Dancing Dave!!!

Again....where to start...Let's start at the very beginning..is a very fine place to start..when you read you begin with..............OH, sorry I got carried away!!
Anyways on Friday Lukas came for a little visit. We were having some stones delivered and we went outside to watch as they were making there way up the driveway. He was very taken with the BIG TRUCK!!!

That is until I tried to get his picture in the BIG TRUCK!!!

So, then I had to climb......and that is a heck of a climb.......up into the BIG TRUCK with him!!

He was much happier on the deck watching the stones fall out of THE BIG TRUCK!!

After watching the BIG TRUCK....(are you sick of that yet?) it was time to play in the pool for a few minutes. I was sure he was going to love it but I think the water may have still been a little too cold....so we played around the pool!!

Sure it looks like an innocent face!!??!!? And usually it is.......

What you thought the next picture was going to be of him getting into mischief.....so why would I have proof of anything like that....and, if I did I would keep it for bribing him at a later date!!!

This is proof of how much pollen we have in the air and all around here. But, it sure makes for a cute picture of someones footprint!!

What was going to happen with all those stones???

Behind the house is a mess...and it has been for quite sometime..... We couldn't come to an agreement on what to do with it. Well, Dave got tired of us making no decision and said....GET THE STONES, or else!

I was very frightened and ordered them up!!
On the left side of the pic is the before and the right is the after......I pulled all the grass and weeds, and trimmed the bushes......

Then he hauled..and hauled...and hauled some of the stones....

and when the day was almost done......this is as far as we had gotten!!!

This is the best that I could do to prove that he was not the only one working......one red sweaty face!

And......if I would put that pic up why would I not put up this video!!
I could have held on to this video or I could post it for your enjoyment!!! Obviously, I decided it was way more important that you enjoy it, than if it would embarrass someone!!!

Come on you know it was worth it!!

Later in the day when we could not move one more stone, and Jesse and Amy and Lukas came back from up north. They were there for a bike race and a visit with family. Jesse had some trouble with his knee but was still able to pull a 2nd place finish ( you will have to ask him.) We headed over to Sarah's. One of the reason's was to check out her new lawn mower. Lukas even went with to help her pick it out!! This is him trying to help g-pa!!

Ummmmm...g-pa aren't these things supposed to be over my ears???

Someone said dinner was ready so it was up the stairs they came! We enjoyed a nice pizza on the deck. Sarah is doing a lot of yard and deck work. It is so nice there and she is working hard. Some new plants, wood chips, and staining are all well underway!! Hopefully she will get a lot of use out of it this summer!!

Lukas was watching Charlie through the screen door.....and maybe mommy and daddy too!!

And.......then he wanted in!!!!!

Amazing what a little cooling off will do for the attitude isn't it!!! He had a ball in aunt Yaya's tub getting all the sunscreen and sweat off!!!

All in all we had a great weekend. We still have a whole C#@) load of stones to move and weeds to pick but we can pick away at it.
We also had a nice dinner on Saturday with our friends Tom and Ann Hahn. They have just returned from a trip to Malaysia, where they will be moving in August!! :( :( At least for the next 2 years that is.......

Well, there ya go all caught up!!!

Frogger!!

I promised an update on some art at a garden with a friend!!

Tana and I went to the Meijer Garden to see the Chihully exhibit. I LOVE his stuff.

I am trying to figure out how to get some of this into my woods!?!?

They wouldn't miss it RIGHT??

I think these were my favorites and I am sure that if about 20 of them were in my woods it would be a great addition!! And when a bowl is $5000. how much could it be?!?!?!

Thanks, Tana for a nice time at the garden and lunch!

Lukas must be a little relieved that he can just rest and not have to guest blog today. We had a busy day playing in the yard. It was a very hot and humid day so I was glad his swingset is in the shade. I was surprised that he wasn't too thrilled with the sprinkler....maybe the water was a little cold. Afterwards he was ready for a nap. I love watching him snooze.....at one point he sat up said yah...and rolled over into this position. Normally he sleeps in his bed but today I put him on the floor. Grandma's little froggy!!

Speaking of frogs......see how I worked in the video and the title....sometimes I just kill me!! LOL :)

Sorry, I digress.....g-pa and aunt yaya introduced Lukas to a little frog they found in the yard.

Disclaimer: No amphibians were injured in the making of this video!!

Apology: Sorry, mommy for letting him put his froggy finger in his mouth!!!

Always the little helper, he walked all the way down the drive to bring up the trash container.

On the way back he had a little conversation with the bear g-pa carved out of a old tree trunk.

This week is a lucky week as he is coming for a visit again on Friday....whoo hoo.

On the owlet front we still hear them during the day and in the evening. Both seem to be about halfway down the drive and to the north. Dave spotted them 2 nights ago but we haven't been able to see them since!!

Video update!!

OK, I get it ....thank Lukas for taking on some of the responsibility of the blog. He always does such a nice job, maybe he should just take over all the time......well, maybe not that is a lot to ask of the little guy!! While at our house the other day g-pa introduced him to the owls.

This is one of the videos that Lukas told you about in his blog. The owlet fell out of the tree into the yard and now it had to decide which tree to go back up!!

I think when they walk they look like a southern belle lifting up there hoop skirts!! Just my opinion.

Finally figured out which tree it liked and up it went!!

Back to Lukas .......you knew it was going to happen!!! He spends time working on his fitness here at the house.

