Caroline, Joe and Sam visit

John's daughter Caroline visits (for close to a week) with her husband Joe and their son Sam and their dog "Fruit Salad". They live in Richmond, VA. People are blurred because I didn't use my flash - I wanted to capture the ambiance.

Jack Meets His First Pony & Goat

Impromtu Nap

Today we buried our beloved cat "Tootie Fruity". Tootie was a gift to me from Dick in 1999. Dick and I had a cry in front of Jack at her burial. I think Jack picked up on our grief and together with his physical pain of teething he cried and cried until he fell asleep in my arms. It was out of schedule for him, around 9:30 am (he naps now only around 12pm) and I just wanted to keep him with me for the duration of his nap.

Grieving and nurturing seem to go together.

His nap was only an hour but when he awoke I determined he wanted what ever he could do to remain close to me. That was so cathartic and reassuring that Jack wanted to make me feel "better". It helped.

John's Camp At Moreau

What a cool location - right on the edge of a ravine so quite private. Those lamps are mini lamps (only about 4" tall) and yes, John sleeps on a dog's bed and his dustpan and brush is about 3" wide. Unfortunately this blog will not let me post the panorama of the whole camp.

Homemade Mini Burger

A while ago (2 days before grandma's birthday (6/28/10)) we made Jack his first homemade mini hamburger. He loved it.

Jack in the box

We had to buy a multi-room air conditioner recently. It's cardboard box caught my eye and I cut a door and port holes in it for Jack.

The first time he saw it I had to demonstrate getting into it. It is not that big a box and I was thrilled I fitted into it. Almost daily he asks me to get in it with him. He loves it. We will have to get a photo of Mum and son in the box.

Stink

Last night after Jack's dinner we were hanging out in the living room and Jack had been leading me around. He went over to the coffee table and slipped behind it to look for my laptop (which was not there - it was in my office). He signaled to me that he wanted some laptop time. I retrieved it and we started watching Blue's Clues on YouTube.

I got a strong whiff of poo so I lifted him up and sniffed his diaper. No, not there. I got another strong whiff so I thought it was perhaps on his clothing somewhere so I sniffed his sleeve, his shoulder and even his cheek (there was something on his cheek). Jack was watching the laptop and he stopped, leaned away from me and looked at me as if to say "What are you doing? Is my mother really a dog in disguise?".

It was on the underside of his shoe.

Yuck!

It is amazing how quickly that shoe was taken outside and scrubbed!

p.s. and for those who may be wondering...it was not his, it was probably cat shit from playing out in Susu's (day care provider) yard.

Cocktail party on Saturday

Mum and John hosted a cocktail party on Saturday. If you daydream at my dress you can see a circle of swimming dolphins.

Boardwalk

There is a wonderful boardwalk at the end of our street. It turns into a trail through the woods and links to the neighboring village. We visited it with Patrick, Finbar and Alfie on Friday and that is when I discovered Finbar can fly and Jack loves being spun by Alfie.

Alastair's visit

Uncle Alastair (lives in Australia) put together an impressive itinerary for his USA, Ireland, Yorkshire and London trip. Alastair was in New York State this week. Tomorrow he is off to Washington DC for a train tour and he returns to London and then back to Australia.

I particularly like the 2nd photo of Alastair because I caught the pure blueness of his eyes.

Award Trailer finds a new home

On March 27th Mum and John's 27 foot Award caravan found a new home. It was the end of an era and an emotional one.

The caravan was my home for the summer of 1998 when Mum's friend Maureen and her daughter Jennifer needed a place to stay during track season when their apartment was rented out for track. I gave up my apartment and moved into the caravan for 8 weeks. The caravan was fantastic.

Russ and Arlene are the new owners.

On March 31st

This day last week, after Jack's 5pm dinner (and totally unprovoked by us) Jack picked up a black strapped padded lunch box, pretended to put it over his shoulder as he walked to the front door, waving goodbye to us. So we said "Bye...where are you off to.... school?"

(I was able to take a photo of him playing with the lunch box this morning)

Esther's bowls

This time of year makes me recall writing letters as a youngster. In particular, to my maternal grandparents in England.

Grandpa and Grandma lived in Biggin Hill, Kent. My spelling was not so good. They loved "Esther" and wondered who this special lady was in my life (Easter) and in a separate letter "my sluggish bowls" (bowels) made them laugh.

They especially loved to tease me about the latter.

At this time of year I still think about Esther.

Corned Beef & Cabbage @ Mum & John's

It was delicious! Mum's hiding her face because she "didn't have her face on".

Is that a halo on John's head?

Happy St Patrick's Day!

It is a much bigger celebration over here. However the only form of celebrating for us is dressing up Jack and we may have corned beef (not the canned stuff we know in Ireland - but a fatty brined beef which is boiled (it is quite delicious)) and cabbage tonight.

Aunt Mollie sent Jack this t-shirt. Thank you Mollie!

I thought I might not get photographs of Jack this morning. He is teething again and we think his molars are giving him rosey cheeks and a lot of pain. But after some pain medication he was singing again.

Mr Kissylips

Our friend Raechel affectionately calls Jack "Mr Kissylips".

Your Lines Are...

I took a quick video of Jack today and he was a little vocal. It almost sounded like something coherent (he is not there yet). Every day Jack's babbles are different because he is growing and learning.:

I can almost imagine he has been directed to say:

"Ah"

"Where's Dick?"

before saying "bye" as he exits right

That's My Hair....that's my eye

Seven Teeth

Yes, four on top and three below. Jack became quite animated when he realized he was being filmed (takes after his uncle Patrick)!