Dent

Coming out of Safeway this evening, Grace noticed that the car parked next to us had been in an accident. The entire back left side was crumpled. Two people were sitting in the front seat. She walked up to the car and said "Excuse me, excuse me. You have a dent in your car." The ladies in the car thought it was hilarious.

Grace's 5th Birthday

We celebrated Grace's 5th birthday with a dinosaur birthday party at the Burke Museum. I have posted some pictures of the birthday here. You can also see a couple pictures of Aimee's Dad, Bill, from his visit to meet his grandson.

The Indestructible Dinosaur Pinata

For Grace's birthday party we bought a very well-made dinosaur pinata that the children had no chance to break, and then equipped the children with a tiny stick. The results are in this video:

Why not just use a net?

Grace was expecting the fishing to be quick and easy. Throw in a line and the fish bites it. After a few minutes of holding the bamboo pole with no action from the fish swimming in the large tank, she asked why we didn't just get a net and scoop the fish out of the tank? I didn't have a good answer for that.

From February 2007

From February 2007

Children's Combat Fishing

We took Grace to Monroe for the Sportsmen's show - there was a children fishing pond and she wanted to go fishing. It was combat fishing training for children. Here is a picture of combat fishing in Alaska and the Washington children's combat fishing training ground.

From February 2007

Ash Wednesday

On Ash Wednesday, at Grace's bedtime, I was sitting on the couch. I had the cross in ashes on my forehead. Grace came up to me, looking at my forehead, and said, "Daddy, can you get off your ash and come read to me?"

Family Pictures

Here's some pictures from the last week.

From February 2007

From February 2007

From February 2007

New Photos

You can find some new photos of the family by clicking here.

Holden's First Letter

Here is Holden napping next to his first letter: The U.S. Social Security system welcoming him to this world by officially assigning him his own 9 digit number. His social security card was included - signature needed. Holden is required to return this card whenever they tell him to turn it in (the letter does not indicate why they would ever ask for him to return the card). None of these new complications seem to faze young Holden.

Happy Valentine's Day

Grace, in her self-picked Valentine's Day outfit, holding a card for her friend Annie. For some reason, this particular pair of pants were Valentine's Day pants.

When she woke up, she said, "Daddy, it's not red." "What's not red?" I asked. "Teacher Alice said Valentine's Day is red. Why isn't it red?" Apparently, the day itself was supposed to be red.

Dad and Children

Nelson, Holden and Grace, on the couch.

Proposed Present for Holden

Grace leafed through a Babies R Us catalog, and then suggested that we buy this for the baby.

Holden's First Trip to visit relatives

Moms and Babies

Outside of the UW Hospital - Mom and her new baby Holden in a sling; and Grace and her baby Keaton in a sling.

Holden and big Sister - 1 week old

Grace Tap Dance Video

Nelson is taking Grace to tap dance class on Thursdays while he's home on paternity leave. Here's the video of Grace in class:

Holden Video

I have a quick video of Holden you can view -

Holden Alexander Appell

His name is officially Holden (Meaning "kind") Alexander (Meaning "defender of mankind") Appell (Which is close to the French appeler for "to call").

I uploaded a few more pictures - click here.

Tap Dancing

In all the excitement of a new baby, life goes on - Grace is taking a tap dance class on Thursday mornings (a gift from Grandad Bill). This is her new dance dress and new tap shoes.

New Baby Boy

The new baby boy Appell was born yesterday at 7:54am at the University of Washington Medial Center - 6lb, 5-1/2 oz, 19 inches. Premature, but healthy. I'll be posting pictures here:

http://picasaweb.google.com/nappell/NewBabyBoy