Thank Goodness Spring is Here!

Today was a most beautiful day; mid 60's, partly sunny. Great for yard work!

Mom - check out my new rake! I loved using your's and had to buy one for myself.

If anyone is wondering; the workers were being supervised. Here's the supervisor sunning herself and keeping a watch for slackers and squirrels.

Hip - hip - hooray.......Erin's Home!

Erin was discharged from the hospital and got to go home yesterday! YEAH! Now Jen can sleep in bed rather than a hospital chair. And Erin can enjoy the comforts of home - all her favorite music, books, and bath time. Erin - we're so glad you're doing better!

S.A.F.L.

Saturday visit to SAFL = St. Anthony Falls Laboratory in downtown Minneapolis. This is a new location where Todd and his students will conduct some research projects.


Below, Todd and Ann (in charge of this project) discuss the set-up.

A view of the meandering stream that was built.

This is the kind of ecosystem Todd studies, rocky bottoms invertebrates feed on the algae growing on the rocks. It was an absolutely gorgeous weekend to be outside - yeah for the sun and warmth!

The Weather

The weather is always a good topic, isn't it? Mother nature has been having way too much fun with us - only in the last couple of days have we had sun and blue sky - a big relief and very welcome. The gloom and cold was downright yucky. It's warmed up to 50 degrees though we are still below freezing at night. I'm already looking forward to wearing my cropped pants and sandals.

Erin Update

Our precious niece, Erin, is still in the hospital but she's doing much better. She had a tracheotomy done and she looks so beautiful without all those breathing tubes around her face. Here she is visiting with Tucker, the hospital dog. We're hoping she'll be back home in a week.

Another Birthday!

We celebrated Todd's b-day in Hawaii and he wanted to go sky diving - is he crazy? Of couse he wanted me to go with - I think not - I really like the ground, you could say I'm a grounded person. Yup, that sounds good.

It's rather cool when you think about it, Todd celebrated his 50th in the 50th State, and Hawaii became a state in the same year (3 days before) Todd was born!


Here's the b-day boy practicing his shaka!


This could be the last picture of us together. I know, pessimistic but some of you would have thought the same thing - admit it!


Check the gear......one last prep................




See ya' in about 16 minutes, 10 for the plane to reach it's altitude, one minute of free falling, and about 5 minutes of gliding down to mother earth.

More skydiving next post.

Happy b-day Mist!

Misty's b-day was this past Friday, April 3rd. She's 8 (56 in dog yrs.) & still as cute and lovable as ever.

Happy Birthday Grams!

Grams is 94 today - April 4th - what a lovely lady!
Happy Birthday - thanks for all you've done for me -
I will be forever grateful. LOVE YOU!

Since the entire Ohana was together in mid-March we celebrated Gram's Birthday a little early!

Here's another lovely soul - yeah for moms!

Hawaii Part 4

It wasn't all play during our trip......some worked hard!

Todd worked on mom's front yard in January and again in March.

Yup......the white guy made mom a Japanese garden.

Here he is..........slaving away in the tropics.
Mom wanted color, so she got some pretty flowers.

Todd and I love shopping at Home Depot because we don't have

one in Eau Claire. We bought this bamboo fencing.

Todd also worked hard taking down old and unused window stuff.

And finally, he took down the accordian style door that

was literally falling apart.

Todd put up the new door but it was too big. So Uncle Alan

was called in to bring over his high powered tools.

The door was cut to fit and installed - Erin's new sliding

door is great!

After all that hard work - you deserve a beer!

Hawaii Part 3

Our lovely niece Erin is such a cutie and we enjoyed seeing her during our visit. Unfortunately she's picked up some kind of infection and is now in the hospital. "Erin......we think of you often, send our love, and hope you get better soon"!