Moonlighting

moon•light•ing –verb (used without object)
5) to work at an additional job after one's regular, full-time employment, as at night.



So we bought a swing set/playhouse for the kids. The directions say that it should take two "moderately skill" adults 24 to 36 hours to install. I should have expected that it would be like a second job for a week. My dad came over and spend some time working on it with me for two days. The second night we where trying to take advantage of all the time we had. After the sun went down and the moonlight wasn't enough I brought out the new LED light that I picked up at a family Christmas Chinese auction. After my dad left I was on my own the rest of the week and progress slowed down. We went from 2 "moderately skilled" persons to one almost sorta skilled. My dad was just evening us out to become "moderately skilled." I think we are ahead of the pace, I don't think we have 24 hours in yet. It's not quiet done yet though...

Barrel of Laughs

I don't think I have laughed as much as I did as during game night last Friday at the Rauchert's. Here is a compilation, basically this is my view of all the folks enjoying the night. There is something about watching people laugh that makes you feel good. (Just for full disclosure, there was only one Kristy there. Thank goodness, one is all any of us could have handled.)

Final few from Florida...

We made it back safely from our vacation. After spending a week in temperatures over 80 degrees we drove home through a rain shower that turned to sloppy snow near Saginaw. Our plane landed in Detroit around 8 p.m. and by the time we loaded up our car and headed out of town we got home around midnight. The lady in the drive-thru must have thought we were deadbeat parents for taking out kids to McDonalds at 11:30 at night. The girls, all three of them, slept all the way from Detroit to Auburn when I had to stop and get gas. Below are a few pictures from out final day in Florida. We drove an hour to get to a beach where the kids could play in the sand and waves. Bahia Honda State Park was voted the best in the nation in the '90s, although we ended up having a great time we are still wondering why.

Glass Bottom Blues

We took a tour of the Molasses Reef today about four miles off shore at the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo today. The guide told us that the reef got it's name from a legend of a barge carrying barrels of molasses that grounded on the reef years ago. The beautiful colors seem to get washed out by the blue ocean and never look as good in photographs as they do in person. Anyway, here are a few frames from our trip. Parrotfish, Grunts, Yellow Snappers and even a Nurse Shark were among the reef life that we saw beneath our boat.

More from the Keys ...

While watching a storm miles out in the ocean last night I made this frame. This is looking out from the pool area of the house we are staying at.


Layla started walking around the edge of the pool.


It looks like Jim was almost swept away while deep sea fishing, it really was pretty safe though. He did eventually bring in the black-fin tuna, we ate him tonight seared with lemon pepper.


This was one of the few times that you could see Ella not in the pool today. She swam for about 3 hours before taking her second nap of the day she was so tired.

Stormy & Sleepy

Today we spend a good portion of the day at the Theater of the Sea in Islamorada. Because of the limited spots available all the girls got to go except the two babies. Stormy, our dolphin treated the girls to his array of tricks. Dancing, singing, splash fights, fetch, hugs and kisses. Below, Stormy plants a big one on Angie's cheek. Ella isn't pictured because she didn't think too much of swimming with the dolphins. She got out and was happy to sit in a plastic chair next to Papa. It was a long, hot day and all the girls were pooped at the end of the day. In the car ride home Ella and Layla were both exhibiting their sleepy signs. BTW, the photo of Angie and Stormy is courtesy of the "professional" photographer at Theater of the Sea. They have the monopoly on the good photo spots. Sure you can shoot pictures, but they limit where you can stand. Then they do the tricks facing their photographer. They make every effort to make you purchase their photos. I guess it worked, I got nothing and we ended up buying a CD.

Poolmate

So we made it down to our vacation spot in the Florida Keys. We spend the whole first day soaking up the sun and enjoying the hot weather. After coming from Michigan 80 degrees feels like 100. This morning we were not the only ones basking in the sun. Looks like this rental house has a wild iguana living in the neighborhood. In the second photo papa protects the girls from the mean ol' nasty (harmless) reptile. I think our green friend spend more time today poolside than we did.

Ella's encouragement

The snow is melting in our yard but the pond is still covered with ice and snow. While this deer snacked on the corn pile Ella and I sat in the window, Ella heard me say, "Come on deer," as I held up the camera waiting to make this picture. I was trying to urge it to walk away from the corn and past the pond where it would be silhoutted. She started jumping up and down saying "Come on deer! Come on deer!" Then the deer ran past the pond and into the woods.

