My bodyguard

It's nice to have a bunkbed-climbing cat when you're 7 and your room is full of weird shadows.

Recital tonight?

Tonight's recital was a complete surprise to me, but we made it, and the Scoot did well. Whew. Wonder what other important events I'll forget this week?

Mommy's kitty napkin holder

The picture is too dark, but how could I resist Ethan's wanting to take care of today's blog all by himself? He took the picture and even entered the subject line with the little number buttons. And he was feeling especially sentimental about Grandpa after this weekend, which is why he picked as the subject the napkin holder they made together last summer.

A little break from the hospital

Grandpa ready for surgery

Happy Birthday, Linda!

The Whitman

Socked in

So you've been thinking of moving to Walla Walla because of all those great articles about the wine industry and how we're "Napa North" (no matter that all this enthusiasm is driving up housing costs roughly, oh, 3 million percent). Well, it's only fair to warn you that we have FOG. Lots of fog. All winter. No sun. No light (except for the one you order from a medical supply store to help fight off utter despair).

You've been warned. But don't listen to me. I love it here. Really.

When I grow up...

I want to drive the Zamboni.
P.S. Happy birthday, Mom!

Feeling lazy (quesadillas for dinner)

This is even worse than usual for the Motorola cameraphone. But Ethan had a wonderful time taking pictures of all the "pretty bottles" and marveling that the grownups in the bar were throwing their peanut shells right on the floor.

Origami boxes

I took a teensy tiny box to Sarah (penny-sized), and pretty soon she was making her own like a pro. We got a little carried away. Making tiny boxes, by the way, is way more fun than spending Sunday cleaning out closets and folding laundry.

Plans for today: A memorial service

Googsie and Ellabella love

[Ethan is dictating today's entry and obviously feeling affectionate. Friday nights and warm fires have this effect on him.]

Here's a picture of two little cute cats. Or if you're an ancient Egyptian, you might consider them gods. Googsie and Ellabella would love to say "hello, meow meow" to you. These are our two cats. We found them at petfinder.com, and we adopted them at PetSmart. We got Googsie because Grendel died and we missed him, and we got Ellabella because we missed Penelope. (Their real names are Google and Ella.)

Too cold for jogging...

...so I guess I'll stay in and work on my scrapbook. Pictures from 1985. Yes, it's embarrassing.

Well-dressed co-workers

This guy works in my office something like 12 hours a week, and he wears a jacket and tie every day! Really, it just makes the rest of us look bad. I have tried to exercise some slovenly influence (loosen up, man), but it isn't working.

Update (1/19): Even on casual Friday...no tie, but still dress pants and a jacket. Please, everyone, you have to stop raising the bar--I can't even see it from down here.

Might never leave the office today so...

This was supposed to be Mt. Rainier

But the sky is pretty.

Weirdest thing I saw in Seattle today

Too early

Flying to Seattle today for a client meeting. I'll be back home in about 15 hours.

Yahtzee with Grandma

Watching Ethan play with his Grandma D, we have been reminiscing about playing Yahtzee with our grandmas. Sixty years from now, maybe he'll be playing it with his grandchildren.

Grandpa and Ethan

Yay--I found it!

I left my favorite Bible in Ethan's classroom at church weeks and weeks ago, and ever since we keep forgetting to look for it, or we're out of town or whatever. It was right where I left it, because hey, who would steal a Bible.

By the way, this picture isn't all that terrible considering it was taken with the crummy Motorola cameraphone.

Rest

Ethan (who took today's picture) loves what he calls "nice evenings" at home, which require candles. And as much darkness as he can talk us into.

Tonight the candlelight came with red lentil soup and a good loaf of bread. Yummmm. Hard to beat a cozy evening when the temp is below 20 and still falling.

Maybe I should be at a casino right now....

This morning while waiting for my windows to defrost, I looked down and saw this. No kidding.

Happy birthday, Dad!!

Weird sky out my office window

Scooter on ice

I dropped him off and ran, but Becky stayed long enough to take a picture.

One small step...

This may not look like a page from Better Homes to you, but about an hour ago it was piled high with tools to go to the garage, Christmas light bulbs, and much assorted what-not. So to us, it looks pretty darn spectacular.

(IMPORTANT: Please imagine that the what-not is tidily stored away in its proper place, rather than simply moved to a nearby counter.)

Yipes! Almost forgot today's entry.

No worries...42 minutes to spare.

We shoulda brought the skateboard!

Gigantic ramp that was just completed for Dad (and what it looked like the next morning)

After Dec. 25, decorations just look sad

Which is why they'll probably come down today. I will miss the twinkly lights, though.

This is my first post from the cell phone! No excuses for missing the daily photo now. The only downside? Cingular charges something like 25 cents per message. And many of my pictures (this one, for example) aren't worth 19 cents to print, let alone an entire quarter, four of which could buy me a big delicious bottle of lime diet Coke. Mmmmmm.

The other contender for today's photo was Lita's Feet II. Unfortunately, the picture I took of them wasn't on the cell phone, and testing the mobile was the whole point of today's post. My co-workers have some very nice shoes.
- J

P.S. Hey, why not throw them in now.

Raindrops

We meant to use our morning break for a walk, but a few steps into it, the rain began. By the time we finished one trip around the circle (1/4 mile) we were soggy and ready to quit. At least Lita got a chance to put on her cute shoes.

Unwinding

Today was the first day back at school for the boys. Ethan had a few tears last night about the end of vacation, but his new alarm clock helped ease the pain. He was the first one dressed this morning! This picture shows how Cliff unwinds after a big day back in the classroom.

Toy heaven...or something

We have discovered the solution to our toy troubles. First, Dad picked out a few bags of outgrown toys to donate or share, which will make a small dent. Next, we discovered a large space in our house that was being used only to store boxes! It's a little dark and dreary, has a few spider webs...but potential, yes? No?

Assembly not included

We are beginning 2007 with a full house. Extremely full. And word to the wise: When the box says "ages 10 and up," pay attention. Your 7-year-old may desperately want this toy and have loads of fun with it (eventually), but the assembly of those hundreds of little parts is all yours. Which is why we spent about 6 hours constructing the K'nex roller coaster and why as soon as I'm done typing this I go back to assembling the slot car track down the hall. We had to move the rug out of his room to find space for it. I just hope there will still be room for the bed!