Posts by Chuck Curtis
Isabella was a little jaundiced yesterday when they sent her home, so we get a (hopefully) quick trip to the lab to get blood drawn this morning to check up on her.
She was a champ last night. Sleeping from 11:30 to about 3:30 and then back asleep to almost 7.
Now comes the wait. Susanna’s due date came and went earlier this week as Isabella pushes towards 42 weeks.
The nursery is ready. The boys are ready. I’m ready. And most of all, Susanna is very ready.
So we wait. And try to keep busy.
When the arctic chill drops down from Canada, we sit inside, watch TV, do crossword puzzles and play on the computers. When the warmth returns we venture for walks in the woods (and still spend a lot of time inside watching TV and doing crossword puzzles). Most days, Susanna hasn’t been able to hike as far as we used to last summer. But yesterday, with the temperatures pushing into the 30s, we ventured way back into the woods, letting the dogs stretch their legs and get a good run in. Something that Targa has sorely missed this winter. And something Tucker sorely needs to get a little less fat.
This weekend we will try to make plans. This morning I will attempt to fix the leaking shower valve. I stopped by Home Depot last night and got the repair parts. I expect to have to swing by this morning and get parts that I probably have forgotten. After chores, we will head out and look for a source for gutters. Something better than the white gutters available at Home Depot. And after that, another trip into the woods. Hopefully plans that will get interrupted by labor. But if not, at least we will try to keep busy.
The boys are stuck at home with another snow day. This morning Will planned out our day so we didn’t just sit around and play video games all day. This morning Will and I went for a walk with the dogs in the early snow. After the walk we cleaned the house and the boys played Minecraft for a while. Now Will and Susanna are cooking lunch while Ben and I take it easy.
This afternoon the boys will get more screen time, though Ben and I will head to the workshop to build shelves.
We have (or rather had) two large hydrangea trees in the front of the house on either side of the old stairs down to the road. The northern of the two trees was in pretty poor shape after some storm damage over the last two years, and the wet snow this weekend finished it. So we are left with one large tree in the front of the house.
It is a bummer – the trees provided some privacy on the front porch (with the house being so close to the road. But on the other side, they are large and block the view of the front of the house. So this is an opportunity to redo the landscaping in the front of the house. Susanna and I like the idea of a shrub/tree on either side of the stairs, but we have to pick one that won’t get large and the roots won’t destroy the wall. Does anyone have any suggestions on trees/shrubs?
Preston canceled school yesterday – we had a storm blow through during the day dumping 5-8 inches of snow on us and turning the roads into a slushy slippery mess. The boys came over in the morning and spend a lot of time just hanging out, watching some TV and playing Minecraft for a while.
In the afternoon the boys and I went outside. First for a snowball fight and then sledding.
Jackets, shoes and socks off – a crazy warm last day of January. The boys and I headed into the woods for a short hike this morning. 
Last weekend, Susanna and I installed the book display shelves in the nursery. They turned out nice enough, that I have to build more shelves for above the changing table. That at least gives me something to do on a snowy Saturday.
Benjamin and Tucker enjoying the sun before heading out to the Book Barn in Niantic.
A year ago I sat down and put down some goals for the year. Of course I didn’t revisit them very often during the year – so some were replaced with other projects/goals. How did I do?
For the workshop:
1.Build at least one piece of furniture
I built a charging station, toolboxes and a bunch of smaller projects. However, I didn’t tackle any furniture this year – nothing seemed pressing to build.
2.Finish the toy boxes
I got the three boxes built and delivered. I was going to replace the roof on two of them, but I didn’t get around to it.
3. Improve insulation and replace the front door to the shop.
This is still on my list… maybe it would be easier if I just got a prehung exterior door to finish the project.
4. Finish one wall and improve organization.
I have improved the organization and rearranged the shop. I haven’t yet completely finished a wall – my original plans had to change when the guy I used to get pine from stopped cutting lumber – so now I’m thinking of using plywood.
5. Replace the bulkhead walls on the sailboat.
I didn’t get a chance to do the bulkhead before putting the boat on the water, and I sold the boat after the season, so this didn’t get done.
For the house:
1. Finish the mud room/laundry room
Finished!
2. Build cubbies for the mud room.
We decided to not build the cubbies. It is still on my list to build someday.
3. Add switches and outlets to the master bedroom.
I did this, we even switched bedrooms with Will.
4. Reorganize and clean the basement.
Not done.
5. Finish re-plumbing the house with PEX.
I added some PEX, but didn’t completely re-plumb the house.
6. Add grape vines and blueberry bushes to the back yard and clean up the netting for the berries.
We added some grapes, but no more blueberries. We didn’t do netting this summer, so that is still on my list.
With the family:
1. Go on vacation to Mexico.
Done! And we had a great time.
2. Go to Sweden for Sofia’s wedding.
Done! It was a great trip and a perfect wedding.
3. Road trip to St. Louis to visit family.
Done! A great family trip.
4. Get out overnight on the sailboat.
Done! However I didn’t get out sailing as much as I thought last year, and we decided to sell the boat with a baby coming and probably limited time for sailing for the next couple of years.
Do more hikes/bike rides with the family.
Done! We did lots of rides with the boys and walks, but not too much hiking.
Spend less time playing on electronics and more time enjoying life.
Hmm… I’ll have to ask Susanna on this one.
Personal Goals:
1. Exercise more.
I think I was more active this year than last year, but of course I can still improve.
2. If the opportunity opens up, sail to Block Island again.
It didn’t work out for this year – maybe next year on someone else’s boat.
3. Keep finishing projects (Damn you ADHD).
I don’t think I did too bad at this – of course it is still a struggle. Starting projects is way more fun than finishing them.
4. Another year of blogging.
I struggled at this a bit this year. I think I had a lot going on, and it is difficult for me to keep writing when too much is going on.
5. Print blog books for both boys and for myself.
I didn’t get around to this yet.
I think that overall this was a pretty good year. A lot of plans changed when we found out Susanna was pregnant last summer. We added a house project (renovating the nursery) and work got busy in the fall. I think I did better with the family goals (family and house) and not as good with my personal goals (workshop and personal).