Bobbie

My Grandpa Bobbie passed away this morning. We knew he wasn't well and while working on a crossword lastnight, I started writing down some of the things I didn't want to forget about Bobbie.

He tought me:

• my love of crosswords
• about the benefits of living at the beach
• the importance of a comfortable leather chair
• the warmth of velour
• how to blow cigar smoke rings
• to golf with patience, courtesy and most importantly mulligans
• to savor stilton
• the enjoyment of getting dolled up to go out and see a show
• about the comfort of m&m soup
• the value of old friendships
• the luxory of a pedicure
• the comedy of cheers and seinfeld and the importance of TV Guide (Bobbie would have loved DVR)
• the necessity of faith and specific to ours, confession
• how a hot tub is not a hot tub unless it is HOT
• the importance of an early and long retirement
• to love children and enjoy your favorites as often as possible

You are my favorite Bobbie. Here's to you - happy travels!

Consider this Your Christmas Card

Sorry folks, only one mass-mailing per year from this clan and Lucy's birth filled that quota for this year. So, Merry Christmas all! Lots of love around here these last few days. We hope you all are having as much fun! Off to Santa's Workshop - still have 12 hours for those last minute projects!

Good Eats

Prime rib, blue cheese scalloped potatoes, grilled asparagus, bread pudding, chocolate mouse all made more enjoyable by some very old and special spode (wedding gift from Grandma Freeman), beautiful crystal salt wells (from Grandma Thompson) and lovely "M" linen napkins (from Aunt Jessica). Who can wait up for Santa after a meal like that?

"I can't put my arms down"...

...and no, Henry has not been tipping the egg nog.

Oh Santa

This is as close as Henry got without tears this year. Lucy broke Santa in for sure - it was hilarious to see him seconds later trying to put her binkie back in with his gloves on. Nice try Santa - we still love you, well sort of.

Oh Christmas Tree

What's with our Charlie Brown/National Lampoons tree this year?

• 2 hour drive into the woods with 2 kids


• a potty training Henry


• wrong tree farm gate key


• a short hike into the woods to the first unsuspecting Hemlock we stumbled upon


• it was either this or a Christmas Fern, we were coming home with something or we would have heard about it from the backseat for 2 hours

Henry awoke from his nap that day and walked out to see the tree standing in the living room and declared, "this is a good tree Dad".

What Mess?

"wook, I drew and ewaphant"

Zoo Lights '09

Well, we had a rockin' time at Zoo lights with Will and Malia or "Maria" as Henry has been calling her. So funny that his variation of her name is another name...just can't get over the sound of it. Anyway, back to the rockin'...we will call ahead next year to make sure that the teen idol band that was singing to Run DMC Christmas music will be there again next year. Truly awesome - so worth it!

Lovin' Aunt Jess

Who doesn't love Aunt Jess? She is a superstar and I love this photo of her with her nephews and niece cuddled around her just trying to get some last minute Aunt Jess time in before she is Mama Jess. We welcome that day!

Stockings

Happy Birthday Girls

Fun dinner lastnight for Courtney, Malia and Heidi all with December Birthdays. We really enjoyed the time spent with all of you. Thanks to Mr. Jon for making plans for all of us to get together, you three girls for turning 30 (so young by the way), bigger thanks to Grandma Pati and Grandpa Al who babysat and to top it off it snowed! What a night.

Found

We are so lucky that Lucy has such a kind Brother. I can safely leave her with him (as long as I can hear them) a room away and I love that when I come back to check on them a few minutes later, he has been loving her in some Henryish way, reading to her or just sitting together talking as I found them this day. I hope they will always be pals.

LHS

Jack and I had a date the other night to see our talented friends (pl) band, Left Hand Smoke play in Tacoma, WA. They are always fun to see perform and visiting with Mrs. O'Mahony of LHS was just as fun. She came over early to visit with the kids. Henry has always had a special affection for both Heather and Ronan...and it was obvious Lucy felt it too.

