Living up North isn't for Sissies

I didn't think to take a picture of this until he had the car almost clean, but you get the idea!    Now, this lovely snowfall came while we were in Minneapolis, not North Dakota.   We don't have much in ND, but the ground does have a cover.    It has definitely moved to winter temps though - like 12 degrees at 3:00 this afternoon.    Think it is here to stay.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING 2012

Yesterday shortly after Vic opened his eyes he said "let's go to the lake".    "What did you just say?" was my response.   Now keep in mind, this was before 6:00 am so it took a minute for it to register what this all meant for my busy schedule.   

As you can see it wasn't long before I was standing on the deck with a warm coat checking out the situation.    The deck was full of pine needles and also a dead mouse.   But, thankfully there were no dead mice inside the place and all looked fine.   We had forgotten to put a storm window in the upstairs and also decided to bring home a few things that we had forgotten.   

You definitely get a better view of the lake with no leaves.   There is no ice on the lake and still some wildlife swimming around.   Today we are noticing a change in the weather and I'm guessing winter has truly arrived.    No more of those 50 degree days like we had yesterday.

Happy Thanksgiving

From recent days

When we left these two they were in temporary housing.   It seemed like a great place as the play area could be seen right outside the living room window as well as one inside a few steps from their front door.

Upon arrival at 3109 we noticed a lot of leaves.   The pile you see on the berm is the second one waiting for the city vacuum.   Now all the maple leaves are yet to fall.    You can also see a big pile of branches.   There was a wind storm while we were gone so the trees needed a good trim.

The new city-owned fitness center opened while we were away.    It is such a beautiful facility and we are enjoying it.    I'm sure this place is finer than most cities have available to their residents.  

Miss Ellie Turns 2

Ellie Charlotte arrived on Oct 14, 2010.   

Just like her brother, she got to pick a bear too.

She picks a white one with a pink dress.  Her name is Charlotte but Ellie calls her Lottie.

The kids next door stopped over for some b'day cake.  Nicholas, Drew (twins) and Kate 

The Last Day or Two

The family next door has such nice kids for Mack and Ellie to play with.    Trust there will be some good friends for these two little ones when they make their new home in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

Mack Turns 4

A really big event happened four years ago at the pink hospital on the hill in Honolulu.    We are so thankful for Mack and the joy he brings to all of us.    

Carrie is showing pictures of Mack the day he was born.

Build a Bear was part of the birthday celebration

 Here he is watching them fill the bear he chose

Every bear has a heart - one that beats no less...

Making sure everything is working right.

He is giving the bear a (air) bath

He picked a Hulk outfit

Do you think he likes it??

Why Papa is a nature photographer

It sounded like a good idea... take a picture of the two Grands with fresh Zinnias picked from outside.  As you will see, it didn't turn out quite like I pictured in my mind.  I think I will stick to nature photography!

Whew!

Moving

The major movers have come and gone and left an almost empty house.   The kids are loving all the space to run and play.       

The little boys in the neighborhood think it is fun to try to catch critters in the pond.   Mack is not so sure he wants to enter into the fun.   

Activity Level - Extremely High

These two love to dress up.   They have a load of clothes to pick from and what fun they have.   You never know what they might show up in so the camera must be ready at any moment.  
(The shower cap below shows a fashion statement to be sure.)

Wednesday Lunch

Our drive to Little Rock takes us 2 miles from my brother Stephen's shop which makes for a convenient stop to see him.  This time we enjoyed lunch at a Thai restaurant and a bonus visit with his son.    

All Good Things......

As we close up the lake place for the year we are sad in many ways to see an end to an unusual summer.    It probably has been one of the nicest for weather and surely been fun with the visit of The Grands who brought both parents this year.    We always look forward to friends that stop through and several did this year - "deck time" is my favorite and when you can sit around the deck dinner table until 10:00 pm (in perfect weather with a full moon and no bugs) that is a great thing.   This year we added a fire pit which was a fun way to get the neighbors over and also to have the little ones experience s'mores.

  

Now we think of travel to Little Rock for the last time.    We can stay with the kids while Rob and Carrie make a quick run to Dallas to ship their car.  Also, the movers will come and hopefully we can help with kids as well as get the rental house ready for move out.   

We don't look forward to them being so far but as Rob reminds us it takes half the time to get to Honolulu as it does Little Rock - the man is more used to travel in planes than cars!