A Touch Of Winter

God has blessed us with snow the past few days, quite a bit of it. I for one like snow, I think it looks lovely. I love the colder weather as well. As you can see, at the end of my driveway is a mound of snow more or less as tall as I am. I fear for what it will look like come February.

Seamus and Deirbhile don't quite know what to do with all of the snow. They've made paths for themselves in the backyard. For the most part Deirbhile doesn't venture outside of the paths as the snow is basically taller than she is now. Seamus will leap outside of the path every so often, usually bounding for the door to come inside.
Deirbhile patrols the backyard looking for wayward dangers to protect us from. Or in her case, wayward squirrels to kill.
Deirbhile has always been a bearded lady but in the snow the beard is more pronounced.
Seamus has a love/hate relationship with the snow. He loves to play in it but he hates the ice clumps that form on his paws. He suffers through the ice clumbs for a chance to romp in the snow.
While Seamus and Deirbhile have fun outside, Stuart stays inside and pretends he's a dog by playing in Seamus' bed.
While it's cold outside, it's warm inside in front of the fire. Wood burning fireplaces are the best.

December Update

Stuart has started sleeping in his big boy bed, at least for naps. Said big boy bed is to the right of Deirbhile. We're hopeful that by the time Vivian arrives in January that Stuart will have transitioned completely into his new bed. If not, well, he'll have no choice once Vivian comes home.
Sometime next year we're going to move Deirbhile into sleep with Stuart. Not actually with him of course but in her own bed. Currently she sleeps in the basement in a cage while my beloved Seamus sleeps in his bed in our room. Stuart would love to have one of the dogs sleep with him. I think right now with the new bed and new baby on the way, adding a dog into his room would be to0 much for him right now. Maybe it wouldn't, but we're not going to push it.
Seamus meanwhile is concerned that if Deirbhile starts to sleep in Stuart's room that she'll become his favorite. I keep telling Seamus that she could never be Stuart's favorite. Seamus plays with Stuart, they romp around and get into mischief together. Deirbhile allows Stuart to pull her fur and ears and climb her like monkey bars but she isn't very interactive and she disappears when she can get away. Seamus will always be the favorite. Such a sweet little boy he is.

Happy Birthday Janna!

Today is Janna's 26th birthday. God has blessed her with life and salvation in the Lord. Who could ask for more. We'll be giving thanks unto God today by reading Psalm 26 as a family. I think this tradition of reading a birthday Psalm was stolen from the Lanning's, who no doubt stole it from someone else. I'm sure someone can trace it to the Reformation or something or other. I frankly don't care where it came from, it's an opportunity to thank the Lord for each year of life through the Psalms.

In any event, happy birthday old lady! We know in spirit you're much older than 26. :)

Psalm 26

Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide.

Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.

For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth.

I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers.

I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked.

I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O LORD:

That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works.

LORD, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth.

Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men:

In whose hands is mischief, and their right hand is full of bribes.

But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity: redeem me, and be merciful unto me.

My foot standeth in an even place: in the congregations will I bless the LORD.

Various Minor Events

Stuart had a decent enough Thanksgiving this year. We went out to metro Detroit this year. My brother started his medical internship this year at Henry Ford Hospital. Since we haven't seen his new home and since he rarely gets days off, we decided to go out there this one time. Stuart sat through a miserable Lions game. I hate them so much but I'll never kick the habit. Thanksgiving without the Lions is like New Years without the Rose Bowl.
Janna recently got Stuart a shopping cart, which he regularly fills with his toys. Today it seems to be his big blocks and cleaning supplies. Yes, Stuart has his own set of cleaning supplies. He likes to help Janna clean around the house everyday. I freely admit he doesn't actually do anything besides help pick up after himself. But give him a year and we'll have this child working for us. And really, isn't that what we have children for? Be honest, you all had kids so they would clean around the house or do yard work. Deny it all you want, deep in your heart you know I'm right.
Seamus and Deirbhile are a touch weary of the cleaning supplies. I think they're afraid of what Stuart might do to them with said cleaning supplies.
Alas, Stuart doesn't attach the dogs with any cleaning supplies. Mostly he just loves to pal around with them. If he could be around the dogs 24/7 he would be, he just loves them. Seamus in particular, he calls for him by name every morning.
Wednesday Janna and I went to the Wings game in beautiful downtown Detroit. Janna bought Vivian's naming rights from me and the price she paid is in hockey jerseys. She must wear a hockey jersey to every hockey game we go to, whether it's the Wings, Michigan State or the Griffins. Wednesday she wore my Pavel Datsyuk jersey with a 2002 Stanley Cup Finals patch on the right hand shoulder. Doesn't she look lovely? I especially like the black spinel that goes so well with this jersey.

