Going for a Bike Ride

A Visit with the babies

They are here at last. They'll be here for about 10 days. The living room is cluttered with toys and diaper bags. We've had a sleep over already and have two more planned. There is a belated 2nd birthday party on Saturday and the great grandparents are coming. The rest of the relatives live here in town and all will be together for Dora the Explorer cake and ice cream. We cram a lot of fun into a small space of time. But we are so lucky to be able to get together several times a year for a visit. More pics and fun to follow. It's busy here and I have to do things in snatches for now.

Red Wave Marching Band

25 Years and Grandma Nell's Birthday

Wow, 25 years. One Quarter of a century. How does that happen? We've had so many different chapters in our married life. Lived in so many different places and met so many people along the way. We don't really talk in sentences anymore. A word or phrase and the messege is delivered and received. I think that right now we're spending too much time together. Everything is just a little annoying. A little too much. But all in all, its still good.

No big plans to commemorate this momentous marital event. No time for that. Maybe we'll go out to dinner on Sunday. Maybe we'll put on our pajamas at 7:30 and drink wine and watch TV. Don't know. It really doesn't matter. We've never really been big for the parties.

We got married on Grandma Nell's birthday. There was a scheduling glitch with the JP who married us and we had to push it back one day. But it was a good day, all the same.

Grandma would be 97 today. She passed in 2000. That also seems like it was just yesterday. I can still hear her voice. I can still smell the glade air freshener in her house. She's as alive to me today as she was the last time I sat and visited with her.

This is a rare photo of Grandma just relaxed and smiling. She usually would make some silly face at the camera and then gripe that she never took a good picture. I loved to snap shots of her when she wasn't aware I was doing it. I remember one time following her around with a video camera and she'd ask "is that thing on" to which I'd innocently say "NO".

I miss her. Everyday. Happy Birthday Nellie.

Cutie Patooties

Just got new photos of the peanuts and had to share.

Ricky is getting so big and he's facial expressions have changed from just a couple of weeks ago.

Dani is too busy for her own good and bunged up her hand in a fall. But she'll be fine and life goes on. Can't wait to see them in a few weeks.

Snuggly, huggly babies

This is as good as it gets. We had a safe trip there and back and I got to snuggle these two til they wouldn't let me snuggle them any more. There is no store bought gift that can replace this time together. Seeing them, hearing them, squeezing them and even clean up after them. This was a most Merry Post Christmas. Dani is a chunk. She's as solid as a rock and busier than the busiest bee. She loves to sit on your lap at the computer and look at photos of herself. She likes to push her baby doll around in the stroller or carry her by the leg. Note to self: work on those parenting skills. She doesn't always like to take a nap or go to bed and will amuse herself in her room for "hours" before finally falling asleep. She loves to hold her baby brother but will suddenly push him away when she's done. She's feisty and funny and a joy to behold.

Richard is just perfectly perfect. He sleeps and eats and is so relaxed and calm. He looks around with a quizzical expression but rarely cries or fusses. He's gaining and growing and doing everything he's supposed to be doing at the ripe old age of two weeks. I could just hold him for hours and hours.

I miss them already but they are planning to come out the end of Feb., so I'll hold that thought. In the mean time I need to finish Dani's second year book and start on Ricky's first. I think of the several hundred photos I took, I should find a "few" to work with.

Road Report

Normally a caption stating where and when would be in order. Not so on this trip. This was the view most of the way there and back. The only difference would be that sometimes it was pitch dark.

So very glad to be home.

Snugs and Hugs

No pics to post. Just a note to say, I'm snugging and hugging babies.
Be back in a day or two.

Post Holiday Hangover

Day 26

Today was spent in traditional post Christmas stupor. We slept in, laid around, ate left overs, played with our new stuff and did nothing much of anything. I did make my way next door to visit the next door relatives. My aunt and uncle and their kids and grandkids were all in similar mode. At 3:30pm most of them were still in pjs and my aunt offered me lunch....at 3:30pm. We sat around the table and munched on goodies and chatted and caught up and had a generally pleasant time. I came home with treats that we don't need, but whatever. tis the season. Right?

