november sun

now that our november summer appears to be coming to an end......im looking forward to winter. enjoy these fall photos of the groundart clan.

Family of 4

We are in full family mode these days at the Sveinson compound and enjoying every new and difficult experience. June Miel Sveinson was born on Sept. 5th at 10:39pm. What a remarkable difference the second birth is than the first. I have been truly blessed to witness both births of my daughters go down in the same room...1 year, 364 days, 1 hour 20minutes apart. Katie was again AWESOME!!

Three plus weeks have already flown by and though both Katie and I are in need of breaks...we realize that this special time goes by so very fast. And here I thought that having one child was a major imprint into ones daily free time....try two (both under 2.5 years). Yowza! Not much surfing going on these days.....ok, I can't lie...I have gone surfing but not nearly as much as I would dream to. Today I found some newborn photos of Frances and was impressed and a bit surprised to see how similar they look...especially having thought for the past few weeks about how different I thought they looked. The time I am able to spend and invest with Frances these days will be forever memorable too....we have had much special daddy Frances time and she is doing remarkably well considering what a change she is experiencing and going through too.

Delight and know that the GroundArt crew is live (alive) and in full effect....we are embracing each hour with a sense that the last small phase has just passed but we will next endure a similar and rewarding next few hours. Hour by hour....day by day.....learning that slow and steady wins the race. (We are always here at home hoping for a small break if anyone wants to come and visit and take Fran to the park) Not to forget though how very blessed we have been with many dinners and lots of gifts from friends and family the past few weeks and we THANK YOU ALL!!!

We may even try for a family outing to the 'Hardly Strictly Blue Grass Festival' a free event in SF Golden Gate Park to see one of our favorite bands play this Sunday evening....the Avett Brothers. Wish us luck. Peace out...God bless and enjoy the photos.

The days are fast.....and slow.

We here at GroundArt headquarters if you don't know already are due to receive new child very soon. It has been a great first two years with our little one Frances Dillon and we will cherish and miss the moments that have passed but look forward to growing through the new ones with both her and her little sister.

I could blab on and on about how magnificently smart and impressive our daughter is but I won't. Suffice to say that at 23 months she can recite her ABC's like she's been doing in for years now and she can tell you probably 25 words in Spanish including counting to 10...and most colors. It will take me years to stay one step ahead. Both grandparents from the Montana side have visited this late spring/summer and it was very pleasant. We are sorry we don't make it to Montana more often however tonight I did ask Frances during our night time ritual, "where do Grampa Craig and Grandma Patty live?" and she replied after some thought...Montana. I was considerably impressed given that we don't really emphasize it too much.

Most weeks are spent the same....working while Fran and Mom do fun things around town with other moms and friends. Afternoons we spend sunning in general and watering the plants...taking bike rides to the library or park...and recently swim lessons on the weekends. Katie has been doing some great knitting work she recently learned and as you shall see in the photos has made some great hats for the kids.....!! The time goes incredibly fast and both Katie and I are just blessed to be able to spend practically each moment growing and helping Frances learn and have fun. We know the road ahead will be challenging but equally rewarding. Thanks and God bless to all that care and follow. Peace.

Lee / Katie / and Frances.....soon to be big-sister

OOOOOH boy....OOOOOH gosh.....hey babe, whoa back..beep beep

Good golly it has been some time since I last checked in to the GroundArt bloggage. Life is just cruising and doing exactly as they say when you have kids. THE DAYS ARE LONG BUT THE WEEKS/MONTHS/YEARS FLY BY. Sure as the manure on the bottom of your shoe.

I won't lie and say it was an easy winter. No,...it was tough. Long rainy weeks and lots and lots of colds....but when March and the sunny skies hit, boy did we get on with it! Life here in Marin has been very fun, rewarding, and difficult....wait...I think I said that back in November. Well....it has. Our daily seems to be early morns....coffee and breakfast with Fran. The beautiful wife wakes and starts her day about 1/2 hr prior to me shooting off to tug on some wires and fix somebodies electricity. They usually play all morning outside if the rain isn't falling....and our daughter loves her routine. A walk down to Muffin Mania....checking out all the famous stops along the way including the fairy bath (local neighbors fountain)....and sometimes the park. Of all the things they do and people they see...well it varies and I don't know them all but Katie and Francini have a great time living learning and loving life each and everyday. Some of which are difficult. Most are awesome. Frances can say basically anything she wants....however she mostly says a lot of what she hears all the time. Song repeats...sayings....things she wants....things she eats and names of people she knows. She BLOWS me away at how much she remembers!! I find myself in complete astonishment most of the time I am with her because of how much she already knows. Sure shows what a great job my wife is doing each day raising her.
Then....around 4pm or so, I get to come home and help out with the late afternoon shift which normally gives Katie a good break. Fran and I look in the garden or compost for bugs and worms (which she LOVES!) and blow bubbles or go on bike rides. She has recently become really attached to the neighbor girl across the street Eva and pretty much always wants to play with her if possible. Then for the rest of the evening we do our bedtime routine and put her down pretty early so she can be well rested for the next days adventure. Weekends we have been looking at houses....surfing and going to the beach on nice days....resting and prepping our craziness for another babe. Yep...you heard it. We are havin another.!!! So yippee to summer coming up and another beautiful life and fall warm months ahead. With no further rambling....I give you some pics of the last few months and thank you for stopping by. Peace.