Getting to know your neighbors

Our neighborhood had it's 3rd block party since we lived here. Michael and I have watched the neighborhood turn over close to three times with new families. This event was the best yet. Food, fun and fellowship. Pets were welcome as well as musical instruments. Kids were everywhere and after they were put to bed some of the stragglers hung out over a glass of wine to gather and sing some John Denver tunes together. It seems we on Dupont have hit a high when it comes to having nice neighbors who care about their neighborhood and what goes on around them. I personally think it's a good thing to know who your neighbors are especially when in the dead of winter we can't get our cars released from those awful snow drifts. I also learned some new things about my neighbors. One is an OB/GYN doctor, one is a very talented guitar player, and having brand new neighbors right next door I had an opportunity to introduce myself and get to know them better. All good. We won the honorary award for the longest resident on the block at 29 years. Not sure if thats good or not but everyone else enjoyed it. They wanted to know what the neighborhood looked like in "the dark ages".

That Toddling Town

Went to Chicago last weekend and had a much different experience from the last time. Weather was about 20 degrees cooler, "Mr Ed", Michael's college buddy Ed R met us downtown for lunch at the oldest restaurant in Chicago called The Berghoff, German cuisine run by now 5th generation family. We stayed in a Comfort Inn in downtown Chicago rather than in one out by the airport and enjoyed a two room suite with kitchenette.  I highly recommend it. I really think the town never sleeps. We went to the Science Museum which was more educationally and historically oriented that the one here in St. Paul and in the evening we took in the sights. I had to admit even after 31 years of marriage it was quite the romantic evening taking a walk along one the streets that go over the Chicago river and enjoying all the night life. We decided to return another time. Being so busy with the orientation for my new job has been so exhausting in so many ways that spending the evening viewing the skyline from the 24th floor of our hotel room (definitely not for the vertically challenged), staying up past midnight, something I don't get to do anymore (you'd have to be me to really understand that) and walking along the boardwalk of the Chicago River with Michael really was a nice way to spend the weekend and time away from "brain" work. Enjoy the pics.




                                                            



    

Betty the Boop

"Eat your heart out, McDonalds!"

Recently after visiting my 89 yr-old mother I found a picture book that one of her friends gave her after moving to San Diego last year. There were many pictures of my mother with friends from Mainstreet where she lives. I couldn't resist posting a few. Her cancer doctor told her at her last visit that he and her primary doctor are placing bets on how long she will live since she has so many medical issues and keeps on ticking. She is such a "Timex watch".



Cards, cards, cards (notice the sucker)!

my birthday!

Life With Bandit

Bandit continues to amuse us or in some cases annoy us. For the first time, he got a hold of a full toilet roll. I was, as usually the case, on the computer and I heard him growling and barking in the living room. I didn't pay much attention because he does this fairly frequently with bones that I get from the butcher, not to mention that I really needed some time to myself. I usually let him have them outside until he totally cleans them off and then we have them stored in his toy basket (is this a toddler or what????). After about 10 minutes Bandit joined me at my feet in the computer room. Meanwhile  Michael comes down from upstairs and I hear him yell "Christine What the heck is going on?!" I come rushing into the living room only to see the living room has been t-peed by the dog. I couldn't stop laughing and my "Doom & Gloom hubby" keeps saying, "I don't see the humor in this". As I fell onto the couch from laughing I realized that it was just what I needed after a long day of work. I can only say God works in wonderful & mysterious ways! Laughing feels sooo good sometimes! Unfortunately I didn't take a picture so I put this one in of him after getting stung by a bee (he tends to leave them alone anymore).



Bandit's swollen lip. No more bees for him!

Another Odd Pic

I love looking around in my environment for interesting pictures to take esp. when I am traveling. When I went to Indiana for the annual Starnes family reunion I didn't take any pictures because it's always the same people, same place, same food, etc. etc. Michael asked me if I took pictures this year and I said only one. Unfortunately it was at the airport and there aren't any Starnes's for Fiedlers in it but it's another one I can add to my collection in interesting and odd pictures (if you click on the picture you can see a closer look at the little people and if you listen REAL close you can hear them squeeking out, "hurry, we're late for our flight!". I think I'll start an album!



At least they aren't in a landfill!

Birthday Time

Happy birthday Karen. Sometimes I wish I could stop time but of course it's not to be. Loved ya then and love ya now! Have a great 29th!!! Mom  :)

Aiden

enjoying a snack (first time having a pretzel I believe)

I got to babysit today even though I'm not a grandmother (yet). Daniel has a friend that has a little boy and she was in a pinch so he called me and the rest is history. I told Daniel since he was my youngest child he never really had to learn to share his toys so this would be his chance to do that. I rounded up some of his Hot Wheel cars, his legos and some books and I got busy having fun with 18-month-old Aiden. Had forgotten that children that age have the attention span of an ant so I decided not to worry about the mess that would inevitably fill my living space. He has a pretty good grasp of language even though he calls every female mom. I didn't mind knowing that he has full knowledge of who his mother really is. Following are some pics I took of our time together. Enjoy.



 Lego fun

of course we had to try out the piano



gettin' tired