Swingset

Evangeline took a turn on her "swingset" between church and lunch. I just noticed she's got a lot of pattern going here.

At Long Last... An Egg

If you have spoken to me very much in the last two years, you will know that I have been mildly obsessed with chickens. I am pleased to inform all who have been subject to my boring discussions, that we have an egg. I repeat, we finally have an egg. Today, at 3:32pm, a partridge rock hen laid a large, light brown egg in a nest box. It was exactly as it has been said to be in the books. I must admit, I did not think this was actually possible. But here it is. A genuine 1st article gift. Worms, slugs, grass, and grain go in, and this comes out.

There are so many people whose influence I should acknowledge for this remarkable achievement. Obviously I need to thank Concordia Seminary and the Commission on Theology and Church Relations of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod for making me think that raising chickens is a good Christian thing to do. Also, Pam Mietzner is at fault in the laying of this egg, as she gave me the Encyclopedia of Country Living for Christmas in 2008, as well as Q for making me read something in the Omnivore's Dilemma a few years back. After this, I was into goats for a while, but Fr. HR Curtis mentioned that chickens are easier. It was then at Rob and Q's that I first set my eyes upon the magnificent creatures that we know as gallus gallus domesticus.

Now we just have to figure out what to do with it.

Happ-Epiphany

 We made it to the Epiphany service tonight. We almost didn't due to Evangeline's cold, and a struggle-y day. We were glad we went and Evangeline managed to perk up a bit in time for Ms. Graeber's King Cake.

She did a few test-runs with this and we all
ended up with a delicious cream cheese filled
King Cake for Epiphany. Thanks Sharon!

Cold? What cold?

Shirley kept the baby throughout church and
the celebration after. She also got the baby in
her cake. See this space for Shirley's cake
creation next year.

Beehive

Today we went out to our local Quaker college and saw an art installation. While others might puzzle over it, Evangeline got it without hesitation, and buzzed around happily for some time.

 Irene's been smiling and talking a lot. We tried to capture it:

And Evangeline helped me make minestrone.

A Compliment

During a supper of sauteed kale, pasta, and chicken parmesan  (sort of), Evangeline dipped her finger in her water and said "Good booyee!". Thanks, girl.

Month The Second

Irene is two months old. She went to the doctor, got a bunch of shots and drank a rotovirus cocktail. She also got measured:

12 lbs, 9 oz

23 1/4 inches

If you care to, you can compare her stats with Evangeline at two months. 

I never look forward to the jab-getting, but today I realized that the hardest part was how cute and smiley she was as she sipped the rotovirus, and then was all bright-eyed and cute when the first shot hit her. Poor girl. Better than the alternative. But, she recovered quickly and is currently napping. And why do they always have  Batman band-aids?

Louise came over with a cake for Evangeline. Evangeline was
napping, so Irene took advantage of Louise's loving arms. Then
Kyle and I ate a bunch of the cake. 

Today Evangeline opened her gift from the Sunday school.
It is a barbecue kit. Kyle's going to be crowded at
the grill this summer.

Year The Second

-Evangeline's birthday. She stayed up pretty late on New Year's Eve, but not late enough to ring in the new year with us. She also did not stay up late enough to see us ringing in the new year by making decorations for her party. And when I say "we" I really mean her grandparents. Anyway, she was suitably thrilled by the decorations in the morning even though some of them had fallen apart (I briefly thought of writing a letter to Martha Stewart about how the sticky stuff on these decorations are not sticky enough, then remembered I am too forgetful and lazy to do such). But Grandma Becky saved the day and taped them back together.

-Evangeline hid under a chair while people at church sang "Happy Birthday" to her before the service (with candles and muffin cake).

-We had her official party after church with the traditional lunch (can it be called a tradition after two years?) from a local restaurant of pulled pork, collard greens, whipped sweet potatoes, hoppin' john, and a chocolate chess pie. The grandparents and the Haugens were in attendance. Evangeline ate whipped cream.

-Evangeline got loads of neat presents, and had  a super day from the time she awoke to just a few minutes ago when she went to bed.

-We are extremely thankful for two years of Evangeline. We are also this thankful for grandparents, aunties, our church  and our friends for making these two years so great.

Birthday breakfast with grandma. Oatmeal.

Dad trying to get The Girl to be at least a little gracious.

Birthday dress.

She opens presents carefully. She's not named Meimi for nothing.

We were confused when she peeked inside this present and said
"booyee". Then she unwrapped it and we understood.

And she never really even ate dinner.

Uh.

More whipped cream.

Congratulations, it's a girl!

A girl, her tea set, and her garbage truck.

Irene's hair today: Awesome.

This hat didn't fit Evangeline too well. Irene fit it just right.

Could that be grandpa reading directions?

The falling decorations. Martha!