Calendar

I'm not sure if this will be pfun or not, but I thought it might be...We can add events, like a tenure party, or travel info so we all know. We'll see if it's more trouble than it's worth. I'm going to try and create a permaspot on the side. Let me know what you think

Mary's Haircut

I think she likes it. She even smiled for the camera.

Josh, Molli and Alina in Michigan

Uncle Josh and Aunt Molli came to meet Vittoria. Strangely, I didn't get a picture of either one of them holding her. Maybe someone else fared better than I did. Here is a sampling of what I did get.



It's hard to get anyone but Katie to pay attention when you are taking a picture.


Alina "walking."



Ice cream. Katie is very good at sharing Mary's ice cream.



Bath time. Mary was not in a bad mood. She only put on that face when I said, "Say cheese!"



Katie's first soccer game.


Molli and Alina hanging out.

Another landscaping update

Jay is working like a horse on our back yard... here are some updated pictures, he's doing a really nice job!

Alina's playground area.

The rocks are complete - where there is dirt there will be grass, and where there is fabric there will be mulch.

It's the Cheesiest.....

Libby sent me a cheese making kit, and it was such fun to make...... AND tasty!!!

OOPS!!!!

'OOOOOOOPS!!!!! I posted the wrong video..... Sorry, Duckie!

The FIRST hair cut

Katie has been wanting to have her hair cut like Gabrielle's, so we went to get that done. Before it was her turn, she was playing with my camera, and pushed SOMETHING!!!! Not being a techno-wizzard, I didn't know how to get it back to normal..... Mary's FIRST hair cut was really cute.....

April 5..... Duckie Elizabeth's birthday

Well, indeed, April 5 was Duckie Elizabeth's birthday, and it was celebrated in STYLE!!!







We also went to see "The Lion King" ballet that was put on by Mary's dance school, and the girls REALLY dressed up for the event! Mary was camera shy....

Boston Salad Dressing

1/3 cup olive or vegetable oil
2 tablespoons lime juice
2 teaspoons fresh cilantro or parsley
1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon salt (optional)
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon powder

Mix all ingredients well

(Photo courtesy JDP Studios.)

Vegas

These are from before and during UNLVino, a wine tasting in Vegas. I am very proud of the way I look here. I think we really classed up the joint. :)

New Oven

We got a new oven. It even works.

The old one.


After expanding the cabinet from 27" to 30" (and after a brief interlude at about 31")


Fully installed (after a little help from Enzo).


I apparently don't have a picture of the semi-installed oven, when it stuck three inches out from the cabinet. Maybe I'll pull it out later to relive the glory days.

First Meal Outside in 2008

Spring is teasing us.

Katie Got a Haircut

Before


After


Mary got one too, but she wasn't as cooperative with the pictures.

Sister Duck's Birthday

April 5 was Sister Duck's Birthday. She didn't blow all the candles out by herself, though, so I don't think her wish will come true.



Rhoda tried to get a video of us singing to her, but the camera flipped out.



The Mother and Brother Ducks' birthday was April 13. Just so you know.

Landscaping update

We got a blue spruce for the back yard. It was quite a deal to get it into the back yard...

The new tree in place... and Alina's playground area has a wall around it.
Here is the playground we got (this is the photo from Sam's - not in our yard).The front patio. We got a table and 2 chairs and will put some plants out there, but it's not sealed yet so we'll have to do that later.

The dirt is slowly but surely going away... we'll put rocks and mulch where you now see the landscaping fabric. Also note the new wall around the tree on the right.

This area will be covered with mulch

On another note, Alina got a new tunnel that's really fun. :) She is wearing her soccer Poland t-shirt from Aunt Rhoda

One of her favorite things to do is "help" me unload the dishwasher onto the floor.

Funny Video

I took this at a bachlorette party in Ohio. While it doesn't really fit the theme of the blog, it's quite funny. There are 2 others that are related that you can see if you go to my YouTube page. :)

The Jumper

Here is the jumper I had been working on. Now it's up to Derek to get one of it being modeled. :) I think the buttons are cute.


The front


The back


The cute buttons

The big landscaping project

We are having concrete poured today for our front patio, sidewalk, and edging in the back. I'll update the post with a few more pictures when they are done, but here is what is going on so far.

This is where Alina's playground will go.

Front patio outline:

During:
Sidewalk outline:

Sidewalk in progress:

Edging before (well, lack thereof):

Edging during:

After:The manly skidsteer:

Rocks on 3rd tier (during):