This last week was pretty exciting for the vehicle-obsessed member of the family. It marked the beginning of another of the projects we knew would be needed when we bought the house and this one involved a digger and mini-excavator in the backyard! (Note that I only know the name of a "mini-excavator" from one of Edward's books featuring 100 different vehicles.)

This project involves regrading around the back and west side of the house to direct water away from the foundation and, thus, the basement. A mid-project adjustment involved creating a small retaining wall so we also took the opportunity to add a small patio of paving stones for a grilling area to the side of the screen porch. Now if only we could finally solve the roof leak and close the hole in our living room ceiling. We are on to plan D in how to completely eliminate any seepage in the area around the chimney. It's good to get these things done, but the thought of the impending bills is a bit stomach-churning. We just have to keep thinking long-term.

On Friday we went to the Homecoming Parade, hoping it would be as mesmerizing for Edward as it was last year. He was very enthusiastic, though he did find it a bit overwhelming when the alumni band stopped with the drum section right in front of us! He liked seeing the "big cow" that is usually parked at the dairy near one of the grocery stores we sometimes go to. He'd never seen it "in action" before and was quite satisfied to see that the cow was wearing a Herky (which is the name of the Iowa mascot and what he calls any identifying symbol for the Hawkeyes.) He was VERY interested in the various items thrown/passed out by parade participants, especially the candy. He came home with a load worthy of Halloween, though it was pared down while he wasn't looking. All gum and hard candy were removed leaving him with some tootsie rolls, smarties, sweet tarts and other limited-mess items.

Unfortunately, the game was not as successful as the preliminary pageantry as Iowa fell to Northwestern.

Daniel was not terribly impressed by the spectacle, but he was willing to watch from his stroller or sit on the blanket playing with toys. Another way to pass the time--feeding himself some Gerber Puffs. After weeks of just spreading Cheerios or puffs all over his tray and eventually dropping them on the floor, he finally managed to get some in his mouth this last week and there's been no stopping him since. He still ends up with as many or more on the floor as in his mouth, but he definitely recognizes that in the mouth is the goal. Concurrently (and maybe not coincidentally) he has learned to clap. He does it spontaneously, not on command, but two primary times for practicing this new skill are while sitting in the high chair or while laying on the changing table.