Evie's big news

One more milestone to adulthood. Evie kept her panties dry (and her bed!) all night last night. To celebrate, we put on our prettiest dresses and went out to breakfast at a resturant. It was a lot of fun. We are very proud of Evie.

This week

A few new pictures. Since we are still not 100% back up on the old computer (mom and dad have been busy painting and furniture shopping), we aren't taking many pictures. Here are a few from this past week.I scored a GeoTracks train set for Evie on Craig's List this week. It has about a million pieces and takes 18 AAA batteries (no exageration there). She really likes to play with it and put track together. It's a nice new welcome distraction, especially on rainy days.
The Stinker is getting very wiggly in the bathtub. She spends most of tub time on her hands and knees or standing. Her favorite game is to knock all the bottles into the tub.
Ok, since we don't have the camera software loaded yet, you have to turn your head. This is naked Annalise standing with no hands--only belly support. She shows no interest in walking without help. Crawling is getting her where she needs to go fast enough.

Only 40K to go!

The 740 turned over 200K miles on it a couple of weeks ago. Only 40K more and it will have effectively been driven to the moon.

What we've been up to

Finally, we are back up and running. A lot has happened since our last post. Evie is preparing for her first year at college and Annalise is studying hard for the driver's Test coming up. Sometimes it seems that way. Evie is becoming a real little girl and has come up with some interesting points of conversation lately. Most recently, her obsesion is with heavy construction equipment and occasionally farm implements. Annalise is crawling, climbing, and standing on her own. She is a total monkey. Evie had her last soccer practice. Yeah! No more sitting in the middle of a sunny field of dirt when it's about 100 degrees. She misses it though and is comtimplating either dance class (clogging or polka?) or gymnastics.
Mass 3 and 4 year old soccer chaos. Look for the orange shorts. She wore them EVERY week so I could see her better.
Annalise was always a sport at soccer practice. She tried to eat all the dead grass.
A couple of weeks ago, I went to DC to visit my friend Erica. I had one objective while I was there. It was to see some water that didn't have a fountain in the middle to prevent the algae growth (very common in Indiana). Erica took me to Annapolis, MD and we walked around the Naval Academy and saw real water with real boats in them. We even took a boat ride. It was a great relaxing weekend.
Monkey see, monkey do.
Then we went to the Hamilton county fair. It was a true 4-H fair with not much more than animals, 4-H projects and a few food stands. Oh, and tractors. we had to check out all the tractors, of course. Here's Linky in the combine wheel.
Evie and dad dreamed about a garden tractor. At least this has a better chance of fitting in the garage.
We did manage to find an ice cream while we were there.

This past Sunday, cousin Hank stopped by on his way back to Madison after a week with his Grandpa and Grandma Cooper. He had a popcicle all by himself. He also got hosed down when he was finished. By the way, Evie did her hair all by herself.
Hank and Evie swing. Hey, did you hear that Hank is going to be a big brother?
Today, the girls wore matching PJ's. How embarassing.

Annalise still only has 2 bottom teeth. We think that all four of her uppers will break through about the same time. She has that teething drool rash right now all over her chin. Or maybe she just ate too much grass and leaves while she was outside today.

Tech Update

Loyal Readers:

I am happy to give a couple of updates on our computer situation. Jim purchased and installed a new hard drive and our computer is now functional. We are going to be a few more days out until you can see some pictures of our kids. We suggest visiting Henry's blog as Aunt Becky visited and took pictures over this past weekend.

Another bit of exciting news, Nate Wells slept in his own bed for the first time over the weekend. We couldn't be happier for him to be home! Check his blog for new pictures.

Techinal Difficulties

To our loyal readers:

We have experienced a tech meltdown here in the Taller house. Our computer has melted. ( I am writing this on Jim's work computer). Until we can revive our laptop, you will just have to imagine our children in your heads, or check out our archives to relive moments from the past few months.

