Father's Day Present

I've finally finished Eric's Father's Day present- I know how crazy it sounds but I made a blurb.com book for him with before and after pics of the house and believe me when I tell you this project took FOREVER to organize everything.

Want to see a preview? Check out this link.

http://www.blurb.com/books/1393438

Trip to see the Ducks

Yesterday morning, we strolled down to Byrd Park to check out the ducks- it is already really unseasonably hot, so I dressed little V in a super light pair of seersucker overalls (prompting the question from his father "How many pairs of seersucker overalls does our child own?")

Vake is pretty fearless around water- I think he'd jump right on in if he could- probably due in no small part to the swimming lessons.
But we checked out the duckies and the geese.

And got the lay of the land.

And then checked out the animals some more.

And when it all got to be too much, we took a break on a park bench.

S-W-I-N-G-S-E-T!!!!

Ladies and Gentlemen, children of all ages, I am pleased as punch to introduce you to VAKE'S NEW SWINGSET!!!!

After what feels like a lifetime (but was probably only 6 months of planning, 12 months of nagging, 6 months of begging, 1 Mother's Day request, 3 huge boxes from Home Depot and 18 trips to Lowe's), my superhero of a husband (perhaps the world's longest suffering man) finished the swingset moments before V and I rolled up from an overnight in Baltimore.
He immediately begged to get in...

(there he is- the builder of the hour, pushing little V)

And in the swingset we stayed until it was time for supper and bed.

V, Mom and I had a terrific time in Baltimore- we worked on Anne's house. It's coming along!

Busy Little Bee

I don't know if Taren reads this blog or not- frankly it doesn't matter very much if she does or if she doesn't. But I continue to be impressed by how present she manages to be with the boy and how much she does with them.

Today, for example, she:

• got Vake fed and dressed;
• had playtime at the table (and took pics of the playing that she sent to Jennifer and me);
• gave them a snack;
• took them to the Children's Museum;
• took them to Little Gym;
• gave everyone lunch;
• put both boys down for a nap;
• took care of H who refused to nap while V took a 3.5 hour nap; and
• fed them both dinner and then had them on an up and down the block walk when I got home.

Good grief. It makes me tired just thinking about that day with one boy but can you imagine with two?

And she's always so cheerful about the annoying errands that I ask her to run.

My Mother's Day Present

How great is this?

For Mother's Day I asked for a swingset for my little boy. He LOVES to swing. Would do it for hours a day if we let him. So Eric researched the swingset situation and ordered a kit- he spent about 8 hours putting it together today- I think we've only got about another three or so hours until it is done.

Love it.

House Tour Pics

Finally- pictures from the House Tour- and I've realized that a house tour for charity is a uniquely regional concept (I say regional because they definitely have them in Philadelphia, too) because both Eric's friends and family have noted that they would be good opportunities for someone to "case the joint."

I am happy to report that we are still burglary-free two weeks later. We did have an absolutely gorgeous day weatherwise and 546 people came through- so maybe the burglars are still on vacation. Or busy burglarizing other houses. It will be awkward when I have to defend them, right?

Here's the view from the median...

Our new Martin flag and the house tour flag.

I didn't realize that Vake was in this picture- he seems to be saying (as Eric definitely WAS saying, "Please let this house tour be over.")

Our new topiary. Its purchase was controversial at the Martin house but I love it.

So as part of the tour, a local pet-disease awareness group (not kidding) puts up these giant dogs at the houses.

The living room. Note the borrowed chairs- I think they are gorgeous.

Stairs with the original blueprints. Eventually we will get them framed.

Front Hallway.

I found Eric's old globe (it still lights up) in the garage and brought it inside.

Dining Room. We got a lot of compliments on Sue's spoon collection that is hanging to the left on the back wall.

Eric's pride and joy.

The pantry leading to the powder room and the backyard.

The powder room.

The backyard.

Front hallway to the second floor. We stupidly agreed to open two floors- almost broke my will to live.

Close up of the table in the entrance way.

Close up of the flowers (I think we wound up moving them to the coffee table.)

You can see Big Vake's duck stamps in a shadowbox (naturellement!) in this shot.

Close up of the duck stamps.

Dining room bar area.

Second floor guest bedroom and bath.

Second floor hallway

Second floor middle bedroom.

Second floor hall bath wall detail.

Peeking in to the hall bath.

Eric's office.

My office. So fun.

Eric's office bath.

All in all- it was a great day- it got us focused on a lot of projects that needed to get done (and some that STILL need to get done.

V's asleep right now and Eric's out buying the wood for his SWINGSET!!! YAY. Hopefully we will have some pics of that to show you by later today.