Xander and Clare

Hanging with Grandpa and Grandma in Iowa!

Michael showed Xander all around our old Iowa City haunts -- this was my dorm.

Ah, yes: Joe's Place.

Bruegger's Bagels -- I still miss you.

Meanwhile, Clare hung out with Kate, Jessica and Henry all day in Seattle while I was doing music stuff with Juliana and crew. She got to run errands with them and eat burgers and shakes...

Clare and I returned home from our rock-n-roll adventure just in time to throw the annual Sledge Super Bowl Party. (Lissy won all the dice money this year. Yay!)

I went to a big gala fundraiser and my fabulous table hosts sent me home with leftover Voodoo Doughnuts for the family. X was pleased.

Our old house is going through some big changes!

The kids sleep in now, so we go out for Saturday morning breakfast dates.

Now that we all have NEXUS passes, getting into Canada takes just a second. Look how happy Clare was to be headed north.

We finally found the dog for us at IKEA.

And a cat!

Lunch in Vancouver.

Basketball buddies over to watch the NBA All-Star Game.

Michael hung Xander's amazing ESPN backdrop that Emily gave him at Christmas!

Xander's annual birthday trip to Portland to see the Celtics play.

We got all of Mom's old calendars and started a little art project.

In process...

Complete! Only took us seven years to get something up in this spot.

Clare remains a not-a-morning-person, but Michael tries his best to make her laugh through the pain. :)

Squalicum Warriors practice. 

First backyard fire (and s'mores) of 2020.

Squalicum High School basketball banquet.

Coach Doorn had the most incredibly nice things to say about Xander. So proud of this kid.

The first night after finding out that school is closed for (at least) six weeks.

My office buddy.

My replacement office buddy.

Someone's on Facebook now!

Teamwork.

Xander and Clare made cookies, and then shared them with all the cul-de-sac crew kiddos.

This hero mowed the lawn, and then suffered allergies and a sneezing attack for the ages.

We snuck over to our friends' house (staying outside the whole time), so we could meet their new dog.

She loves when I ask her to pose for photos...

We also got out for a family walk along Lake Whatcom.

Some of us were more excited than others for the three-mile walk.