Ohio Pix II

Ohio Pix I

05 Recap

Well, we got back from Ohio to our house piled with junk and a zillion things needing done. It's kind of nice in a way to know that life probably won't be as chaotic as we go....eventually we'll get unpacked and eventually we'll get that shower working and eventually we'll both be able to park in the garage and eventually we'll get the table and counters cleared off enough to eat here.
We got lots of great Christmas cards but we were pretty lame about what we sent out (message-wise we didn't say anything) but at least we got it done.
So, 2005 ends tonight. Avery lost her first teeth, started kindergarten and is wonderful. Alec started talking, singing and saying prayers and is a stinker. Erin is doing awesome at work even though she's only supposed to work 3 days a week. Our cats are fat. I've got a studio and a big house with fun stuff to work on like electricity and gas lines. I ran for a couple months this year....hmmm maybe I should pick that back up tomorrow. Well, Happy New Year and Happy Anniversary to my folks (38 years and nobody's been poisoned yet!).
Pictures will follow.

Flaming Pines

Much Done

Today was a day that had tons of visible accomplishment. That's good, we need days like this. We moved lots and lots of stuff over, the kids had fun at my folks, I got a lot done for Sunset's Directory, and I got ready for teaching tomorrow. (By the way, 5th and 6th graders are awesome to teach the Bible to. They are ready to really get into it at a deeper level than Noah built the ark.) Anyway, now I'm beat but it's that good tired. I miss Avery and Alec though, it's too quiet and there's no broken glass to clean up or anything when they aren't here.

First Night on Maple

Tonight is the first night that we are all sleeping as a family at the Maple house. We still have a lot to do but we are getting there. It's been tough balancing photography, kids, holidays, birthdays, marriage, tiling, wiring, plumbing, cleaning, moving.....and God but somehow I've managed to watch tons of tv. Just kidding.
Tomorrow I've got a business meeting but I think Avery is getting sick again. We brought the cats over today so they would be used to the new place by the time we leave for Ohio for a week. That'll freak em out. I hope to take Avery back to the Dayton Art Museum like we did last year. That was a really special father/daughter outing for me. She's so cool about art, just like her mom.

Koolaid Wormhole

Avery's Gym Party

Avery's Cake

By the way, the last picture in the last post (the shot of Dan) was taken by Alec.

Avery's Birthday

Avery's Birthday was yesterday. She is already six and she was so excited....it was really cool. We are having a party for her on Saturday but we took her to Incredible Pizza and opened presents with my folks. My folks got her a REAL Bible with a leather cover and her name embossed and everything and she was totally thrilled. She said it was the best present ever.
Erin and I had gotten her a V-Smile which is like a Nintendo but you subconscously learn numbers and math and problem solving and stuff. It's that thing on that commercial where the kid says "can I go to bed Mom?" and she says, "as soon as you've finished playing your game" because it's supposed to make you so smart.
But Avery was way more interested in the new Bible and I held back from saying, "put your Bible down and try the video game!" because somehow that didn't seem like the message I should be sending her.
At Incredible Pizza she and Erin rode in one go-cart and raced me in another and I would have won too but they totally cheated and cut me off and drove in a reckless manner. I really think women shouldn't be allowed to.....well, I don't know how many people read this so I'll just stop there.

Filament

Brian

Brookline Website Work Party

Thanksgiving

I'm thankful for my new studio. And that Adam came by just in time to take a group photo with me in it.

Paul

This is Paul 15 years from now.

Commissioned Project

Sorry Adam, nobody appreciates that kind of freaky art. Don't cut off your ear.

M.C. Escher

Good Friends Make It Fun

Brief intermission

We are gutting our new house right now and I've got to do a ton of urgent stuff so....I'll have tons of photos to put up later. Bye the way, if you want to comment and it won't let you, just email me your comment and I'll quote you.