Early last Friday Noah arrived at 3:46 a.m. weighing a half ounce shy of 9 pounds, he measured 21 and a half inches long. Angie and I stayed at the hospital with him and were released in the morning on Easter. We packed our little Easter bunny up just in time Easter Lunch in Mount Pleasant and Easter dinner in Bay City. It was pretty ironic that he was brought home on Easter because the outfit was the same one we brought Ella and Layla home in. What a week!
After nearly 7 months and probably at least 7 miles of hiking circles in the woods, I have finally found my trail camera. During my search I probably walked within 20 feet of the camera without finding it. Let's just say the animals in the woods did not have as much trouble finding it as I did. Here is a sampling of the animals that were captured between September and November when the camera batteries finally died. There were probably nearly 20 buck sightings, a group of toms and a coyote.
Here are a couple random pictures of the girls. I am not even sure where these sunglasses are coming from but both girls seem to be into these stylish shades.
I never did catch the decisive moment with both girls doing their synchronized backwards flop. Here are a few tweeners while trying to catch the two of them making their big splash.
I knew that the sand pile on the property would come in handy. I just thought it it was going to be fill for our poll barn. After all the fun this winter it looks like our plans to flatten it might be put on hold.
Here is another 4D ultrasound of baby Wood. He is still very active and moving around all the time. During the ultrasound today he was sticking his feet in his mouth and sucking on his toes. Any one have a good suggestion on a name for him?
Here is the first portrait of baby Wood at 24 weeks. Angie thinks he looks like Layla and has a big nose, my mom and Angie's dad think he looks like me. Can you really tell from this angle?
Many of you saw the family portrait in our Christmas Card. Here is an outtake from the day we shot those pictures. We had to bribe the girls that if they smiled nicely that we would also shoot a silly picture. Here is to a Merry Christmas to you!
When I got in from hunting tonight Ella showed me the picture that she colored. Angie said that it looked like the deer (in the upper left) had curly hair. Ella explained that it wasn't hair and that it was a buck and he has antlers.
Crazy because tonight there was a big buck only a little smaller then Ella's nine point that she drew, running around the woods. I actually called Angie on the home cell as it chased two does towards the house. She called me a minute later to tell me that I might as well come in because the buck had chased them through the yard and past the pond (heading away from my stand). I was trying to figure out why Ella's buck had such a big smile. Either the buck caught the doe it was chasing or it is heckling me because he got away.
I am starting to get the feeling that Layla's mother is not the only one that loves cats. She wouldn't leave this kitten alone at Abe's birthday party this past weekend. By the end of the day I was wondering if it was still alive or if it had been strangulated. BTW, photo by Angie.
Here are a few of the entrants from our first ever themed parade at our Fourth of July Kids Carnival. The Frog Prince was awarded best of show by our judges Adam, Stacey, Henry, Abe and Sammy Ranck.
The Frog Prince
Peter Pan
The Stothard Family
Hanzel and Gretel
Little Red Riding Wood
Here is a portrait of Ella shot by John Tully. I asked John to photograph me and the girls for a mother's day portrait for Angie. He made some pictures with his digital camera and also used up a roll of B&W film in a medium format camera that I had bought from an estate sale. Between all the hamming it up and cheesing for the camera John made this one frame that felt the most natural of all of them.
Ella had her first dance recital on Friday, the Nutcracker. She shined under the stage lights, it was nice to see how proud she was of herself. She loves to dance but I think getting flowers from all the family that showed up was her favorite.
Sorry for the nearly three month hiatus. I realized that when I am not posting on Wood Frames I am also not making pictures of anything or anyone in my life. I dusted off the camera and shined up wood frames a little bit. Here is to no gaping holes in publication in the near future...
hi⋅a⋅tus
/haɪˈeɪtəs/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [hahy-ey-tuhs] Show IPA
–noun, plural -tus⋅es, -tus.
1. a break or interruption in the continuity of a work, series, action, etc.
2. a missing part; gap or lacuna: Scholars attempted to account for the hiatus in the medieval manuscript.
3. any gap or opening.
The girls decided to play in the mud near the construction site for our pole barn. It started out all fun and games until Ella got her shoe stuck in the mud. She pulled her foot out when trying to get it unstuck. You thought she lost her best friend. Layla started crying just because Ella was crying and pretty soon playing in the mud wasn't so fun.
I am not sure what the deal is with this drama surrounding our trash can but it makes for interesting video.
Here is a video from Christmas morning. Angie almost got busted by Ella. We are going to have to be more careful and get serious about this santa thing.
We have had so much snow I need the girls to come outside and help shovel the driveway. Ella loves it and Layla gets bored. She ended up pulling the wagon from the depths of the garage. Sure enough Ella stopped helping shovel and wanted to pull Layla around. Then they sat in the wagon together and waited until I was done shoveling to give them both a ride. Let me tell you, pulling a wagon full of kids up an icy driveway is no fun.
Last Saturday was a busy day. We had Ella's fourth birthday party in the afternoon and participated in Coleman's 25th annual Holiday Parade of Lights. I think she was tuckered out by the end of the night, come to think of it Angie and I were too.
