Christmas tree!

Yay, December is here. I couldn't wait to get a Christmas tree, so the first weekend in December, we headed for Lee's farms in search of the perfect tree. Here are Bill and Libby surveying the prospects.
It was sooo cold. We bundled up the kids, but everyone was freezing anyway.

Libby wanted to find a tree all on her own.

I loved this one!

The girls weren't sure that it was the perfect one, yet.


Santa came out to pick out a tree, too.


Finally, back in the warm car.

We go the tree home and started to decorate. We had to move all the decorations up so that Libby couldn't pull them off and eat them!


Abby putting the star on the tree!

Perfect!

Check ups!

Abby and Libby went in for their check-ups on December 4th. Abby had her 4 year-old check up complete with her first hearing and vision screenings. Libby had her 12 month check up.

Abby weighs in at 51 lbs and is 43 inches tall. She is taller and heavier than 90+% of kids her age.

Libby weighs in at 23 lbs 7.1 oz and is 30.5 inches tall. This puts her in the 80th percentile for weight and 85th percentile for height. However, her head is 47.7 cm around, putting her in the 95+ percentile for having a large noggin. She is definitely her daddy's girl!


Abby go all her shots for kindergarten (5 of them!), so now she'll be ready to go in September (even if I'm not). Libby got the rest of her infant shots (4 of them!). Both girls were really good and Grandma Delphine was very brave to come with us.

Working on the treehouse.

A few weekends ago I started building a treehouse in the back yard. I had to move the rally car alongside the deck to make room to work. As a consequence of the piles of wood I have stacked behind the Rabbit now, I have to finish the treehouse before I can get the car out again! Plenty of motivation.

The main span is about 11', using x2 2"x12" beams sandwiched on 4"x6" blocks that in turn are bolted to the trees using 3/4"x14" lag bolts. There is a notched "block" at the bottom of each of the 4"x6" blocks to keep them from twisting.

Last Sunday the weather was really nice, so I put together the treehouse frame on the deck. Let me be the first to tell you that a 8'x10' frame made of PT 2x8s is heavy!


After I was able to lift it into the vertical position, moving it was not so bad.

2 sheets of 3/4" plywood will cover a 8'x8' section, with the remaining 2' section (on the right side of the picture below,) will have Trex "leftover" from the deck project.



Using ratchet straps to keep it from getting out of hand, I was able to lever it up on the main beam.






A birds eye view:



Next will be to level it out and add in the bracing. After that, I'll put the plywood and Trex down and cover it with a tarp while I build the wall sections in the garage.

-Bill

Happy Thanksgiving!

We continued to tradition of the baby in the pot pictures this morning. Abby's getting a little big for the pot, but she was a great sport about it.
Libby loves having her picture taken.



By the end, Libby was pretty much done with this.



Happy Thanksgiving to all! For baby in the pot pictures of Thanksgivings past, check this out.

Libby's first birthday party!

Libby's first birthday party was a big success! The guest of honor did not melt down and cry, which is a huge plus for a birthday party. Here's Miss Libby getting ready to greet her guests.
Papa Bill reading to Abby before all the fun starts.

Kiera and Libby with the Tigger that Jacob and Brenden handed down to the girls. Kiera's birthday party was last weekend. She turned two and a great time was had by all. We have no pictures from it because we forgot the camera. Oops. Going to Kiera's party, we missed her Cousin Jacob's 5th birthday party and having Libby's party, we missed Cousin Matthew's 5th birthday party. November is a VERY popular month to be born in!


Vroom!

Libby and Mama hamming it up for the camera.


Grammy, Grandma Claire, Papa Bill, and Elizabeth visit during the party. Libby is a lucky girl, Grandma came from North Bend, Papa Bill and Elizabeth came from Eugene, Papa Art and Grandma Claire came from Corvallis, and Aunt Kathy and Uncle David came from Lebanon (by way of Salem to pick up Brenden and Jacob) all to celebrate her day.

Uncle E, Aunt Kathy, and Grandma.

Daddy telling a story to Papa Art.

Brenden having a snack.

Brenden, Elisa, Jacob, Abby, Emma, and Carly.

Carly the elfling. She turned a year in August, but Libby definitely outweighs her!

Libby and Papa Bill.

Aunt Kathy and Carly.

Kiera having a snack. I love the tights!

Papa Art, Grandma, and Jen.

Brenden, Jacob, Elisa, Abby, and Emma playing in the secret room.


Libby wanted to go upstairs to see what the big kids were doing.

Libby's "1st birthday" pin. I put it on the back of her dress, so she couldn't try to eat it.

Eric, Jen, and Kat.

Grandma Claire, Grammy with Libby, and Cousin Jess with Ella.

Loves for Grammy.

Ella wants to share.

Opening Libby's presents. Libby has a very short attention span, so by the end, I was doing it on my own.

Abby and Libby helping open presents.





Yay! Cake!

Hmm...let me check this out.

Oh, yeah, I remember this stuff.

Yum!


After having her cake, Libby had a bath. The tub looked like a chocolate massacre.

All cleaned up with my party hat on.

I am soooo pretty.

Daddy, Grammy, Abby, and Aunt Paula after things quieted down.

Look, I can spell.
Abby and Libby checking out the new toys. These are lots of fun.

Come on, let's play, Sissy.