In which we redeem ourselves, photographically speaking

so let it be said: the archibalds do not let more than 5 months pass without adding photos to their blog. we actually just posted a ton of photos to our web album, including pictures from the recent trip to north carolina, so if you're so inclined, feel free to look at those!

Minnesota Perfect

Each spring and fall in Minnesota there is a two week period of perfect weather. The days are warm but not too hot. There are not many bugs out yet. Everything is green. And most important, everyone is happy.

Everyone is happy because Minnesotans are some of the most forgetful people in the United States. We get three days of beautiful weather and all of a sudden we forget we live in a state where winter drags on for six months out of the year. It is as though our minds, so long deprived of sunshine and warmth, get overloaded and our long term memory shuts down. We no longer can recall the dreariness of winter or the onslaught of killer mosquitoes in the summer and instead we are left in a state of constant euphoria.

Suddenly people start talking about what a wonderful place Minnesota is to live in, and how they could never leave this place. The Twin Cities has one of the highest college graduate retention rates in the nation. I suspect this has more to do with the fact that graduation and the big career decisions which come with it occur at the same time as this two week window. Young naive, college grads think, why would they want to move someplace else when they can live here. They make their decision to stay and then WHAM! the crummy Minnesota weather comes charging back.

Think I am exaggerating? My business partner and I were incredibly close to deciding to move to the beautiful town of McMinnville, Oregon. We set a date by which we would make our decision to either stay here or move which unbeknowst to us fell within the Fall window of beautiful weather. After two weeks of gorgeous weather we decided Minnesota was the place for us and felt pretty good about it. Three days later the temperature dropped like a rock and the whole state went into hibernation for six months. But it was too late, our decision had been made and I was left having to stand by my choice.

At least for two weeks in the spring and another two in the fall I can feel like I made the right decision.

we have blogging shame

creating this blog was supposed to make it easy for us to keep the masses updated on all the comings and goings of our little family. instead, we've put it off and now it's been so long it's just plain embarrassing, because there's actually a lot to report. so we will just come right out and admit it--we are horrible bloggers. we can add blogging to the list of things we are officially horrible at. this list also includes gems like hackeysack and alphabetizing my recipes. moving on...


the biggest news is that as of september, the firm of g and m archibald will be bringing on another associate. yes that's right--quinn will no longer be our sole apprentice. according to the ultrasound tech, it's another girl! we are thrilled that quinn will have a sister, and geoff's parents are over the moon, because they are getting THREE new grandchildren this year. our cat boo trembles with anticipation...

the other big project at our house is that we are finishing off the basement (riveting stuff, we know) to make a playroom, and more importantly, a guest room and bathroom. this means we have space for visitors! if anyone in blogland is still willing to be our friend after our lackluster blogging performance, please know that you have a place to stay if you wanna come hang out with us!

i'm actually at my sister's new place in north carolina as i write this, so i don't have any pictures to upload, but will bug geoff to do so, so this post has a little more visual zip. in the meantime, you'll have to be content with my content. hee hee. word humor is funny. i'm a nerd.