Jolly jumper time has started!

Gotta get this little boy in a jolly jumper - he loves to work those leg muscles!

And here's a pic from my birthday dinner made by Jim - it was an caramelised onion & bacon tart (with a creme fraiche and feta base) with salad, followed by mini lemon cakes with lemon frosting (a Nigella Lawson recipe). As our tradition goes, it was a surprise meal and the menu was new recipes. Yummy!!!!

Note to Nonna: notice that Gemma is wearing her pink swimsuit over her shirt (we make her take the tutu off during mealtimes) - this is by far her favorite outfit!!

First sink bath at 808 W Knox

We are now officially moved into our new basement apartment at 808 W Knox! We've been here one week exactly, and are slowly adjusting to the new rhythms and noises and feel of this house. It is a one bedroom apartment, but with a large back hallway (Gemma's "room") and large pantry closet (Timo's "room") plus a big kitchen and living room. We are loving the extra space compared to our condo in B-town. In addition, it is just under 2 miles from Grandpa and Jaja's house, and a half-mile to the Freys - which we can walk to on the Ellerbee Creek trail. It's been fun to have some mild weather this week and explore the trail and friendly neighborhood and a nearby park (in between naps and wiping noises and grocery shopping to stock up the kitchen).

Will try to get some more pictures of the place up soon - but in the meantime, here are a few of Timo having a bath in the sink. The apartment only has a large shower, so Gemma is learning to take showers and Timo is managing to squeeze into the sink for bath-time for a while longer.

Timo loves to look at his sister

He likes it! Our cheerful boy!

A Century Birthday!

100 Years Old!

If you combine our birthdays, that is. A celebration like this doesn't come along very often. 

Dad and I have been celebrating our joint birthday for 34 (yikes) years now, and this year it was special to be together for it once again, like the old days. Or wait, are the old days now? We are 100 years old, after all. Anyway, this year - February 8th - we went out together just the two of us for Birthday Breakfast. We ate at Foster's Market, and while they have lots of yummy menu options, we couldn't resist the humongous scones and coffeecake. Sugar high. Wow.

In the evening we had Birthday Dinner (birthdays tend to be centered around food...) with all of the family in town! Eight adults and 4 grandkids/cousins.

Gemma is really coming into her 'own' with outfit selections these days. Here is what she chose for the occasion. Impressive.

Auntie Rita with Timo

Uncle Craig and Asher entertaining Timo

Oh my heart! Gorgeous 13 month old Adah Joy!

We weren't able to fit 100 candles on Jim's homemade vanilla cake - but Dad still wowed us by blowing all of the candles out in one quick blow. And yes, that is a glowing necklace I am wearing. What a birthday party, indeed.

Four weeks

Exactly four weeks: that's how long we stayed with Grandpa and Jaja at 1406! We have now (as of this past weekend) moved into our "new" basement apartment nearby, but here are a few pics to catch up from the last couple of weeks.

And while we were at 1406, someone got big enough to start sitting in the Bumbo! He loves to be in on the action, especially if it means he can watch (and listen to) his big sister, who is usually chatting away or singing. Lately she has been learning how to make up songs too.

Lunchtime - sandwiches, fruit and veggies

He may be only 3 months old, but this little guy thinks he is older when he's sporting shoes and a cute vest. Another thing he loves is to stand! He makes all these cute, excited noises when he is on his feet, and it's hard to get him to sit back down - you have to kind-of force his legs to bend because he just wants to stand and stand and look around and coo. (I think that's a sign that the Jolly Jumper is going to make an appearance very soon...)

We are absolutely loving this NC winter weather!!! Even on cold or wet days (like below) we can still get outside and walk. (Thanks to the Freys for loaning us the backpack.)

Wow, all 4 of us in the pic.

Happy birthday, Mom!

On Wednesday, January 30th we celebrated Mom's birthday! (64th, it was...shh...)

Jaja and Timo in their matching sweatshirts!

Here's to you, Mom: a kind, generous, hard-working, gentle and godly woman! With a great sense of humor, too. (Oh and who can forget, she is the creator of many delicious meals!!)

For dinner we had pork tenderloin; au gratin potatoes, sauteed spinach and mushrooms; tofu salad; and croissants; plus ice cream, hot fudge sauce, strawberries and blueberries for dessert. 

Even more special this year was having 3 siblings and our families all together to celebrate and sing a raucous "Happy birthday"! Afterwards - at Mom's insistence - we participated in a birthday tradition: the balloon game. Race down the room, grab a balloon from the bag, and sit on it (on a chair) until it pops. Go, go, go! Here's Mom directing traffic and giving a pre-game pep talk.

Asher and Gemma sat quietly to listen to the rules and observe all the crazy adults in action. Unfortunately Gemma burst into tears when the balloons started popping. (We are still discussing the experience three days later and helping her get over the trauma..."And Gemma was crying a lot. What was that game, Mommy?")

Ready, set...

But that's as good as it got for the men - because the women were victorious in the game this year!!

Here are a couple of random shots from life this week. 

Tummy time for Timo. Just after I took this photo, he rolled over onto his back. Hurrah!

Bathtime for the siblings. Gemma was helping wash/brush Timo's hair with an old, very soft toothbrush.