San Diego

The family has made it to San Diego, where Great-Grandpa and Ele came to see us.

Four generations of Shields

More snow

The snow is about Bijou-high.

We shoveled the driveway and did a test drive with some new chains. Now we have only one chain.

Cheri likes eating the snow.

Snowed in

Our train to Bellingham has been canceled due to snow. Gryphon doesn't mind.

Cheri and Bijou going about business as usual.

In diesem Wetter, in diesem Braus

It has been snowing heavily today (above is the view out the front window).
Jared has set up his computer in preparation to housesit for us. Alyson and Cheri and working on crafts with Gryphon at the moment.

Yesterday Nathan's college roommate Chris came for a visit. He's studying in Texas to become a surgeon.

Snow day

8 months old

We celebrated Cheri's dad's birthday this morning, and when it was time to drive home there was an inch of snow on the road. Gryphon was characteristically skeptical.

Toy sounds

Gryphon has some kind of toy worm thing that makes different noises. Cheri and I wanted to know if it cycles through all its noises before repeating, so we started writing them down to keep track:

• giggle-whooo
• widiwidiwidiwidi
• huuuuoo
• squeal: aaaaoooo
• flutter flutter flutter flutter
• peek-a-boo
• mini mini mini mi
• oooyaaah
• ohhhhhh (too bad)
• rrrrwikatupateeeooh
• ha ha
• wheee
• whaaaahhh!
• purrrrrrr
• giggle
• oopsie
• ha ha ha ha ha
• mwah (kiss)
• ohhwheeeeohhhh

After about 5 minutes of this, the following exchange occured, with Cheri unaware of the recording in progress:

Winter hat

Gryphon's hat elicited many comments made in a Scottish accent... from his parents.

Goodnight Moon

Nanna Jo and Dar Dar stopped by on their way back to Bellingham.

A trip to the coast

The last few days have been spent at Depoe Bay with Nanna Jo and Dar Dar. We all appreciated the surreal oceanscapes just outside our windows, and found delicous clam chowder at the Spouting Horn restaurant.


Cheri and Mojo spent a long time putting together a jigsaw puzzle, only to find that it was missing five pieces.