Junior Toolbelt

John was a big help putting in the living room baseboard. In this photo he is installing the toughest section. The two baseboard vents in this wall meant that we had to cut a precise notch in the baseboard to fit around the vents.

Also this wall is a full 18 foot run and the longest baseboard length is 16 feet. So we put two splices on this wall both on or near the vents. John's favorite job was using the tape measure and stud finder to determine where to nail. I suppose we could have counted it as a math class, but we want the kids to simply appreciate and apply learning, not simply look for ways to "punch the ticket."

A couple of weeks prior, John helped by sanding the vents to prep them to be painted. The previous owner had put masking tape on the vents, then painted over the tape.

We had to go to a millwork dealer to buy the right baseboard design to match the foyer. Both Home Depot and Lowe's no longer carry that design. The millwork dealer not only had the matching design, it was $.10 per foot less than the big boxes and they cut the 16 foot lengths to my specs to fit into the van. Let's hear it for independent businesses!

Garage Surprise

...I opened my garage and there it was!

Earlier this fall we had our driveway repaved and the event provided some strange sights, like a paver in the garage or a dump truck in the driveway.

The crew came by to pave a neighbor's driveway and then knocked on doors to finish with their load of asphalt. The price was fairly reasonable compared to previous estimates we received.

The driveway was over 15 years old and beginning to dissolve in spots. Now we have a good surface for the winter snow. But moreover we have a nice hedge. Asphalt is a petroleum product that will probably get pricier in the coming years.

Much to be thankful for...

"Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things."

Psalm 117:8-9

Weak Excuse Department

Sorry to post so infrequently in the past few weeks but my internet connection has been slow and intermittent. For example, I have yet to be able to upload the video of the pinata burst from Janine's birthday party.

But it's not completely Verizon's fault. My computer is four years old and full of digital wool. Yesterday I ran Ad Aware and found a couple of things that were probably slowing things down.

Sometime over the holidays I plan to perform a computer lobotomy and reinstall the OS. It will be an exciting day full of disk shuffling, downloading and holding my breath. If, as the Brits say, all becomes pear-shaped, I can borrow the kids' computer while mine is in the shop.

Father/Daughter Dance

Janine just started with a Brownie Troup this past September. So two weeks ago we went to the Girl Scout Parent/Daughter dance as noted on the invitation here. (For us and for most it is the Father/Daughter dance.)

We had a great time overall practicing steps the day before. Then we went out for dinner at our favorite nearby Mexican restaurant before the dance.

The older girls were nice enough to take our picture at the entrance. (see below) But once we got in the school gym it was bedlam. Torrents of 6 to 10 year old girls were running around the place while all the dads stood at the edge and chatted.

Janine and I danced to YMCA which negated the need for any practice at all. But we both had fun and will return for more next year.

Party Line-up

Here's the partial line-up for Janine's party.

From left: Janine, Sara, Jenny, Kaitlyn, Jesse and Anna. Big sister Sarah, and brother John are in the background.

The party activities got going with multiple crafts in store to keep us all occupied. Sarah P. as usual was a big help leading the activities and herding the girls around.

Here's Grace, who had not yet arrived in time for the top photo, painting a picture with Sara.

Then there's Anna and Jenny doing the same...


Because the girls arrived and left in stages, Sarah P. planned the cake and ice cream in the middle of the party with activities both before and afterwards.

Birthday Decorations

Sarah really pulled out all the stops to decorate the family room for Janine's birthday. While it was not a complete surprise, Janine slept in on her birthday, so she was pleased with the volume and theme of the decorations.

My favorite touch is the Christmas lights. Sarah had them strung across her room and shared them with Janine for the celebration.

More on that next...

That's NOT a dog...

...it's a fox. Sarah snapped this photo this morning as a fox came through our yard and lingered by the swing-set. Naturally, all school work stopped with this excitement. (Sorry about the resolution. Because the fox was moving quickly, Sarah took the photo through a window that still has its screen in it.)

I am glad to see a fox again. This spring we saw a female fox guiding her kits across the street. Then this summer a fox was hit and killed on a busy road nearby.

I was concerned for the kits as well as for control of the local rodent population. Perhaps one of the kits has grown to patrol this area. Good for him.