Visitors

Jay, Jessica, and Joseph are visiting this weekend. Yesterday we explored the aquarium and went to a great seafood restaurant for lunch.

The grown ups had an evening to themselves and dined at the Dahlia Lounge, one of our very favorites. Peking Duck, Halibut, homemade doughnuts, and creme caramel were some of the yummies on the menu.

More pictures to come after our journey to the tulips and Whidbey Island today.

Nic's First Haircut

Tonight we got rid of Nic's Aryan hair (as Cousin Renee and Jake would describe it).










Long gone is the hair that sticks up three inches off the top of his head in a slight breeze.












The bubbles were a great distraction when the 'bang cut lady' brought out the buzzer for around his ears.









Nic did such a great job and came away with a great haircut. He and Nora were rewarded with quarters and went on all the rides.

Little Cheesehead

Nic is really into hats. Especially this one.

Planting the Veggies - Part 2

Today we finally got the first set of veggies planted. April, Jake, Renee, Cooper and Nora planted lettuce, radish, broccoli and carrots. Good thing we had a horticulturist there to make sure we didn't screw it up. Nora will be able to keep close tabs on the plants because she has a perfect view of the new beds from her bedroom window.

Peas and beans are next, but the seed company recommends waiting until later in the spring before planting.

Raised Garden Beds

We've decided to turn the dog run on the east side of our house into a vegetable garden. The project started in earnest a couple of weeks ago, when Nora and I made the run to Home Depot to pick up the lumber.

We made two 4'x8' beds out of untreated cedar. It smells great, and should hold up reasonably well in the wet weather.

Next we had to fill them with something. April went to the nursery nearby and ordered a yard of topsoil/compost mix. When they came to deliver it a few hours later, the truck got stuck in the squishy turf in our backyard. They eventually made it out, but only after leaving two massive 6" deep ruts in the yard.

Two weeks later, we have finally had some decent weather. April, Nora and I took turns scooping the topsoil into the wheelbarrow and we finally got the boxes filled. It took about 12 trips with the wheelbarrow to fill one box.

There's only one more thing left to do: plant the seeds! We should finally be done by this afternoon.

In memory of Great Grandpa Maxwell

This morning we heard that Nic and Nora's Great Grandpa Maxwell had passed away during the night last night. He was 97 years old.

April is headed to Indianapolis tonight to attend the memorial services with her family.

Below are some pictures of Nora's first visit with Great Grandpa Maxwell, in December of 2004. Nora was 2 months old.