Seebellz Family Blog

Quiet on the home front

2008-10-15T19:32:00.003-05:00

Sorry all yous out there. Nothing much of note going on up here and you can believe when we say for once, no news is good news. We are slowly getting settled in our new house, and we love it.

Hibbing has been experiencing some beautiful fall colors, and our new neighborhood is quite picturesque. We'd have taken some photos, but the camera is still packed somewhere....

Out with the old, in with the new

2008-09-29T13:16:00.003-05:00

We did it!

Saturday, we moved everything we needed into the new house and slept there the first time. On Sunday, we got the odds and ends moved over and Cole unpacked the kitchen (among other activities in the kitchen, too lengthy and painful to list here). Today, Cole is cleaning the old place and we should have phone/Internet at 5pm.

Again, wow.

The Big Switch

2008-09-26T08:34:00.002-05:00

Wow.

As of today, the old house is mostly empty up to the second floor. The new house is looking good with all of our stuff in it and there won't be much settling in once we are there for good.

We will sleep at the old place on Friday night and get the rest of our stuff moved on Saturday, leaving Sunday-Tuesday for final cleaning. For those who wish to call, we'll have phone/Internet in the old place through Sunday, then at the new place after 5pm on Monday (same number, Yay!).

Cole is doing the lion's share of the packing since Chuck has to work during the day, so please send her good thoughts, feelings and karma. It has been hard, but we are already happy in the new place, and we aren't even living there yet!

Almost There

2008-09-26T08:02:00.004-05:00

We just wanted to post a little note to any friends and family who are watching our blog to tell you that tomorrow is our big day. Our plan is to try very hard to get the rest of our belongings moved to the new house before we end the day tomorrow so we can be done and relax on Sunday with out having to worry about moving anymore. Yay!!!

Of course this means our computer and phone will be taken offline some time Saturday and as the Internet/phone service is not set to be turned on at the new house until Monday or Tuesday we may be hard to reach for a few days. We will still have access to our email at the library, but we may be too busy to go over and check. Hang in there, we'll check in with everyone once we are settled in.

Needless to say, we are all excited, but stressed out. Please wish us luck and hope the weather is accommodating tomorrow!

Getting There, One Trunk Load At A Time

2008-09-18T10:15:00.003-05:00

Does it feel like we will never get moved into our new house? Well, it sure does from this end. It was the move that never ends, it just went on and on my friends....

Well, we are getting closer as the count down shows:

Countdown To Roses Cottage

Drowning in Paint

2008-09-10T09:38:00.003-05:00

Greetings friends and family!

Cole, Chuck, Miri and even Frippen have been in the paint since before Labor Day getting our new house ready! If you are watching the count down, you know we're almost there! Good thing too, 'cause we're all getting sick of painting and ripping up old carpet. But it will be worth it, it is indeed a far, far better place we go to.

We promise some photos once all the painting is done and the old carpet is out.

To a far, far better place...

2008-08-25T10:22:00.003-05:00

Without going into the details, we have decided to move to another house in Hibbing. Let's just say that Dibley Manor was not a good fit for the family. As of September 28, we will be in residence at the new house, which we have dubbed "Roses Cottage."

Some background: when Chuck came to Hibbing in January, he had no permanent place for the family, so, while he looked for one, he was allowed to stay in a house owned by a member of the library board. This place was really the home of that lady's mother, who had been moved to an assisted living facility. It is a fantastic little house, well kept and in great structural shape. But it was sitting empty and Cole thought that was a shame, so she convinced the owners to let us rent it. The lady who used to live there is named Rose, so in her honor, we dubbed the house "Roses Cottage." (We love how the British name their homes!)

Once we are there, we'll give you some updates. Till then:

Countdown To Roses Cottage

A conversation with Miriam

2008-08-08T10:10:00.003-05:00

As Miri gets older, she is becoming more articulate...and hilarious. Here is a conversation she had with Cole yesterday:

Miri: I want another banana.
Me: Eat the one in your bowl (not only do we not have anymore, but she has had this partially eaten banana in her breakfast bowl two days in a row).
Miri: No! It's yucky.
Me: It's fine, see (I take a bite).
Miri: Yuck! I want some cake.
Me: No cake, eat your banana.
Miri: No! Cake!
Me: No. You're not getting anything else until you eat that banana.
Miri: I want juice!
Me: Eat your banana first.
Miri: Grrr! *sticks out tongue*
Me: Well I guess your not that hungry.
Miri: I want butter bread.
Me: No, you let Frippen eat the piece I gave you before. Eat your banana.

A few moments pass....

Miri: I'll be right back. (she picks up banana) Momma, I'll be _right_ back_.
Me: Okay, where are you going?

Miri walks into kitchen and opens the silverware drawer.

Me: Miri, what are you doing? You aren't supposed to be in there.

She gets a small paring knife, I move swiftly toward her.

Me: Miri, you aren't supposed to have knives, put that down.
Miri: I do it. I cut the banana.
Me: Why are you cutting the banana? Let me help. (I cut a little bit off the top)
Miri: Thank you Momma. (She then happily proceeds to eat the "yucky" banana.)

What on Earth was all that about?!? The offensive banana suddenly becomes desirable with a sliver cut off the top? I'm not entirely sure who won that arguement.

Go Miri! Get busy!

2008-08-04T18:18:00.003-05:00

Though we have no idea what she is singing...

