The Best Christmas Present Ever

You will agree, I am sure, that the most beautiful present under Sylvester this year is Mayumi. We thoroughly enjoyed our Christmas this year in our new home with our darling little daughter. Nate and I kicked things off with a fondue on Christmas Eve (which turned out terribly and we ended up making cheese sandwiches instead!). Mayumi slept well inspite of the prancing and pawing of each little hoof and woke up to a few fun items under the Christmas tree (mostly books and games, but a few other delightful things such as this handmade 'name sign' by my sister Linday).

Liberating Sylvester

Last Christmas, Nate and I strolled down to Eastern Market to pick out a Christmas Tree for our teensy apartment. Knowing we would need an even smaller tree to fit into our postage stamp-sized place, I was doubtful we'd find anything acceptable. And then I saw him: a potted Christmas Tree that just called out to me. I knew from the moment I laid eyes on him that he had to be a part of our family and I promptly named him: Sylvester.

We enjoyed Sylvester last Christmas and planned to employ him indoors forever more for the holidays, and let him live outside throughout the rest of year in his beautiful green ceramic pot.

The day to move from Eastern Market to our new home finally came and, as it always is, the moving process was much harder, longer, and more laborious than expected. Bizzarly, our tiny apartment yielded, in a very Mary Poppin's carpet bag-like fashion, tons more things than could have possibly fit inside...and, thus, filled up our small moving fan faster than anticipated. Alas, in the end, no room for Sylvester, and with heavy hearts we left him behind.

Two weeks ago, Nate, Mayumi and I came into D.C. to see the newly re-opened American History Museum and decided, in a whim, to see if Sylvester was still residing on the porch of our old flat. Amazingly, he was, and without a moment's thought we tree-napped him and brought him back home to D.C. Thus, once again (and forever more) we are enjoying a now taller and prouder Sylvester in our darling new house. Once we decorated him, Nate took some time to introduce Mayumi to her needly brother Sylvester and they became fast friends.

We hope you enjoy these first few holiday photos. The first is of Sylvester in 2007, the next of our darling tree in our new home in 2008, followed by a photo of us in front of the U.S. Capitol Holiday Tree (notice the stands being set up in the background for the innaguration) and the final is of the cutest stocking-stuffer that has ever existed.

Sixty-four Years Ago....

No Place Like Home

Finally! Photos. No, I am not a photographer (nor a blogger), but at least you'll get the basic idea of our fabulous new home. Getting this home turned out to be much more difficult than we expected. We signed on with a loan broker who, at the very last minute, completely failed us. With just days before we were slated to move out of our home in Eastern Market and Nate still commuting for three hours each day out to work, we had no loan, probably a lost down payment, and, well, no home!! Finally, thanks to essential assistance from several key family members and friends (thank you!!!) we got it sorted out. So...take a look at these photos, and then come for a visit!!

Crepe Night

We have very cool neighbors, Rachel and Jeoffe Wilks. Rachel is starting a crepe business and convinced us to practice on us. We've partaken of her crepe yumminess several times now and look forward to further testing. Rachel is full of all kinds of surprises; she lent us a baby scale to monitor Mayumi's weight. Mayumi continues to be the happiest baby around, doted on by her parents.

Ask not what your country can do for you...

Nate, Mayumi, and I went into the District for Veteran's Day. We expected traffic, crowds, etc., but were pleasantly surprised. Aside from the chill (we were definitely unprepared clothing-wise), everything went smoothly. We stopped into to visit my best bud Heather in Crystal City, parked the car, and metro-ed to Arlington National Cemetary. I hadn't been to the cemetery since visiting with my great friend Steve Orrock in Fall 1998 when I interned with Orrin Hatch. Nate had been years before with family. We enjoyed the fall colors, the pageantry, the solemnity of the setting. We also enjoyed delicious kabobs at our favorite Pakistani restaurant, located hear Heather's house. All in all, a great day. I sure do miss living in D.C. Sigh. Pictures of our new house soon to follow!

Fall cutie

Mayumi may take after her father; she seems to be taking to the cooler weather without a problem. I take her out each day in the jogging stroller, all bundled up and super cute. Thanks to her grandma Rosalie, she has a darling pumpkin hat...that turned into a pumpkin halloween costume. Finally-our pumpkins. Some may say they are self-portraits. You'll notice that I included our pumpkin-portraits from LAST year (after decay and squirrels attacked Nate's). We love that photo!

The Baby-Industrial Complex

Have you noticed how many baby implements there are out there? Humans used to grow from infancy to adulthood without two sticks to rub together and now the average baby has more 'toys' than the average adult. My father, 'you only need two shirts' Roland Johnson,' would probably call this The Baby-Industrial Complex. That's what I like to call it, anyway. I am happy to report that most of Mayumi's toys were handed down to me, but still: her things occupied at least half of the space in our moving truck. Gracious! Several of these items, however, really ARE helpful--no doubt about it. See the "Bumbo" below. I give my mother and Lindsay credit for finding this item. High chair no longer needed--the Bumbo does the trick. Also featured here is Nate, WEARING Mayumi. Yes, babywearing is something I have tried to embrace (no pun intended) and we are making great strides thanks to Karma Baby and Ergo.

Not a Halloween Post (that'll come later)

Nope, just a cute picture of G.I. Nate and his best girl (and toy). For some reason Mayumi wasn't enjoying herself at the U.S. Navy Day in Washington, D.C. Nate sure did, however. Like a kid in a candy shop.

Hangin' Tough...with Lindsay

Some of you all knew my sister Lindsay invited me to a New Kids on fthe Block concert in Phoeniz, AZ. I haven't the words to describe it...but Lindsay, link to the right, can and DID. You must read her account of it!!

Attack of the Killer Rice Cereal

A picture is worth a thousand words. Enough said. (Well, let me also add that Nate and I cannot stop laughing at this picture and plan on distributing it at her high school graduation party (ala defazio)).

Prepare thyself for merriment!

"An awkward amount of twenty-first century bosoms stuffed into sixteenth century bodices..." was how the Maryland Rennaisance Festival was once described. See for yourself! Nate and I went for our second year, this bringing a post-utero Mayumi. We had a BLAST--people watching, mostly, but thoroughly enjoyed the entertainment, fabulous weather, and excellent craftsmanship. See the pictures below--"ask a hermit" (seated on the ground), "Madame Blainsworth" (crazy hat, making eyes at Mayumi), "The Rogues" (a fabulous Scottish bagpipe/drum/fiddle ensemble in the background of the picture featuring a held-up Mayumi), "cursing well" (with Nate making his best 'mad face'), k-nig-ets jousting, and plenty of wenches. A fabulous day!