Inn on main street.
We had a decent dinner Arvads
and went for a walk to the park.
More here.
We drove down US 4 and then drove up VT 12 all the way up through Randolph to Montpelier. We headed north east up US 2 to VT 215 to Cabot, VT to visit the Cabot Creamery Factory tour. We saw how they made cheddar cheese. Too bad it needed to be chilled or we would have bought some. Emma got a moose pop made of maple syrup.
We then drove back down US 2 all the way west to Waterbury.
Today we're staying in Waterbury at the Old Stagecoach Inn on main street.
We had a decent dinner Arvads
and went for a walk to the park.
More here.
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