Carmen's visit went by way too fast, but we're looking forward to seeing her again in Mallorca in May. Clara is about to prove that time flies by tossing Daddy's watch across the room.
Saturday, December 31, 2005
Ho, ho, ho (uh, pardon me a second...).
Our jolly breakfast Santa laughs his beard askew with Christmas merriment. Debbie offers to help straighten out his tonsorial slippage as Clara looks on, bemused. You have to admit: volunteering to dress up for hundreds of children (and their parents, and their parents' cameras) on a chilly Sunday morning is an incredibly generous thing to do.
desayuno con Papa Noel
Debbie, Grandpap and Clara getting ready for a breakfast buffet (with Santa!) on a perfectly snowy December Sunday morning.
at the Science Center
Clara likes the ball-floating-over-a-fan exhibit: a vivid (but atypically benign) demonstration of the mesmerizing power of hot air.
a weekday off
One of the few advantages of a retail work schedule is getting a day off in the middle of the week, when museums and other attractions are virtually empty. You can stretch out and relax pretty much wherever and whenever you want!
in the Scaife Gallery
Clara isn't about to let a runny nose spoil her first visit to the Carnegie Museum of Art.
family photo, with jungle
Clara is mighty impressed by Mommy's demonstration of greenhouse acoustics.
"Amo mi Tia Carmen!"
Carmen and Clara got along wonderfully all week long, even when there weren't giant gingerbread houses hovering in the background.
que es "musgo Espanol"?
Neither Xisca nor Carmen had ever heard of Spanish moss, but it seemed like a good place for a photo, anyway.
look, but don't touch
They say that orchids can survive almost anything -- except the iron grip of a determined and curious baby. Luckily, Mommy stepped in to deflect a deadly grasp seconds after this photo was snapped.
a winter garden stroll
Ken Clara and Carmen stroll through the winter flower show at Phipps Conservatory. That family of bears on the right is made entirely out of tree bark, seeds, nuts and pinecones.
a couple of cuties
Great Grandma and Clara share a private chuckle -- over the follies and foibles of various Moir men they've known, no doubt.
bubbles!
Xisca and Clara visit our local library every Thursday morning for Storytime, where the feature attraction is a bubble-machine grand finale. Lots of sing-alongs, too, but no Lawrence Welk (despite perfect atmospherics)....
Saturday, November 05, 2005
rockabilly baby
Clara loves to dance with Daddy (and vice versa), and our latest favorite is retro-swing from the Brian Setzer Orchestra. Go cat, go!
"I can do this with my eyes closed!"
It'll be quite a while before anyone commandeers the kitchen table with a 500-piece jigsaw, but Clara loves her puzzles. One of her favorite games is to flip the board over so all the pieces fall out and Mommy or Daddy crawl under the table to pick them all up again -- how quickly a child trains her parents....
Little Pink Crawling Hood
Neither cold, nor rain, nor wind shall keep these babies from their appointed rounds on the jungle gym.
another swing? ho-hum...
How quickly yesterday's thrill-ride becomes today's been-there, done-that. Hard to believe how recently the mere sight of a swingset could set off a squall of giggles, but maybe lack of speed and altitude or an overdue nap is the only problem here.
that mischievous look
Mommy loves to dress Clara in all the beautiful wearable gifts she's recieved, and Clara loves to dismantle the photogenic finery as quickly as possible. We've been seeing a lot more of this "wanna try to stop me?" look lately, and suspect it's only the mildest foretaste of many heart-stopping surprises and adventures to come.
Jack-o-lanterns? Never!
Clara fearlessly protects an innocent gourd from the surrounding Halloween carvers. We'll see if she still looks so protective after she gets her first taste of pumpkin pie....
Cual es la mejor?
Mommy introduces Clara to the fine art and exact science of shopping. Que buena compra!
relaxing before dinner
Grandpap and Clara kick back and relax in their favorite chairs while Mommy cooks up a Sunday feast and Daddy keeps everyone's wine glass (or sippy cup) full. Thanks for the Toasted Head, Grandpap!
fall foliage
Mommy helps Clara take a walk on a gorgeous October day in the backyard. Despite a later-than-normal start, the autumn colors were spectacular here at the end of October.
pizza night
There's nothing like a homemade pizza to lift your spirits (and your cholesterol count). Here Bill demonstrates his expert topping techniques while the rest of us spectate with cocktails, during Jack and Betty's most recent visit to Bill and Mimi's home in Pittsburgh.
Wednesday, November 02, 2005
bye bye, Germantown
There's a delightful network of footpaths running through the parkland between housing developments in Montgomery County, Maryland. Xisca and Clara used to walk them on sunny mornings, and all three of us would often take a stroll there after supper. One of Clara's favorite spots was a wooden bridge over a little stream: she seemed mesmerized by the sight and sound of water flowing over the rocks.
above the banks of the Potomac
One of the best parts about our sporadic Sunday visits to downtown DC was, surprisingly, the drive through suburban Virginia on the George Washington Parkway. This shot was taken at one of the several scenic overlooks along the route, looking back toward the capital on our way home.
sausage factory
Bismarck is reputed to have quipped, "Laws are like sausages: it is better not to see them being made." Nevertheless, Clara enjoys her day on the Mall near that political abattoir known as the US Congress.
cool greenery
The Botanical Gardens are the best place to go if you're ever stuck in DC on a hot, humid afternoon. It's cool, quiet, fragrant and free of the summer crowds that overrun most higher-profile attractions.
National Cathedral
This was one of our last family outings in the DC area. It's an extremely impressive building with absolutely stunning stained glass windows. The gardens near the rectory were especially peaceful and contemplative.
Wednesday, July 13, 2005
across four generations
If little Clara has inherited even a small portion of her Great-Grandma Moir's wit, style and grace, she'll be a VERY lucky and gifted girl!
"Buona Fortuna" indeed!
Enjoying the very best in home-style hospitality: Grandpap, Debbie and Clara.
"futbol americano"
in the narrow streets of Manacor town center, just outside Xisca's parents' home in Calle de la Cruz.
keep pouring....
Gusti, Monica, Sebastia y el brazo de Xisca con botella de Cazalla, despues de cenar.
The bottle never stands still, and your glass is never empty long around a "Manacori" table. This was our very first night out since Clara (back home with "els padrins") arrived -- much fun had by all.
The bottle never stands still, and your glass is never empty long around a "Manacori" table. This was our very first night out since Clara (back home with "els padrins") arrived -- much fun had by all.
getting ready for "el paseo"
a beautiful spring morning just outside the typical green doors of the family house on Carrer Jordi Sureda, preparing to walk into the town center of Manacor....
fun in Mallorca
relaxing before dinner on the porch at Antonia y Pedro's "finca" in Son Carrio, near Porto Cristo....
Saturday, April 16, 2005
what a beautiful day!
Que cielo mas azul! At the Jefferson Memorial, about two or three days before the cherry trees go up in full floral regalia....
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