Croquet with Grandpa

Emily and Papa this summer. I think that I secretly thought that this is what being a parent would look like everyday: the sweet child in a flowing sundress playing calmly with her grandfather. Mmm, not so much.

Who needs the animals?

Kate enjoying Claudia enjoying the zoo in Omaha.

Daddy has a head

Emily recently started drawing recognizable human figures. Well, recognizable as humans, not as specific people. Granted they are a little top-heavy with only arms and legs attached to a center head, but on the plus side they are quite svelte. This one is Daddy.

And yes, every picture we take of Emily has that smile.

The Belmond gang

Krista, Kyle, and Emily taking in lunch at Pizza Ranch.

Emily and Daddy working on the car

I love this picture. There is Em in her overalls helping Daddy fix the Saab. Lucky for me (or maybe not) we drive cars that require work on a regular basis.

Claudia and Claudia

This is my Claudia with her namesake. The older Claudia is a sweet girl from Minnesota that I once nannied for and the reason, I'm sure, that Claudia was such an attractive name for us.

Halloween, just developed

Life without a digital camera. Just got the Halloween pictures developed. The top one is all the cousins together. From left to right: Erin (3 years), Emily (3 years), Evan (13 months), Ryan (9 years), Claudia (6 months), Kyle (5 years).

The bottom one is Emily, wide-eyed as Dorothy, and Claudia, as a very cowardly lion. Looks a lot like the visit to Santa.

The Spirit of Christmas

Claudia has all of the Christmas that she can take this year.

Christmas Pictures, Take 3

I'm afraid this might be the best we can do this year.

Christmas Pictures, Take 2

Um, better, but still not Christmas card material.

Our new house... in the dark

I know, I know, most people take pictures of their homes in the light of day. Not us. Here is how are new house would look if you drove by it at night. Don't ask.



This is the north side of the house showing the living room on the main floor and one window from each of the girl's rooms upstairs. The far left, on the main floor, is the office and the far right is the enclosed front porch.

This is the south side. The big window on the main floor is the dining room. The one to the right of that is the kitchen.

This is the south side again but taken a little more to the west. It is the dining room window and the enclosed front porch.

Now you should all be able to come see us and have no problem finding the house... as long as it is dark.