Lady Lassie

We have a new pet. Not sure how long she will be with us, but we've done a little research on how to keep her alive and plan to do our best.

December?

Mud hike today! It's weird to hike in an inch of mud with frozen ground below. This warm,  brown winter is the opposite of last year's extreme cold and snow.

There were tons of frogs under the ice near the edge of the lake.  Some of them swam away as we walked near.

Caponi swing, Cannon Falls, Halloween cookies, Cub Scout camp, bead art, Nikka, finger crochet

I should be posting about Thanksgiving, but since I haven't even posted about Halloween, it will have to wait its turn. Here's a list of pictures that gets me halfway caught up.

We stop by Caponi Art Park every now and then to use their awesome swing.

We had dinner in Cannon Falls one evening and took a little stroll along the river. We even played Pooh Sticks off the bridge.

Making Halloween cookies

Cub scout camp. The kids also got to try archery (success) and BB guns (failure).

Lots of crafting going on her lately. This is made from those tiny beads that you put on a form and then iron.

I've been letting a friend's puppy out to potty during the days, and I get to bring her back to our house sometimes too. Laura's in love. The only problem is, this picture is about 2 weeks old and Nikka (the puppy) doesn't really fall asleep on your lap anymore. She's noticeably taller than she was when we met and has boundless energy. Not quite so cuddly as she once was. 

Another craft being done around here: finger knitting. Adam made a chain 138.5".

Where was Daddy?

Jim took a particularly hairy trip a couple months ago. The map below shows his movements over only 4 days! I still don't understand why they don't use video-conferencing, but they don't ask my opinion.

Warm Memories

The leaves are long since covered in white, but I enjoy remembering what it felt like to not need a coat.

Apparently, we were also practicing for senior pictures?

The following pictures were taken by Grandma C:

Mice

We had a mice problem in the laundry room a few months ago. I set up traps and the kids wrote notes to warn the mice away. (sadly, these particular mice were illiterate and met their doom).

Mice - do not

eat that peanut butter for your

own sake you should leave this

house so you don't get trapped!

[picture of trap]

it will close on you

and kill!

so if you want 

to NOT get trapped

get out of this house!

best wishes,

Laura

Keep out stop! Don't

get the PB!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Husky Hustle 2014

This year we were all able to run the school's 5K fundraiser. I was volunteering that morning, so I only snapped this photo. But at this link, our family shows up here and there. There is definitely a picture of Laura with her blue ribbon for winning the 3rd grade girls kids race. 

Holz Farm Laundry

Every year, we go to few events at a locally preserved historical farm. They have things like hay rides, milk a "cow", play in the corn, polka bands, samples of homemade butter on saltines, etc. Naturally, I only photographed the kids doing laundry. They stayed so long, the lady asked them to help her put everything away for the day.

Laura on the Roof

No one asked me if this was OK

Ava's Birthday

 Back in September, Adam decided it was crime that we don't celebrate Ava's birthday. So I indulged him and we declared the next day, September 5th, to be Ava's official birthday. She had to stay 4 this year though, so she would still be younger than Adam (that is very important to him). Next year, she can turn 5. 

We chose a day that Jim was out of town, because I don't think he'd be down with the doggy birthday thing :)

We baked and decorated a birthday cake.

She even had candles!

And she didn't even have to share.

Happy Birthday Ava!

stuff and things

Laura again...

hello?....  I just started the percy jackson books and it is kind of creepy...  but still very cool! It is very much like harry potter series ( witch mom won't let me read the next one)!


I am also   learning:

• cursive 
• how to write number-symbols in hieroglyphics,and Chinese. 
• a clay pro. 
• a new karate class 
• some more piano

 My piano teacher just got a new dog : a 7-week old black lab puppy!!! and we get to let her out when mrs.Wood ( my teacher ) is at work!!!! her name is  Nikka and she chews on  everything, even my hair!