Detroit Science Center

Today we took Mom and Dad to the Detroit Science Center to see the film Grand Canyon Adventure - A River at Risk and the Da Vinci exhibit. We had a lot of fun and really enjoyed the movie. If you get a chance check out your local IMAX and see it. Mom said if she had seen this prior to her raft trips she never would have gone. Dad was a good sport and posed for a picture in the frame outside the DaVinci exhibit. We were all glad to see how busy the museum was and had fun watching the kids explore all the exhibits. We are very lucky to have a facility like this so close.

Christmas Day

Here is Caitlin and Herb's Christmas tree all decked out. The had fun going out to Don's and cutting it down. The cat liked climbing it hence the slight lean.

There were 9 of us total celebrating at Caitlin's this year. Mckenna took a nap before they even had a chance to open their stockings so we all got in on that action too.

No doubt about it Mckenna knew just what to do with a toothbrush. She actually seemed to like the handle end better - no pesky bristles to contend with.

Caitlin and Herb cooked a 20 pound turkey - their first. It was delicious and the rest of us brought the salads, veggies, and stuffing. Everyone left the table fully satisfied - especially Caitlin who was able to sit and enjoy the entire meal while Mckenna dozed in her crib. She made short work of some banana when she got up but was not a fan of mashed potatoes!

Hope your day was as enjoyable as ours! Below is a picture of the cozy socks Ashleigh knit for Caitlin. They fit great and took about 2 seconds to find their way onto her feet.

Candy Making

Okay, so this has nothing to do with candy making but Gus wanted you to see his favorite toy.

Grandma and Mckenna had a good talk with Santa but then someone had to taste the jolly old elf and he got a little soggy. Today Mckenna was telling Ayla how candy making is no fun cause you don't even get to eat any of it.

Oh ya, we did actually make some candy. Here is Jim checking out the status of the current brew. The new candy thermometer with BIG numbers helped everyone and resulted in some of the best peanut brittle we have made in years. (we would be translated as Jim, Dad, and Caitlin - mom and I just played with the baby). Ayla and Herb went to watch the Wolverines play basketball at the Palace.

Today Jim and I are busy wrapping presents and trying to convince the dog to go outside by himself - the wind chill is -9 and falling and it is only noon. All our hard work shoveling and plowing is filling in with drifts so it will have to be done again before I head to work in the morning but Jim is off until January 5th so he should be able to get it done. I have a crockpot full of soup on the counter which will taste great if the smell is any indication. Had to use up a bunch of veggies before they were beyond eating and soup is my favorite way to do that.

This is in the front hall at Mom and Dad's - very festive don't you agree.

Merry Christmas

I wanted to wish everyone a merry Christmas before I go off the grid (probably won't have internet or cellphone access) for my Christmas. For those who don't know, I will be spending my first Christmas without my family. I will be on a cruise in the Caribbean with my girlfriend (Dana Vollmer, a senior on the Cal Berkeley swim team) and her family, leaving from their home state of Texas, from Sunday to Saturday. This will also be my first cruise, since I missed out on the Alaskan cruise most everyone else was a part of. It seems with or without swimming, I still find ways to have my time with my family limited.

Hope everyone enjoys the holidays!

Love, Andy

Never to much snow

Well my cute indoor/outdoor kitty says never to much snow for her, yet then again maybe there is to much snow. 

After that brave venture outside she has been cuddled up sleeping

Cookie making day

Our cookie making day was postponed until today because yesterday Caitlin got stuck in her driveway! It took a pull from a truck to get her out after Herb got home. So today was the day and Mckenna was happy and seemed to enjoy all the pretty colors of sugar. Next year she'll be a helper! Here we are:

Bike Tours

Hi everyone! I thought you might be interested in seeing the video that Slav had made about the bike tours this summer. Check it out on YouTube.
I'm not in it, it's true, but you can get a bit fuller idea about what I've been up to.

The mighty hunter strikes again

Sorry it took me so long to get this up. When I got to the house on Sunday dad is standing there with blood dripping off his fingers. I thought he had cut himself but oh no. He was pretty happy he got a deer since it was the last day of rifle season. He was also pretty smug about the whole thing later in the afternoon when he was sitting in the lazyboy watching the snow come down and he was not headed to the blind.

Notice the nice symetrical rack. The deer is now decorating the interior of the freezer. Lots of yummy meals await....