Corduroy comes to visit!

I went to pick Abby up from school on Tuesday and found that we had a guest for the next couple of days. Abby's kindergarten class has a stuffed Corduroy bear that each kid gets to take home for a three day visit during the school year and this week was Abby's turn. Corduroy comes with several change of clothes, a towel for his bath, a blanket, and a toothbrush (which we promptly lost and had to buy a replacement before he returned to school). Corduroy also comes with a journal to record his adventures during his visit. We took the following pictures and added them to the journal.
Abby and Corduroy having a snack in Starbucks.

Libby wanted to play with Corduroy too.

Corduroy watching Abby get a haircut.

Abby, Libby, and Corduroy playing at the park.

...and, Libby's off.



Corduroy basking in the sun.


Corduroy and Abby at her swimming lessons.

Asleep in Mommy and Daddy's bed after a long day of adventuring.

Night, night.

Trip to North Bend

Abby had her first teacher in-service day on Friday, October 8th and since I haven't gone back to work yet, I decided to take the girls to North Bend to visit Grandma and Gramps for a couple of days. Here is Libby playing on Gramps's tractor. She loves that thing.



Abby, Libby, and Aunt Rhonda dug all of these potatoes in Grandma's garden. We had some for dinner that night.


Libby had a big day.


Relaxing in the "pond".






Libby riding the little tractor.

Libby again!

Apparently, Libby needs better supervision. After the milk incident yesterday, this is what we found her into today. In case, you're not sure...yep, that's a big canister of sugar. As I stood there and tried not to laugh, Bill actually uttered the words, "Abby never did this!"

Libby is so helpful!

Libby is home with me for awhile while I recuperate. She decided that she was going to help herself to some milk this afternoon. This is what Bill saw when he looked down from upstairs. It was hard to be mad, because she looked so proud of herself.

Fixing the boats.

Abby and Libby's little fleet of boats saw some pretty serious duty this summer, first at Laverne Park, and then later at Silver Falls State Park. I built the boats out of scrap 2x4s last summer, and gave them coats of bright colors. They made their debut at our 4th of July camping trip to Tugman Park, and later appeared at Abby's 4th birthday party.

The boats were looking pretty ragged by the end of summer.



I've been really trying to keep busy, so on Saturday, I took some time to sand down the rough spots, and repaint.




I put a couple more hooks on the pegboard above the workbench to act as a drying rack.




All ready to go for next year!

Brendan and Jacob, (Kricket's cousin Carrie's sons,) have requested their own boats patterned after the yellow one. I'll get those made over the winter.

Camping in the tree house.

On Sunday, 9/5, Abby and I planned to spend the night in the tree house. The following day, we were headed to the Children's Museum, so it seemed very appropriate.



I used the same air mattress we'd used at Laverne Park, and at Silver Falls the previous weekend. However, it was too much for the mattress: at about 0130, I woke up to Abby and I lumped together in the middle of the bed, and it sagging a lot. I got up, and carried Abby up to her room, then came back out and got our gear.

She was a little confused about why she woke up in the house, but it didn't dampen her spirits at all. We ended up spending a little over six(!) hours at the Children's Museum.

We are a sad family today.

I've spoken to some of you directly, and you may have heard from our parents: We lost our new baby. Kricket and I found out at an ultrasound appointment on Thursday.

Kricket and I went in for her surgery early this morning. I had her back home and in bed by 9 a.m. She is safe and well, but very sore and very sad. I told the girls this morning. Libby is way too young to understand, and Abby is teary-sad.

Both of our moms are here helping out. Kricket is sleeping, and I'm keeping busy with yard work, and repainting Abby's little boats.

Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

-Bill

Abby's first day of Kindergarten!

Abby has been so excited about going to kindergarten for the last three weeks that she could hardly stand it. This morning, we went to the daycare and watched her and her friends Jeramaya and Weston off on their first day of school. I have just a few minutes until the "Boo Hoo Breakfast" for kindergarten parents starts, so I thought I'd get the pictures up.

All ready to go in the outfit she picked out herself.

Weston, Abby, Jeramaya, and Libby.

...and Mrs. Tank.

Libby, who seems to be growing up too fast, too.

Waiting for the bus.

One more picture.

Off she goes.

Ice maker!

Bill finally hooked up the ice maker in the refrigerator! I know that may not sound like much, but we've been in this house for two years this weekend (we moved in Labor day weekend 2008) and it's been on the "to do" list since that time. It's finally done and we're loving having ice cubes. Hehehe.