Farm Progress

The holiday break also gave us a chance to make some pre-move farm progress. Mostly indoor stuff for now, and it's hard to get too much done in one trip with the kids and the drive factored in. Still, progress is progress!

We built Ernie a loft bed and turned his bed back into a crib for Walden. Pretty cute brudders room, if you ask me.

Hardware is already removed here, but this is the best "before" shot I got of Grandma's 1960's kitchen before we started sprucing it up.

The incomplete "after." Norovirus hit during this trip, so we didn't get to finish the hardware change.

But still, I like how the painted cabinet/drawer fronts looks!

It took a lot of painting (those ceilings are HIGH!) but Len's room is now the right wall color and ready for her to move in.

Enjoying the outdoors

The nice long break from school and work gave us time to enjoy the yard and neighborhood.

Ernie and Mr. Piley, the powdery snowman.

Annual tree recycling and obligatory "sure, the kids helped" picture.

Len actually did get our tree into the pile! Good job, Len!

The tree was a lot lighter this year, but the walk home is always the heaviest.

We had some nice weather days in December and gave ourselves a Woods Park break.

Gonna miss this park, too.

Holy Holidays!

Here it is, all of the Christmas-related activities in one post!

Lenora's gift from her preschool teacher Mrs. Reitz was a small tractor. She adores it. We'll miss Dimensions and Mrs. Reitz.

Aunt Laura and Shaun spent the holiday out east, so they had us over for a pre-holiday party. Here's Laura opening part of her gift, which contained a small jar of "Jeremy's Famous Popcorn Seasoning" (i.e. his very own harvested bellybutton lint). Inside joke, I guess.

She made Walden this adorable mobile with balloons and clouds. He loves it so much we have to remove it for his morning nap or he'll never stop talking to it.

Ernie's at the age where he asks for specific gifts now, but he was still surprised that he actually got Dragon Mountain!

Both kids got some Harry Potter-themed items since we are reading the books. Ern is using his wand to cast a "Parental Assisto!" spell on a hard-to-open package.

Walden doing his best Bing Crosby impression, and not really caring about presents at all.

They were busy all day with their gifts. This is the sign of success.

It was a Hall Homecoming Holiday. Here's Jeremy being the fun uncle with the fascinating nostrils.

Ernie reading his invitation to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. They were excited/confused/nervous/anxious. We're still trying to convince him he has to wait until he's 11 to attend. He stopped unwrapping presents at this point and told us he had to get to Kings Cross Station right away.

Learning the basics of Lego sorting from cousin Nick.

Len with her Calico Critters nursery set.

All the grandkids on once couch!

Walden being cute.

Oliver being cute.

Holiday with the Mohrs!

Grandpa Darrell is the famous pose from the holiday spree. Hernia surgery and shoulder surgery tucker you out even more than Christmas.

Walden deserves another post just for him

So here it is, littlest buddy.

Having a big old time singing to the bears that rotate over his pack and play.

Loving his bath with Grandma Bonnie.

Making silly faces with sister Len.

Being drooldorable with Daddy while decorating.

This rug ain't big enough for the both of us.
Actually it's quite large. Never mind. Carry on.

When can I play Duplo?

When can I play trucks?

Seriously? Seriously!

Fine day for a tree hunt

With many of our in-town friends still out-of-town for Thanksgiving, we headed out to Spilker Tree Farm with Aunt Laura and Shaun.

It's nice to have a young aunt who will fit on the playground equipment with you.

And to have a silly Shaun as well.

Walden was, as always, acquiescent to our strange excursions that interfere with his naps.

And we found the perfect tree.

But a little too flimsy for our bigger star, not to mention that Dad had a hard time getting our bigger kid up to top it off.

So we tried the smaller star and the smaller kid. That worked much better.

Giving Thanks(ukkah)

You know the meal was splendid, but the best part of Thanksgiving is the hanging out. And that's the part we have our camera for.

Dad and the big kids make cranberry bread.

Our newest annual tradition: The Charlie Brown Thanksgiving Feast, served at the coffee table while watching the holiday special, features popcorn, buttered toast, jellybeans, and pretzel sticks.

At the Mohr's house Ern finds out he fits into Grandpa Darrell's old chaps and vest.

And Walden discovers he's already too big for the Jessie from Toy Story hat.

Shaun spent a lot of time playing Legos with the kids.

And read one of our holiday favorites: The Latke Who Couldn't Stop Screaming.

Pioneers and Barn Kitties

Aunt Laura is a weekend nature educator at Pioneer Park, so we not only get the benefits of being pm a first name basis with all the rescue raptors, but we also get first dibs of some kittens that could be better slated as barn cats than raptor food. She invited us up for a visit when she was working one day, and we not only had fun, but got our first farm animals: two ginger kitties.

Walden meets Stella.

Len and Ern enjoy a new play structure added to the Children's Garden.

How much do you want to bet when it's finally time to dig out at the farm these two bail out?

Meet Fred and George Weasley. Currently residing in a bathroom in Lincoln, destined for a Barn in Avoca. Their momma was snagging birds from the Pioneers Bird Garden, and got trapped and sent to the Humane Society. These two itty bitties were left behind to fend for themselves, so we were happy to take them in.