A warm spring day, a morning walk, a gnarly old tree, time together: what more can you ask?
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Sunday stroll
Looks like Papa could use a few more laps around this circle trail, to work off some of that extra padding around the middle....
Friday, January 25, 2008
"Se llama Pedro!"
The BIG gift this year -- in more ways than one -- was this fluffy stuffed bear. He's a regular companion for bedtime stories now....
"Toys, please!"
At just under 3 years old, Clara really got the hang of the whole Santa Claus thing this year. From a certain point of view, that's a mixed blessing at best. But from the parents' seeing-through-a-child's-eyes point of view, it's ALL good....
yummy
Candy cane? No, thanks. There's nothing like a bright yellow lollipop for getting into the holiday spirit.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
There's no such thing...
...as "bad weather" -- there's only "inappropriate clothing." Here Clara demonstrates that she and Mama have absorbed the wisdom of that observation quite thoroughly!
the shades are NOT optional
Like bacon & eggs, peanut-butter & jelly, steak & potatoes, Sant Antoni y llonganisa: Clara's electric guitar & her hip sunglasses just go together naturally.
sharing secrects with GG
Here's great-Grandma sharing her secrets for a long, active, vibrant and happy life with Clara. Rule #17: always look your best!
girls' night out
Clara getting to know her extended family: (L to R) Aunt Dawn, Grandma, Cousin Amelia, Clara and Mama.
flamingos
Who would have expected to find the National Aviary in Pittsburgh? Who knew there was such a thing as a "National Aviary"? Nevertheless, here it is, and we had a nice afternoon strolling around inside, checking out all our exotic feathered friends. The flamingos get a pretty sweet deal (relatively speaking), with a nice big lagoon to wade around in.
GG's yellow cat
There's something about this ceramic doorstop that absolutely captivates Clara's attention, every time we visit great-Grandma's house.
Here's a rare moment...
...of peace and quiet under the sun.
Papa soon learned that it's futile to bring a book to the pool. If you look closely, you can see that Clara is just about to hop off her lounger and begin a flat-out sprint toward the diving board and deep end (again) -- with Papa and Mama in hot pursuit.
Papa soon learned that it's futile to bring a book to the pool. If you look closely, you can see that Clara is just about to hop off her lounger and begin a flat-out sprint toward the diving board and deep end (again) -- with Papa and Mama in hot pursuit.
"Hey Mr. Tree -- don't poke me!"
Clara learns a hard lesson about pointy sticks and branches under the backyard oak.
It's a hard life...
...but someone's gotta live it.
Many thanks to Grandpap and Debbie for letting us share the swimming pool at Valleybrook all summer long.
Many thanks to Grandpap and Debbie for letting us share the swimming pool at Valleybrook all summer long.
brothers
After waiting almost 46 years, Mark and Ken finally got to meet for a few beers and find out about each other's life stories. Notice the family resemblance?
made in the shade
Clara just loves hanging out under the oak tree on our back hillside. She got her first tree-climbing lessons from Papa last summer.
Happy birthday
There's nothing like a birthday dinner at Grandma's to bring out the jollies in everyone.
Mmm, candy!
Nile, Grace and Clara pass the time with a movie -- and some movie snacks -- on a rainy day in Maine.
sitting in on djembe....
Despite the unusual lineup -- bass, drums, vocals and harmonica -- these guys sounded FANTASTIC. The whole reception was dancing and rocking all night long, and calling for more after four sets and an encore. Just great, great fun had by all...
...until the local authorities dropped by to break up the party, that is. Something about a gross violation of child labor laws....
...until the local authorities dropped by to break up the party, that is. Something about a gross violation of child labor laws....
Sunday, January 13, 2008
swing your partner(s)!
Clara gets a hand onto the dancefloor with her Grandma and brand new Uncle Paul.
Felicitaciones y salud!
Dawn and Paul could absolutely not have asked for a nicer day or a friendlier group of friends and family to celebrate their wedding. The old Pittsburgh tradition that it's not a REALLY good reception until the bride's family gets into a brawl with the groom's went happily unfollowed all day (and into the wee small hours of the night).
kicking up their heels
Grace, Amelia and Clara get jiggy wit' it while doing their best impression of that famous painting by Matisse.
Here's a wedding party...
...getting ready to party at a wedding! Left to right: Nile, Elias, Dawn, Linda, Grace and Amelia.
las bonitas primas
Two beautiful cousins, outside the Old Schoolhouse just before the ceremony. It's impossible to overstate what a poised, intelligent and charming young lady Amelia has grown into....
This looks better...
... than it sounds -- at least for now. But who knows where years of lessons and practice might get us? To Carnegie Hall? In therapy for the rest of our lives? Either or both are equally likely, I think....
some cousins
Here Nile, Clara and Elias get ready for their Mom/Aunt Dawn's wedding. Nile's escaping pocket hanky was inexpertly folded by Uncle Kenny. I'm tempted to dust off the old chestnut about "a rose between two thorns" -- especially because Nile and Elias are both looking SO sharp!
horsey or comfy chair?
Clara and cousin Elias passing the time watching a movie in Dawn & Paul's house on a rainy day in Maine.
a short walk...
Clara and cousin Nile enjoy a little stroll out over the water near Bar Harbor, Maine, during our trip to celebrate Aunt Dawn and Uncle Paul's wedding in August.
stingrays!
There's something irresistable about a tunnel -- any tunnel, even if it's filled with fish. But even the chance to go eye-to-eye with a stingray is no match for the pure tunnel-ness of this tank, which just begs to be run through (repeatedly).
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