Week Thirty (A Boy and His Sister)

A Boy and His Cat

When he chases you squealing "Kiiiittyyy" around the house and grabs for your tail with his sticky fingers, what he really means to say is, "I love you, Pete."

Off to Hogwarts

Noah is practicing his Harry Potter moves. Someday we'll get him a real magic broom to fly away on.

(we do actually make him wear pants sometimes)

Happy Birthday, Nick

Watering the Lawn

Disclaimer: Kevin advises against putting this video on the blog.

I understand that Noah may someday find it very embarrassing. Someone remind me on his eleventh birthday to delete this post, OK?

Olive You

I've no idea how I signed myself up to be notified weekly of the food I should be eating for the next seven days straight, but somehow I did. This week, I might actually do it. Not only yummy and salty, but apparently, good for you too.

http://whfoods.org/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=46

Bubbler or Water Fountain?

More pictures from Frontenac State Park with Grandma & Grandpa.

Week Twenty-Nine

The Hanson-Howell Troop.

This photo was a candidate for a Christmas card, but didn't make the cut. I like it and thought I would share it.

*Bruce R. Hanson's U of MN ID Card. I like this image and keep it in my wallet as a reminder. It is right behind my visa check card. Appropriate, since my dad was always the fiscal conservative one.

*I have been doing some ancestry work and borrowing various things from my mom. Here is one of those things. I am not certain if this was before or after Vietnam, since there is no date on the card.

I took this from the Aug. 2007 National Geographic Magazine. Click on the image to enlarge.

If we lived in Russia, Sarah would have 52 weeks of maternity leave with full wages. Other countries with this high level of leave for mothers are (Seen in Dark Blue):

Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Uzbekistan, South Korea, Slovenia, Albania, Cuba, Ukraine, Austria, and Armenia.

Countries with No paid leave (Tan Color) are:

United States (US Law guarantees 12 weeks of unpaid leave), Liberia, Australia, and Papua New Guinea.

Week in Pictures

O'Gara's Cabin, Garrison, MN - ATV Ride with Ryan and Mom

O'Gara's Cabin, Garrison, MN, Round Lake - Pontoon Ride

O'Gara's Cabin, Garrison, MN, Round Lake - Swimming with Mom

River Falls House, WI - Eating with a Spoon

Mille Lacs County, MN - Gravel Pit Lunar Feature

River Falls House, WI - A rare posed photograph without Noah. He was resting, and we thought that the cats have been ignored since Noah arrived and it was a good time to give them some photo attention. They certainly don't seem pleased about it though.

Kinninickinic River, River Falls, WI - Holding Dad's Hand

River Falls House, WI - Naked Drumming

River Falls House, WI - Fireworks for the closing of River Falls Days Festivities

The Scientist

A short video clip from the Children's Museum a few months back.

Week Twenty-Eight

Third trimester. The home stretch.

The Lovers, The Dreamers and Me

When asked whether he prefers the Kermit the Frog or the Willie Nelson version of Rainbow Connection, this is Noah's response:

Up and Over

For his next trick, Noah will be performing the somersault (but not today).





Stay tuned...

Week Twenty-Seven

Art direction by Kevin

You Always Were Cooler Than Me (Happy Anniversary)

Remember when your dorm room was the center of the universe?

Remember when I had my tongue pierced?

The Valet Key

Here is a story guaranteed to make you all feel like the best parents ever:

I got locked out of my car today.

By my child.

Who was inside, strapped snuggly in his carseat.

That's a good feeling.

The keys were keeping him entertained while I loaded the stroller into the trunk and checked the mail. It used to be so cute when we'd hear the car beep locked in the garage while he ran around the house playing with them. It really wasn't that cute today.

After frantically calling Kevin, then the police, then finally a towing company that also opens locked car doors, it occurred to me to look for a spare key in the house. The valet key, given to us when we bought the car, has never been used for a valet. But thank goodness for junk drawers filled with things you think you'll never in a million years use.

I am comforted to remember that my parents once let me aspirate a nickel.

We all have our I-Hope-Social-Services-Isn't-Watching-Me days.

85 Degrees and Sunny

Perfect day to try out the sprinkler that Noah got from Aunt Sandy and Uncle Mark for Christmas.

He was hesitant at first. More like terrified. The sneak attack by Fireman Elmo was really uncool. He cried and ran.

It wasn't long before they were friends again.

Fireman Elmo

Independence

After two parks and a rain out, we finally had our picnic.

Two-Toed Sloth

We have a new slogan for the Minnesota Zoo:

Not As Much Fun As You Think It's Going to Be*

More pictures.

*when it's a very hot day and you try to force your baby to look at fish, birds and monkeys during his naptime