Bradford's Christmas Card!

Is this just the greatest? Yes, this is where Bradford lives right now -- yes, it's pretty much a mansion -- complete with murals on the walls. Not your typical missionary pad. He's doing well - was so nice to speak with him on Christmas! He's probably leaving Arkansas mid January for Springfield, MO. He's pretty psyched -- he thinks it's where Bart Simpson lives.

Christmas in Connecticut

Chip & Wick

The Fam at Bet & Gene's -- and Hadley

Bet gets Barefoot Contessa! I wanna be friends with Ina!

Chip enjoying the evening

George

Annie

Barb and Gene

We did Christmas all over again in CT. Bet and Gene invited us to their home on Christmas Eve along with George and Annie and Wick and Barb. Delicious dinner, fun gifts and lots of talking and laughing. Christmas morning brought yet more gifts for all -- Chip surprised me with a sewing machine! I can hardly wait to get started on a quilt! After George and Annie went back to their mom's, Chip and looked at each other and thought, "Hey, we don't want to cook...." So, sushi it was on Christmas night. Not the most traditional Christmas, but a good one no less.

Christmas in Utah & Zach's Blessing

Who loves his Nonna?

Grandpa T.

Grandma T.

Chip gets a gift!

Tony and me

Petra and Chip

A proud momma and Zach

Baby Zach!

Me and my girls....Nat and Shell and beautiful Zach!

We flew to Utah (by way of an overnight delay in Atlanta!) to share Christmas with our family and share in Zachary's blessing. Nat and James hosted both the Christmas party and our stay (Presidential towels, chocolates on the bed and pressed sheets!). Playing Risk with Nat and James on Sunday afternoon resulted in James' world domination....anyone surprised? Everyone (except Bradford...sigh!) came to the party - Shell and Chris, Nat and James, my parents and Cindy and Stef even drove up! Pinto's invited us for brunch on Sunday morning with yummy food and drink and warm friendship. Later, we blessed Zach at Mark's house with a houseful of relatives. The stay was much too quick, I had a hard time coming back home --- everyone was still in Utah! But, grateful for the time we had and look forward to gathering again.

Charter for Compassion

Our Bear

A toast to the best darn dog in the whole darn world. You were more human than some humans. You smiled, comforted, played like crazy, and brought a smile to all with your highfalutin, feather-in-the-cap tail. We truly do love you and you are deeply missed.

Every now and then miracles...

I work at a school. Brown School. It's a middle school filled with awkward, lanky and charming fifth and sixth graders. A beautiful boy from Trinidad is my charge - an 11-year old who loves Shamu, Batman, and Scooby Doo. He's also autistic. He's smart, funny, clever, endearing, and completely inept socially. In science class today the students played microbe board games they had created. Fortunately my student was placed with two very, very nice boys. They quickly understood that he didn't quite understand how to play the game, nor did he know any of the answers. Rather than complain that the game had become a burden, they found that they could conjure a smile from my student by offering rather obvious clues to the answers -- so much so that the game ended with my student winning by a landslide. I guess some sixth graders get it. Maybe the future holds some promise. Jake and Kevin are my heroes today.

Zachary Visits Grandma!

Three Generations!

Just Admiring

Grandpa J. (Grappa) and Zach celebrating 3 months old!

Mr. Smiley Face

Mr. DeMille... I'm ready for my.... walk!

Bu-bu-bu-bubbly Bubbles

I love my momma!

Delightful. Charming. Exquisite. My grandson, Zachary. We spent the last four days oohing and ahhing in wonder as we chatted in baby-speak, scrubbed in baby bubbles, and cuddled in baby land. This grandparenting is something else indeed. Thanks Shell, for spending time with us and sharing your precious bundle of joy.

Getting to Know You....

E*Trade Baby

This just give me the giggles....have fun. That's what it's all about, right?

Why I (Don't) Vote

Bradford's New Band

Here's the album cover for Bradford's new band....

