How old is this kid?

Not too thrilled with how old she looks in these pics.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to All!

Max, Lily, and Rudolph visit Santa

2014 Christmas Card

This picture was too cute to not post

Christmas Cookies

This year's cookies were pretty unrecognizable as any sort of predetermined shape.

We had fun making them though.

They look even worse in person.

Just like Daddy

I received this picture in a text while at work today.

She told Bobbie Jo she was "painting like daddy".

"The Homonym Game"

I never thought I would have as much fun as I did playing "The Homonym Game" with Gagi and Max.
We'd give him clues, and he'd figure out the set of words and tell us context for both. In most cases he was able to spell the words himself.

We are so proud!

Halloween 2014

Waiting to fall asleep...

4 years of Kids Workshop

Uncle Matt

It's been a long time since Matt came to town. I think this is his first time meeting Lily. His trip was too short, but we got to spend some great time with him, though I only took this one picture-

Hopefully we won't have to wait as long to see him again.

It was good seeing you brother!

7:34 am

It's a pain when they get up this early, but I think this picture says more than my words could.

A few pics

Damn Woodpecker

Those  who have heard me complain about all of the things that seem to be going wrong with the new house will not be surprised to see what was making the loud knocking sound in our living room.

I give up!

A Pile of Critters

The neighborhood block party

Yeah, we got to meet a bunch of our new neighbors, but the firetruck was really the highlight of the event!

Daddy/Daughter Date Night

Bobbie Jo and Max went to the fair, so Lily and I hit Steak and Shake.

More trouble

Just what we needed, a third troublemaker in the house.

Lando

We (mostly I) weren't able to make it very long without a cat in the house. Today Max and I took a drive out to Allendale to pick up our newest addition, "Lando" (or 'wowow, as Lily calls him).

He's already clawed and bitten his way into our hearts.

Things seem a little empty tonight

Neo was our favorite cat, and outlived both Emma and Rizzo. I have owned a cat for the last 15 or 16 years. Bobbie Jo and I have never been together without a cat in our lives. Today we had to make the difficult decision to put Neo to sleep.

Neo was the most friendly of our cats. He would always hop up on our laps, couch, or bed when called. He was full of energy, even to the very end. Not many cats will let you cuddle with them-Neo did. If I was napping on the couch, he would lay beside me and let me hold him.

He will be greatly missed, but I have a feeling that I'm not going to be able to go for long without a cat here.

Monkey Bars:1, Max:0

I was in a meeting on Wednesday when a call came in from a number I didn't recognize; I sent it to voicemail. A few minutes later I thought about the babysitter who was watching Max and Lily, she was planning on taking them to the library and perhaps the park. I glanced at the phone's transcription of the message that was left.

While the majority of the transcription was crap, I did see "park", "monkey bars", and "broke".

Three hours later (after a few good laughs at Max on painkillers), we had a fracture, a splint, and a followup appointment in a week. They are pretty sure that it won't need surgery but are expecting him to be in a cast for 4-6 weeks. He was a trooper at the hospital, very brave, but I don't think the gravity of the situation has settled in yet.

I have to go, Max is making me snap together his Lego. He tells me where they go, and I put them together. Its going to be a long 6 weeks.

Lily's first Kid's Workshop

This morning we built lawn tractors. Max (being a experienced pro) was a lot of help.

The new place

It looked especially nice today and I wanted to get a picture while the tree is still in bloom.

Saying Goodbye

8 years ago Bobbie Jo and I had only been married for 2 years. We didn't have any kids and neither did most of our friends. I think we were both still taking classes. It seems like a lifetime ago.

In late March the four of us moved from our 'starter home', to the house we hope to be in for a very long time. Due to some of the problems with the real estate market, we made the decision to rent our old house to some of Bobbie Jo's coworkers. With 75 days between moving out and the tenants moving in, we left more stuff in the old place than we should have.

Over the last few weeks Bobbie Jo and I have been clearing it out. Even though I was thrilled to move into the new house, it is just that- a house. Our new 2400 sq ft house is not yet a home. Not fully broken in and few, if any, memories at all.

Seeing the empty old place is pretty emotional. So many memories.

I was (am) so proud of the room that we made for Max. He was 5 pounds when we brought him home to it. It used to have his crib and mobile. He took naps in there. We read books that he has long since outgrown. When we packed it up it contained a bunk bed, a million legos, and books that he can read on his own! 

Yeah, Lily's room was never as great as Max's. It didn't mean I love her less, its more that Max was keeping us plenty busy in the months before she was born (and she was the child who took my 'office' from me).

Disassembling her crib, the crib that they both used, was weird. We will never again use it as a crib. Now she has big girl furniture. I don't think she's big enough for it. I'd like to see her stay in a crib.

We didn't use the living room much (prior to it becoming a bit of a playroom). Our christmas trees were always in the same corner. Bobbie Jo and I would always argue when putting them up. The simple ones of just the two of us, to the havok (and wonderment) of our christmases with the kids. Our cats (Emma, Rizzo, and Neo) loved laying on the carpet in the sun here. Only Neo is still with us.

The stuff filled a truck. If the memories and good times were packed, they would have needed more than just the one. I know we will create many more memories in the new house. I know that it will soon become our home. I can't wait to see what the future will look like for the four of us. 

The house on Woodlawn will always have a special place in my heart, but Kirkwall will be the home we were all in together from the beginning, as a family.