Baby Gallory

We had a wonderful and unexpected Thanksgiving crowd this year. Aside of David, we were joined by two Korean students whom we "adopted" through the university's Borderless Hosts program, Dad's sister Megan, and our neighbors across the street: Oliver, his twin daughters, and his visiting parents. Our table was waaay too small, so we used it as a buffet. Everyone was seated at two tables we borrowed from the LA Department and covered with a queen size flat sheet... Leave it to Dave to take an obscene amount of pictures of the food and NO good shots of people :) :) :)

Nona went all out putting together an early Birthday Celebration for our train-lovin' Big Guy. The theme was all-out Thomas the Tank Engine. She baked an egg-free chocolate train cake which Dad helped to decorate. Add baloons, hats, party favors (all Thomas!) and you get the gist of both decor and presents. Julian was beyond himself with joy. Thank you, Nona!!! Allllll Aboard!!!! Lean in, kid, that's where the candles are... So much love...

Our dear, dear friends Amanda and Brian (plus their dog Kramer) visited us on their way from Seattle to Maine. Not the most direct route to be sure, but you won't hear us complain! Julian took to Brian immediately, espacially since he is such an experienced train track builder. I like this dude!!! Kramer, meet Bully; Bully - Kramer.

Surprise? What surprise? Whoa!!!! My very own Rock It bike!!! ...Gotta get helmeted up... ...Quick last minute photo-op... ...And off he goes!!!...

Julian got a really cool t-shirt form Baba Hania. He draws on it with special markers (included), then Mom washes it, and he gets to start all over again. J was very sceptical of the idea of actually WEARING the t shirt; he viewed it as a piece of paper to draw on rather than an article of clothing. Recently however he figured it out.

Julian took to his Radio Flyer wagon rcently. His favorite activity is lounging about, with a pillow and a stack of books, while we pull him to and fro the post office to get mail. Kid has it good, no?

We made it back to the prairie look-out at the Refuge. How different it looked than in the winter! The landscape was lush, green, and buzzing with life. We had fresh figs from the local farmer's market and homemade muffins. Life is good.