Go Daddy Go!

Cute (and accurate) onesie courtesy of Aunt Colleen.

Hi-jinx in Lamont Plaza

A hundred feet or so from our front stoop is a central plaza where we often go to sit, people watch, pigeon watch, run down the ramp, listen to music, or just hang out. On this day, our multi-talented neighbor Chris Murray was juggling clubs.

Then the toddlers got into the act.

Before getting into serious juggling, Henry, Gabriella and Sadie first practice their fire-breathing techniques.
And face scrunching.

A sunset family portait.

And one with just the littlest Pfeiffer.

You can just make out the hardware store over Todd's left shoulder.

When Papas Dress Babies I think this could be a new show on the Discovery Channel ala When Sharks Attack. This chic ensemble was created by Todd using 100% gift items. The cute hat is from Lizy Wildsmith and crew. Adorable handmade sweater courtesy of Jen Gajdosik and crew. Kimono sleeper generously given by Ellie Dooling and crew. Funky socks a thoughtful gift from Suzanne McFadden and crew. This is starting to sound like magazine cover shoot credits. All right then...

Loretta wears Irridescent Body Glitter by Revlon. Available at Walgreens. $2.99. Body Quick Bronze Self-Tanner by Clinique. At Nordstrom's. $17.00 Baby Lip Gloss and Rouge by Gerber Products. $47.00 at Safeway.

How does one soothe a fussy baby?

It's Artomatic!

This weekend we headed to one of DC's funkiest happenings: Artomatic. Every other year, this massive art show is launched in whatever abandoned space the organizers can find. The artists take over some building and kind of make it into a "haunted art house." You walk through rooms and rooms and rooms of crazy-cool art done by local artists, most of which is for sale. This year we went with our friend Athena, and our friends Scott and Danielle, and their two-year-old Frankie.

Henry admires the complex entaglement of color and bold undercurrent of tension that interplays with suppressed angst. He also liked the big schnozz.

Frankie and Henry relaxing in a gallery.

Frankie and Henry stare into the bowels of hell.

Frankie illuminated.

(image by artsy fartsy photographer Todd Pfeiffer)

Happy Birthday Gramma Madeline!!

Here's our first foray into embedding video!

Looks Who's Three Months Old! We can scarcely believe it ourselves!

Stop! Bunny Time!

The DiPfeiffers headed to Philly for Easter, where we had a super-duper-pooper-scooper time. Tim and Estela were in top form as hosts. And we are still fairly humming from the sugar buzz.

Henry enjoys playing with his food.

Cora Cora Cora the Explorer.

Tricia curls up with a good look.

Lizy reflects on the virtues of a stationary baby. Snuggle break with Nico, Loretta, and Todd.

Estela trying to keep track of three little girls.

(Cora, Loretta, and Dylan) What mischief are these two up to?

Cora's table...the perfect nook for some quiet time.
Nico's bottom bunk...the perfect nook for some non-quiet, up-all-night-time.

Men in the kitchen where they belong... Todd and Tim whip up Easter brunch, the smoke alarm only went off once, though. (true)

Tim and Estela on the down-low.

Zio Adelio and Zia Anna were in Philly visiting too! Here's Zio with Loretta.
But then Cora climbs up. Can he really handle two?
Oh no, wait! Now Simona's in on the act! No, it can't be done!
Holy moley! Ladies and gentlemen, he's done it! Zio Adelio has mastered the three-cutie laphold.
Sam Field celebrates the achievement!

Ye Olde' Hardware Store

Here's what the store looks like these days. The highly cool window display was entirely Todd's idea. I don't know if the picture does it justice but hundreds of shimmery, silvery keys seem to be magically floating in the air of the window. It stops a lot of people. We made it with key "mistakes" we've made and kept over the last three years.

Keys from the inside. Keys from the outside.

So the big news about the store is....we're in this month's issue of the Washingtonian!!! The cover story is comparing and contrasting different neighborhoods in Washington, and it lists what's cool about each. WE'RE one of the things that's cool about Mt. Pleasant!! The magazine refers to us as the "well-stocked Pfeiffer's Hardware," and there's even a picture of the store next to the blurb.

I told Todd that taking the store from practically empty three years ago, and turning it into a store that a national magazine calls well-stocked is an enormous achievment and that he should be really proud. I'm proud of him.

Many of you have asked where we are in the sales process. We are still crunching numbers in order to derive a sales price. We have hired a Certified Valuation Analyst to help us in this effort, and we hope to have a sales price this month. It hasn't been formally advertised as being for sale anywhere, yet we still have people expressing interest. We'd like to have a really monster Spring season in sales, and then find it a new owner. So far, we're on track.

We live within shouting distance of the store. I can actually see Todd in the store while sitting on our couch in the living room, so we visit the store pretty much every day. Here's the kids on a recent stop-by.

Henry playing with a utility knife. (naturally)
Loretta overwhelmed by Dremel bit choices.

Little boy on counter.

Bigger boy on counter.

Babe in arms.

'Nother babe in arms.