Let's Take a Tour

They finished putting up dry wall in our new house, so let's take a quick tour!

They've started putting on siding on the new part of the house

Here's the covered bridge that connects the garage and the house. Mommy is pointing out some deer to me. They're really common here and come right up to the house.

The bridge enters into the mudroom and the kitchen. Here we are standing where the kitchen island will be. The dining area is off to the left. The whole thing looks out on our wonderful forest!Looking to the right of the kitchen, you can see the entrance hall and stairs upstairs

Here's the kitchen area looking from the panel of windows and . . . OOPS! I fell. Don't worry- I was fine. Daddy was amused he caught me mid-fall with the photo.

Standing where the TV will go (the 52" LCD), you can look out on the forest

Looking back toward the kitchen from the TV area, you can see our "push out" porch, where a big comfy couch will go.

Heading downstairs, this is daddy's game room, including the original exterior wall of the house.

Next to the game room is the wine cellar. I am standing where our big wine cabinet will go- yummy!

Upstairs, this is mommy and daddy's room.

And their bathroom next door. . .

. . . and their big walk in closet! Mommy's closet is BIG, and . . .

. . . Sophie's closet is LITTLE!

This is my room. It has the best view in the whole house, of course!

And finally, this is my bathroom. It is one of the few rooms in the house that didn't get touched.

The First Robin of Spring (sort of)

Yummy berries

Mommy and me watching the robins

We awoke this morning to playful chirping and fluttering right outside our window. We amazed to discover a small flock of robins had invaded our crabapple tree to feast on the remaining berries. Robins are common in Iowa, but are migratory birds and reside in the state from March to October. In fact, seeing a robin is the first sign of Spring's arrival. Somehow I doubt we are in store for a very early Spring! The guidebook says that robins can be see uncommonly in Winter here.

Oh well. It seems we have some early birds here. And the early bird gets the worm (or berry!)

Fortress of Soluitude

It finally warmed up today after 3 days of sub zero temperatures, so we had a chance to go outside and enjoy the 2 feet of fluffy snow on the ground. Daddy helped me rebuild the snowman that had gotten partially buried in the last storm. Tomorrow we're going to Lakepointe for more sledding- yay!

After we were done playing in the snow, I grabbed the kitchen chairs and a big box and built a fort around Skye's kennel. It was so cool to create this little fortress of solitude. Later, I made another one out of the doggy door and a barstool. Then, before dinner, I climbed under the high chair- it's perfect because it has these little peek holes to spy on the rest of the kitchen!

Here's a couple of photos left over from New Years, when daddy and I cuddled on the couch and watched the Rose Bowl. Do you like my Brian Cushing jersey? We're going to miss him, along with Mark Sanchez. What a great year. I can't wait to travel with daddy to the games next year (and get to stay with Dad-dad and Boppy!)

The Snowman

My new favorite book is "The Snowman" by Raymond Briggs. Without words, it tells the very touching story about a boy who makes a snowman that comes to life for one brief, magical night. It's the first book I ask daddy to read in the morning and I have mommy give me the pocket version for me to take into my crib every night. Here a website dedicated to the book:

http://www.thesnowman.co.uk/home.htm

So that's why I was so excited when daddy helped me make my very own snowman in our front yard. He's a little short (I say he's "sits"), but I like him anyway. We scrounged in the garage for old throw-away items for him to wear. Like Mommy's gardening gloves, a Santa hat from christmas, and Denali's old Hawkeye jersey (I say "football"). His eyes are crab apples and his nose is a Christmas decorative lightbulb!

Post Christmas Play

Grammie and Dad-dad have left, so mommy and daddy and the doggies and I are just playing at home and cleaning up after all the Christmas fun.
Don't I look stunning in these glamorous glasses? Aunt Jenny found them in her stocking but se let me play with them. I think they are a very 1980 Elton John kind of cool.

Here I am reading Gran's art magazines. Very interesting!

Denali wearing her Hawkeye jersey in honor of Iowa's Outback Bowl victory!

I sat down at the play table and studied our field guide to winter birds, so I would know what was using the bird feeder outside. Then daddy made a bonnet out of a paper bag for me to wear. How quaint!

`You are fettered,' said Scrooge, trembling.`Tell me why?' `I wear the chain I forged in life,' replied the Ghost. `I made it link by link, and yard by yard; I girded it on of my own free will, and of my own free will I wore it. Is its pattern strange to you?'
- Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol

"Well, I wonder which song they're gonna play when we go.

I hope it's something quiet and minor and peaceful and slow.

When we float out into the ether, into the Everlasting Arms, I

hope we don't hear Marley's chains we forged in life.'

Cause the chains I been hearing now for most of my life."

-Gaslight Anthem, "That 59 Sound"

Work continues at Lakepointe, and now they are finishing the wiring and plumbing. I want daddy to put in a secret compartment for me right here, so I can hide from monsters.