Best House Ever!

It seems we are geographically challenged when it comes to Halloween and trick-or-treaters. Not only are the houses spread out, but our driveway is so long you can't even see our house from the street....a real Halloween challenge. Last year perhaps 10 spooks and goblins rang our bell; we had to do better this year. So, we lined the driveway and sidewalk with Halloween luminarias and got really good treats -- glow-in-the-dark necklaces, paratroopers and tattoos! I think our numbers doubled this year, perhaps over 20 rang our bell. I knew we'd bumped it up a notch when I overhead one little StormTrooper as he walked away, "This was the best house!" Ahhh, success.

Johnny the Bagger

Litchfield County

Bradford's friend, Jenessa, paid us a visit last weekend - such a treat! A loop through Litchfield County in NW Connecticut proved to be stunning. Didn't have the GPS, relied on Google Maps, and only made one wrong turn. Figured that out when we saw the green sign, "Welcome to New York, The Empire State". Oops. Maybe we just got sidetracked by the surroundings....

Baby Zachary

Zachary's growing like crazy!! He's two months old and tipping the scale at 14 pounds! He LOVES his mama -- almost as much as his mama (and grandma) love him. Counting the days until he comes to Connecticut!

Young Frankenstein

Chip and I were in the city yesterday where we escaped the gloom and doom of Wall Street and headed north to Times Square. We delighted in Mel Brook's "Young Frankenstein", the musical. Sometimes laughter is the best medicine.

Beautiful Food!

We had a political rally of sorts at our house yesterday and a charming woman brought this beautiful hors d'oeuvre tray......stunning! And edible! She grows all the herbs and flowers in her yard, organically. Couldn't resist a picture!

Happy Birthday Grandpa!

Jen, Brad, Mark, Ranell

Doug, Cindy, Grandma, Grandpa

I traveled to Utah to celebrate my father's 80th birthday! May we all age so gracefully. I loved seeing my family and old friends from the neighborhood. And, we celebrated my mom's birthday as well....double party!

Cute Bradford!

So Bradford's been out one year!! Yea!! He's halfway done! Here are some fun pictures he recently sent...isn't he just the greatest? And so incredibly handsome?

Chip makes dinner...

It was so beautiful...and tasted even better! Chip made us Risotto with Parsley and Roasted Mushrooms....I just had to take a picture!

A Week with Nat & James

Block Island

Thimble Islands

On Captain Bob's Boat in the Thimble Islands

Kayaking on Long Island Sound and the Hammonasset River!!

Dinner at the Blue Oar on the Connecticut River

At the Blue Oar

Natalie came home with me from Ann Arbor and James joined us a couple of days later. These were the last days of summer for Natalie...she started at Primary Children's this week...so we savored it. We swam and scootered and boated around the Thimble Islands and took a day trip out to Block Island. It is always such a treat to have the two of them around...positive energy just abounds.

Presenting Zachary Christopher....

Proud Shell and Beautiful Zach

Nat, Shell, Zach and Me!

Gorgeous

Angel Baby

Big Yawn!

I love his hands.

Don't you love the hand by his head?

Baby feet!

Nat massaging Shell's ever-so-swollen feet.

I just melt when I see him just staring at his mamma.

The first time I held him...sorta. He was still in in isolette...waiting to go to his mamma.

Our newest addition....Zachary Christopher.

Here he is...the most amazing, charming, intelligent, handsome baby! After a little rough start (36 hours of labor and emergency C-section) baby Zachary was born on 08.16.08, 9 pounds even, 21 1/4 inches. He was a little sick at first -- spent his first night in the ICU. But he bounced back quickly and (finally) we all got to enjoy him. It's amazing to see my beautiful daughter become a mother herself. There's nothing quite like it...nothing comes close to the love. We are so happy and blessed that everyone is here safe and sound. Thank you all for your love and prayers and support. Isn't he just the cutest thing you've ever seen?