PS. Welcome to Mr. Andrew Mish - first band baby that I am aware of! Can't wait to meet you.

Thanksgiving

I will give special thanks this year to Grandmas and Grandpas! My Grandma Freeman is cruising about this Holiday and Mimi and Bobbie are trimming some kind of a Turkey no doubt. John's Grandparents are celebrating with us from above and this year as every year special mention was made of Grandma Cathy's oyster stuffing. Wish I had been there for that one!

Henry and Lucy are lucky to have some very special Grandparents too. Here's to you four!

(really need some new pictures of Tookie with the kids - remember that Aunt Meg!)

And a couple of special friends who act like Grandparents! Love you guys.

Baby Baby Shower

What fun I had working on a shower for Ali and Jessica - my two favorite sisters-in-law. How lucky I am! Wonderfully, we got to see all kinds of family and friends not seen in a while. And I am getting really excited for the babies to come (Ali in Feb and Jess in Mar) Hopefully they will let me visit and spend a few days helping them. I love a new baby - their smell, the way they have no idea what is happening but are still able to be soothed by human hands, their funny belly buttons, their tiny mouths, oh it's all good. Get ready girls, here they come!

Easy Entertainment

Happy Monday!

Take Your Henry to Work Day

Mom's not feeling too hot, so Dad VERY generously offered to take Henry to work today. I'm not sure I ever packed a lunch and backpack so quickly or that either of us fully realize how cool Henry thinks this is. I'm sure we will hear "I go to work with Daddy sometimes" in his deepest cool kid voice for weeks if not years. Thank you Jack - and good luck Port Blakely!

Good Morning!

LuLu the lady...she really wants to be upright in every chair I put her in now. No more lazy babyin' around, she wants to sit!

Look at That Popo

Popo (der)
n. bottom, buttocks (Informal)

popò (m)
n. (children's language) bottom, buttocks; poo-poo, jobbies

popo
n. buttocks, butt, backside, behind, breech, bum, can, posterior, rear, rear end

popo
buttocks, bottom, backside, behind, rump, posterior, bum, butt, rear kýç

We borrow this term from Malia, who I think inherited it from her Grandma TuTu and time spent in Hawaii. Fun word.

And the Winner is...

...Henry. Lu Lu has been tough to give a bottle to lately, and as we'd like to get out of the house every now and then, I've been trying everything I can think of. Well, I should never underestimate the power of brotherly love.

Happy Birthday...

...to my lovely Sister in Law Ali! You're the best babe - and hope you have a great day!
...to my sweet cousin and God-daughter Hannah. Hope you enjoyed the pizza bread!
...to my new friend Linsdey. Glad to share the best of T-town with you!

Putt Putt Bowling...

...with the cousins. Henry so looks up to Aidan and Graham that later that night, he decided he could give up his binkie at night because they didn't use one. Thanks guys! I have to admit it made me a little sad, however good I know it is for him to be done with it. It was the last remaining thing I could offer him to soothe the baby still in him. He is becoming such a big kid...showing us this week he can even read a few words. Time to get out the "learn to read in 100 easy lessons" book I guess. He's all growns up!

Halloween Take II

Dad saved the day with a last minute trip to Costco's Halloween Table.

One small step for Henry...

One sleepy chicken.

Henry's heros, Seamus and Liam.

We were all in awe of Dr. Craddock's wizard skills.

Will Will the golfer.

Happy Halloween...

...well sort of. Henry refuses to wear his costume. We think he is actually scared of it a little. So we are on our way to Target to see what is left in the costume department that he will wear. Wish us luck! Happily, Lucy is a sucker at this age!

Punkin's

Dave and Lindsey had us over for punkin' carving the other night. Thanks guys - lots of fun! And nice work with Lucy Dave, you seem to have won her over, a difficult task on her not so happy days.