Blue Fauxhawk

Thanks for the subject line, Chris. I didn't know there was an official name for a pseudo mohawk. Thursday was the kids' last day of school, so Michael celebrated with some blue hair gel to go with the tie-dye shirts his class wore to the MN Zoo. I chaperoned the field trip, but this is the only photo I've got of it. You can't see the color or spike very well. Later, Michael stuck his head in one of the big fountains at the zoo which pretty much killed the 'do.
In other exciting news of this past week, we put back together the park bench I just refurbished. Perhaps because my projects usually end up unseemlier than I planned, I didn't think to get a 'before' picture. But I'll post an 'after' shot, because the bench actually turned out pretty good.
The metal was originally painted gray but had rusted, and most of the stain had worn off the wood. We took it apart, I spray painted the frame, and power sanded before staining and varnishing the wood. Ta-da. All without electrocuting or impaling myself.

Memorial Day tradition

Growing up we'd visit my maternal grandparents' graves at Fort Snelling National Cemetery on Memorial Day. I thought it'd be nice to do that yesterday, since I hadn't been out there in several years.Grandpa Haugh (who I never got to meet) was a Marine who fought in the Pacific during World War II. Grandma died when I was 5.

my closet exploded, and more

Last week I thought some hard core home organizing would be the perfect way to follow up our recent barf extravaganza. You know how every once in a while you feel motivated to attack a certain project, and you just have to go with it because a decade could pass before you feel that way again? It started with sorting all our old greeting cards (why'd we keep the ones from the realtor?) and turned into organizing every shelf, every nook & cranny, and the overstuffed filing cabinet. Nate & I realized we've lived in this house longer than any other residence since we got married, so maybe that's why the cleaning bug bit. I took this pic after Zachary destroyed my piles of junk:

On to the DWTS finale last night. I was pleasantly surprised to see Shawn take the trophy, although I guess I would've liked to see Melissa pull off the upset. I was sure Gilles the immodest Frenchie would win it, what with his legions of silly drooling female admirers. And male ones too, I suppose. Bleah.

And what's with the wacky weather? Apparently highs in the low 70's are the average right now, but you wouldn't know it. We had to turn the heat back on briefly this past weekend when I couldn't feel my fingers. Then, yesterday was 97. 93 forecasted for today. Weird. Really getting tired of all the wind lately, too.

We're counting down to the kids' last day of school, next week on the 28th. Yay for a 3 month break from homework!

'Cuz it's still the Easter season...

kids puke too much

That about says it all, doesn't it? Except that I'll go one further and say that Zachary was sick last week and today the older 3 decided it was their turn. It's May for pity's sake. This stuff should not be going around anymore. Parenting sure requires a masochistic trait. We purposely surrounded ourselves with 4 slobbering germ infested little people.
So, switching gears slightly, happy belated Mother's Day to you mom-types. Heh. When I was a kid, I thought it was truly unjust that there wasn't a "Children's Day," and my mom's explanation that "every day is kid's day" never satisfied me. Boy, was I a dolt. Okay, okay...done with that rant. I got some nice chocolate for Mother's Day, and some chocolate cupcakes, and the 'Kissing the Face of God' print that I've posted here before, and my kids are (mostly) healthy and happy and I can't really ask for more.

"The source and summit of Christian life"

Adrienne had her first holy communion this past Sunday, May 3.

Michael's band instrument will be...

...trombone! Today he met with the band teacher to choose his instrument. I'm not sure exactly what went into the selection process. Guess we have to trust the instructor's judgment. We weren't rooting for any instrument in particular, but Nate would've been able to offer Michael some pointers with the trumpet, having been Mr. Jazz band in high school. Oh well - three more chances for that when kids 2, 3, & 4 get around to joining band. Michael will have lessons for the first half of summer, and officially start band next year in 5th grade. Now, to buy used or rent...hmm...

3 people who hate painting

We recently tackled a home improvement project we'd been putting off. The basement walls were pockmarked and scratched, badly in need of puttying and painting. The baseboard trim was a subpar do-it-yourself job by the previous homeowners, so we decided to replace it. As for the paint color - the selection was a little tricky. We ended up using two colors as a compromise between adding some darker color for contrast and needing to keep the room light enough to be un-dungeony.

We roped my little brother Chris into helping us paint on the day after Easter, while grandma & grandpa watched the kids. He doesn't like it when I call him my little brother, but I was born first and it's a fact. Neener neener, Chris! Oh, but thanks for painting, and all...
Below we see Nate hard at work (the flash was on in this pic, the next one is sans flash). He also did all the staining & varnishing of the new trim, which you can see behind the furniture in the last pic. As you've undoubtedly guessed, the brown hue is called "flatland," and the lighter one is called "basketweave."

Nicky's interesting choice of sleepwear

Layering seems to be the lastest nocturnal fashion preference around here. Under the Larry Boy nightshirt is a manly Optimus Prime t-shirt, and jammie bottoms.

beast of burden

Bruiser: too long have we endured the loathsome antics of this perverse creature.

Knock over he does, his full container of kitty food all over the laundry room floor.

A scavenger, he stealthily glides through the house looking for crumbs to ingest, then seeks out carpeted floor upon which to ralph up his ill-gotten gains.

This week, the wretched beast's check-up cost $65. We learned we will be relieved of another $185 next week for teeth cleaning(&*%$!). No one told me we needed cat dental insurance.

I happened upon him a few weeks ago, repeatedly dipping his paw into the toilet and licking off the water. I was disturbed, yet impressed. Such a feat requires a minimal amount of intelligence that I had heretofore not assigned to him. Later, I discovered him swishing his paw around in the water glass I leave by the sink. My water glass. That I drink out of. Not impressed, only disturbed.

He always finds his way onto my lap before I realize I'm wearing the cat hair-magnet pants.

Last on this ever-growing list of grudges is his propensity to "meow" violently, and so very often.