Tag Archives: family

Freckles and mops of curls

During the prep for our cooking class, Bronagh and Ashling (Traci’s girls) wandered in and out either as themselves, princesses, or as a dog and cat.

Those freckles! Ah! They kill me.

Bronagh is in a delightful and hilarious stage–if she realizes you’re taking her picture and consciously smiles, this is the result:

As you may remember, when I was a wee one my smile used to resemble a grimace, so Bronagh is already two steps ahead of me.

I love this completely candid noble look that graced her face when she thought no one was looking.

And then there’s Ashling. She looks just like a little elf, and her explosion of curls just pierces my heart.

One of her most frequent expression is this dubious, semi-suspicious look.

Eyebrows slightly turned up, forhead delicately wrinkled.

You’ll go far in life with that ‘question everything, trust no one’ attitude, kid. I can already tell.

I asked Traci about her girls, and she confirmed what I already suspected: they are like dolls come to life. The’re in a loving, cuddly, trusting stage, which was evidenced by the fact that as soon as Traci sat down, Bronagh climbed onto her lap.

As soon as Ashling saw that Bronagh was getting snuggles, she clambered up as well.

What a precious sight–a mom and her girls.

It makes baby-making seem imperative. And time-sensitive. A matter of utmost urgency.

Must have small adorable kiddos asap.

And they must look exactly like Bronagh and Ashling.

Tomorrow (finally) a report on the cooking class itself–but I couldn’t proceed without first dwelling on these two little souls.

A blog and a baby

Important family update!

My blonderrific sister Erica now has a blog.

It’s called “At Home and Away: making a home wherever we go ~ an army wife’s adventures.” She just wrote her first post about a week ago, and I am so excited to have a new way of keeping in touch with her. Spying on her every doing. Stalking her every moment.

She’s too gorgeous for her own galoshes.

And I don’t just keep her around for her looks, folks. She’s also extremely crafty/artistic/creative: she’s going to be sewing Regency-style gowns for me and my friend Carrie and documenting the progress on her blog. Yep–Carrie and I (with our stocking-ed and cravat-ed men in tow) are going to a Regency Ball in late March.

And if that brands us as dorks, then let it be so. Seriously, dorkedom provides a series of fringe benefits that I’ll have to share with you ‘cool people’ some time.

Like talking about religion and politics into the night with old friends.

(Or is that nerds?)

And not having to shave my legs very regularly.

(Or it that hippies?)

And pouring over online reviews of different kinds of knives.

(Or is that foodies?)

Okay, so maybe I’m a dork, nerd, hippie, and foodie–but seriously folks. Enough with the labeling. And I should clarify that the whole ‘neglecting to shave my legs’ thing only happens in the winter, and stops the moment my husband starts weeping from the sheer monstrosity of it all. Which he hasn’t done . . . yet.

But let’s move on.

Remember this one?

My lovely ballet-dancing, Pilates-instructing sister Heidi?

Well, she had her baby! His name is James, and he is almost 1 1/2 months old.

Apparently all he does is sleep and poop and nurse. Let’s pick it up, kid! Let’s start walking and talking! There’s no time to lose! That’s what I plan on telling him when I get to meet him. Enough with all this baby stuff–let’s get you started on quadratic equations. Quantum mechanics. Bridge-building classes. I take my aunting responsibilities very seriously. In fact, I’ve already filled out his college application to Harvard and paid the application fee. You’re welcome, Heidi–this kid’s going to be on the cutting edge.

What? You mean you enjoy this stage of his life? This snoozy stage during which he has no apparent control of his facial expressions?

Well.

Okay, he is monstrously cute, I’ll give him that.

Especially in those adorable little PJ’s. Fine. We’ll save quadratic equations for his next visit.

I yanked these pictures of the little guy from facebook, but as soon as he steps foot or butt into my apartment, it’s photo shoot time! I can’t wait to get clickity-clicking, recording his every waking moment with my Nikon.

A blog and a baby. I’m telling you, this family is exploding with new happenings.