Happy Holidays

Day 25

...from our house to yours.....

We all reach a time in our childrens' lives where we just take what we can get. Today we are at just such a juncture. All four (current residents) in one place at one time and all looking in the same general direction. PRINT.

I think I would have better luck trying to wrangle cock roaches.

Merry Christmas

Twas The Night Before Christmas

Day 24

and all through the house, all the Pak's were settled in to watch A Christmas Story at last. Our Christmas Eve tradition is to watch one viewing of A Christmas Story. You can tune in anytime during the next 24 hours to catch the show. It repeats, repeatedly until tomorrow night. This reminds me of a funny story. Every year we would start watching the movie and something would come up to interrupt us, but we'd just pick up on the next go-round. We usually go out driving to look at lights or we'd stop to eat dinner or someone would come over. But it was never a problem because we'd just watch it later. Well, last year was the first year we enjoyed the luxuray of DVR. We recorded the movie, went about our Christmas eve business and then all sat down to watch it in one sitting. Alex said something like "oh, this is the longest movie ever." I said, no, it's only an hour and a half and he complained that it couldn't possibly be that short. Well, we started it and an hour and a half later it was over and he said "is that it?" I laughed and said, how long did you think it was, to which he replied "I don't know, it usually is playing for two days." We all cracked up to think that he thought the marathon was the real length of the movie. Poor kid.

May each of you find your very own Red Ryder BB Gun under the tree.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a Good Night.

Hello Winter

Day 23

Well, it took long enough, but I think its safe to say that winter has well and truly arrived in Montana. 10" as of 9:00 am this morning. More falling throughout the day. Now on the one hand, this throws me right into the holiday spirit. On the other hand, I'm not sure we'll get to take our little trip to meet the new grandbaby. I'm not thinking of that just yet. We could wake up on the 26th and decide that its ok to go. We could end up staying put. No firm plans as of right this minute.

But all that aside, the snow is really coming down. I've been out and about today and the road crews are working their fannies right off. .....Maybe I should look into that line of work. Lord knows my fanny could use some working off. But I digress. Snow, snow and lots of it.

Love This

Day 22

Got this in the mail. This is what all those sleepless nights, all those car pools, all that homework help, all the concerts and class parties and school plays, all the sleepover and temper tantrums and money for braces and whiteknuckle driving lessons and all that stuff, was about. So I can sit back and enjoy the fruits of my labor (pun intended). This is what it's all about.

The Last Sunday Of Advent

Day 21

This has been our tradition for as long as I can remember. Each Sunday we light another candle on the advent wreath and read that week's passage from the Children's Bible. Each Sunday we get that much closer to Christmas. Tonight is the last Sunday. It seems like I was just digging the wreath and candles out of the bin. I pack it on the top of my Thanksgiving decorations. Not in my Christmas bin. This way, I can find it easily as the first Sunday usually falls right after Thanksgiving, as it did this year. So tonight we light all four candles and we ready the final installment of the story of the birth of Jesus. We may not be a church going family, but we've managed to keep the reason for the season at the forefront of our hearts and minds. Merry Christmas to all and Happy Birthday Baby Jesus.

Your Mission, Should You Choose to Accept It....

Day 20

Post a holiday greeting on your blog or Facebook or wherever you hang out,

and link back here.

Happy Holidays...

ETA: I've been reminded that I've also heard Gay's voice. I thought about redoing this video to include that info and to rectify the gashawful still shot of myself...but it took too long to load and I just don't want to bother. So look away while it loads and we'll all feel better.

