A Trip to Morels

Today the kids returned to school after a 4-day weekend. Jon was able to time it so that he had four vacation days to spend with us, as well. So we packed in as much quality family time as we could.

The "quality family time" started Friday afternoon, with a long overdue trip to Madison. Laurie and Mark agreed to put up with us (kids, dogs, and all) for an overnight stay, so we could meet up with the rest of the family and eat at their restaurant, Morels, one more time.

Morels will be closing the end of this month. It was a hard and painful decision for both of them; they have put their hearts and souls into the place (especially Mark), and under their care Morels has grown into something special. But the tough economy and many expenses related to keeping a large building operational finally caught up with them.

All of us who could make it over on Friday night were there-- Mom and Dad, Bob, and John and Jim gathered with us. Laurie ate with us, too, but Mark was busy hosting. He popped in to say hello and see how we were doing when he could.

It was busy there that night-- the place was packed. Laurie said that it had been that way ever since they'd announced their closing in the beginning of January. Sometimes there's a 45 minute wait for seating (and that's something... the building has a capacity of over 700).

Our group was given its own private room for dining, which was nice. Dad has trouble hearing in a crowd, and being off on our own like that made it easier for him to be part of the conversation.

The food (as always) was great. Several of us had the mushroom soup... I can't even explain how creamy and good it is. I also had pork schnitzel with spaetzle and sweet and sour carrots (hope I didn't mangle the spelling of those menu items too badly). The bread, the salads, the dessert (which included two of Laurie's mother-in-law's home-made pies)... were all perfect.

Laurie and Mark seemed in good spirits. It's been hard, but they always keep busy and do their best-- while still managing to be decent human beings. I'm just superstitious enough to believe that the good karma will come back to them-- what comes around goes around.

So we laughed, talked, and had a good meal. Another special aspect of the gathering was that it was just in time for Dad's 79th birthday on Saturday. Dad seemed to enjoy the birthday cards and well wishes from his children and grandchildren.

Coco LOVED staying at Laurie and Mark's house, which is a very pet-friendly kind of place. Dogs are welcome on the couch-- a little nicety that Coco seemed to embrace whole-heartedly.

It snowed while we were in Madison, and the snow continued to fall as we left on Saturday. But the roads weren't bad and everyone made it home safely.

Sunday we went to Cornell for a visit. Jonathan was able to meet us there, and our visit coincided with Jon's oldest brother Brent's visit, as well. Jon's parents were in good health and spirits. They seemed to enjoy watching the antics of their three youngest grandchildren.

I was able to talk to the Cornell minister this weekend, and he confirmed that we can have Leila's baptism at Bud and Jane's church in Cornell on Easter Sunday. They'll be having two church services that day, and her baptism will follow the 8:30 am service.

Jonathan came over Monday afternoon and had supper with us. He played chess with Michael (beating him at least once!), exchanged sassy remarks with Emma, and did some floor time with Leila. He stayed overnight so he could drive Jon to his job site in northern Minnesota (they left EARLY this morning-- 2 am!). Jonathan's using our car right now, following the untimely demise of his own car just before Christmas (it now joins the old red minivan in our Collection of Useless Vehicles We Might Fix Someday).

We only have two working vehicles, but these days Jon is able to use a company truck for his transportation needs. He wasn't able to have one over this longer, 4-day weekend, though, so needed a ride back. Jonathan kindly obliged.

It was good having Jon home for a few days. The kids "shape up" noticeably when Daddy's around. They hauled firewood and did fun things together, too. Jon and Emma rode the 3-wheeler over to Johnne's farm and picked up eggs. Emma's been helping feed last year's calves.

We finally hauled this plastic kitchenette out of storage in our old house's basement, so Leila can enjoy it. It's one of the few baby/toddler toys from the older batch of kids that I held onto.

It has little cupboard doors to open and stash food items, and should be a fun prop for Leila to practice standing up next to. Of course, once we resurrected it from the basement, Emma discovered her long-lost love for it. Tears were shed when she learned it wasn't destined for her bedroom, but a heart-to-heart talk with Daddy helped her accept the loss. Before long both girls were busy playing house.

