Boot puller

Jenny has several pairs of dress boots that have calf zippers, and the little tiny tabs they have are not very easy to grip.

The above boot puller was my solution, which I was able to make with some of the tools I have gotten or been given the last few years. 

I started with a steel rod left by the previous owners of our house.  I used a sledge left over from a political campaign and a rail anvil I picked up at a garage sale to chase and shape the hook down to a size that would fit in the hole in the zipper tab.  I then threaded the end for a pair of washers and nuts with a tap and die set from my parents.

I took a piece of maple given to us by friends in Connecticut and rounded it on the lathe, smoothing it down with the new lathe sandpaper Edmund gave me.  This was the first time I have gotten a good end separation on a spindle (held in place on both ends, rather than attached to a plate at one end only), so I was happy about that.  It is an interesting balance of putting the poly finish on most of the piece while mounted so it is more even before trimming the ends down to size and refinishing just the ends.  I used the drill chuck on the lathe as a horizontal drill press to put a hole through the center of the wood, tightened down the nuts, and there it is.

Cuddle

Sometimes you just need a little cuddling before you go back to sleep in the middle of the night.  That is why moms are so useful.  They are always awake when you want them and they seem to be all about getting into the big warm bed and holding you.  It is very nice.  Goodnight.  Again.

Sliding

We were at the Outlet Mall while the youth did a photo scavenger hunt.  We manned the playground and took pictures of them as they took pictures of themselves doing funny stuff.  Edmund enjoyed the slide over and over in the 26 minutes we had to hang out.

Helicopter

While the youth were running around the outlets for a photo scavenger hunt we checked out the playground.  Helicopters are such fun.

Pudding Unibrow

We love pudding!  It is fun to self-feed or self-paint.  

Hygiene

Tooth hygiene is especially important when you are small.  It is a major pain to cut teeth.  So, keeping the ones you have is important.  Nothing says responsible toddler like brushing your teeth.  It helps if you brush all your stuffed animals' teeth first so that you get the technique down properly.

Alarms

At our house alarms are the best toys.  They can be taken off the parents' night stands and taken to any part of the house.  They also light up and make noise.  For some reason the parents like to put them back.    

Caught in the Act

It was quiet in the house.  I was sure that meant trouble.  I was surprised to find Edmund was playing with his bead maze.  Such a cute man!

Loving Music

Edmund received a CD player and some disks for Christmas.  Now, one of his favorite things to do is push play-pause-skip-stop-mode-play!  We are trying to be understanding about his new freedom of buttons.

Little boy prints crossing little squirrel prints

The little guy is really enjoying the coating of cold whiteness we keep getting.  As seen here, he is not the only one to have been out in our snow.

Locked

At out house most of the cabinets don't need locks.  They all have magnets and The Bear has not been able to overcome the strength of the connection.  The closet under the sink is actually locked and if for some reason the lock is not in place Edmund tries to fit it back on the handles.  I never thought the baby would try to put the baby lock back in place.

Mercy

Today we went to meet Baby Mercy and visit with her sister and mommy.  We all had great naps at their house, and they credit our presences as the reason that Mercy slept as well as she did.  I hope that we are not as somnolent to all our friends as we are for her.  Edmund and Bella had a great time cooking up lunch for us in Bella's new kitchen.  My Bear was fascinated by the little bundle sleeping in his cradle.  He was rather rough on the rocking at first, but after a bit of practice being "gentle" we got it down to a safe level.

Winter Swinging

So you get a pretty good breeze when you swing on a cold day.

Corn Dogs

Edmund had no idea anything could be so yummy.

In with the Recycling

I found Edmund in the cabinet with the recycling bin.  He was holding his cup and chatting to himself.  I am so glad it was not the trash.

Pizza Bread

When my brother David was younger he used to eat sandwich rolls with red sauce and mozzarella cheese  melted over it many days for lunch.  Edmund loves cheese sticks and bread.  He also likes pizza.  One creative day I decided to melt his cheese over his bread and in honour of Uncle Dave we are enjoying pizza bread.

