When we moved into our house last year the basement was bare. Kevin, being an artist with carpentry skills, saw it as a blank canvas. He has been working diligently and with great enthusiasm to design (along with his wife's input) the floor plan to build rooms in our basement. We are learning much about building codes, city inspections, and shelling out too much money. But we are excited to see the progress that is taking place.


All the framing has to be plumbed and leveled. Kevin's talent and skills are coupled with his patience to produce a job well done.


Installing the cans for lights in the new bathroom.


Kevin installed duct work for heat into his soon-to-be art studio. Red Green would be disappointed...no duct tape visable.


Kevin applying thinset mortar to smooth out the floor in the new bathroom.


Kevin has done all the framing and had done an incredible job....lots of sweat and time and figuring in all those walls

It was a beautiful, sunny winter day...with a biting wind. But we got up and drove to the river to watch the bald eagles at their feeding. Incredible to watch these birds feeding and just sitting in the tops of the trees along the river bank. I got frustrated because I didn't have a better zoom lens, so couldn't get the shots of those magnificent birds that I would have liked...but then I found other subjects that caught my eye.







My purple shamrock plant in bloom. Gorgeous, isn't it? (I threw this one in just for fun....)


Kevin, fascinated with watching the bald eagles perched in the treetops. It was feeding time. We actually saw an eagle dive for and catch his breakfast in the river, then flew up into the top of a tree to eat it.


A beautiful ice formation on the beach.


I was fascinated with these uprooted trees...one can see God's design in absolutely everything!


A massive uprooted tree trunk in ice on the bank of the Cedar River.

Kaylin's first big snow....she loved the feel of it in her little hands.



My baby kissing hers. So sweet.(You're a great mama, Britt)



engineer dad reading to engineer son. Dan is a terrific father...very loving, very patient, very attentive, but also knows how to command respect



Kaylin and Kristen listen intently as Mom reads a fascinating book.



A little girl caught in the act....Dad caught Kaylin trying to climb the bookshelf, which is against house rules. She's hiding her face from him.


Kaylin can put her own coat on, thank you very much.


framing in the soffet above what will be the bathroom sink


Kevin has been framing in our basement, getting ready for the electrician to come...hopefully, this week. He cleverly put our bar sink in his old hutch.


Julie and Jesse in the back yard where they live. Julie appears to be in awe of Jesse's skills.


Two of our state's finest elementary ed teachers. No, they don't teach PE.


Jeremy brought his fiance, Tabitha. She's very sweet. See her ring? Wedding is in Dec.




Our family women's gift exchange taking place on sacred territory....a quilt made by Great Gma Boshart. Mom would tell us about some of the pieces in that quilt.


Mom and Maynard opening their DVD player from us kids. Mom was way too excited to see they also received "March of the Penguins" DVD. Thanks, Dale for your prior detective work on that.


Jesse and Julie plotting in family "Partner Scattergories". Can one actually plot in Scattergories? What do you think, Dan?

Hi everyone. This is Kevin's and Penni's new blog. Today is our first anniversary and we are celebrating it by Kevin being ill. We are now thinking he has mycoplasma. This is not what we had planned for our anniversary weekend. Oh well...best laid plans (well or good?)

Anyway...enjoy these photos of some very special people.













I know this isn't a new picture, but I've not been able to take a recent picture with Trey (aka Jonathan) and Kari lately.




Ah, the joys of teaching toddlers....Britt, did you PLAN to be sick? I noticed you slept through this whole thing.


Well...Britt wanted to make cinnamon rolls when I was out there for a visit, but she became ill. That left Kaylin and Ethan to "help" Gma.


Mom Britt dancing with her kids. She makes time for them, even with all the laundry and everything else that goes with having 3 little ones.


Nothing compares to this!!!


Ethan is truly an engineer. He LOVES winding the cord to the vacuum cleaner....REALLY!


Ethan signed "I love you" to me as I wait inside where it's warm.

Kevin's favorite outdoor activity

enjoying the sun on Palisades beach...where we met

At Joel's wedding last summer.