Swim Season

Darren had a great high school swim season. He focused on the 200 and 500 Freestyle events this year and finished up going to High School Sections where he had a 6th place overall in the 200 and 3rd in the 500 - breaking through the 5:00 minute barrier to swim his personal best 4:58.63 in finals. He missed qualifying for the state meet by just .5 sec.

our boys

Finley's a really happy baby with some wild hair...he's learned to crawl, so that mean's making the house baby proof again. Keegan likes the computer games...even Freeverse solitaire...welcome another lefty!

Michael Land, guest recitalist at JC

Here he is in action. Five of us from Prentice Landing were there to enjoy Michael's recital at Jamestown College last Thursday. He played a challenging program very well, and the audience, including college students and faculty, Grandma's friends, relatives from Kulm, and various other music lovers, was impressed. A favorite moment for some in the crowd was when Michael "pounded" on the piano for the percussive effect indicated by composer Piazolla in his "Tango Suite". Some reported that piano professor Dr. William Wojnar (not able to be present) would have been very concerned for the beloved Steinway.

A reception was provided by Grandma Edie, and Austin and Jeff poured the lemonade and water. Wow, those things they are learning in college!
After his brilliant performance, Michael had a big hug for his hairdresser. She hasn't had much practice doing ponytails on her children's hair, but the "do" seemed to hold up for the occasion.

BIGLOO MEETS THE BIG THAW

Well, the large pile of snow in our back yard is but a hollow shell of it's former greatness.

Other than a few hold-outs in the shadows on the north side of houses, the snow is about gone in Bloomington. Over 50 last Saturday and 60+ today.

I was tempted to sit in it for a photo, but it's pretty soggy in there.

New stairway

My latest home project was to replace our stairway to the basement. We'd remodeled the kitchen at the top of stairs and basement below, but the steps themselves were a sorry sight. And once I had everything ripped up, why not add some beadboard to the walls and a boot nook just inside the door? We also reconfigured the landing from a precarious wedge shaped step to a full landing. Here's some before and after pics. Of course Keegan enjoyed "helping" and we even found some coal under the old stairway.

hawaii

Anders and I finally got to go to Hawaii for our belated honeymoon. It was excellent to get away from winter for a week in February! We spent a significant amount of time hiking, at the beach, at the pool, and eating fresh fish!

One of the non-highlights was the non-tsunami. We had to spend the day evacuated to a local baseball field where we anticipated a 2 centimeter "wave". I was mostly glad that the island wasn't wiped out and we got to enjoy the rest of our time there.

We didn't take very many pictures but here are a few:
Tree Tunnel Road: a 3 mile road completely lined by Eucalyptus trees- making a tree tunnel
Hiking Wiamea Canyon at Koke'e state park
Anders and I at the Botanical Garden, where they grow every house plant you have ever seen