Snapshots

I found Makena sitting in this box talking about some train ride she was on. Then she ran inside and changed her clothes for the third or fourth time. (Typically, Makena insists on picking out her clothes and then changing into new outfits as the day progresses.)

I actually managed to get her to pose for me in a shot but she didn't sit there for long. She was off!

And then she ran around the yard quite a bit.

And then she went into the vegetable patch and picked some green beans.

It was a lovely and very active day.


Is a busy following Makena

Leap of faith

The last thing I did in Montreal before hoping on a flight home was to go watch my nephew skydive. This is how he chose to celebrate his seventeenth birthday. His girlfriend, Sarah, was also on hand to witness this and, although the weather was rainy, the sun came out long enough for him to get the go ahead and suit up.

Sarah was adopted from China when she was a baby. (She is now eighteen.) She is beautiful and quirky and smart and very sweet to Xavier. And she hates Chinese food! The two met at a track meet almost two years ago and hit it off.


Of course, in classic fashion, my sister and I decided that we had enough time to go and get everyone lunch before the parachuters were okayed for takeoff. And sure enough, Uncle Peter called to say that Xavier was about to board the plane while we were still waiting for our orders in two separate restaurants. So, yeah, we missed Xavier boarding the plane and flying up into the cloudy blue yonder.

We did actually arrive in time to see his descent so all was not a loss and, more importantly, he landed in one piece.




Happy birthday, Xavier.

Isabelle

I don't

I love my friend Dominique but I don't want to go to any more weddings! As EM said it best: "Her love life has cost us a lot!" Okay, I'm paraphrasing. (About the sentence, not the $)

So I flew to Montreal last December for her engagement party and to meet her fiance. I brought Makena and we spent four or five days there. Then in March I flew to Paris for a week. This was the longest I ever left Makena. The first time EM was in charge of both kids and (miraculously) everyone survived. In June, I took the kids to Singapore to visit Dominique - and it was a little wedding related since I was one of her bridesmaids and I saw a version of her wedding dress and checked out the gift registry with her -Then, at long last, the second and final wedding reception for the family and friends who couldn't make it to Paris was held on August 28. I flew to Montreal again, this time without the kids or husband, for five exhausting days. Partying can take a toll on you. I managed to score some face time with my sister and dad but it was short-lived. I was on a flight home before I knew it.

EM and I were two ships crossing in the night. He went up to the lake house while I stayed behind to go to middle school orientation with Jack. Makena was very happy to see me. I know this because she kept waking up in the middle of the night to make sure I was still there. Jack caught a flu bug or food poisoning and has been gagging up buckets. We missed orientation and delayed our trip up to the lake house to squeeze the last bit of summer out of our holiday.

Of course, all of sudden California is burning. We are safe at home with no imminent fire danger but you never know. I am planning the drive tonight hoping both kids will sleep and more importantly, that Jack will stomach the drive. (Every pun intended.)

The only future travel I plan to do for Do is to visit her in Australia because there is a rumor going around that she may get a place in Melbourne. Until then, she owes me four visits!

Is - staying home for a while.

PS: I loved Dominique's second wedding dress. It was like a cross between Bjork's swan Oscars dress and the Sex and the City one SJP wore :)