Horse Manure Park

We had a little birthday party for Ava last weekend at Grandma and Grandpa's and then another one tonight for her "official" 5th birthday.  I can't believe how fast five years can go by.  She really liked her presents and the cake was great too! Grandma lighting the candles... Makin' a wish and blowing 'em out (Ava decorated the cake!) Look at all the smoke! She was excited to get the Disney Princess doll collection! Mom and Grandma having coffee (Ava's picture) A picture of cousin Nora on the computer screen (Ava's picture) Her cake on her "official" birthday, including chocolate on the lip! Neil enjoys parties too, he doesn't care whose birthday it is... Ava got a music box - look at that concentration trying to figure out how it works... On a related note, five years ago tonight I was driving home after being awake for about 32 hours.  My first child had just been born, my wife was okay, baby was okay a...

Today was a very busy day.  We got all new appliances this afternoon and everything seems to be installed and running correctly.  But what a difference it has made to the look of our kitchen! Look!  An oven that works and a fridge that doesn't leak! Look!  A dishwasher that works right! Look!  A washer and dryer that actually cleans and dries on the first try! Yes, it may seem like a big splurge (actually, it was), but each of our old appliances was about five years old before we moved in.  And we've lived here since January 2001.  So it was time. In other news, I've got my laptop back and it is working better than ever.  James at Brainerd Computers worked his magic yet again.  That's a relief. Lastly, we have given Ava her own camera (an old one we used to have).  We've let her go crazy with the picture taking lately and every now and then I will publish some of her better or more interesting shots.  Some of them ...