The Final Countdown

This week Janna and I went to Chicago for a couple of days. Stuart got to visit his grandparents and aunt of canine persuasion in Okemos. Wednesday night Janna and I went to the Hawks game against the Bruins. Before the game they retired the #3 in honor of Keith Magnuson and Pierre Pilote. Both of these players played before I was old enough to follow hockey but by all accounts they were good players for the Hawks.
After screaming and clapping during the national anthem, we got to see a pretty good Original Six matchup. The Hawks lost in a shootout 2-1 but I'm here to tell you it's one of the best games I've seen in person in years. Great defense and excellent goaltending made for an enjoyable evening.
Thursday was a beautiful day in the city, we did quite a bit of walking and a touch of shopping. We ate at Morton's for dinner and had desert at Tru. I had the lamb chops at Morton's, I'm really beginning to enjoy lamb more than steak. Janna of course had her big giant man steak, a bone-in ribeye that had to have weighed two pounds.
We retrieved Stuart and found that my parents had gone wild with him. They apparently went to Toys R Us and bought half the store. After all, if Stuart wanted it they had to buy it. Ok, maybe they aren't that crazy. They did buy him this red contraption which my mother declared to be a piano that played classical music. Once we took it home we discovered it played Europe's The Final Countdown in dog barks. Apparently that's classical music in my mother's mind. In her defense, she's probably never heard that song before.
Stuart wasn't exactly pleased to see us when he was returned. He would much rather get spoiled by my parents. But as the days have gone on he's gotten used to being with boring old mom and ranting crazy dad. He also likes the new outfit we bought him. We like it mostly because it was on sale.

Our Month So Far

We decided to take Stuart to an apple orchard a couple weeks ago. The place was basically a glorified donut shop and old lady treasures store. I was hoping we would be able to pick our own apples, but that was out of the question. Probably to dangerous for liability insurance.
They had one bale of hay on a cart, this apparently is what they consider to be a hay ride. Unfortunately there was no ride. Stuart was pleased with the hay though.
And here's Stuart with a pumpkin, I don't really know why but Janna insisted on the picture. Apparently it's very autumn.
Stuart has taken to trying to help clean around the house. Here he is holding a broom, apparently trying to sweep the floors. Give him a couple of years and he'll be a good house slave for Janna. Seamus is very concerned about what Stuart might do with that broom.
Isn't Deirbhile the cutest thing ever. Janna would say this is the face of evil, I say it's the face of sweetness.Stuart loves playing with his dogs. The puppies tend to rough house in the evening with each other. Every so often I catch Stuart right in the middle of it, pushing the dogs down and getting pushed down himself. He loves it.
Monday I had the misfortune of going to Ann Arbor for a motion. I won the motion, which was pleasing even though I was stuck in A2. The one redeeming quality of that cesspool is Zingerman's. I was able to get three wonderful salami's and Prosciutto di Parma that tastes just like the stuff Janna and I had on our Honeymoon in Italy. The bread they have at Zingerman's was also excellent. Why can't we have places like this in Grand Rapids? Russo's just doesn't cut it.

Happy Days Are Here Again!

