The Place

You guys really haven't seen what we have done with this place. It was basically a pile of dirt when we started, and now we are pretty much finished. It is sad, sometimes, to think that it might go right back to dirt 6 months after we leave. We had a goodtime doing it, and it cheers you up a little just coming home to a real nice place. I don't have pictures of the back yard, but it is all grass and new bushes and trees around the perimeter. The lattice work behind the rose is Brendan's old patio cover. Thought you might be interested.

Love, Dad

Back to the Grind

Well, Kids, we are back to work. We really had a nice summer and got to see Granny and both sets of kids/grandkids. I wonder when we are going to be able to see any of New Mexico. We're getting close enough to leaving that we will have to plan for it specifically.

It was so good to see Ethan and Brian in Denver. I think the kids really had a good time, but then I really don't know what is going on in their worlds. I know that I had a good time, and Barbara did for sure. I'm not getting the hang of how to locate these pictures, but I guess I'll just have to practice. Thanks to all of you for your hospitality, and we'll see you soon.

Love,

Mom and Dad

She is free and she walks!

Things have been eventful around here too! Barbara is finally on summer vacation, and once again we are trying to figure out how to fit all the things we want to do in the time available. The school year now starts for her on August 6th, so time's a'wastin. She was really good with her crutches, and could get around on them faster than she could walk (probably still can), but she was cleared by the doctor to start putting weight on the ball of her foot, and to put it in a shoe whenever the diminished swelling would allow. Yesterday was a loose tennis shoe, and today, crocs. So she is on the way.

We have already planned the trip to Baltimore, from the 16 - 26 of June, closely followed by a trip to Denver, where Barbara will stay until the 15th. When she gets back, we need to go to Vancouver, but haven't settled on the dates yet. The only trouble is we will have to come back before Ethan's birthday.

By the end of June, I will have 8 projects under construction, with weekly meetings for each of them, located all over the region. Seeing all of you takes priority, though, so I just have to figure out how to make it happen.

Attached are a few pictures: the foot, the house, some flowers and cacti. Enjoy.

Barbara off to Vancouver

Well, folks, Barbara is off to see Lauren McKeldin Adams. We will spend Sunday in Albuquerque, and she takes a 7pm flight to Portland. Talk about excited - she has been going a mile a minute for the last week to get ready. When she gets back on Friday, we will be staying at the Quality Inn in Albuquerque for the weekend, visiting with the entire Olson-Adams-Falde congregation. Maybe Brendan and I will be able to fit a round of golf in.

Then on Monday is the surgery. Two weeks laid up in Crownpoint. If that doesn't challenge her sanity, nothing ever will.

Fixin' the Foot

Change in plans. She decided she couldn't stand it, so the operation is moved up to April 9. I'll change the calendar.

Fixing Grammy's Foot

On May 7th, Grammy is going to have an operation on her foot, to remove a bunion and fix her hammertoe. It won't take long to do the work, but the recovery isn't going to be much fun. She will pretty much lie around for 2 weeks, then she will be in a walking boot for another 4, so her trip back to Baltimore to see Great Grannie probably won't be until the end of June. I'll put it all on the calendar. She's not looking forward to it, so a great deal of sympathy will be appreciated, I am sure.

Papa's Birthday

Barbara and I had a wonderful time in Denver, celebrating my 60th birthday. Garret helped me make my cake -- we licked the spatulas and ate the batter out of the bowl. Megan got a picture of that excitement, which she may just post!! Another scintillating event was picking up dog poop from a lawn that has only recently become visible since December. Jameson thought it was his job to replenish the area as fast as we picked it up. Owen's hair is getting noticeably darker, and he can now say, "Papa," without growling. Grammy is still the favorite, though, as she and the boys played themselves to exhaustion.

We saw a house in Castle Rock that just might me "the one," if the pricing and timing are right. Right now, that is a pretty big IF. The drive up and back in a 3 day period was long, but uneventful, bolstered by Einstein bagels and Starbucks. The best part of the drive was getting "home" to Crownpoint, and having a melodious birthday song from Brian on the recorder.
Love to all, and thank you,
Dad