Does anyone have any idea what this bug is? I think it's source is alien. Looks like a combination of a bug, a bird, and a mammal.

On April 5, I took 3 of the 4 girls on our semi-annual shoe shopping trip. They were adorable, as always, and we found fabulous shoes for all - in addition to some pretty cute hats and sunglasses for the summer.
Emma and Erin returned home for a sleepover with Auntie Heather. On the drive home the girls broke into the following song:

Watch the Go Tell Aunt Heather Video

To the tune of Go Tell Aunt Rody "Go tell Aunt Heather, Go tell Aunt Heather, Go tell Aunt Heather, Erin needs more shoes." I laughed out loud and asked, "Did you make up those words?" to which they replied "No, Daddy did!"

Emma, who has been here for sleepover many times, showed Erin the ropes, for it was her first sleepover. Our sleepovers are highly ritualistic: For breakfast we have pancakes made in the shapes of the letters of their names, or smiley faces, or NEW FOR ERIN - Minnie Mouse pancakes. We exercise in the morning, and count our reps in multiple languages. Movie watching is a must, and although I've bought the entire Disney DVD library, lately the ballet movies are favorites. The girls pick which part they want to dance when they grow up and become ballerinas. Lots of drawing and painting and sticker activity fills the refrigerator door. It takes a few days to find all the trains and trucks and wind up toys that have been strewn all over. It's amazing how fast kids can trash a house!
We took a walk down the hill into town. 'Charmed the neighbors. 'Watched the trains come and go. 'Walked across the footbridge over the stream where Emma convinced Erin that she could see The Little Mermaid's fin under the rocks. 'Ate chippies and drank hot chocolate at the deli. 'Walked the "balance beam" i.e. the edge of the curb all the way around town.
You notice a lot more of the world when walking with children, who notice everything

Please see my new blog at Meus Mundus Viridis - My Green World

After having been graduated from Wellesley in 2007, Laura van der Pol began her 3 year commitment with the Coast Guard.



Her training vessel Cutter Eagle docked in NYC.



Couldn't resist looking at old photos of Laura...

Rekha Kurati and Srinivas Kolla had a baby boy 8 lbs 7 oz on July 5, 2007. Donna and Kevin McCaffrey had a baby boy Liam 8 lbs on June 6, 2007. Auntie Heather is happy to have more babies around!

Top 10 2006 Christmas gifts, in no particular order

Christmas cards with baby pictures
Emma sleepover and the Nutcracker at New York City Ballet: 25 years for Heather, 17 years for Zack, 2 years for Emma, 1 year for Janet
Cooking 5 gourmet meals in 2 days for Janet, Zack, Tod, Holly, and Morgan, who diapered and made a race track from her banana and peel.
Having a houseful for Christmas weekend
Printer from Lucinda and Davinder ( I guess they got tired of me printing my HLD at their house)
A fixed shutter door in the laundry, thanks to Tod
A new kitchen faucet, which has been taped since Mark's emergency fix 2 years ago, thanks to Tod.
Zack's Christmas present
Janet's hand-knitted jacket
This book

On my third trip to India, I attended the wedding of Padma Kurati. Above, at Rekha's Pooja.

Above is the bride Padma

Above are Rekha and her Mom Vijaya

Above, Kishore's friends Sudha and Shantha

Above, blessing the bride and groom at their wedding.

Above, the family: Vijaya, Durma, Kishore, Jagadeesh, Padma, Uthay, Rekha, Pavan, Jayaram.

Above, Kishore, Pavan, and Rekha
To see the rest, click on the following link August 2006 Photos

2006 Summer Solstice party in North Creek, NY

See the rest at http://famousfamily2.dnsalias.org/famousfamily/archive?ID=68168

Heather and Emma went to see Cirque du Soleil's production of Corteo at Randalls Island in New York. The performance was amazing. At least as interesting as the performance was the VIP tent which during admission served make-your-own sundaes from a chocolate fountain.
Emma preferred the simple approach: Chocolate straight up.

After a sleepover and exercise morning we had our nails done before returning to the rents.

Austen Rodey was baptised on May 12, 2006 at Emory Methodist Church in Street Maryland.