I think I have the most forbearing wife in the world. I'm in the drywall taping phase of my bathroom / bedroom remodel project. My brother Jason put the drywall up for me. He's a pro so it went a lost faster and much neater than if I had done it.

Ethan gave Asa a ride in the sled this afternoon (I think it was Mom's idea) 

Asa shows off his new top teeth. I mentioned to Em the other day that he's got enough room between them for a third one. 

Em took a picture of this blueberry field just up the road from our house. For those of you who've never been here, Maine blueberries grow on low, shrubby vines and you can find huge fields full of them in various areas of the state. They're beautiful in fall too, as the leaves turn red before they fall off the vines. 

Yesterday I finished the rough opening for the bathroom door & did some wiring. The door is going to be a pocket door...there really wasn't any good place for a traditional door to swing. 

Remodeling project

I decided to spend my Christmas vacation this year remodeling our bathroom & Ethan's bedroom. I basically gutted the bathroom back to the studs, as you can see in the picture. When the project is finished, we'll have:

1. a washer & dryer in the bathroom (not in Ethan's room)


2. new fixtures & cabinets in the bathroom


3. more space & a closet in Ethan's room


4. a carpet in Ethan's room instead of linoleum

 

Our Official Christmas Picture

 

Ethan got a personalized Veggie Tales CD for Christmas from his Uncle Ted & Aunt Rachel Ficek. I'm not sure how the Veggie Tales people do it--perhaps they record the names of the top 100 kid names or something. Anyway, Ethan was intrigued by the sound of the Veggie Tale characters saying his name over the speakers of our computer.

Today during the Christmas service was Ethan's first time singing in front of a large audience. He knew almost all the words, and we were very proud of him. :) 

Here's Asa wearing his Little Lord Fauntleroy outfit from Grandma & Grandpa Ficek, replete with matching teddy bear.

Asa likes grabbing at the ornaments whenever he's near enough. 

Here Ethan's opening a present from Grandma & Grandpa Ficek. 

Asa & Ethan on Christmas eve. Ethan is holding the guitar (actually it's a ukelele but he doesn't know that yet) that Nana gave him. 

Trouble #1 & Trouble # 2 

Yum 

Maggie getting ready to eat her birthday cupcake 

The only fitting title I could think of for this was "I wish it was my birthday too" 

Ethan's cousin Maggie turned 1 on Sunday! Ethan has one of these toys so he's showing Maggie how to use it. 

Here's a pic of my brother Jason's kids, Josiah & Hannah, with his wife Saralyn 

Asa with his cousin Emma 

Asa in his festive suit 

We put up our Christmas tree last week. We bought it the Saturday after Thanksgiving. That's gotta be a record for us. 

Ethan sportin' a Dali-esque fudge-cicle mustache 

We're gonna get ready to celebrate!

My brother in law Lance is finally getting married!

http://weddings.theknot.com/pwp/view/co_main.aspx?coupleid=098658144916214

Ethan helping to trim the tree 

Out for a stroll in downtown Camden during Christmas by the Sea.

The things kids say

Em told me a story about something Ethan said in the grocery store today. Ethan just turned three, and he's still learning what you can & can't say out loud. :)

There was this guy in the store in the beverage aisle that was apparently someone of some influence from the Pepsi company. As Em wheeled the cart past him, the man took off his coat, revealing his...um...large belly that stretched the limits of his polo shirt. To Em's embarassment, Ethan blurted out "That was a fat guy! That was a fat guy!" two or three times well within the man's hearing.

Em says she sped up and zoomed around the corner of the aisle real quick & let Ethan know that it was rude to say things like that about people.