Layla turns one...

Well, more like 13 months. Her birthday was actually February 27 but after RSV, a double ear infection, the flu and a massive allergic reaction to penicillin the third party date went off without a hitch. It was pretty amazing that we actually had 11 kids in the house that were all fairly healthy (we will see for how long). Anyway, she partied like a big girl, munched on cake and played with all her cousins.

The Master & Student

The Michigan Press Photographers' Association held their annual Pictures of the Year contest this past weekend. It was quite the weekend for the guys at the ol' MDN. We all did well, and it felt great to do it as a team. I think we would all agree that none of us could have done it without each other. Check out the link above. It was a classic battle royal between Kevin and Brett's sports portfolios and stories. Also I have to say I doubt that the MDN or myself would have ever reached this point without Rodney "The Master." He took a chance on me, not sure why, but I am glad he did. (photograph by Kevin)

New Do

So most people in my life were calling for this for a while now. Brett stopped over tonight to give me a new do, "he just took a little off the top" I like to say. Anyway, my lovely curly locks started piling up on the floor and I thought it was kind of a shame to just sweep them up and throw them away. After all, I have been growing my hair for over a year.

Name that photographer

The ol' MDN archives really hold some gems. It seems like only yesterday I was working in Midland with my boyz. Brett shot the asthma one just recently but the other ones are pretty old school. As you can see it works out best when the photographers stay behind the camera and let real models do their job. I got nothing but love for you guys.

Curious Wanderer

Wasn't that the title of someone's blog? Anyway, sorry if I stole that but it fits Layla so well right now. This past weekend our whole family spent a lot of time inside due to the sickness sweeping through our house and the ice storm that swept throught the state. Layla finally started crawling a couple weeks ago and now there is no stopping her. She is into everything and leaving no stone unturned. She spotted Annie in the front window and made her way over to check her out. This image captured how I felt this weekend, trapped on the inside looking out. We all got a bit stir crazy.

Valentine's Day Kitty

Ella's Friends

A week or so ago Ella visited her friends Ethan and Carter's house. While Layla took a nap inside Ella borrowed some snow pants and headed outside to play. Ethan and Carter showed Ella their swings and slide. You should see how slippery a slide is when a child is wearing a snowsuit and it is slicked down with snow. Thanks to the Raucherts for letting us crash their Saturday.

Girl & Sarah

Angie brought home a little plastic fish tank from her trip to Indiana. It fits inside a wood box with a whole in the side and looks like you are watching a TV. Earlier today Ella and I went shopping and picked out two goldfish, she picked the color of the gravel and the plant. She thought the gravel was candy and we were going to feed it to the fish. She named the little one Sarah and the bigger fish is Girl.

Mommy missed it!

Nana, Papa, Ella and I were eating dinner tonight in Bay City. Halfway through dinner Nana and Papa started talking about how surprised they were about Layla following Ella around and wanting to play with the train that she was pulling around the house. Nana said that she peeked in on Layla when she woke up from her nap and she was almost pulling herself up in the crib. She couldn't quite make it ... until dinner time. All four of us look over and one foot at a time, Layla stood up! Too bad mommy, you will have to see it on the blog like the rest of the world. I hope your checking the blog from Indiana. Photo courtesy of Nana.

Cat nap fever

I think the cats are catching the napping fever like the rest of the Woods. You know how everyone in our house was born to sleep. Actually the only time that the cats get some peace and quiet from the three-year-old roaming our house is during her nap time.

Faces in the crowd

I am not sure what Ella's plan was, but I guess she was having a couch party with all the dolls she could find. These were only the dolls downstairs, there are just as many upstairs I am sure. Our house is getting a bit crowded. A kind note to everyone that reads this: neither of my daughters need anymore dolls. I know many of you can pick out a doll that was purchased by you, and we (I really mean Ella and Layla) love them dearly, we (and I mean mostly me) think there are enough dolls in the house.

Christmas in January

December is always so busy that my dad's side of the family decided to have Christmas this past weekend.


Lots of cheeks. Layers and layers of cheeks.


Ella playing cars with the Stothard boys.


Layla thought Grandma Wood's walker was the bomb.


Zane looks innocent enough, he was one mean ping pong player. It doesn't take much I know, but he could put a shot past me once in a while.