close to done

Well, it's been a long time coming. You may remember, if you've been following along, that I have had a project motorcycle. This is my 1982 suzuki gs650glz. This motorcycle rolled of the japanese production line just 3 months before I was born. If you are looking closely you may notice the brake line just kind of hanging to the side in picture 1. Well, this is because of the totally awesome handlebars I have put on it, I just need to add a little bit of brake line. I am waiting on the last of the parts I should need to actually get it running. I wish this were an American made machine, but as they say beggars can't be choosers. I am also excited because dad just bought a 1979 harley custom chopper. I will be blogging again when something exciting happens. Josh

I'm in a band.....

Yesterday William (2 yrs, 3 months) picked up his mandolin, sat on the couch- and banged on some strings. Our conversation went like this:
Wm: Wanna play mandolin. I'm in a band.
Me: What kind of band are you in?
Wm: Mine!
Me: Is it a bluegrass band?
Wm: No. orange
A few minutes later.....
Me: What kind of band are you in William?
Wm: rubber!

Humor

Lately William is really showing his sense of humor, for instance when Josh told him "wave to Mommy" the other evening, he waved to me with his foot and giggled. Some other cute things he has said or done lately:
me: "Hi Spongebob!"
Wm: "Hi Spastrick" (Patrick, the starfish from Spongebob Squarepants)
me: "hi Spongebob"
Wm: "no spunsebob, name's BABY!"

last night when Josh sneezed I said "bless you" and William said "I wanna bless you.... aaaaacho!"

me: "William, if you had a million dollars, what would you buy?"
Wm: "buy milk!"

He is 2yrs plus 3 months now- and can count to 10 --although usually not in the right order. He knows his colors and shapes pretty well, and the names of most animals. If asked: what does *any animal* say?, he says "goes Raaaaarrr"! This is true for people too. Like "William, what does mommy say?", Wm: "goes Raaaarrr".

Learning to Say "Cheese"

William has started smiling for the camera. He squints his eyes when he does this. Then he says "wanna see baby" because then he wants me to turn the camera around so he can look at the picture I just took. Then he says "I see baby!". We still haven't been able to get him to say his own name. When we say "What's your name?" he usually says "baby!". But sometimes he says something else like "Maggie" (the dog's name) or "boogie"... not sure why "boogie"! On the subject of names, we have a friend named Mike and William calls him "Microwave". Today William said "hi sweetie mommy!". I'm so lucky :o)

Under Repair

A few years ago Josh and I were at the Sally Mountain Bluegrass Festival in Queen City, MO. After spending a very hot July day in our tent, my Gibson F9 started coming apart at the neck. Recently our friend and excellent mandolin builder (and musician!), Mark Franzke (check out Flinthills Mandolins) started fixing it. He said the saws and hammer are there for comic effect. I didn't think a thing of it! But glad to know they weren't required. He is also putting on some wider frets and will inlay some fretboard dots! I can't wait!!!

Spring!

Spring is finally here- although it doesn't quite feel like spring today! We are taking advantage of some nice weather on the weekends to put a flowerbed in front of the house. I'm not quite sure what I've planted, but mostly it's blue and lavender flowers. Peony plants line the sidewalk- but it will be a while before they show themselves. I buried some landscaping bricks to create a border- basically level with the ground so as not to get in the way of the lawnmower. Will post some updates as things fill in.

Who is this kid?

Do you recognize the little boy in the picture? Neither do we! William got a real little boy haircut this morning. He sat quietly in the chair while they clipped several inches of blonde curls from his head. I will miss the long hair-- but it'll be back......
oh.. and that red spot under his nose? He fell off his cousin's bike yesterday. Ouch! Now he goes around the house saying "nose... bike"