Hopefully, we will be up and running soon. Keep your fingers crossed!

PS--To all you digital camera people out there, back up your pictures!

Picture Day

Had the girls' pictures taken at Target a couple of weeks ago and this was the result. Yes, Uncle Bran, I took a picture of the actual picture. Keep your comments to yourself if you want one of your goddaughter for your study dungeon. Evie at 3 years, 4 months
Annalise at 9 months, 2 weeks.
Probably the prettiest girls in all of Carmel, if not the entire state of Indiana.

Also another thing we are missing... Marketfest.

Big food in Indiana

Indiana ranks as the 8th most obese state in the union. Hmmm...wonder why? Could it be due to the heap of pancakes (with extra butter?)
Or the hamburger so big that it has to be hauled by a truck?
Uncle Kevin set his healthy habits aside and did his best to pack on a couple of pounds while he was visiting. Here he is eating a giant sandwich.
And this was his dessert. Oliver looks a little concerned because he knows what his dad's cholesterol is.

Which brings me to the list of things that I miss in Minnesota. Most of which are food. If you are reading this from the State of Hockey, please do me a favor and go out and eat at least two things on this list.

1. The Cup and Cone

2. JusTruffles from the Chocolate Spoon in White Bear

3. Golden Plump Rotissere Chicken (the ones here aren't nearly as salty and greasy)

4. Taste of Scandinavia breakfast lefse

5. Caribou Coffee

6. Pad Thai from Wild Ginger (and the best spring rolls ever)

7. The lake on a hot summer day

8. The Twins

9. Our membership in our farm co-op

and

10. Our good friends.

I am having a serious Minnesota homesick day and I miss you all so much! Please email if you have a chance!

Carmel Fest Parade

Post race, we attended the Carmel Fest Parade with the Seibert Family, Evan Bray and the Lupke Family. This time, Evie and Mike were prepared for the candy with plastic buckets. Of course, you can't get much candy when your bucket is on your head! Bucketheads.
Annalise sat on Evan's lap the whole parade. It was like a hour vacation for mom. During the parade, pretty girls would stop to talk to him. He's such a sensitive guy looking out for his little cousin. What a babe magnet.
You can't see it very well, but these motorcycle patrol men have INDIANA on their windshields.
Hmmm.... this is very reminiscent of Seibert vacations of our youth...stuck in the back of a van screaming at each other.

The Carmel Fest Fun Run

Today, Uncle Kevin, Aunt Elizabeth, and Jim participated in the Carmel Fest 4.5 mile run. Elizabeth placed second in her age group. Kevin and Jim also finished. They beat the 86 year old guy. Of course, they all got beat by the lady that was pregnant and pushing a jogger stroller. After the adults finished, the kids got their chance. Evie started strong in the 3 year old race
But then she started to fade...here she is bringing up the rear.
She was too busy making poses at the camera to worry about competing.
Then Natalie ran the 2 year old race (with coach mom).
Here's Natalie doing her best Captin Jack Sparrow run. She placed second overall.
Then the babies ran. Oliver had assistance, but Jim made Annalise take some steps.
Barefoot, like the Kenyans.

Oliver on the home stretch.
Everyone wins in the Carmel Fest fun run.
Even the little ones got a medal.
Oliver and Annalise with their medals, but Annalise was too intrested in the grass and dirt.

Happy Birthday Grandpa Seibert and Great Grandma Seibert!

Today is Grandpa Seibert's and Great Grandma Seibert's Birthday! We hope you and Evie have been having fun together this week. Our present to you is to have Evie return home so you can drive past fields without explaining when the wheat will be combined.

Work Weekend, Day 2

Well, we finished the family room and we decided that we like the color well enough to keep it that way for a few years...until we get the new furniture and the flat screen TV for over the fireplace...haha. Annalise was absolutely no help in the painting effort (which extended into the foyer to cover a weird pinkish beige that was below the chair rail). As a result, she was put in the penalty box.