Pug In Booties

Day 19

Cold is the only word for it. So cold that you don't want to even think about going outside. For some of us, that's ok. But for those of us who must do our business in the great out-of-doors, no so much. Poor Chloe would hold it forever, if she could. She goes out and then sits down and lifts all her feet off the ground. So, great, the feet are warmer but the butt is frozen. Just not a good situation. We tried to fashion doggie booties out of the fingers cut off a wool glove. They were too tight. We tried a few other ideas. None worked very well. The other day I was wandering the aisles of the Dollar store and saw "2 for $1" baby booties. I bought them and brought them home. A quick alteration of a drawstring around each "ankle" and we were cooking with gas. She doesn't love them, but she tolerates them long enough to do her business and get back inside. Plus its just funny to watch her prance around in them.

A Home For The Holidays

Day 18

This is Franny. Francesca, to be exact. She and her siblings were found living under a van in a back alley. It took a very dedicated lady and several traps to catch them all. I think she was quite small when she was found. She's been living at a no kill shelter for several months and is a staff favorite.

They think that she's about 6 months old. She loves to be held like a baby. She will stay wherever you put her. I stuck her in this blanket on the family room couch and she stayed there until I moved her elsewhere. She's not the curious cat that Colby was when he came to live with us. He wandered all over the house and peeked into every nook and cranny and just moved himself right in. She will take a little more coaxing. She's not skittish or outwardly nervous. But she's most secure when she's being held or when she's bundled up in a blanket or towel. I'm hoping with love and care, she'll come out of her little shell and be a part of our family. I think the kids would like to change her name. It'll be fun to see what they come up with. Welcome home Franny....or whoever you are.

Snail Mail

Day 17
Yesterday was post office day. Our post office is always busy. There is always a line. Usually I can use the self serve kiosk and be in and out quickly. Not so, yesterday. I knew it going in and I blocked off the afternoon for line standing/people watching. The line at the kiosk was as long as the line for the counter help. And most of the kiosk users don't know how to use it, so don't bother.
I wrestled three big boxes out of the car, slid the van door shut and then realized that it didn't close all the way. So, I freed one finger on my right hand to try to undo the latch and have another go. Ho Ho Ho. Thanks go out to the kindly lady who took pity on me and leant a hand.
Once inside, I assumed my place in line and immediately was flung into a one sided conversation with the lady in front of me who had lost both mailbox keys and wasn't quite sure what to do about it. Thanks go out to the kindly man behind me who started a chit chat and made me turn around from lost key lady. She quickly moved on to another victim. Everyone minded their manners and kept cool heads and the wait wasn't "forever" because we all made it home in time. The only dramtic moment was when lost key lady was told that it would cost her $40 for the guy to come out and replace the lock on her mailbox. I'm going to assume that she's now mastered the "put things back where they belong" lesson in the school of life.
I only have one more quick trip to make and I'll be done for another year.

All I wanted for Christmas

Day 16

This was all that was on my list.

A plump and healthy baby. And here he is in all his hammy goodness. Richard was born on Dec. 15 at 10 something am. He weighs 7.09lb and is 20" long.

Mom and baby are doing fine.

Dad and sister are doing equally fine. Everyone is just fine and dandy.

If all goes well, weatherwise, we'll be headed out there right after Christmas. I can hardly wait to get my hands on Ricky and Dani too. I think I'll take a gingerbread house kit for the kids to make with Dani. She'd love that. Some of the candy may actually make it onto the house.

Welcome home, Little Ricky. We can't wait to meet you.

Snow Days

Day 15

We don't get them. Bundle up kids, it's barely -30, time for school. I keep calling the school's hotline, hoping that someone, somewhere had some sense knocked into them and I won't have to go out and scrape my windshield and defrost my car. I'm not even sure I'll be able to get up our street. I know that in June, I'll be glad that we all bundled up today and got on with business, but right now I want to stay in my jammies and drink hot coffee. Stupid snow days.

I might actually blog something good later. Katie is at the hospital, preparing to deliver baby Richard. Stay tuned.