Bradford Street

This photo was in my mailbox today from the boy (guess I have to stop calling him that soon....) I love it when he has time to hand write a letter. There's magic in paper and pen. He's doing well, and were making summer plans to see him!

Girl's Weekend in CT

Nat, Shell, Zach and myself....

When I was raising my kids I thought that shirts (and bibs) with stuff written all over them were so tacky....would have never purchased them. Look who's talking now.....

Nat and Shell giving Zach his first boogie board lesson.

Rustic Peasant Bread (like Macaroni Grill). Shell brought the recipe -- when we mixed it up and put it on the baking sheet it looked like it was going to be a disaster....not so much!

Nat and Shell having a "Hootenanny" Sunday breakfast.

Mr. Bubbles! Oh man, does he love his bath. If you lay him on his back, his legs and arms go a mile a minute kicking and splashing. Then he stops for a moment, goes perfectly still, completely straight legs and flexed feet, then quickly back to splashing again. Nat and I were busting our seams watching him.

Here we are looking our finest. Straight out of our beds and on to the couch for knitting. Shell was the knitting star by far, but Nat and I slowly got the hang of it. I kept telling Nat, "The mistakes give the scarf character, like they were made by an indigenous artisan from a third world country". She replied, "Or, like they were made by a East Coast mom who doesn't know how to knit".

Oh, could you just gobble him up? Notice the two teeth....and the drool.

A homemade message for Bradford....we miss him!

We made plans for Shell and Zach to come for a visit during winter break, to spend some down time with them and make sure Zach remembers his Nonna! Then, much to my surprise and delight, Chip suggested that we fly Nat out as well, as a Valentine gift. A perfect, loving gift. So the two girls, Zachary, and I (and Chip as well...good sport that he is) spent a weekend of cuddling, ogling, kissing, hugging, swimming, knitting, gaming (as in Mario Kart Wii! Boy, did I fail miserably), movie watching, laughing, sharing, eating, cooking, and simply being together. I love it when my children are here. The time passed much too quickly, everyone went back to their lives, but fond memories were created. Now....when to gather next?

Bradford's Home Stretch

The Swiss Ping Pong Team

Bradford's bike after the ice storm.

Elder Nickel, Bradford, Elder J. (not sure how to spell his last name!)

Yesterday Bradford hit his "6 months to go" mark. Yea for me! He's doing well...back in Oklahoma, Owassa to be specific, where Garth Brooks lives. He's growing and working like crazy...and continues to tell funny stories, like his baptism the other day....baptised Billy, an older gentleman, who happened to be a little inebriated at his baptism. :)

Look who's 6 months old!

Zachary turned 6 months today. We can't believe it! His personality is coming out all over...he's becoming a real charmer. We get to snuggle with him in two days! Here are his new six-month photos....get ready to be charmed.

My Invitation...

Came home today to a surprise in the mailbox.......my invitation to the Inauguration! I can hardly wait....let's see, get a ball gown, call a limo service, get a room at the Washington Plaza, and party with my new friends Barack and Michelle! With about a zillion other people. (This doesn't set me apart from any of the other zillion....it just looks cool!) Actually, the one who is REALLY cool is my nephew, Nicholas. He really IS going.....will have a reserved seat and everything! Lucky!

Essential Us

Was cleaning up Christmas (isn't that one of the lesser loved jobs?) and glanced up at this photo on the shelf -- it made me smile. It truly is essential us. We're on the green boat at one, if not THE, most favorite spot of ours.....Lake Powell. Carefree, (when the boat wasn't broken...yet even when it it was -- remember the Burr Trail?), warm, laughter, memories. I love my kids.

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.