This morning begins a big day for Nicolai. At church he joins Emmanuel Efosa Yeboah of Emmanuel’s Gift fame, in front of the congregation to discuss the importance of inspiration. Seeing Emmanuel’s movie inspired Nicolai to raise money to buy wheelchairs for the diabled poor of Tanzania. Emmanuel was inspired by disabled athlete Jim MacLaren who lost his leg in a horrific accident and went on to become a world class triathlete and to overcome even greater challenges. Follow this link to learn more about this amazing human being.

 
Mark has a serious tete-a-tete with his daughter about her eating manners.

 
Mark and Jeanine tag team to feed Rose who wound up with as much food on her face as in her mouth. Verify this claim by clicking on the photo for an enlarged view.

 
Despite the damp and cool conditions today, the older kids enjoyed playing outdoors. Mark and I spent the better part of the day working on the kayak. It was Mark who really got me interested in building one and it was a lot of fun working with him. We were able to fiberglass the inside hull and prepare the inside deck for fiberglassing, two very big tasks.

 
Maya was glued to baby Rose and really seemed to enjoy being the oldest girl amongst these cousins rather than her normal status as the youngest of our family.

 
Mario has gotten very tall and is quite the handsome young man. At age thirteen he looks like he is about ready to start shaving.

 
Mario consoles her sister after she learns that all the ice cream has been devoured before she could get any.

 
Sohpia gets the better of Nicolai in a wrestling contest that erupts spontaneously in the living room.

 
My brother Mark and his family flew out from Minnesota to attend an award ceremony for Nicolai later this weekend. Pictured here is my sister-in-law, Marie, and nieces, Sophia and little Rose.

 
Today, on the way home from work, I decided I deserved an ice cream cone and stopped in at my favorite shop. I rarely feel guilty about anything I do but must admit that I paused in the garage to finish my cone and to dispose of all evidence of my purchase before entering the house. Delaying this post by five days should satisfy the statute of limitations on being pressured by the kids into a return visit.

 
Here is a close up featuring an apple, corn, and fish next to the anatomically correct male and mother with baby gathered around a campfire.

 
Maya is putting the finishing touches on her diorama depicting the Maliseet Indian tribe. She used left over hardened epoxy from the kayak to form a river.

 
Spring in New England is over in the blink of an eye but the reward is spectacular if subdued color. From my morning commute.

 
My art shot for the day. I was drawn to these beaver gnawed and weathered branches which were on the verge of falling into the river.

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