really, what could be awesomer than that?

Our major outdoor project for the month of March has been to get the deck ready for some summer fun. So we talked about what we wanted to do and finally agreed we were ready to start. And then it rained. And then it snowed. And then kids were sick. And then I was sick. And then it rained some more. And, as so often happens with projects around here, this particular project took twice as long to finish as we had anticipated. But this past weekend we managed to finish the bulk of the work! And so, to refresh your memory, here is what our deck looked like shortly after we moved in...



And here is what the playset looked like...



And now...



This will be getting a fresh coat of paint soon, but we did go ahead and get the new cushions...

There are still a few things to finish...like some of the support beams underneath the deck still need to be stained. And we're going to be putting a few plants in pots on the deck. And the lower platform of the playset will be torn out. I really like the darker color, more than I thought I would. Jack likes it too. In fact, he was standing in the kitchen yesterday, looking out the window and remarked, "Wow, the playset looks awesome now! It's awesomer than a wet dog!!"

a change is coming

a star is born

Ryan's School of Theatre Training class ended yesterday with a showcase for the parents.  The students performed 2 plays and each student also performed a monologue.  Ainsley was very quiet and attentive during the first play and first couple of monologues, but decided she was ready to leave during the first part of the second play, so I had to take her out of the room.  Yesterday was a crazy day here and in our haste to make it to the performance on time, we left the video camera at home and the other camera in the car.  However, Doug was able to capture Ryan's monologue on his Blackberry...the quality isn't outstanding, but it's a great performance! 

Now, if we could just get him to learn how to button his shirt...

  

2009, for me, so far (guest blog by ryan miller)

Hey everybody! Ryan here. And I think I ought to share my side of the first 2 months of a new year.

First off, I got my second semester schedule for school ( Ha, new tongue twister, folks!) And I can really say I don't like it that much. I have Keyboarding as a subject now, and I can say with conviction that I don't like my Keyboarding teacher one freakin' bit. His name is Mr. Dunston. and he is really strict. This is my first day in his class:

( We just walked in. Enter Mr. Dunston.)

Mr. Dunston: Hello everyone. I'm Mr. Dunston ( he looks around at the class) I can say I think this will be my best class this year. ( Looks around again and smiles a smile that plainly says: Oh goody, Fresh meat!)

Hmmmmmmmm not quite reassuring...

I could make a list a mile and a half long on complaints about Mr. Dunston, but I must press on.

I have read some pretty good books since my last birthday and I must say that since Harry Potter ended :(, my all time fav right now is The Phantom Tollbooth. It's pretty much like Alice in Wonderland but this time it's a boy and he enter a strange land through a tollbooth not a rabbit hole. It's really funny. Or should I say, a funny play on words such as:

- the Watchdog is a dog with a clock on his side

- The Spelling bee is a bee that spells pretty much everything he says.

- The Whether man, who decides if something will happen or not.

- The Mathmagician does trick having to do with math

Aunt Holly gave it to me for my 11th birthday and so I must say thanks again.

I am FINALLY taking a serious career in acting, ( two plays coming up. 8 performances of one of them!) I just hope that I don't forget my lines in front of the audience!

And I FINALLY got contact lenses!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am soooooooooo happy! at last!

All in all a pretty good year so far. Thanks for reading! Bye!

- Ryan Miller

snow day

I cannot tell you how thrilled the kids were when they woke up this morning to SNOW! And an honest-to-goodness SNOW DAY! With enough snow to actually PLAY in!! By 8:00 am they were begging me to go out...because they know that snow doesn't hang around here very long. So we went out early. Emily started to shake the branches on the tree to make it snow again, while Ryan and Jack started in right away with the snowballs...

I sure hope this poor tree bounces back...

Jack couldn't wait to make a snow angel!

Emily sits atop her giant snowball...

Ainsley was very excited about the snow...oh, except she didn't want to step in it. Or touch it. Basically, she just wanted one of us to hold her. Maybe next time...

We played outside for about 45 minutes or so and then the sun started to come out. By this afternoon, most of the snow in our yard had melted, but the big hill in the Erb's backyard still had snow, and they invited us to go sledding. By the time we were through, the kids were sledding down a hill of snow into a giant puddle of mud, but no one seemed to mind. Finally, a fun snow day!

and daddy's little helpers

The best part of this trip was when Ainsley walked past the uniformed police officer pushing her little cart with only beer in it.  Classic.

8:00 pm and it's still coming down...

We may actually have a real snow day tomorrow!