Saturday we gave Stuart up to his Oma and Opa so Janna and I could go to the MSU-Notre Dame game in peace. You can see here, Janna is slicing up tomatoes for our tailgate.
The Stanley Cup was on display outside of Spartan Stadium. Janna and I got to see the Cup and have our picture taken with it.
The glorious Spartan Marching Band during pre-game festivities. You can see the place is packed out, most folks wearing white for the whiteout.
Here our Spartans are setting themselves up for a touchdown. MSU would in fact score and go up 10-0 in the second quarter on their way to a 23-7 victory over the previously undefeated Irish.
Our Spartans just after they won the game, joy exudes from the entire team.
And finally they celebrate with the band and the student section. Happy days have returned to East Lansing.
And we return home to discover that Stuart and Seamus have taken over our bedroom.
Stuart and Seamus are clearly up to no good, you can see the guilty look on both faces.
Janna has figured out their plot, all while wearing a new dress from Macy's (clearance rack) and a Swiss Blue Topaz around her neck.

Vivian Edith It Is!

So we found out today the baby is going to be a girl. Her first name is going to be Vivian.

Edith is going to be her middle name, making for Vivian Edith Birn. I wanted to nickname her 'the Dingbat' but Janna nixed that idea unless she is in fact a dingbat. We suspect however that she will not be a dingbat and thus she won't get that nickname. In any event, please pray for this Covenant child and please pray for Janna during the last half of this pregnancy.

Spartans, what is your profession? Harroh! Harroh! Harroh!

Michigan State played it's first home game of the year today and Stuart got to go. It's his second MSU game, he went to one last year.
We took Ray and Linda to the game. Ray is a big football fan and Linda has never been to a game before. Much to my surprise, Linda declared that she wanted to go to a football game. We were more than happy to take her to her first game.
We enjoyed a breakfast tailgate along the banks of the Red Cedar River. Pancakes, fried mush, applewood smoked bacon, sausages and fresh fruit were on the menu.
We were literally on the banks of the Red Cedar. You can see Spartan Stadium off in the distance. MSU beat Eastern Michigan today 42-10. A good time was had by all.
For some reason Stuart just loved playing with Ray and Curious George. Curious George was tossing the football to him. Stuart was a perfect little boy today, tollerating a very long day (for a baby) and a warm day. All in all, it was a perfect day for football. Well, at least for September football. I freely admit I prefer 45 and rainy for a football game. In any event, we're glad Ray and Linda came with us. Hopefully they can come again sometime.

Congrats to Aaron and Bubbles

Just wanted to congratulate Aaron and Bubbles on their wedding this past Saturday. I didn't take the camera so I don't have any actual pictures from the event. I thought everything went fairly smoothly and for a wedding coordinator such as myself I couldn't ask for anything better. The cheese tray in particular was excellent, but I say nothing.
Janna and I hope and pray that they have a successful marriage with lots of babies. Bubbles is still young enough, she can easily knock out 7 or 8. So long as they trust in Jesus Christ and so long as they look to His word in their daily lives I have no doubt they will be successful together. They'll be even more successful if they move back to Michigan. Again, I say nothing.

A Night With Roast Pork and Green Peppercorn Sauce

Last night we had Aaron & Bubbles over as well as assorted Rozboom's and/or Rozboom relations over for dinner. Here we see the happy couple in a lovers tiff. Apparently they were fighting over the last piece of chocolate covered bacon.
We made roast pork with green peppercorn sauce for dinner, with roast green beans and corn. Desert was an amuse bouche of chocolate covered bacon and a main desert of chocolate lavender cake.
And here we have Bert and Kryna Pohl who drove in from Canada just for dinner. Yeah, I guess they're also in town for a wedding or something.
Aaron's sister Lanette is in town with her two kids, we can see the top of young James head here. Here is a woman who knows how to parent kids, I'm here to tell you. And the Birn's rejoice.
Here we have Mrs. R and Bubbles. Mrs. R seems to be the brains behind this wedding, from what I can gather she has lists of things for everyone to do and they will be done. We enjoyed having her over, as we did all the assorted Rozboom's and their relations.
And here we have young James playing with our Stuart. They seemed to get along quite well, which we're very pleased about. James liked the puppies as well, and the peasants rejoiced!
How about a fairly nice picture of the happy couple. We all look forward to Aaron and Bubbles wedding on Saturday. May the Lord bless them with many years of marital bliss and at least half a dozen children. Be fruitful and multiply!