A Sponge-tastic Party

2008-07-14T14:41:00.003-05:00

According to reliable sources, July 14 is Spongebob's birthday. So we decided to throw him a birthday party at the Hibbing Public Library. There was cake, punch and prizes for everyone who sang "Happy Birthday" to everyone's favorite sponge.

As you can see in the group picture, Miriam made sure the guest of honor showed up!

Sleepy Frip

2008-07-07T16:29:00.002-05:00

Our buddy Jenn has always had the ability to get Frippen to be still. Here is photographic proof. Thanks, Jenn for both the photo and the calm dog!

All sliding, all the time

2008-07-07T09:27:00.001-05:00

The great thing about living in a small town is that it is easy to get to the playground. And, as always, play "Spot Frippen" in this video.

Another reason to love northern Minnesota

2008-06-27T09:42:00.002-05:00

On the evening of June 25, we turned on the air conditioner in our bedroom for the first time. It had been cool enough to sleep till then!

Miri's summer job as a lifeguard

2008-06-21T15:05:00.002-05:00

Our little climber shimmied right up to the lifeguard stand at Carey Lake Beach. God, she's cute!!

Duck Ride

2008-06-21T15:02:00.001-05:00

Well, Miri may never be able to enjoy an Authentic Wisconsin Dells Duck ride, but she did ride the duck at Carey Lake Beach....

A whale of a tire swing...

2008-06-21T14:48:00.003-05:00

While our buddy Jenn was visiting from Illinois, we all went to The Hull-Rust Iron Mine View. It's a big freaking hole in the ground, but Miri found fun things to climb. ***

Smootchy Face on the Beach

2008-06-21T14:41:00.002-05:00

Because storming the beach isn't enough, an accomplished Knight must make off with the lovely damsel....

A Day at the Fair...and the Beach

2008-06-21T14:26:00.007-05:00

Our buddy Jenn came up from Illinois on June 12 to go with us to the Olde World Renaissance Fair in Twig, MN. We had such a good time that we hardly took any pictures. So enjoy this one of all of us in our garb.

After the fair, we weren't quite ready to go home, so we headed into Duluth and went down to a public beach on Lake Superior. Nothing like rennies in the sand to confuse people.

Miri Throws Rocks...on a Windy Day.

2008-06-21T13:52:00.000-05:00

Happy Dance!

2008-06-21T11:22:00.001-05:00

Canadian Scenery

2008-06-08T21:39:00.002-05:00

Here is some of the lovely scenery around the Coach House on the north shore of Lake Superior. Including a little wood nymph we found in our room!

Oh, Canada!

2008-06-08T21:29:00.003-05:00

Over Memorial Day weekend, we headed up to Terrace Bay, Ontario to visit Granny Patti and Grampy Dennis at their motel, the Coach House. Miri certainly enjoyed the great outdoorsy stuff in and around their place.

Moving Day

2008-06-08T21:21:00.004-05:00

On January 27-28, Cole, Miriam and our buddy Sven moved from Wichita to Hibbing. It was a long two days, starting early on Sunday. First Miri said goodbye to James and Aubrey Hook, two of her favorite people. Then into the car and off. They stopped in Des Moines, Iowa for the first night. Miri has no trouble sleeping in strange places, especially since she has her very own DVD player!

Fun at home

2008-05-16T10:30:00.004-05:00

It is now May and spring has arrived, but we've had snow till late April then rain since. It has been hard to get outside for fun, so we have to make fun inside.

First, check out Miri's version of "Barrel of Monkeys," with other species, both current and extinct. Then a good wrestle with Daddy!

Great garb!

2008-05-16T10:22:00.003-05:00

Some of you might be wondering what sort of garb we wear to our events. As Cole and I have chosen to re-enact folks from 14th century England, this garb best reflects that. Cole sports a sideless surcoat and underdress and Chuck is wearing a rider's surcoat and hood. Not to mention all of our bling.

This photo was professionally done at JC Penney and hangs proudly in our house.

Cole plans to make some swell garb for Miri to wear to an event in June, so stop by later to see that!

Spring Cleaning: a new virtual home

2008-05-15T11:10:00.001-05:00

Spring cleaning means a lot of different things to different people. Here in our new home town of Hibbing, we are looking for all kinds of ways to simplify our life and clean out the clutter that is holding us down.

Moving caused our family to really decide what material possessions, habits, goals and dreams were most important to us, and made us think about what things are really worth the time, energy, and money we spend on them. When you move 800+ miles across 4 states, it really is starting over and it makes one pause to wonder, "Do I want to haul all this baggage with me?"

One of the areas we have decided to simplify is our website. Chuck has really been enjoying his personal blog, and Cole feels it is time for the rest of the family to join in the blogging craze. Besides as Miri has gotten older, we find ourselves taking fewer photos, and as life gets crazier trying to parent a toddler, we find ourselves having less time for web updates. What was fun when Miri was a newborn has now become an vexing chore. So, after over 3 years of administering our own website, www.seebellz.net/home.html will close June of 2008.

Although we can't promise frequent updates, here at least we will have less to maintain. Also, we can load photos here, as well as videos, which will bring all our media together in one site, instead of having a website for photos and a youtube account for videos. Don't worry Miriphiles out there: we will continue to archive all Miri photos in Snapfish, and you can request a password login if you want to view old photos or order prints.

Another feature the blog will provide is a forum for our friends and family to leave comments, and we hope you will choose to keep in touch with this feature. We hope all our friends and family will enjoy visiting us here as much as at our old website.

Happy surfing!

The Bells of Hibbing