Looking out the front window.

Yesterday I cleaned every window in the house.  Inside and out.  Skyler was gracious enough to have a nap for 90% of the time it took.  I finished in his room after he woke up and we had some afternoon entertainment! 

The city was sealing cracks with their new machine.  First, a truck with an air compressor has an operator that blows all the cracks clean.  Then, the crew with the sealing machine manually seals the cracks.  It's almost painful to watch.  You figure each guy is making $20+ an hour plus the cost of the equipment and fuel.  Well over $100 per hour to seal cracks.  The best part was the cars would drive right through the hot sealant!  Nothing like a quick undercoating for the wheel wells!  Skyler was so excited to watch though, he stood there the entire time looking out the window.  It was a nice diversion for a Monday afternoon.  It's raining here again today.  Probably because I washed windows...

What is it?

I can see a garbage truck and something else!

So entertaining!

The man on the airgun didn't even have hearing protection!

I see you!

Finished result.  Looks messy!

It took them from 1:00 to 4:00 to do our street, probably less than a quarter mile.

This was this morning, can you see it?

What a beautiful sight to start the day with!

Post birthday wrap up.

My sister hosted a nice brunch for our mom yesterday.  Skyler was the star, eating, making messes, chasing the museum cat.  (her cat isn't for petting or holding, just looking)  The cat hated the attention!  Skyler's pets are black and white.  The cats at my parents are black and white.  My sister's cat is orange.  This had to be investigated!

WHAT THE HELL IS THAT!!!??

Hi kitty!

Come here kitty!

I see you kitty!

Happy birthday Mom!

A picture of my sister's museum clean kitchen.

Skyler helping open a present.

I love tearing paper!

Grandpa even brought Skyler a baloon!

We also cleaned up the yard and house all weekend.  I'll still be cleaning all week. We're hosting a birth group birthday party this coming weekend.  And the following weekend is Skyler's 1st birthday!  I can't believe it's been a year!

April 15th. Happy Birthday Mom!!!

Today is my mom's birthday.  I'm really lucky to have such a great mom.  When I was little, I remember other kids moms not being home when they got home from school.  Or not fixing them lunch for the day.  Or not even cooking dinner for the family.  My mom did all that and more.  She taught me how to cook and garden.  I'm pretty sure she's responsible for my John Deere obsession.  I remember my first visit to Welch implement in York, Nebraska to pick out a toy John Deere 4430.  (I still have that toy.)  I also like to think that her great parenting has enabled me to be a better parent to Skyler. 

We're going to my sister Karen's house for Sunday birthday brunch this morning.  Skyler will be able to play on the playground and climb Karen's stairs. 

Happy Birthday Mom, we love you!!

As if there was any doubt...

Skyler is definitely our kid.  Altair and I both love to garden and work in the yard.  A.K.A. play in the dirt.  Look who else loves the dirt!

 I don't think I've ever seen him so happy!  He was cooing and screaming with delight!  He even had to taste some dirt!

On a completely unrelated note, remember last October when the grain elevator exploded in Atchison Kansas?  This past week they poured concrete nonstop using slipforms for the silos.  Here is a time lapse from the pour.  http://live.bartlett-grain.com/Atchtime/

Rainy day antics in the house.

It's not raining now, but it keeps threatening.  That means we're inside today.  Altair is (surprise) still at work.  I've been trying to get Skyler to say tractor for the past week or so.  He's finally saying it!  It's more of "trktr" but nevertheless, it's the word!  He knows that the objects on the walls in his room that are green and yellow are tractors too, he points to them and says "trkr"!  I caught him watching Sesame Street on the couch drinking his juice this morning.  He's also figured out that the door knob has to turn to get outside.  Such a naughty!

This is how it works!

Kicking back watching Sesame Street.

Laughing at Big Bird!

Barn!

"Trktr"!

Look Dad!

I can touch it!

This isn't barf, it's why his nickname is Bubbs, blowing bubbles!

Reading my books.

Lately Skyler has started looking through books by himself. I try to read them to him but he wants to hold them and flip through the pages. He studies every single page. Such a smarty!

Consider this Thursday's post...

I'm on the verge of a meltdown.  Between maintaining the house, the cars, the yard, cooking, cleaning, laundry, the groceries and the God Damned pets, I've about had it.  Not to mention that Altair seems to enjoy working more than being at home.  That being said, here's a couple of pics of Skyler doing his best at getting into things he shouldn't. 

If I run away to Iowa in a fit of rage, don't be surprised.  I'm already raising Skyler as a single Dad.  How hard could it be to work at Deere during the day and take care of him at night?  Altair seems to be doing it just fine...  I'm even willing to work the night shift making widgets at Deere...  Who cares?  At least I'd be out of the house and into society!