I am constantly amazed at how quickly he is picking up words. He is talking all the time. I don't even know how many words he can say. When we were out for dinner the other night he said avocado!! He was eating them and I ask him to repeat the word. I think it surprised everyone at the table when he said it.......too cute for words. He even had all the syllables right!! That's my boy. He also likes to read and be read to. If there is a blank spot here it is because I may have maxed out my upload limit!!!!

There I feel so much better.....I am almost caught up. I will have one more about a great time I had with a friend at a place with some art !!

Catching up for g-ma!!!

So someone has been a bit delinquent in her blogging responsibilities so I had to sign in and take over again!! I have to warn you that it may be a bit jumbled as g-ma let a lot of

interesting happenings go unreported!! I could tell you about my visit to her house on Friday but it was a little of...same ole same ole!

On Sunday the whole family gathered at Fort Custer so that dad and g-pa could get some big training miles in and the rest of us could hang at the lake. It was a beautiful day and aunt yaya took me down for a little test of the water temps.

After a little splashing around we headed back to the shade.
I am really glad she carried me and saved my tootsies from the sand!

I tried to give g-pa some training tips before he headed out for his ride. HELLO g-pa are you listening!!!

Well, you can't say I didn't try. So off they went and I got down to the important issue......snack time!!!! No I was not chowing on the chex mix...I had some cranraisins!!!

After a couple hours of riding they stopped for a break and to re-fuel. Once again I tried to offer some training tips. I was pointing out the proper trail etiquette.

WOW!!! Dad that is some really scary hair!!!!


They finished the ride and g-pa and I had a post training conversation. I offered him some of my juice but he declined!!

G-pa was so tired that he wanted some help getting his shoes off. I know that is a LOT to ask of me.....but , I try to be helpful.

SERIOUSLY!!!! G-pa have those things EVER seen the light of day??!!

Afterwards everyone wanted to cool off a little so I suggested we head down to the lake for a dip!! Mommy helped me get my feet wet to start with. Then I headed out to g-pa for a little splashing!

Daddy made sure that I was safe in the water and didn't go too deep. Not like I would have....it is only the middle of May here and the water was still a bit chilly!!!!

We left the lake and headed out for dinner at Don Pablo's in Battle Creek...aunt yaya has those pics but you can take my word for it.....It Was GOOD!! We had an awesome day and it was nice to be together!

This is where we jump back in time. Like I said g-ma hasn't been good about blogging so I have to catch you up. While at the house the owlets were checking out the world outside the nest box and g-pa took me out to see them. They really are cool.

/I heard through the grape vine that the owlets left the box on Friday night. On Saturday g-ma got this picture of Hootie near the yard keeping and eye on the owlets!!

She and g-pa had been doing a lot of yard work and they were looking out for Fred or Ginger all morning. G-pa even got a warning hoot from Hootie at one point. I wasn't there but I was told that just as they finished they looked up and there was Fred.

Then later Sat. night g-ma noticed this out the kitchen window. One of the owlets had fallen out of the tree and landed near her newly planted flowers.

It waddled across the lawn and g-ma got this video of it climbing back up the tree!! And you would be seeing it hear if........you know the drill!!! GRRR

Another bit of news.......G-pa sent some pictures and the video of Fred and Ginger having lunch to a couple of the local TV stations. It is the one that she posted on her blog the other day. Channel 17 had some of the pics on their weather report last night. And tonight G-pa came home from work and told us that channel 13 had messaged him to say they were going to run the video and wanted some more info on the owls.
Mom and I rushed home so we could see them on TV.

Now don't tell anyone but I may have hooted at the TV while the story was on!!! And maybe....just maybe I went and got all my stuffed owls to show mommy!!!

Once again I was glad to fill in for g-ma....I just wish she would make sure to keep up on this stuff so it is not so much work for me!!! See ya soon.

Fred and Ginger update....5-22-10

I know I have been a little lax this year in the owl updates, I think it may have something to do with having a little someone that has my heart. Can you guess who that is???? Without a doubt I will have an update on him soon too!!! :) :)

On with the update!! Two days ago one of the owlets ventured out onto the nest box opening. I will say this is Fred as the name comes first. We had a little stare down.

I think he won!!

Later that day both Fred and Ginger came out for a look at the goings on!. I am always intrigued with their legs.....funny looking little things!!

The braver they get the farther out they will come. As you can see they both made it to the perch. Seems that we never know how long they will stay at the box and when they will take off. This night after dark I kept hearing the tell tale screeching from one of the babies. It sure sounded like it was coming from more near the creek and not the box. Then it started to rain, and it rained all night. Between the hooting and screeching and the rain we didn't get much sleep.....I know shut the window!!

The next morning I went out to see what was happening with the owlets.....oh, they had not left the box as you can see!! Anyways, I had just set the camera down when I saw Hoootie working her way to the box. Often if we are out near the box you can spot her or Blowfish flying from tree to tree getting closer and closer. Both owlets started really screeching and clacking their beaks.....and here she came!!!!



What a difference one day can make!! We got up this morning and when we turned on the video camera the box was empty. I ventured out and about 10 feet away from the box I found Ginger. Why do I say Ginger....just because she was the one lingering in the box and since she was closer this morn. I was looking for Fred when I noticed one of the parents working their way to keep an eye on me. I didn't care to tick them off so I headed in. I will go and search a little later this morning and see if I can find Fred.

So this is what we are left with. They will not come back to the box again. I say that now, but one did work her way back to the box last year when we had some bad weather the day they left. Normally they do not do this and we just have to watch and listen for them.

It is kind of sad because you never know if this is our last year or not so we will enjoy them while we can!!