More Clamps

As Grandpap K says, if your project is not going the way you think it should be going, you need more clamps.  We have clamps now!

Sleeping to a movie

We love the PlaywayViews's from the library.  They are little preloaded video players with only a few buttons.  They do not have a touch screen.  We have fund that as a form of baby-drug it works great.  

Continued Christmas

Many thanks to Grampa and Gramma N for all the fun new presents.  Normally we have all our Christmas celebrations before the Orthodox church has theirs, but this year, due to some planned and unplanned events with the other siblings, Christmas was postponed a bit.  Edmund was quite happy to have an influx of new toys.  He is quite a blessed little man.

Backpack Baby

Today we hiked at Balls Bluff with some of the extended family.  It was the first time that Edmund had gone on Jonathan's back.  He chatted to us the entire time, about what we are not sure, since he still has not picked up much English.  We did let him walk the last twenty feet to the truck.  I am really liking this winter with 50 degree days.

Play Day x4

Today Carolyn and I kept our own kids (such good mommies) and two two others so that their mommy could go pack up the old house from which they recently moved.

I am always tired by the end of the day, but four small people in one house, are really quite something.  Mark (on Carolyn's lap) was quite a snuggler.  Meg and Paul kept at each other and tried to run over Edmund as many times as possible.  We definitely believe that if the three year olds don't kill you they will make you stronger.

Many thanks to the B- boys for their amazing train set.  Carolyn and I kept putting it together and the four kids kept building it out from under us in different direction.  We finally gave up and had our lunch and let them figure out how the track would go.  It was fun, but let's all have a nap now.

Handsome

Good night everyone.  Kisses to all!

Ball Hoop

Today we went outside, since it was relatively nice out.  Edmund discovered that he could climb on the basketball hoop base.  Now all your base are belong to him!

Epiphany.... Late

In our family we celebrate the coming of the Magi.  My mother would never let us put the wise men and camels in the with the shepherds and donkey.  Edmund got a CD player for Christmas, so it was only fitting that he also get a CD for Epiphany.  Sundays are so busy for us that we did not get his gift until today.  















Now we can listen to all the old favorite toddler Bible songs in Veggie voices.  Hurrah for music.  

Cupcake Eater

Many thanks to Kirsten for leaving a cupcake behind for Edmund.  He enjoyed it very much.  It was a two hand job.

Long Day

After a full day, what is better than a fuzzy blanket, cuddly friends, and a deep sleep?  We skyped with the the W Grandparents, played with Rory while the mothers knitted, met a new freind, Lizzy, and brought her parents dinner, and played with Dad.  Now, time to recharge.

Root for the Home Team!

By playing with trains!  After five years of waiting for a playoffs game, and thirteen years waiting to host a playoffs game, the boys who are 3 and 18 months felt their energies were better used at the train table.  The dads were glued to the TV, and the moms kept everyone fed.  Go moms!

The Hobbit

Nothing like eating and drinking with the godmother while the parents go see a movie.  We liked it and Edmund had a great time with Jenn & Caleb.  Snacks and football are the way to the little man's heart.

Bath Stars

The anti-skid stars from the tub also stick to the walls!  We had lots of fun sticking them to the sides of the tub, themselves, the walls, and each other.  They don't seem to stick to clothing very well, so Edmund did not fair as well as I did when trying to stick them on each other.  

Eighteen Month Check-Up

25 pounds, 2 feet 10 inches, 19 inch head circumference

It was fun to watch Edmund at the doctors' office today.  He was very curious about all the stuff in the room.  There were drawers of nice clean bandages and instruments to finger.  The seat spun and could be pushed all over the room. The bed had all kinds of buttons and crannies.  Watching him learn about the way the world works is such a joy for his parents.  

Miss Tiff is back!

Whoot!  We are so happy that she has returned to us.  We are not sure how much longer we could have held out.  But she is back and all is well in the world.  If you want to hear about her cruise be prepared to get talked into going on one yourself.