Stockings

Posted on January 10, 2010 by clare

Spencer opening stocking presents at Christmas 2009

Spencer had a good time opening his stocking gifts. Here is a video so that you don’t have to simply take our word.
[flv:/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/stockings.flv 480 270]

The silliest

Posted on January 3, 2010 by clare

Spencer playing with Dave in New York

Spencer had a great time playing with all the people over Christmas. I have quite a few videos to sort through and edit, so I will be posting them over the course of the next week or two. Here is one of Spencer playing with Dave, and with a great toy – a bottle of Mrs. Dash.
[flv:/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/silliest.flv 480 270]

A Dibble Christmas

Posted on January 2, 2010 by clare

The greater Dibble Family - 23 in total

We had a great time at Christmas in New York, in spite of our delay getting there. The total head count this year on Christmas was 23. Every one enjoyed meeting Spencer, and he seemed to have a great time too. There were of course some presents given, but the best gift was simply everyone’s presence.

45 more pictures follow

Hello Comisars

Posted on January 2, 2010 by clare

Isaac and Spencer watch Here Comes Science

Craig, Isaac, and Clare watching Here Comes Science

Spencer really enjoyed playing with this little car

We were supposed to stay with the Comisars for several days before Christmas, but unfortunately our flight on the 19th was cancelled, so we didn’t leave until the 23rd. We still got to see them for one evening, which was very nice. Wendy made Chana Masala for dinner, and the boys got to play with each other some. It turns out that both Spencer and Isaac really like the Here Comes Science video by They Might Be Giants which we both own. Unfortunately I didn’t get any pictures of Wendy or Aaron, but I did get a few.

Chil(ly|i)

Posted on December 9, 2009 by clare

Spencer finds a good christmas ornament

The last week or so has been quite cold. Yesterday the high was 11°F, and it was -10°F when I woke up this morning. Since it has been chilly, it has been good weather for chili. On Sunday we went over to Aunt Betty and Uncle Phil’s for chili and Christmas tree decorating. Melissa and the Link family also came. Spencer had a great time playing with the Link children.

: Spencer playing with Jessica and and Isabelle

: Spencer is enamored of Ruby

: Isabelle helping Spencer walk

: Spencer checks out some toys on the table

: Spencer, Isabelle, and Connor playing together

: Isabelle and Spencer inspect the radio

Brinkermiller visit

Posted on October 2, 2009 by clare

Sarah, Chris, and Clare at Red Rocks

In my continuing effort to get back on top of blogging, and my penchant for combining people’s names, here are some pictures from when Chris Brinkerhoff and Sarah Miller visited us a couple weeks ago. It was actually rainy for much of their visit, but we did get the chance to do a little hiking at Red Rocks, and we had plenty of time to play with Spencer, which seems to be the main reason that people want to visit us these days anyway.
more pictures follow

Mt. Evans

Posted on August 13, 2009 by clare

Clare, Rob, and Spencer at Mount Goliath nature center

Group hug!

On Sunday, we followed pretty much the same pattern as Saturday. Clare made crepes for breakfast. After we were all cleaned up, we headed out to Mt. Evans, which is only a 45 minute trip, instead of the 90 minute trip to Rocky Mountain National Park. On the way there we stopped for another basket lunch at a nice little spot by a creek. Then we hiked around Echo Lake a bit, and finally drove up to Mt. Evans. Unfortunately it was getting pretty cloudy by the time we got up there, but it was still pretty neat.

more photos follow

Rocky Mountain National Park

Posted on August 12, 2009 by clare

Spencer sticking his tongue out as usual

The group at Alberta Falls

On Saturday we took Melanie, Christine, and Ian to Rocky Mountain National Park. It was actually the first time that we had gone as well. We have contemplated it several times, but decided against it, because it is about a 90-120 minute drive. Having visitors inspired us to make the trip though, and it was quite fun. We first stopped in Estes Park at the visitors center to get some maps. Then we had some lunch in the park on Riverside Drive. It will forever be remembered as the saltiest lunch ever. Friday night I had dumped the remaining ice and salt from making ice cream into the cooler to keep the food cold for our lunch. I put everything in plastic containers, but some of the icy, salty, water got into some of the containers. The garbanzo bean salad was the worst, and Clare ate a bunch before she realized what I had done with the salt. The cherries also got salty, which we decided actually tasted pretty good. Fortunately some of the pasta salad was still good, as was the cheese and hummus.

After lunch we wet to Bear Lake Meadows, and did some hiking. We hiked about 1 mile to Alberta Falls, which was very beautiful, though a bit more crowded than we had expected. We then hiked back to Glacier Gorge and took the shuttle bus back to the Bear Lake parking lot. On our way home we stopped at the Southern Sun brewpub in Boulder, where the beers were all tasty, and the sweet potato chips were endless, because when the waiter asked how they were, we mentioned that the guacamole that came with them was barely mashed at all, and they had yet to give us any silverware with which we could have mashed it ourselves. I think we ended up with 3 or 4 baskets of chips. As usual, Spencer was very happy while hiking, and we all had a very nice day.
more pictures follow

We all scream

Posted on August 11, 2009 by clare

What a puzzling hat Spencer!

1st try, with kitchenaid

We started getting home milk delivery a month or so ago, which has been quite nice, though it requires a minimum order of 3 bottles per week, which we haven’t quite been finishing. 2 weeks ago Clare made yogurt with the surplus. This week we switched the order a bit and got some cream, to try our hand at making ice cream. We thought that a great time to do it would be when our friends Christine, Ian, and Melanie were visiting.

Spencer and I picked them up Friday morning from the airport. Then we went to lunch at the Thai restaurant by our house, where we all delighted in the wonderful tofu dishes. Then we all took naps (except me), then we grilled dinner, and then got to making ice cream. There was only one hitch. We don’t have an ice cream maker. However, I had been reading online about different ways to make ice cream with makeshift materials.

One common way is to use 2 coffee cans. We don’t have any coffee cans though. Another way is to use 2 ziploc bags. You can only make a tiny bit like this though. Another way is to simply use 2 different bowls, or a bucket and a bowl. You put the ice and rock salt in the bigger of the two, and the ice cream mixture in the smaller bowl. The rock salt lowers the freezing point of water, so instead of having 32° F ice cubes, you get more like 28°F water. The cold transfers to the cream mixture gradually as you stir it. I thought that we could try putting a bowl under our kitchenaid mixer to get this effect. Unfortunately, it did not work too well. I think there was just not enough surface contact between the ice and the bowl. We continued trying different makeshift add-ons for about an hour. Eventually I got a bigger bowl, with high sides. We filled that with the ice and salt, and put the kitchenaid bowl inside that, and stirred it by hand. It probably took another hour or so, but eventually it did work. Next time I think we would start off with the 2 bowl method. Or perhaps we will get an actual ice cream maker, if we ever see one on sale.

I should note that all the pictures taken with the powershot were by Melanie, and all the ones with the 40D were taken by Ian.
more pictures follow

Dinosaur dude

Posted on July 30, 2009 by clare

Clare holds dinosaur Spencer

The dinosaur showing off his spiky spine

Ellen and the dinosaur dude

The other day we were looking at the dinosaur outfit that Kristin got Spencer. He was too small for it while it was cold, and now it is mostly too warm to wear full body outfits. I was thinking he could wear it for halloween, but Clare thought he would be too big by then. So we decided to put it on him and see. Sure enough, it fits pretty well now, but will surely be too small by October. This week has actually been a bit chilly (highs around 70), so it was a good time for him to wear it. And he does look very cute in it.