If only we still had that little metal shopping cart that Michael learned to walk with-!

Love Letter to Leila

Just thought I'd update the blog, though there's nothing terribly new or eventful to report. Jon worked again this weekend. Emma had a stomach flu and Michael slept a lot (he won't admit he was sick, though). So we stayed home

and did quiet things. Watched a few movies, read some books.

So for subject matter, would you mind if I indulged my Mommy-ness and reflected on Leila for awhile?

Leila cut her first tooth this weekend... a bottom front one.

Besides sprouting teeth she's begun doing other new things, as well. This weekend, for instance, was the first time I've ever seen her bat at her own head with a hairbrush.

She's crossing that line from passive baby to active toddler. She learning to interact with her world and make things happen (in ways that don't just involve crying).

Emma and I showed her how to pick up toys and put them back in the box. You should see how puffed up and important she gets after she puts a toy in the box and we clap our hands-! She sits up very straight, says a few baby babbles, and furrows her brow... before reaching for the next toy that needs putting away.

Sometimes when I'm holding her on my hip, doing something (maybe fixing her a bottle, or even just walking through the house), she'll suddenly lurch forward and peer into my face, trying to see my eyes. I look at her, and I can't describe how sweet her response is: our eyes meet and she beams. That's what she wanted and she is completely satisfied.

What do you suppose that's about? I don't know, but I'm bewitched by it.

Some of Leila's bangs are pretty long and won't stay out of her face, so I mentioned to Jon over the phone that maybe I should trim them. He insists that no clipping take place until he is home and able to evaluate the situation for himself.

When he makes little pronouncements like that I realize how much he loves her, too. Every hair on her head is brand new, shiny, and precious. You don't cut it lightly or as an afterthought.

Come on, Spring...

Jon had to work this weekend, so the kids and I were on our own. We mostly stayed home, though we had pizza Friday night. We finished watching the Planet Earth video collection that Mom and Dad let us borrow. And I packed away the last of the winter/snowman decor and set about making our house look more spring-like. Big weekend, huh?

At left, a brightened fireplace vignette includes Grandma's rose tea set and cuddly Valentine bears.

At right, my newly assembled bird collection.

After weeks of persistent cold chasing us inside, it's finally warming up around here. Actually, the last few days have been more windy and rainy than cold. Much of the snow has melted, and what's left is muddy and gray-looking, with a hard crust. We continue appreciating the cozy wood stove inside our four-season porch.

Usually on weekends Jon and the kids re-stock our supply of firewood for the house. This time I was called upon to help. The kids showed me how to use sleds to haul the wood from the big outdoor pile, and then carry it inside the greenhouse. We've found that the greenhouse, with its dry brick floor and protection from the elements, is a handy place to store dry firewood in the winter.

Emma showed me how Daddy gets our kindling. He pulls fallen branches up out of the snow and then snips them down into workable-sized twigs (using a big clipper). This type of kindling burns well.

I won't claim that there isn't ANY complaining about having to haul wood, but overall the kids seem to enjoy the activity (or at least take pride in the accomplishment when they've finished).

Meanwhile, lazy little Leila avoids all work. She likes to fall back on the excuse that she's a baby so can't walk or crawl yet. But she can scoot-! I don't see any reason why she shouldn't put on a little pair of baby work gloves and some overalls and start picking up sticks outside with the rest of us.

Hee hee.

Yesterday Leila and I visited Malia and Tammy in Eau Claire. I hadn't seen Malia in awhile so noticed right away how much she's grown. She's very independent and physically coordinated, and also a great talker, so seems more like three... but she's still only two.

She LOVES babies. Leila sat on the floor and Malia brought her toys and books to play with. We all fussed over Malia's new puppy, Daisy. What an adorable dog-! She's a tiny little fluff ball, but kind of nippy, so Tammy stowed her in the kennel while Leila was on the floor. Leila was very interested in her, though, and Tammy and I agreed that Grandpa Bud would love that little dog.

For those of you who haven't heard, we're planning on having Leila baptized in Cornell, at Jon's childhood church (just a block from his parents' house) on Easter Sunday. We've asked Laurie and Mark (Laurie's husband) to be godparents.

