a guy turns ten

Today's the day!  This guy is ten!

The puppy June is after the remote control dinosaur we gave him for Christmas.  That purple haze is a bit of mist--it's just water, but right in the face?  She didn't care.

No idea what's so funny, but I love his laugh.

The tree is quite gorgeous.

So is this.  Apparently it took most of a day to build, and I believe that.  It is impressive.

Looking good, and a good looking cake too:

The kid in front with the pony tail is from next door.

While we were there another neighborhood child came tapping at the back door in the dark and bitter cold.  I let her in.  There are so many kids in their neighborhood.

This was a fun way to end a beautiful, cold Saturday.  The snow has stopped and the night air is strangely quiet other than the snowplows roaring by now and then.

And you, Mr. Ten, are a beam of sunshine, big smile, mop of curly hair.  Ten years of you has been a riot, so much fun watching you grow into the astute, engaging person you are.

Pretty sure the next ten years will be just as fun.

Happy Birthday with love for always,  Grandma and Grandpa and Everybody
 

the end of 2021

Got the blankets back over the couch.  

Cheesy rice and broccoli in the crockpot:

And then this was dropped with a big bang.

 

It's all right.  If we really get ambitious we can make more. There are plenty of Christmas cookies left anyway.

This guy is new this year:

This Christmas tree is not new. On the bottom it says, "Merry Christmas and thank you from the Thompsons, 1973."  It was a gift to Jay's parents from their neighbors almost fifty years ago.

And this brings us to tonight, the last day of this very long, strange year.  There's plenty to be grateful for, and plenty to be sad about too.  

Heading into the new year with hope for a great year, hoping 2022 will be a friend.

Love, Val

standing by

So, he's installing a door knob.  Doesn't seem like a super huge job, or a thing that would require a large dog to be in the way, but there you go.

I heard him bitching at her about get in or get out, go downstairs.  Apparently she found a spot to tuck herself nearby.

After the doorknob, I found them.  Dog on the couch and him in his workclothes, also on the couch. I took off the blankets I normally have over them--took them off for the holidays.  They're going back on tomorrow.  It's fine for now, but the couch, long term, will not survive all this, and I do love this couch, which is sad.  It's easier if you don't love the furniture.  Kirsten found us this and came along on the adventure to pick it up, and I am forever grateful.

And this, oh my god:

See that wet spot?  That's because this enormous dog sucks on the couch cushion like a little nursing baby.   Psssht. I really wish she wouldn't do this.

Here we have her on top of another project Jay's working on.  Ready.

I don't think sending her downstairs is going to work.

He told me he's never had a dog before that was his.

He didn't seek this out either; he agreed to her because I missed Sam so much. She decided whose dog she is.
 

There you go, buddy:  Your own dog.

I love you both, Val

family christmas party

A few of these pictures are from Christmas Day.   Everyone in this family was so tired only Joe and Heidi ventured over here to eat with us in the afternoon, and it was pretty quiet.

Sunday was the family party, and it seems like the grandkis definitely had their energy back.

Elin did well with the two puppies here, Lilo and June.  She was cautious and interested, watched them tussle around.

What a beautiful weekend.

So much love, Val, aka MOM, aka GRANDMA