March 31

This date was a goal - a destination that I felt would never arrive and I couldn't think about anything after, which was not entirely good with the Inman Park Festival just around the corner.

March 31 is the date that Bob sold DAQTron.

It all happened very fast. Back during NI Week in August last year, Pascal of Averna talked to Bob and not for the first time. But this time the conversation was a little longer. Discussions continued until December when Bob signed the letter of intent.

A grueling three months later it was March 31. It was a roller coaster of a ride. Many times we thought the deal was off or not going to go through for some reason or another.

I tried not to get my hopes up so I'd be okay with it not happening but in the end this was my ticket to retirement, and I wanted it so badly.

The party was planned for April 1 assuming all the paper work was completed on the 31st (notice I've pre-dated this blog and it is really after March 31). As it turned out, things were delayed as things always are. Pascal and Bob were on the phone with the lawyers all day on April 1st.


Five o'clock and people started congregating in the conference room for the party.
Six o'clock and my friend Amy stopped by to take pictures.
Seven o'clock and Bob and Pascal started signing papers.
Eight o'clock and the champagne was uncorked.

No backing out now but it technically wasn't a done deal until a couple weeks later when the money was in the bank.

When we told Colin about Dad selling DAQTron, Colin's response was, "Are they going to get a crane to move it?"

Chapter books

We started reading chapter books to Colin this past Christmas. His first chapter book was "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" which I thought he would like because he has seen the movie (the original with Gene Wilder). Colin loved it. The book is actually a double book and included "Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator" as well.

The second chapter book that I got him was "Treasure Island". Not the best choice whereas it was a little much on the killing and people dying side of things. It took a little longer to get through this one.

I scored on the next one, "Chocolate Fever". It was a lot shorter and of course you can't go wrong with the topic of chocolate!

Doing laundry

This is a photo I took a long time ago of Colin "helping" with the laundry! He was having a great time just throwing all the clothes over his head and every which way.

Apparently the laundry bug has stuck with him. One day after school last week, Colin got the dirty clothes out of his room and said he wanted to do laundry. Like wow! I'm not going to complain! He dumps the clothes in the washer, climbs on top of the dryer, and I help him measure out the laundry detergent. He pushes the buttons (probably his favorite part!) and viola, done with laundry, right?

Well, just hold your horses there. Sometime during the afternoon when I was working on the computer, he takes the clothes out of the washer and puts them in the dryer all by himself, and turns it on. No help or reminding from me at all. When the dryer turned off, I found the clothes still a little wet so I turned it back on.

That evening before going to bed, Colin helped fold and put the clothes away. Amazing! Now how to I get him to do this on a regular basis .. that is the question.

Wet and cold

Yesterday Nathan was outside playing in the water. It was a little chilly so the water made him even colder. I got him inside, took off the wet clothes, wrapped him up in a towel and started carrying him upstairs. As we were going up stairs I asked him, "What were you thinking?? Getting in the water when it's cold out there?".

He said, "I'm thinking about ... warm clothes!"

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

Home made snow pants!


Our front porch.


Snow flakes in the eye lashes.


Throwing snow balls.