Table Talk

Ok, so who is the funnier guy, my dad or my son?

Makin' Cute Stuff for Kiddos!

Ashlee just sent this to me, and I'm hoping to get busy sewing, and I bet some of you all would like to, too! In the past she's also mentioned a need for pillowcases (standard size) sewn from kid-print fabrics.
Also, I'll be seeing Ashlee at Thanksgiving and Christmas, so I can deliver them right to her if you don't know her.

From Ashlee:
"My little hospital depends on the work of volunteers to make our kids blankets, laundry & wheelchair bags and we have been in serious short supply of them (laundry bags, specifically) the past few months. Today, when I heard my patients were losing clothes because of this lack of organization, it motivated me to do something. I, unfortunately, don't have a sewing machine, so I'm calling in support - you! The bags are super basic and can be made out of whatever sort of material (they're hardly ever "kid themed" so if you have an old flat sheet covered in roses that you don't use, it will be perfect for this job). They tend to be about the size of a king sized pillow case and some have a very basic draw string at the top (this is helpful, but not necessary). If you are interested in helping out, let me know! I can take them directly to the hospital or you can contact the volunteer office if you'd rather do it that way: Paula Cronquist (Volunteer Services manager)651-229-3937 pcronquist@gillettechildrens.com If you know of anyone else who might be interested in helping, please feel free to pass this along. Please don't feel obligated, I just thought it might be a fun thing that would help out some really cute kids I know :-)"

Last Week in Photos

Henrik fits in the 5-gallon pot! Last year he fit in a pumpkin...

The view of Snow Falls Pocket Wilderness from Buzzard's Point. Ben and I hiked this as a date!

Sunday afternoon playing in the leaves. I took a LOT of photos and couldn't get him to look at the camera.

Ben painting the house. It might be a while before the final unveiling...

Happy First Birthday, Henrik!

Your birth-day seems a world away, and yet each day from that one to this is so dear. Watching you grow this year and loving you more and more all along the way has been fascinating and joyous. We love you, Henrik! Happy first birthday.

September 22

October


November 14


December


January 1


January 16

March 10

April 24

June 1

July

September 17

September 19

Its been a great year, Baby!

Welcome, Phoebe and Welcome, Jordan

Presenting the newest babies in the family:

Phoebe Bella, born September 5



Jordan Xavier, born September 14


Dear little ones and your sweet mommies,
We love you all so much (the rest of your family, too!) and are so grateful for the joy that you are in this world. And now, may you all sleep well.

Yay, Garden!

Having a productive vegetable garden is really important to me. Despite a good amount of effort on the part of myself, Ben and even Jim and Becky (who dug out a new bed in the spring), I have felt pretty disappointed by the results. The ENTIRE spring crop failed, and my carefully cultivated summer crop has only yielded herbs and half a handful of green beans. Until this morning. I have just harvested a good handful and a half of green beans and even a zucchini, which, I might add, grew in spite of the fact that I have no male plant growing. Perhaps a really helpful bee visited the neighbor's garden first. And there is hope for more fresh produce! The herbs are really taking off, the tomato plants are bowing over with huge fruit, the bell peppers are blimping, and the huckleberries are ripening. Yay!
Also, Ben comes home tonight. And so far, no call about a missed or delayed flight. Yay!

Click, Click, Smack, Smack

Henrik is getting the hang of some responsive games. He (sometimes) waves when someone waves at him, shakes his head back and forth in response to Ben doing the same thing (will this cause some confusion with Noooo?) and likes to throw toys down over and over with someone else fetching and returning the object to him. Yesterday at lunch we discovered the clicking game. Which sometimes becomes the lip-smacking game. Guess he doesn't differentiate those two sounds yet. Here it is.

At Breakfast.

A: I think the main ingredient in Swedish Pancakes ends up being butter. I basically fry them in butter, then butter them again when I eat.

B: That's what makes them good. You're like Paula Deen from the North. A Swedish Paula Deen. Whoo tee whoo tee who. Ya, and a stick of butter. Whoo tee who tee who.

Shoes? Check.

Heard this spot on Marketplace Money's Day in the Work Life this morning. The featured worker, Kathryn Kerrigan, is a tall woman with big feet. After wasting far too much time finding less-than-cute shoes for herself, she began her own line of lovelies, sold in sizes 6-16.

I recall days upon days (and my mom will attest to a few tears, too) spent trying to find any pair of jeans that would at the very least touch the top of my feet, let alone express something of my own style. I think that most of us, men and women alike, can relate to this dilemma in some way, because, after all, few of us are a truly average build.

Cheers to you, Ms. Kerrigan, and your entrepreneuring spirit.

Readers, have you found favorite outfitters that make real clothes for real people? Because I still struggle to find good jeans. Ditto for Ben and dress shirts.

Holiday Photos, Part II

We never did finish posting pictures from the second half of our holiday in the Northwest. Here they are.With Jim, our host at the Rain Forest Hostel near Forks, Washington.


On one of our many ferry rides.

In Seattle we spent lunch and an afternoon with my cousin Kristy. Here we are near Pike's Place Market.

At the first Starbuck's. Should have gotten a better picture on such an occasion.


In Vancouver, we stayed with Anneli (Bryan friend) and her husband Cody. They made us a delicious Thai meal.


Henrik is setting out from Cody and Anneli's front door to explore the neighborhood. We like to call him Little Bear.