Aiden's first seder

(from the jojos archive)

He went to bed before we read the 10 plagues but he enjoyed the matzah.

We're home

(from the jojos archive)

Actually we've been home all week. Aiden got a 24 hour flu while in Fargo. I got it 2 days later but mine lasted 6 days. I finally started feeling better yesterday and today is the first day I've been able to eat regular meals in a week.
We had a good trip otherwise. Aiden has been on something like 16 flights by now. He was pretty good on all of them this trip. While hanging out in Madison he perfected his pincher grasp and now eats finger foods (Cheerios!) like a champ. In Fargo he waved bye bye for the first time to his great grandma. In Park Rapids he perfected that and learned to sit up from lying down. Now he does a funny crawl scoot to sitting manuever as he's trying to learn to crawl on his hands and knees. I think he may just skip that step and just work on standing though because he is pulling up on things and his balance is getting better.
We had great weather the whole trip and got to spend a bunch of time outside. When we got home the leaves had all come out on the trees and it felt like we'd been gone a long time.
New pictures added to the ofoto.

master's paper progress

(from the jojos archive)

Well, I guess the plan to get out of writing my master's paper is out. darn!"

home alone

(from the jojos archive)

Joanna & Aiden are traveling to see aunt Cailin, uncle David, grandma Nonna, grandma Gayla & grandpa Steve. Its just me and the animals for 10 whole days. The fam only left this morning and I already miss 'em. My tasks for this week: water the plants, feed the pets, get something to wear for my sister's wedding and... oh yeah... write my master's paper. Ugh.

I made a little progress on the paper today, but not much. I really need to get back into the writing groove again. Starting to write is something that's extremely hard for me for some reason. I've got an outline and about 8 pages written already (out of 30+). Once things start rolling again, I'm sure I can just crank it out, but its just getting over that initial writing inertia. Wish me luck.

April Photo Album

(from the jojos archive)

check out the April photo album on oFoto.

April

(from the jojos archive)

We've had some beautiful weather lately and we are finally all getting over our colds(sorta). This Sunday our buddy Jed came down from Hanging Rock State Park to hang out. We talked him into helping us get some gravel and mulch with his dump truck. Its very cool to have a friend who drives a dump truck around. Our flower beds thank him.
It has been so awesome that Jed has had seasonal work down in North Carolina over the 5 years we have lived here. I always looked forward to his phone call saying, 'I'll be back in NC for a few months, I'll see ya next weekend!' Hopefully western Pennsylvania's state parks need some trail work done too.