Waking up and playing on the bed.

Sunday morning, church door open, sunlight through window on exterior wall.

 Playing on the couch

Fun with the flashlight  

Moving

Travel

One of my friends recently asked me to talk her and her husband into taking a trip. Here was my short response:

The great thing about travel is you can pack your camera, and a couple of books you've been planning to read.

Then you open the map and look at the mysterious expanses you'll explore and wonder what pictures and stories live there inside those lines drawn on paper.

You ask people what odd sights and interesting food you should check out on your route, pack and head out.

It's an adventure. It's a chance to read without worrying about the dishes. It's a chance to have talks you forget to have at home because you're used to the surroundings.

You'll have fun.

Valentine

Reaction was totally worth the work. A couple of times during construction I just about gave up, though. Probably should have not waited until the afternoon/night before to assemble some of the parts.

Big Doings

Isaiah and I went walking on top of the snow. Sometimes we were 2 feet above the ground, sometimes 10-15. He didn't want to climb the mountain of snow. Then he didn't want to climb down.

Sunday supper. We visited some bookstores and had promised a treat. Isaiah picked out a cupcake. It was getting late, so we ordered food, too, but for some reason he was completely happy with this (to make ourselves feel better, Marian and I ate some, too, so he didn't have it all).

Instrument form

Mom in action

Marian's description of trying to herd Isaiah yesterday: Like trying to pick up a puddle.

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Our Anglophile

After finishing his breakfast of (by request) bread and honey, Isaiah stood up in his high chair and asked, "Where's the parlor?" I showed him into the back bedroom.

Sporting News

 

 Bernadette works on her basketball handling.

Isaiah and Marian take in a minor-league hockey game.

So happy together

Matt and Isaiah at the Catholic Worker "Green House" in Hartford.

 By popular demand!

  

 Bernadette beams up at the world.

Isaiah models his fashion sense with repurposed bonnet from Bernadette's collection.

You said it, sister.

Trying to leave Kidcity Children's Museum on Thursday, I struggled to put Isaiah's coat on with one hand while Bernadette sobbed in the sling. With the other hand I jammed books back on the shelves at about the same rate that Isaiah took new ones off. And of course, all the while I was very aware that our parking meter would expire any minute. Behind me I heard a mom, who was also trying to get her kids out the door, comment to another mom, "It's like trying to herd cats." Just enough of a smile to finish the job.

Monday Morning

Mama: Oh, I was making the bed, Isaiah, and now I can't because you're jumping on it.

Isaiah: That's the life for a boy!

More Grandparents

Isaiah explains something to Grandpa.

 And listens to a story from Grandma.

Everyone's cozy on the couch.

Bernadette

Now that she can roll over, she can sleep like this.

Grandpa Friedrichs reads an interesting book.

And the compelling final page of that book.

Sledding!

Two runs in Page Park today. It was cold, Isaiah was tired, and he didn't like getting snow in his face on the second run (with Grandpa). There were at least three good sledding spots here, though, so we'll be back.