It's about to get messy

Kitchen offloading...





pretty much complete.

Let's go fly a kite

Or, if the wind isn't really happening, we can run around for a while, eat a picnic lunch, and call it a day.

First Days

Toddler Wily began school last week. She's on a partial schedule, but it's still long enough that Eric has wondered what to do with his time!

As with Jeneric, we asked Toddler Wily what she wanted to be when she grew up:

She packed her bag with the essentials - blanket, pillow, stuffed bear, and Hello Kitty sunglass case:

Classic Toddler Wily:

Arriving at school:

And away we go:

Admittedly, the first day was rough. The teachers said it was good for a first day - which meant lots of tears, moping and general sadness. In the intervening days, the crying has subsided (mostly), she's playing (sometimes), and looks forward to going (sort of).

Kitchen Remodel

Step 1: get organized. Jeneric was keen to try out the three hole punch and help get all our paperwork in order.

First, punch the holes. If you punch the wrong edge of the paper, just turn it around and punch again.


Second, put in binder.


We're thinking of hiring her for our general contracting work, too.

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It appears I mislead our readers - we do not have a picture of Jeneric's erstwhile snowman. Picture a 1-foot tall snowman and you have the general ideas.

Also, in response to a comment question, the girls enjoyed the middle of the asparagus as the top was too charred and the bottom too chewy.

Here and then gone

That's the way spring has happened around this midwestern town. We get glimpses and then winter resumes. I cannot say with any confidence that the snow is gone - it seems gone, but then, it might just snow on the kite festival this weekend.

We have celebrated the small moments of spring, and someone even attempted to celebrate the most recent snowfall with a wee snowman. Pictures of that tomorrow. But first, the spring.


We finally purchase a grill. The girls are fascinated with eating grilled food and eating outside. Hope that continues into the kitchen remodel that is fast approaching.





Jeneric has remained a productive artist, despite the warming temperatures that beg for bike rides.





This is a ghost mask and it currently resides in a front window that Jeneric occasionally uses to scare visitors.

Art Adventures

During the last bit of cold, the girls broke out the finger paints - and since the kitchen is slated for remodel this summer, we threw caution to the wind and let them go nuts on the floor.



Jeneric's pictures. On the left, she painted a rocket ship, planets and the moon. On the right is her interpretation of the Northern Lights, which she is hoping to see this summer.


Toddler Wily decided to paint her hands and then press them onto the paper. Finger painting, quite literally.

Flood

Many have expressed concern over the impending, record-setting flood of 2011. The waters crested Saturday evening at approximately 39'. Our town had more than enough dikes and diversions to protect the populace. Folks to the north (i.e., downstream) have not been as lucky. For them, it is the worst flood ever.

We took a walk last week to investigate what we could - without breaking any local or federal laws. The girls were interested but cautious.



The city is trying out a Norwegian innovation, Aqua fences, but clearly don't trust them as they placed a clay dike immediately behind this fence.

Taken Thursday evening	Taken Sunday morning

Looking straight down Elm Street. It will take a few weeks before this road reopens.


And on the way home, Jeneric shows us how she's grown since last fall, running at full tilt and pulling the wagon - all the way home.