Josh’s actual Birth Day.  (Not really, this is a few days later… after the blizzard of ‘78 was over and Josh & Judi could go home.)  So this is George, Big Brother Thadd & Josh:

Baby Josh & the Fam:

Here Josh says, “I am 4!”  (I wanted to put a pic with Shan in!  Jackie & Grandma & Grandpa Mates are helping to celebrate the big FOUR.)

Here Josh says, “I am 4 (x 8)!”  Ha.

Becky got this awesome Celtics green tee for Josh!

And now Josh won’t be so cold with these great gifts from Mom & Dad!

And these South Africa guidebooks will be so useful! Thanks again Mom & Dad!

Watch out Dave!  Josh is going to beat you in shuffleboard now!  (Thanks Mom & Dad Allen!)

Manhattan is thrilled for Josh’s birthday.

As is Magellan.

Thanks again for the gifts and cards and phone calls and texts and Facebook wall posts.  It was a great birthday.  We finished it off playing Josh’s new Wii game (the shuffleboard and darts are our new favorites!), and cooking a great dinner that was made even better thanks to a Christmas gift from Shan – Argentinian wine, carted across the globe in her backpack!  A great way to celebrate 32 years.

We moved the bikes and bike rack to the back stair to make room for the cabinet. We also managed to finish the kitchen and the eating area today (even managed to eat at the table today). We have to leave a stool and cardboard contraption blocking the bottom of the fridge from kitty paws. It’s like astro turf made of rodent poison under the fridge – which also attracts & kills kitties. So that’s another project for another day: moving the fridge and performing a strategic eradication of poison.

Another remaining project for the kitchen is to hang a spice rack on the wall by the sink (removing the massive spice clutter from the microwave). Jeannette still needs to recaulk the countertop too, maybe next weekend when Josh hangs blinds.

Enjoy the photos. We’ll take non-phone camera photos soon.

It’s really starting to feel like home! (And Jeannette LOVES her cabinet!)