Dad’s 37th birthday

January 25, 2018 shreffler

Two cousins, zero serious photos (as Des would say, “that’s okay!”)

Eleanor always on the run, this time with brother’s BB-8 ball

Des presenting a card in envelope, “Here Dad, this is a Darth Vader card!” In all fairness, with the two lit-up lightsabers and noises, it was awesome. Though this was followed shortly by, “(handing wrapped present to dad) Here’s the R2-D2 coffee (mumble) [french press] we got you!”

Summarizing both kids’ interests:

Ribbons are fairly entertaining

Singing, to various degrees

Grandma supervising the tower build

January 24th, 2018

January 24, 2018 shreffler

Nothing like some snow-stomping, snowball-throwing fun to destress after school/work

The homework continues with Desmond’s “All about me” poster. Highlights include: favorite animal is giraffe (?), favorite color is orange (or green or blue), his favorite place is at the zoo… eating ice cream. Being an astronaut and playing with legos are great, but if he had only one wish, it’d be for a pet penguin (to take to school in his backpack)

January 23rd, 2018

January 23, 2018 shreffler

Now she’s barely phased by the presence of bubbles

January 22nd, 2018

January 22, 2018 shreffler

With a light dusting (slushing?), Desmond is eager to help shovel the walk

He did actually contribute to the snow (slushie?) removal effort

Eleanor wishing she was a part of the shovel party

After the walks are clear, Desmond dutifully volunteers to begin shoveling the front yard

January 21st, 2018

January 21, 2018 shreffler

Big girl insisted on dragging a chair over to the coffee table to eat her post-nap snack.

Something just clicked this weekend. Eleanor has clearly chosen her preference for walking rather than sometimes-walking. If she stumbles, she gets right back up, where previously she’d more often then resort to crawling. She’s even quick-walking. Look out, world.

More cold weather, indoor activities. Des didn’t quite get the concept of running in place, but even that may take practice as a three-year-old

Desmond requesting a picture with this evening’s lego creation. It’s usually a rocket/space ship of some sort or a crane truck. Tonight it’s crane truck, but thanks to grandma’s Christmas gift, it now has a rotating boom!

Mom and dad must be doing something right, Des is eating salad for dinner

January 20th, 2018

January 20, 2018 shreffler

While mom and ma are at the women’s march, the rest of the family is marching in spirit/dreams…

Eleanor’s walking game is strong. Less tossing this time, more interested in running the ball back to brother

Upon the soundtrack starting to Saturday Movie Night’s Monster’s University, Ella wiggles off the couch, walks towards the front of the room and appears to begin dancing/wiggling 🙂

One last dinner with the dinosaurs

January 18, 2018 shreffler

Desmond was pretty excited to visit the tooth doctor again, and even learned it’s the same person as the dentist! 🙂

Apparently an episode of “Paw Patrol” was more engaging than the surrounding gadgetry. Also, an eyewear trendsetter.

The family has spent many a happy breakfast or dinner over the years at Dixie Quicks. It was one of mom and dad’s go-to brunch spots for weekend dates (they dated? a life before kids?) when it was still over in Omaha. Dad’s arts non-profit occasionally held board meetings in the gallery. Now also a favorite with the kids, it had become known as “let’s go have breakfast with the dinosaurs” for the interactive table decor.

After the passing of his partner–and chef, Rene–to lung cancer last year, Rob made both the difficult and liberating decision to close the restaurant and art gallery after 23 years. It was another loss to mourn, but a certainly need for one last dinner.

Eleanor gets in on the dinosaur action-

She may have gotten a little too “ferocious”

(Big) squirrel!

Eleanor was not a fan. She eventually settled into a love/hate rhythm- pleading to go back over, even touch it. And then freak out again.

Eleanor staring out the window onto Broadway. (Across the street happens to be “Lidgett’s Music”- of which dad was the first employee to work there without the last name “Lidgett.”)

One last dinner, peering up at the chalkboard for the menu. Mom had the cactus scramble, dad the shrimp gumbo. The kids scarfed their black beans and rice.