April

So we're going to try planting stuff this year... not off to a super strong start, but we'll see. Tomatoes are supposed to be easy to grow, although we've tried growing them twice so far and each round has sprouted and then promptly died. Who's got green thumbs? WE DO.

Helped Dave swap out the engine in his new project truck.

Easter at the Conrad's:

Then decorating eggs at home:

We tried out the Quarter Barrel... not so much with the pizza, but the atmosphere and rad refurbished 80s arcade games made up for it!

Hey, You're Not Irish, Pt 3

Emily's 9th birthday!

Even though we aren't neighbors with John and Roxi, we still got invited to the party.

Mild February

Enjoying a very warm February!

Happy 2017!

Christmas 2016

Rose sang in the middle school choir for the Christmas special. See her over there on the right? Front row.

This is the first year that Lily did not take out the tree. And this is the first Christmas in our new house!

The morning of Christmas Eve.

We went to the Conrads later in the afternoon and stayed through Christmas Day.

Then the following day we celebrated Christmas with my parents. You can tell Emily doesn't like Christmas.

My dad bought a new .22 scoped rifle, so we went outside after opening gifts and took turns shooting at a cardboard target. That is the easiest gun I've ever shot; it makes you feel like a sharpshooter because it's nearly impossible to miss your target. No recoil, just precision target practice!

One of my gifts this year was this toy airplane that belonged to my Grandpa Nodland in the 1930s. It's in surprisingly good condition for being over 80 years old. It has a really gnarly metal gear wheel underneath with super sharp teeth that a rubber band would have wrapped around to turn the thin metal propellors when the wheels turn. A safe toy for any kid!