Before & After

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Three months after discovering water on our dining room floor we are now finally finishing repairs and remodeling. Since we wanted to hang wallpaper in the dining room anyway, we took this opportunity to do it. Here are some pictures before, during and after the leak. (Just follow this link.) Joel Fazende, an interior designer with Dixon Smith in Baton Rouge, helped us choose the pattern.

More Minerals

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500 North Park thanks Princess Kim for the wonderful minerals she sent for Anna's collection. Anna quickly identified one of them in her Rockhound's Handbook. It appears to be a concretion filled with calcite crystals. Papa Corey and Princess Kim have really kick-started Anna's interest in earth science!

2 gifts

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Anna is grateful for birthday presents from Grandma & Papa Corey and from Aunt Pam & Uncle Van that came to the house by mail this past week. The Coreys sent some fascinating fossils and minerals, which we've been studying every day. Van & Pam sent a friendly frog that makes realistic frog noises and goes with a website -- PlanetEarth.com -- which has exciting games for children. Anna has told us many things about the planet in general and recycling in particular since she started playing the games. We're happy to know that she is getting such an education from her aunt & uncle!

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Anna's parents are grateful too for all the love from Maryland. We hope to visit soon.

Circus McGurkus

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The children of 500 North Park were involved in a school presentation last night, called Circus McGurkus. Anna was a tightrope walker. John was a clown. Both children had quite a presence on stage (i.e., they hammed it up).

St. Paul's School really is a wonderful place. The children love it and so do Mom and Dad.

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Anna Turns Five

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500 North Park celebrated Anna's birthday this week (Tuesday). In attendance were neighbors Cal and Laura. There in spirit (i.e., by phone) were grandmas and papas Corey and Campbell. The menu: Anna asked for homemade pizza for supper and carrot cake for dessert. No doubt, readers will suspect that Daddy somehow manipulated Anna into choosing this menu. But in fact, she chose it entirely on her own! It just so happens that Daddy would have chosen much the same thing.
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Anna also had a party with her classmates at school, where princess cupcakes were served and everyone had fun. Oh, to be five!

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Need we say more?

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Quiet Weekend

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We've had a quiet weekend at 500 North Park, much of it spent outside in the balmy 70 degree weather.
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One of the highlights was our discovery that John, left to his own devices, will do things like cover his body with magic marker! The picture captures him just as we found him after he'd been very quiet in his room for a while.
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Anna Katherine, for her part, has been busy "doing geology" this weekend. She finds rocks and/or fossils in the yard and driveway, and then splits them open with a hammer. The photo shows her engaged in an intense examination of one of these "finds" with her father.

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This coming week promises to be full of excitement. Anna's fifth birthday is Tuesday, and we've been, for lo these past 100 days, counting down to the big event. Also, both kiddos are performing in St. Paul's School's "Circus McGirkus," where Anna Katherine will be a tightrope walker and John a clown.

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But before the week begins, there's important business to tend to this very evening. Since 500 North Park supports all things Louisiana, we are of course rooting for the the New Orleans Saints tonight. Geaux Saints!