Monday, December 29, 2008

Gruncle Jim and Kathy's visit (ie. Xmas 3 days later!)

Gruncle Jim and Kathy came by to visit us yesterday and brought presents. Walter has been playing non-stop with his new airplane and airport and Byron is enjoying boxing
with his penguin. Jim also brought yours truly an incredible gift... his old Nikon D80! I was and still am completely flabbergasted and have been, like Walter, playing non-stop. Here are a few of the 100 some odd photos that I made just yesterday. I think by the end of the day, even Walter grew tired of having his photo taken. Walter is still not quite convinced that the D80 is mine, though, as he has been telling me since yesterday that "That's not YOUR camera! That's Gruncle's!"























Sunday, December 28, 2008

Xmas 2008


Walter, like many good boys wanted to ensure that Santa was well fed when he came to visit. He left Santa 5 frosted gingerbread cookies and a big glass of eggnog.


This is what we found the next morning. Apparently, Santa also helped himself to one of my beers. That was ok. I know how to share.


Byron enjoyed himself too, but of course, the unwrapped gift was just as exciting before it came out of the box.




Here's Walter at one of his more restrained moments.


Byron also helped to ensure that the presents or at least the wrapping paper was up to snuff.


I can't wait!


Walter gave Byron a helping hand.


A good time was had by all. Thanks for the tractor trailer Grandma and for the fire engine, Grammie. Walter was putting out fires all day long and hauling freight.

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

1st Day Shoveling

Walter and I spent our first day shoveling snow today. Walter was, of course, thrilled by the prospect. So, out came the trusty orange shovel. He promised to one day pass it down to brother and to show him the ropes.





Sunday, December 14, 2008

The ice storm.


"A cold day's diversion with a train set"


Thursday was a day of freezing rain and sleet. We had been worried that we would lose the power, but when Thursday came and went and we had power, I was relieved. If we make it through Thursday night, I thought that we'd be fine. Well, I went to bed with the lights still on and woke up at 5.30 with the red glow of the alarm clock still on. I went downstairs feeling lucky. At 5.35, the lights went out... The night had brought a changeover to snow and that morning, the warmer temperatures brought more rain which combined brought down powerlines all over the state. When all was said and done, there were over 200,000 without power in Maine and countless more in New Hampshire. I didn't worry about it too very much Friday night. I figured that we'd be back on by the afternoon or night. Failing that, I thought it would come back on in the night. But after a tepid meal from McDonald's (damn electric stove...) that night sitting in front of candles, the quaint experience that my dad would have said, well, thats how the Indians used to eat their Big Macs, in front of candles, it was no longer so much fun. Without lights or heat or water, we were getting desperate. We bundled the boys up in three layers that night while the outside temps dipped into the teens and all the slush outside froze. Saturday I wasn't with too much faith and we bought a kerosene heater and got a pizza. It was pretty pleasant then and I'll always remember sitting reading the paper, doing a crossword, eating pizza and listening to "Its A Wonderful Life" on the radio (as the CBS affiliate was broadcasting it on television that night...) with the glow of the stove behind me. This morning, M was getting ready for work and about 6.30, we heard a hum that we had thought was coming from the heater but in actuality was from the electric propane heater come alive and the bathroom light came on. We both looked at one another stunned for a moment before we actually realized what it was. So, we're all doing fine and while Byron won't remember a thing about it, Walter may remember a time when we sat in the dusk in the kitchen watching our breaths and reading books by candlelight.

Sunday, December 07, 2008

Walter's first visit with Santa



M took him to the mall the other day and Walter sat on the jolly one's lap for the first time. No one knows what he asked for but Santa and that's a secret between the two of them.

6 Months!





Byron is now at that milestone of six months. We are very proud of him and he says that learning to sit up by oneself is worth the struggle that it was. And oh yes, "the charm IS courtesy of dad." (As well as the Sunday morning PJs...)

32 Months!







Walter is so excited that he is almost three. He is still looking forward to being able to play in the McDonald's play area soon. He's so excited that he is working on his jungle gym flexibility.

Sunday, November 30, 2008

Thanksgiving 2008


There always has to be a before...


and after picture of the turkey.




The perfect pumpkin pie.






Even the cats were pooped after Thanksgiving from their can of Turkey & Giblets.


Byron thoroughly enjoyed his first taste of meat, though it was more like a turkey and rice cereal paste.


More please!



C'mon, please?

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Happy Birthday Byron



Happy Birthday, Byron, my brother. Yes, I know, a day late, but can't you expect this from me by now? But once again, lets lift a glass (or hell, we always preferred it straight from the can...) to you once again in your memory until that day as the song goes, when we meet again.

Twins?

Monday, November 10, 2008

Barley Cereal


Barley Cereal, a favorite here at the house. What could go wrong with barley cereal?

The Trouble with Peas

There is always some trouble that we find ourselves in eventually. Imagine, you're just sitting there minding your own business in your highchair and looking forward to some yummy barley cereal. Its all that you really want, but then something else comes in a cup. Its green and slimy looking and oh my! your mom spoons some of it up and points it at you. It isn't a joke! She's actually expecting you to put this in your mouth! To make matters worse, dad is photographing the whole event and brother is running around and watching and laughing and it tastes horrible! At least you know that it couldn't get any worse. Like having it published for the whole world to see.








Aarrrrrrrrrrrgggghhhhhhhhhhhhh! What IS this!?!


Maybe if I just spit it out they won't notice.