Fancy Thanksgiving

Hazel and Aaron went suit shopping a few weeks before Thanksgiving. Unbeknownst to the rest of us, there was a single unexpected tux at the consignment store they visited. She hopefully took the tux into the dressing room, muttering a request to the universe, "Please let it fit. Please let it fit. Please let it fit."

She kept it a secret till Thanksgiving morning and was delighted to come out from her bedroom for the grand reveal in tux and tails.

At the table

"Juniper, please sit correctly in your chair" is a common refrain in our dining room. Right now, I look at this picture and feel exasperated by the wiggling and the perching and the crumbs that are inevitably falling onto the floor. I suspect my future self will look at this picture and see only a beautiful image of Juniper exactly as she was at a particular point in time.

In N.K. Jemison's terrific Inheritance trilogy, the god of childhood is irresistibly drawn to kids who are wiggly and bratty, playful and smart, self-absorbed and innocent, defiant of adult rules and absolutely true to their childish nature. As I read about his attraction to these mortal children, I couldn't help thinking how much he would adore Juniper.

A well-worn collection

A small milestone in our family: Hazel finished reading the last Harry Potter book this evening.

That's love

Sometimes it's fun to be put in a box

The darndest things...

Hazel: Mom, you're off from work tomorrow? Why? Is it veterinarian's day?


Juniper: Mom? Dad wants you, for some inscrutable grown up reason.


Hazel (describing what it's like to have a sister): Sometimes you think she's so stupid it's like her brains have been scooped out with a spoon and you just want her to go away, but sometimes you love her so much and you just want to put your head in her jacket to be close to her.


Juniper: Siri is the iPad thing. Alexa is the one that plays music and does 20 questions. Google Home does everything Alexa does plus turns on and off the lights.


Hazel (indignant at being separated from her cousin after they crawled under a long row of chairs to the other side of the sanctuary during a church service): But you never told us not to!
Sally: I also never told you not to throw the hymnals at people.
Hazel: But that's a social norm!


Juniper (on poetry): It is toothpaste and farts and donkeys eating burritos!
With thanks to US Poet Laureate Juan Felipe Herrera for his book Jabberwalking. 


Hazel: Have you ever eaten your eye boogers? (pause) They're pretty good.

Cold mornings

Fall came late this year, but now that it's here the bus stop is cold in the mornings.

You've got to be kidding me

Dragon*Con 2018

Medusa, Perseus, and Squirrel Girl

Gap tooth smile

First Day of School

Starting the 2018-19 school year.

5th grade, and with a book in hand.

 2nd grade

Fish Shop

Old photos

Alondra just started college!

 Emily is now in middle school.

And Jorge is a high school football player.

Osprey Landing

We spent a long weekend at Lake Oconee with Janet over the summer. This was the lovely view from our back porch.

The house was well-equipped with rafts and kayaks.

Hazel enjoyed zooming up to the dock (or other people) and loudly announcing that she was "coming in hot!"

We paddled out to a post in the middle of the lake where there was an osprey nest, with babies. (And realized where the house's name came from.)

All in all, it was a very happy weekend.

Thanks, Janet!

Hibachi

We went to a hibachi restaurant to celebrate Liebs's graduation. It was our kids' first hibachi experience, and Juniper's reaction will come as no surprise to anyone who knows her.

Two ties, no shirt

Kid's got some style.

Family photos

The rare photo that includes all four of us, with Aaron in front of the camera!

Cozy and happy

Domino chain

Juniper and her friend Julianne spent a fun afternoon on this activity.

Double trouble

More photos from last Christmas. Hazel and Luke are lucky and happy to spend holidays together.

Gramma is a big fan of the matching gifts! With their similar interests, it's easy to get them matching gifts that they both enjoy.

Star Wars tsum tsums for everyone!

Christmas 2017 (Better late than never)

The look on their faces is why parents go overboard on Christmas. Magic and wonder.

This is a bittersweet memory among the other happy photos. Our friend Danie got the girls these Shopkins as a Christmas gift before she passed away in November.

Hazel solved a puzzle as part of her clue present...

...leading her to the giant Lego set hidden in the car.

Juniper's clue present was an assortment of Magical Items.

Kingdomino really is that much fun! It was Hazel's gift, but the adults have enjoyed it at least as much as she has.