The Knoebel Kanoodles

Sheepie Hair Cut

We attended the annual Gore Place Sheep Shearing Festival at the end of April. Here's our report:

We call this video "I like your hair cut!"

This is the Gore Mansion built in the early 1800's by Governor Gore in Waltham, MA.

Edie got to plant some sunflower seeds.

Her favorite thing, however, was to watch the "horsies running".

My favorite thing was to watch the rebels marching. Nate wasn't quite as impressed as I was.

There was also a magician, kettle corn, live folk music, a dog show (collies), and homemade strawberry ice cream.

So we think our kids are cute.

Best Friends Forever

To appreciate the beautiful New England springtime and to revive a hardworking man spending day after day in a windowless cubicle, our family has started a weekly hiking tradition.
Here's Edie.
(There were no bugs harmed in the making of this video.)

This video could probably make even the most hardhearted heart melt, were it not for the obnoxious baby talk of yours truly. Try to look past it and capture the essence and beauty of a 2 month old's smile.

Our good friends, the MacDonalds, came over the other night. Here are Max and Edie playing house, I guess.
Edie's up with the baby again.

P.S. This is her NEW TODDLER BED! She off the floor now!

Party Central

Our party started with the arrival of Jess on April 1 from Provo (P-town, for all you locals). Can you believe she looked like this just after her red eye flight? She makes me sick!

We did things like go to Walden Pond,

take a tour of Salem
(We found this witch tied to a pole. Can you believe they still do stuff like that?),

visit the Friendship replica

and lighthouse

(It was so windy on the way back it made us cry! Can you see Jess's tear?).

Then the party REALLY got... exciting. The kids came! They brought Ana too! Their family actually drove here from Fishers, IN!

Here's our photo shoot with Maddy, Kaden, Kalia, and Edie after Jess had cut everyone's hair:

We got to walk half of the Freedom Trail and get Mike's Pastries.

And, of course, we visited the Water Show.

And the kids played and played and played. We had a blast!

One night, Nate headed off the first annual Boat Race...or should I say Battleship Showdown.
All the kids (and Nate) designed and made paper boats.

This is Nate's:

I'll let you watch and see what happens.

How many of you think cub scouts is the perfect calling for Nate?

I'm so proud of myself for finishing this post. I've been meaning to do it forever! We're so glad Jess and the Smith's could come! And now we know our way around the area a little better, so if any of you are thinking you'd like to come this way, we can show you around!

It sure us quiet at our house now :(

Oh yeah, and Jess got a comb stuck in Maddy's hair during General Conference.

Nate had to cut it out.

Edie Ballerina

Kalia checked out a ballerina book from our library when she was here. Since then, Edie has taken quite a liking to the art. Here she is performing her version of the chasse, pirouette, and arabesque.

And here is Allison performing her version of the chasse, pirouette, and arabesque.

And here are the performers in their twinner outfits.

Potpourri

THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR SHARING THIS TIME WITH US! We just wanted to share some pictures and video from the past two weeks. It was hard to decide what to post because we're...well...both indecisive.

First, let's compare newborn pictures of Edie and Allison. Although their eyes are closed, they have definite similarities (hair, face shape, chubby arms, etc.)

EDIE (2 wks.)

ALLISON (1 1/2 wks.)

Mom and Ana were both able to come out. They've totally spoiled Edie with attention. And they've read...

and read...

and read.

Edie and Allison are already best friends. They play together all the time...supervised.

Edie likes to poke and prod at important things like Allison's eyes or body slam her when giving kisses.

Mom got the girls cute matching outfits so we tried to play Sarah Ward and have a photo shoot. This is the best we could do:

We need help, Sarah!

And now for some videos:

Edie being cute.

We'd like to dedicate this next video to our friends Mike and Stephanie (who've also recently welcomed a new one into the world):

Thank you for the recipe! Please note that Ana ate and thoroughly enjoyed the egg rolls. They were delicious!

Allison waking up from a nap.

More, more water show.

This is Ana and Edie dancing. Please note that no other spectator was dancing. Ana was very bold.

Then, Edie wouldn't rest until everyone was dancing.

Edith Meets Allison

Allison was born yesterday (March 4, 2008)! As any self-respecting father in such circumstances I have assumed the position of backup blogger.

Things could not have gone smoother at least from my point of view. Mandy spent most of her labor sewing a new blanket. Her contractions got strong just after our 1 mile hospital commute which naturally took about an hour as we debated important issues such as whether the camera was packed and where Edith should sleep. After our arrival, Mandy was given an epidural and her water was broken which really set things motion.

At the next visit (40 min later) the doctor asked "are you ready to have this baby". Neither Mandy or I believed him until he got out his equipment. Four pushes later (one of which was a laugh) Allison came out like she had been greased with butter. Mandy was walking around in no time.

In the meantime Mandy's mom flew into town (who was gratefully picked up by Mandy's cousin Chad). As for Edith, she had the slumber party of a lifetime with her friend Nora. Apparently the two of them would not go to bed for all of their giggling and song singing. Later the next morning after a sad (and emotional) parting with Nora (and Nora's toys) Edith met Allison.

I taped the occasion

Edith likes to count toes if you can't tell (three, four, six, nine, ten...). Note that Edie found the emergency cord (and of course set the alarm).

We are so grateful that everyone is healthy and that Allison is finally here!

Does it get more fun than this?

Edie's learning to count. She's getting pretty good at it. This video shows Nate's incredible cinematography skills, as well as Edie in her early counting stages. I'll dialogue it for you in case you can't understand what she's saying:

Nate: You wanna count?
Edie: count
Nate: Can you say "one"?
Edie: see, see, ok
Nate: Ok, say "one"
Edie: "three"
Nate: "two"
Edie: "three"
Nate: "three"
Edie: "four"
Nate: "four"
Edie: "roar" (which is her way of saying 'five')

Jess got Edie these finger painting tools for Christmas. She loves them! We have a wall covered in original Edie artwork.

A BABY SHOWER

I just have to say that the ladies in the Lynnfield Ward are spectacular! On Saturday, my friends Liz and Emily threw Cat, another expecting mother, and me a baby shower! It was so fun to get together with all the ladies and eat chocolate and talk about child birth. What more could anyone want?

Mandy and Cat
(due 6 days apart)

This is Liz with her two girls, Abby and Samantha. The party was at their house. They made the most delicious chocolate desserts, as shown above, and also had the house decorated in cute pinks, browns, and whites.