Guys at The Lake

Conner and Gavin came up to the lake for the weekend (and brought dad along). It was kind of a guys weekend except guess who kept butting in. (Oh, just a few hugs, stories, made a snow cave and a snowperson, among other things.)

Deer eating my bushes, but what a hello for Connor and Gavin.

They guys checked out Gooseberry Falls...still frozen on top, but leaking underneath.

Grandpa and Connor did alot of cooking--pancakes, waffles, cookies. Granny made salads. Grandpa made salmon, fresh out of the lake--which he caught with his bear hands. It jumped up to catch the bug that Grandpa had for it. Weeomp...ready for the George Foreman--yum.

There's our fabulous snowperson and two best friends.

More cookies by Connor. Which is more fun, throwing the ball up to the balcony and landing on the deer picture or cooking with Grandpa?
He played 2 games of checkers, 2 games of chinese checkers, and Yathzee with Granny Lala in the loft.

He ate the whole thing. What a guy. Talking sentences like wildfire. Smart, joyful child.

There he is in the loft...........tasting cumguets from Ann in California.

Connor, are you up there already?

Wait til Isabel and Madeline come together for a girls weekend. Granny had to just talk to Madeline on the phone...she had her last dancing lesson..................she "just loves dancing" and plans to take more dancing after they get back from Florida. And she loves Granny as high as the sky, as high as the house, as high at hills, as high as the airplane..............as high....as our imaginations can reach.

We can't wait til Isabel and Claudia move to Minnesota............Papa Adam has a job in River Falls, which has an amazing new world of development for plastics...............and a history of many good things. A 3 M developer insisted on living in this college town..........and Greg Mortenson's mother lives there, author of Three Cups of Tea. We can't wait. wow. wow. wow.

The snow cave...Granny and Connor both fit in it. Granny had to back in. Connor is checking it out for this picture. Good thing we did all this snow fun while we could. Temps in the 50s were beckening the flow of the creeks.

Greg at the Vassaloppet

Greg did the 35km version of the Mora Vassaloppet this weekend. He is about 50' from the finish line.

Gavin's 2nd birthday

Granny Lala poses with our blue-eyed grandson, Gavin at his 2nd birthday party. He loved the toy presents the best. Watch him play "hockey-golf." And notice Mark and Julie and their three posing with that great cake with two candles on it, made by Granny Irene. (Who blew out those candles so quickly?)

Christmas at Greg & Katie's

Here are a couple of pics of Christmas back in Minnesota. Connor is teaching us how to use a wii. Look at that fraser from the farm--the top hits the ceiling. Three cherubs (Madeline,Connor, and Gavin) pose in front of it and the stash under it. This was our second Christmas upon our return from California. Greg and Katie were the hosts.

Christmas in California

Christmas in California with Isabel and Claudia and their parents Elizabeth and Adam. Issy, will you pose in front to that berry bush? We can make cards from that picture. Let's take your picture with the dolly and the new dress that we made for her. Let's go up into the clouds and see the top of a mountain. Can we go to Alice Waters restraurant? Let's decorate a gingerbread house. Oh, it's such fun to see you all.

Let's all welcome Liam to the family

Liam Philip Hartley arrived at 2:26 AM on Tuesday, January 20th, weighing 8 lbs, 10oz, and stretching out to 21 inches long. Granny Lala thinks he looks like his mommy. He's just as cute. His brownish fuzz has the Hartley hairline they said. The Griffin clan can make claim to his beautiful long feet, cute toes and he has nice long fingers. He's cute and perfect in every way...and he has two delighted parents. Liam is Irish for William--nice name. And what an honor to have Grandpa Phil's name for his second name. Joy, joy. Blessing to all of us. Welcome little Liam Philip.
Just resting my eyes for a minute or so. It's been an incredible day. I'm in the world now. It won't be long and I'll be pitching balls with my cousins cause I have strong muscles on my shoulders. Daddy will teach me.

Lucky Granny Lala gets to hold the blue bundle. Now we have three of each. Gear up for all the fun and activities ahead.

Some more pics from the lake

They were sledding down the steps of the deck and Greg had to stop them before they went into the lake.