Hazel rolls over!

Bat Dog!

Imagine the surprise when Bat Dog arrived at the McCann house, to recruit Ozzie to his team of Miniature Pinschers he is assembling to rescue oppressed Min Pins everywhere, as seen in the picture below.



No amount of negotiations or dogma could move Ozzie from his devotion to the McCann family, believing it his life purpose to now protect not only Andy and Janell, but also little Hazel. He sat proud and high to defend his little family!

Dad Attempts To Save On Bills. Shuts Off Virtually All Heat.

Excuse my unusually short post. It is difficult to type with mittens on. I report to you that Dad has decided to shave off 90% of his gas bill by turning off all heat to the house. Everyone has learned to cope with the drop in temperatures. Just yesterday, Twila was found to have recently learned how to wear ear muffs:

Those who find pity in their hearts may send donations, care of David, to help us buy just a few lumps of coal to be burned during the dead of night. Twila says to send bones.

Fun In The (not so blue) Sun

Though we're all enjoying the winter weather (and accompanying snow) I thought an off-season post would be fun. I came across some pictures from our trip this summer to Gladstone where we spent a few days at camp. Hope you enjoy-

Budding Barnhart Photographers
(Peter just wishes he were old enough for a camera)

A Worthy Focus

Study in Fungi

The Specimen

"Hey Dad, let me have a look through that lens"

Sisters

Gone Fishin'

Grandpa's Secret Life

Nothing like an article from The Onion to kick of 2011. I was perusing my local copy of this fine, upstanding publication when I was surprised to see a photo of Grandpa Schotts, circa about 1992 I'm guessing. Apparently he's been driving an 18-wheeler for Entenmann's, which does answer some of those questions about the never-ending supply of blueberry, cherry, and chocolate snack pies we got from him when I was a kid. On a side note, chocolate snack pies are a culinary invention that needs to be stricken from cookbooks and convenience-store shelves everywhere.

Kids are Cute in Glasses

With brand new baby Hazel celebrating her first Christmas in less than a week, the Hancock Barnharts are starting to get excited. We just can't wait to see her and her proud parents. The girls are excited most of all (what with Peter being ambivalent to all things not directly related to food and stacking blocks).

But knowing how things work, Rachel and I have been trying to prepare Ella and Elisabeth for what will inevitably be a disproportionate amount of attention given to Hazel. And lest they injure themselves trying to get back into the limelight, we've been working on ways to cutify them. I have it on good authority that eyeglasses automatically boost the cute factor for kids, so here you go -

I don't have a photo of Peter in glasses - he's still ok, since he's been working up some routines lately. Besides, he would have destroyed my glasses.

A Penguin Christmas!

Once upon a Christmas tree, in Caro, somewhere east,
There landed little penguins; quite a few, at least.

Looking for a special friend, who'd love them very much,
And let them play upon her tree, frolicking and such.

They found their special friend, indeed, very kind and sweet;
Living in an old house, at 145 W. Grant Street!

And so upon her tree they lit, hiding here and there,
Frolicking and dancing, without a single care!

Reminding us to lighten up, and frolick now and then,
During this blessed season, with family and our friends.

Now for a little color...

The kitchen countertops, now with 100% more tile backsplash!

I hope you can feel the drywall dust under your fingernails

For those of you who haven't sanded drywall in a while (or ever), I just want to post a few pictures to remind you of how pleasant an experience it can be.




Steve/Rachel, Andy/Janell: feel free to use this picture to scare your children. Or embellish your bedtime stories about the dangers of breathing drywall dust.






Pictures of painted walls to come soon!! (once I've painted them, I mean.)

Desks, Anyone?

Dad wanted me to take some pictures of all the household desks and post them on here so the family could look through, identify, request, plan for, and hopefully obtain by Christmas time. In case you didn't get the memo, we are currently renovating the downstairs and furnishing it into a living room/family room/media room/multi-purpose room/really sweet room. There are currently three desks downstairs and none of them are necessarily needed at the moment. The following photos are the pictures of the desks(some wanted, some not). I will provide a running commentary hopefully identify and quoting the household value of each desk.

Culprit Number One:

I believe this desk belongs to Ben. Its daily uses over the past 12 years have included doing nothing and being a placeholder for David's tasty ginger candies that he has allowed me to consume freely. It is quite a nice find for someone looking for a fine oak desk. Ben, feel free to take this at will.

Culprit Number Two:

This desk belongs to....Steve? I can't really remember. It looks like a Steve desk to me. At any rate, this has also largely done nothing sitting in the basement for the past few millennia. It is actually quite a nice desk with nice shelving space on the side; good for the collector of strange and curious items(or books, which can sometimes be quite strange and even more curious). Steve, feel free to take this desk(and not the one I use up in my room that belongs to you).

