Huuuuge

Our take on the how-big-is-baby game goes like this.

"How big is Elsie?"
Everyone raises their hands and says, "Soooo big!"
"How big is Declan?"
Everyone flexes their biceps WWF-style and says in a deep voice, "Huuuuge!"

Here is Declan doing it on top of a model termite mound at the zoo yesterday:


We had a great time:


And it zonked everyone out:


Some phone-videos of the lass. She loves playing with blocks now.





'Twas so great to see Kaleigh Friday night and Saturday morning. She looks great and is still doing well in school and work -- though both have been tough. Think she's looking forward to coming hime for Thanksgiving as much as we are.

Happy United Nations Day

Seriously. Today is United Nations Day. Go figure.

Anyway...

The kids have been so much fun lately.

Elsie is running around now and, thankfully, has much better balance when Declan does a running drive-by hip check. She used to tumble over at the slightest touch but she’s gotten used to it, and stronger, so when she sees the train a-comin’ she braces and usually remains standing.

So she’s adorable and, because she has a brother like Declan, she’s tough, too. For example, she looks great in a dress and plays with trucks:


She also started singing. “Di-eeego! Go, Diego, go!” Over and over. So cute.

She loves giving kisses, which she always delivers while making the kiss sound with much gusto: “Mwah!” And as her brother before her, she loves feeding the dog her breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Lucky Mals.

Declan has been coming up with some great phrases lately. The other day he said to me, “When I grow up and be a daddy I’m gonna drive the car’s steering wheel and have sharp tools.”

Last weekend as Amy and I were going out on our date he said, “Don’t forget to come back,” which he usually says to Amy when she goes to work. Then the next morning when he saw us he said, “I’m glad you didn’t forget to come back.”

Apparently, he wants to be a DJ when he grows up. DJ the DJ:


And he ran his first race! He and Amy did a 5k together, which I think is awesome.



Aren’t they awesome and beautiful?

Always the ham, here he is taking a load off in Target:


Like big sister, he’s taking dance class. Every Monday afternoon at school. Kaleigh’s so proud.

And Kaleigh’s coming home tonight! It’ll be a quick visit – just tonight – as she has a wedding to go to in Richmond this weekend. But we can’t wait and it’ll be great to have everyone together.

Oh My God

Dear Red Sox,

Thank you. But please don't ever do that to me again.

Love,
David

Great Weekend

Man it was a great weekend.


See? Does she look like she’s having a great weekend?

It was perfect weather so we had all the windows in the house open whenever we were inside, but we stayed outside as much as possible.


Played in the field, tossed a football, kicked a soccer ball, walked around at a cool neighborhood art show where artists had their stuff on their porches, had treats at the coffeehouse downtown, went for walks, played with friend’s dogs.

Probably the coolest thing for Declan – and I’m sorry I don’t have a photo of this (camera phone wasn’t working) – was going to the firehouse.

We took the recycling down to the bins and played in the park next to the firehouse. Then we walked over and there was a fireman cleaning one of the trucks. We asked if we could look around and this guy must have spent 20 minutes showing Declan everything. I mean, everything.

He opened up every part of the emergency rescue truck and explained all the saws, hoses, air tanks, Jaws of Life, rappelling gear… Declan kept saying, “Wow! Cool! Wow! I love that!” He even let Declan and me climb the ladder up onto the top of the truck and hang out there for a while.

You should’ve seen Declan’s face. I tried to take a picture, but the thing didn’t work.

So Matt Weber of the Portsmouth Fire Department, bravo and thanks for making that kid’s month!

I got in a good bike ride with a shop in Norfolk and Amy got in a good hot yoga session. Ran some errands, got some art for the house and put it up, installed Jinny’s chandelier lamp, started cleaning up the garden out front, even had time to go to a friend’s house for a good steak dinner.

Wish we were all off from work and school today to keep it all going…