After our visit, we hurried back to Colfax to pick Emma up from Destination Imagination. I remember brother Bill used to be in that. From what I understand, the kids work together to make up a skit and perform for an audience. I have no idea what to expect... last week Emma told me that one of the other girls wrote a skit that features her in the starring role, and that she was going to sing "Amazing Grace". Yesterday, though, the teacher told me that Emma would be a mouse and needed to wear either all black, all gray, or all brown. And that I would need to make a pair of mouse ears.

So the final product should be interesting!

Thought I'd close with a picture from a few years ago-- Emma and Michael hamming it up, wearing each other's hats. What a pair, huh?

A Fun Start for February

We had a fun, busy weekend, here in Colfax... starting Saturday, when Mom and Dad came for a visit. It was nice to see Mom doing so well after her surgery.

Mom and Dad had visited with Aunt Margy before coming over, so brought along with them a tub of her delicious home-made spaghetti sauce to share.

In these photos, Leila models a sharp-looking black and white outfit that Mom gave her for Christmas. She's looks all ready for a job interview, doesn't she? More ready than I do, I'm afraid...

After a record-setting 30+ days of below-freezing temps this January (with way too many of those days below zero), the warm weather we experienced this weekend came as a welcome relief. We were able to get outside a little and appreciate our beautiful country setting.

We met more of our neighbors at a sledding and skating party this weekend. One of our nearest neighbors with school-age children (they live about half a mile away from us), invited over all of the other neighborhood children and their families for a day of outdoor fun. It was a good chance for the kids (and us) to socialize.

This neighbor's house is set on a hill that's not only scenic but ideal for sledding... and there were a potluck of sleds available. They had fashioned a small skating pond on a flat spot just outside their patio door. Several of the dads, including Jon, came over on their snowmobiles and gave the children rides in the adjancent fields and woods.

It was warm enough that Leila and I were able to join everyone at the hill for about an hour so. I talked with the other parents but also did a little sledding of my own.

I claimed a sled and set my mark for a wide open spot, where I was not likely to plow down any small children or dogs... bad for neighborhood relations. But as I slid down the hill, my sled inexplicably veered left. It took me straight toward a small ramp that the kids had all been aiming for... a tiny but diabolical "sled jump".

Yes, I did some air time. My backside wasn't happy, but it was kind of silly and very fun. Just the kind of thing to shake the winter doldrums.

Next time around one of the moms kindly directed me toward a foam-padded sled, for a more... comfortable ride down. I heeded her advice, thinking that this other type of sled might not be as speedy as the smooth plastic kind and therefore easier to control. But again, the sled veered me left toward the dreaded sled jump.

No, I do not have any pictures of my frenzied attempts to avoid the ramp or the graceless spills that followed. Let your imagination do the work.

But the neighbors seemed friendly and nice, and I'm glad to find that now-- only a year after moving here-- the kids are acquainted with lots of boys and girls their age who live an easy bike ride's distance from our house. We have gotten to meet their parents and in some cases have exchanged phone numbers, so it should be easy to keep the kids set up with play-dates this summer.

Even Leila got to socialize this weekend! On Sunday we had one of Jon's co-workers and his young family over for dinner. Their baby girl, Olivia, is less than one week older than Leila.

It was very interesting seeing the two babies together! There were lots of similarities, but also some pretty significant differences. Leila was definitely bigger and had WAY more hair. She also smiled and "talked" more.

But Olivia CAN CRAWL. She can also pull herself to standing and walk (with help). She doesn't have teeth, either, but eats table food (pulled into small pieces for her by her dad). Her mother breast feeds her, but she is able to grasp and drink from a real cup (no handles-- just a regular cup!). It's really kind of amazing.

Maybe Leila will start getting some ideas! For now she seems content sitting pretty much wherever I put her, though she does scoot around a little and is starting to reach up for things on table tops, etc.

I'm kind of torn between wanting her to crawl (just to show those other babies what's what!) and wanting her to continue with this slow scooting for awhile (much easier for me). But we'll see what happens.

I'll close with a photo of Emma helping the two babies rummage through our collection of mittens and scarves.