Hi friends,
We have a new, easier-to-update and maintain blog location which we hope will facilitate a more regular posting. As you can see, this old blog has gotten dusty. Quite simply, there is not enough time in the day. Something had to be cut. Long winded blog posts about our lovely daughter are pretty much done. And poor Jr. gets hardly a thing for recognition. But suffice it to say that the kids are good and doing well. MFW is a 2.5 year old Tasmanian Devil. JLW is a 2 month old gentle little soul. He hardly cries at all. Sleeps well. Smiles a lot. We got lucky with that one.

I am going to turn this old blog into a book for MFW, probably through www.blurb.com

New blog location – please update your bookmarks: http://mfranniehanlou.tumblr.com/

The new site updates easily from our phones, which, as everyone knows, is how real work gets done these days. It’s mainly a photograph site, but dig around and there might be some text blog entries from time to time.

Happy holidays all.
Best,
L’equipe W.

Maeva just typed that. It says a bunch of really nice stuff. But mainly it just says I love you much and always. And more.

Easter came and went in a breath. We went to church with auntie Juju & Chris. Afterwards an egg hunt at home. After nap time a trip to Savage for visiting the Ahlman clan and grandparents Esther & Arnold. More eggs hunted and caught.

Late April brought news of a baby boy to be joining our team sometime in September. We promise, little buddy, that we’ll pay more attention to you. I know, I know. Your sister had a little blog with measurement updates dedicated to her and there was all sorts of fanfare, etc. But we’ve just been busy. Don’t judge. We’ll come around. You just grow and focus on healthy development. We’re getting ready out here to welcome you right fine. Don’t you worry.

Maeva turned two. She took it in stride. Meg and I walked into her room first thing in the morning with a bowl of rice pudding and two flaming candles and she looked at us like we were insane. “Just smile and get through this” she seemed to say to herself. “You’ll be grown up soon enough.” She partied with grandma on her birthday during the day and was duly feted upon her return home in the afternoon as well. She got a pretty good load of goods hard and soft.

The following Saturday was Bryn Mar Garagies and so we worked that, went home and took naps, and then set Maeva up an official party at Grandma Bebe’s/Papa Joe’s with the Duluth and LC families and a few buddies in attendance. It was a rip roarin’ afternoon. Lots of salads, ripped paper, frilly costumes, art projects and only a few tears. More goods for Maeva. And a text from England. (“Hollaaaaa!”)

It didn’t rain for two months. March and April were bone dry and sunny. The rivers swelled and flooded from the spring runoff and then they dropped and everyone forgot about them. The lakes rose and then fell. Then… nothing. We waited for the rain.

It came last Friday in cool sheets. It was just a calm, day-long rain in tempered, easy downfall. Nothing fussy. Maeva and I set up a tent indoors and played camping. I taught her how to build a fire and when she got tired I cozied her up in blankets at the foot of the tent. I gave her my little camping pillow with trout on it. We lay there looking at the ceiling through the mesh and pretended to hear the rain fall on our tent.

I have known Corey since I was a wee lad of about 5 years old. I cannot comprehend that we are very near middle age now. It’s nearly half over buddy! And that’s if everything goes according to plan! Keep on keeping on. Let’s get together again sooner than later. We’ll do your house next time.