Breakfast with the Bunny

Cate's Birth - 30 March 2004

On 30 March 2004 at 8:26 am, Bethany gave birth to our second daughter, Catherine (Cate) Hope Curtis, at Missouri Baptist Hospital.  She was 8 pounds 8 oz and 22 inches long, with brown hair.

The Curtis Family expands by 1

For more details on the Labor and Delivery and pictures check out Cate Stuff!

Easter Weekend - 10-11 April

Jane, Bethany, Cate and Maddie opening Easter presents from Aunt Katie and Uncle Don

Bethany, Jane, Cate and new friend Raggedy Ann

Nana, Aunt Rhonda, Jane, Bethany and Cate

Gral, Gramy, Cate Bethany and Jane

Dad helping Jane find her Easter Eggs

Sage Clan Front: Randy, Lisa Amy Bethany, Cate and Rosemary, Jane BacK: Van, Micah, Alvan and Patrick

Other April

Cousin Kate and Jane help Gramy blowout the candles on her 55th natal day

Cate and Jane

Our House Addition - One year latter

Our Minivan

Although the Sienna is best in it’s class according to the materialism bible Consumer Reports, our particular model is not the Top of the Line. Besides not wanting to seem too uppity (or pay 1.75 times as much), it would have subverted Randy’s long-standing unofficial motto of “Nothing but the 2nd best for us.” As such there are no fancy wheels, leather seats, sun roof, automatic doors, super security system, or DVD players and the only on board navigational system remains the kind you get free with your AAA membership.

Bethany and Jane with our new automotive pride and joy

Additionally Randy splurged and got the optional towing package despite Bethany strong admonishments that we were NOT going to buy anything to tow (such as a trailer, camper or boat). Randy agreed but still felt it imperative to have the capability of doing so if we needed to some day. The initial use will run us $315, but after that it’s free.

So whose car is it, Randy or Bethany’s?
Actually it’s Jane and Cates car since moving car seats is a PITA. Ergo, since Bethany is with the girls most of the time, it will be “her car”. You may think this is another way of calling it Mom’s Taxi but given Bethany’s earlier issues with excepting the soccer mom demographic label, it’s not recommended. Actually with in weeks of getting the car, she was so taken with it, that she’d get a little whiny about having to take the Sidekick when leaving Randy with the kids to run errands.

This left us with 4 cars for 2 drivers (if you count the Spitfire encased in Rhonda's garage for the last few years). After some thought, we decided to sell our '98 Honda Civic and keep the '95 Sidekick. They had about the same mileage on them but the Honda was worth about twice as much. Since it's the "B" car and Metro link will be operating in a year or so in our neck of the woods, the perceived less reliable Suzuki seemed the one to keep (although we haven't had any trouble with it either). That and it works better for hauling mulch, rocks and other home improvement stuff that sheds in a car.

May


Micah's Graduation

We marked the beginning of May with out first road trip in our new family truckster minivan. Destination – Dayton, Ohio to witness the graduation of the last Sage sibling from college. The extra room over the former road vehicle (i.e. Civic) was fantastic and we all were quite pleased with our purchase. We borrowed a mini TV/VCR combo from the neighbors, which proved crucial on the western side of Indiana. After 3 hours of graduation, an hour in a restaurant line, another at the restaurant and 3 hours driving, Jane had had enough and only Elmo had the power to soothe her.

Bethany, Alvan, Amy, Micah and Rosemary at University of Dayton Bacculariae Mass

Cate and Jane playing on the bed in the middle of May

Cate's Baptism

On May 23rd, we had Cate's baptism. Like Jane, it was at Bethany's home parish of Christ the King in University City, although since the chapel remodeling was finished, it wasn't in the school cafeteria this time. Her Godparents are two of our siblings: Justin Sage and Rhonda Curtis. It was a fairly pleasant ceremony with Cate's sister and cousin getting to join in for part of it (we think Jane managed to get a sprinkling on her stuffed bunny blanket, just to be sure to cover her bases). It was a fairly typical family gathering with a luncheon afterwards at Tuxelia (Randy's new name for our home at the corner of Tuxedo and Cornelia. He's hoping it will catch on and it will exude some Southern charm and class or at least some uppity New England snob appeal.).

Cate in the family Baptismal gown

Bethany and Cate

Randy, the pastor, Bethany and Cate

Godparents Justin and Rhonda with Cate

Cate's Baptism Group Photo

Bathroom Floor Tile

Over Memorial Day, the women left home for a weekend at Camp Gramy. Randy stayed behind and finally got to the task of tiling the floors of the 2nd story bathrooms. We purchased half a wet saw with a neighbor, which made that portion of the job a pleasure. Getting the hexagonal flower pattern in the girls' bathroom right was a bit more tedious, though we're very pleased with the results (despite the grout lines not being exactly even everywhere). Soon (?) we'll add some wall tiles, paint, wainscot and trim and they will be done.

Hexagonal floor tile in Cate and Jane's Bathroom

On a humorous note, Randy demonstrated to neighbor Britt how easy it was to reinstall a toilet. Unfortunately he neglected to remove the towel in the drainpipe first, amidst the thrill of educating others, which after cleaning up the overflow of water, resulted a second, more polished presentation of how-to complete the task.

June - Olympic Torch

It seems more a technicality to think of June being spring, when culturally summer begins with Memorial Day weekend but anyway…Cate is smiling frequently but we haven't quite captured it well with the camera yet.

June 2004 Cate

Jane is very affectionate towards her sister and offers to help often, although with mixed results.

Jane "helping" feed Cate

Bethany took the girls up to Lockwood and Bompart to witness the Olympic torch passing through Webster Groves. Facing the wrong way the stroller seat, Cate didn't get much out of the experience but Jane got a couple of flags from the sponsors.

Jane waiting for Olympic Torch to pass by

RBJC Curtis Family Front Page