Culprit Number Three:

I'm pretty sure this one belongs to David. And in that case it really doesn't need to be up here for everyone else to see, however Dad specifically told me to put every desk in the house on the blog(except for the ancient 2-ton "deskroom" desk). This one is a little crummier version of Culprit Number Four(see below). Like I said, I think it's David's desk, so David, there is your desk.

Culprit Number Four:

This is currently the computer desk. It is currently unavailable for being taken. Feel free to take Nikki though, since she snuck into the picture on the right. You can have Twilah too. Free. Also, this is Lisa's old desk.

Culprit Number Four:

This desk belongs to Janell. It is quite likely to be the nicest and most expensive of the household desks. Janell, feel free to take it at will. Maybe it can be in Ozzie's day office.

Culprit Number Five:

This one is MY desk. And by mine I mean Steve's. I took it when I raided the basement for a bigger bed to add to my upstairs Kingdom. I guess if Steve really wants it he can have it, but it would be sorely missed. If you want I'll make you a desk out of plywood for Christmas(with a set of Sheet Metal dinnerware).

Culprit Number Five:

This is the ghost desk. It belongs to nobody and wants no one. It require no care nor requests it. It is simply there. Take at will. This desk is open to all people.

Anyway, there's all the desks that are in the house available for the taking. If someone wants someone else's desk they must settle the dispute with a 10 pace duel. I look forward to seeing you all at Christmas. Goodnight.

Announcement

Snow Flourish Scarlet Birth Announcement

Customize your own baby announcement at Shutterfly.

View the entire collection of cards.

Thought we'd give you a sneak peek, plus we get $25 off for posting this. :)

Christmas Time is Here!

Whilst sitting at Brooklyn Bagels today, David and I realized that a sibling gift exchange list has not been published yet. Thus, David devised a brilliant formula for determining who gets whose name this year. He suggested that we take the scrabble points for each letter and add up the total score for each name and then arrange the names in order of lowest scores to highest scores. He then promptly put me to work adding up the name points while he elfed himself. Here is the list, and each person will buy for the third person below them:

Lisa
Ben
Daniel
Andy
Steve
David
Rachel
Janell

Congratulations to Janell for having the highest scoring name!

Happy Belated Birthday Grandpa!

Hazel's birthday gift to you is that you don't have to share your birthday with someone so cute (and obviously attention-stealing) as her.

Now taking food donations

Any extra food you may have lying around the house will be eagerly accepted by Hazel. Please place morsels of food on tongue.

Going to the highest bidder!

Don't miss this once in a lifetime chance to roll back the clock and re-live those childhood memories! This original bar and stool set is going to the highest bidder. This is no cheapie retro copy, this is original solid Americana. Built like a tank! Just nail this baby down to your kitchen, dining room, or living room floor and you will be ready to hop on the stool for a sandwich and reminisce to your hearts content. For extra memories, scatter a few papers around so you can read while you eat! Sandwich and papers not included.

Waiting for Baby McCann...

‘Twõn’t be long ere November 18th,
Notable date for McCann Clan,

When deep inner workings, mysterious and great,
Will bring forth, alas, a new girl “grand.”

However, should Tiny be running a bit late,
As is wanting in the Barnhart Tribe,

She’ll arrive no later than November 26th,
For that’s what the doctor’s prescribed.

Indeed, the new little one shall soon be born,
According to the Master’s plan,

So we pray for good health for both,
And safe arrival for baby McCann.

Post Script

We praise thee, oh Lord, for safe arrival,
Of dear baby Hazel McCann,

Long and laborious the hours,
Waiting for the miracle at hand.

When, alas, she appeared, but not breathing,
Limp and lifeless, she seemed,

You moved dear ones to fast action,
To resuscitate and help her to breathe.

How we thank you for answered prayer,
For your tender mercies, and mild,

And loving watch care and strength,
For precious mother and child.

BE WISE LIKE LISA

Barnharts - The McCann Clan would like to know when people are going to be visiting Muskegon around Christmas time. We'd like for everyone to meet Giant McCann (I'm sure she's not Tiny) then. We're going to try to visit my family in Omaha around that time as well, so we'd like to get our plans ironed out. Our options are going to be before Christmas or after Christmas based on your answers.

Lets make some new posts(no offense Ben)

I suggest we kick off our thanksgiving talks. I'm bored of not reading new posts. Let the Turkey Talks commence!

Light in a Dark Room

Last weekend David and I punched through the outer wall of my dining room and installed an awning window. Here are some photos of the project, though you really have to see it in person. Having a window in the dining room adds so much more light to the dining room and kitchen.