dinosaurs alive

Here, Luca and friends prepare for a 3d movie about dinosaurs at the science center. Visiting the science center with these kids reminded me of this old poem:

When I heard the learn'd astronomer,
When the proofs, the figures, were ranged in columns before me,
When I was shown the charts, the diagrams, to add, divide, and measure them,
When I sitting heard the learned astronomer where he lectured
with much applause in the lecture room,
How soon unaccountable I became tired and sick,
Till rising and gliding out I wander'd off by myself,
In the mystical moist night-air, and from time to time,
Look'd up in perfect silence at the stars.

James did in fact become 'sick and tired' during the movie and Joanie had to 'rise' to take him out. (I'm pretty sure she was not off 'wandering by herself' though and she certainly didn't enjoy 'perfect silence')

Happy Holidays!

No sign of life on our blog for awhile. We've been busy! The boys sport their new matching Cornell Sweatshirts.

Silly Jameser! He loves his bath! Interaction between the boys is much more interesting now that James is mobile. They got a train set for christmas, which Luca loved to set up and James loved to destruct. In his frustration Luca said, "James! Ugh! It's not cool to mess with a guy's track!"

On our Northern Christmas Eve Luca made his first snowman. It fell over later that night due to wind and sub-par construction. (Blame it on the Architect). We consoled Luca by telling him that the snowman wanted to lie down to sleep.

I really liked this pic of me and my Dad! We asked Luca, "What does Pap-pap like to do?" Luca said that he likes to say "Da Bears."

Happy Halloween

The best thing about James' horse costume is that I got it for 1.50 at Gabe's! I guess procrastinating buying a halloween costume is a good thing after all!

Our Trip To New Mexico

Here you see co-pilot Luca on Southwest returning from New Mexico! They invited him in the cockpit before we took off and they later announced his name on the intercom! It was the coolest thing and it meant so much to him. I thought this kind of human interaction was lost forever on air travel but apparantly not.

This is the gravel road we drove on for 8 miles to go to an observation point at tent rocks national monument! We bottomed-out the rental car twice, but it was well worth it!

Here we are at Bandalier, an ancient cliff dwelling, where you can climb the ladders and crawl into the caves. It was awesome!

This is a picture of Jeremiah's desk. And this post is written by Jeremiah. Left to right:

1)business cards in a black box - and I keep about ten or twenty dollars in one dollar coins in there in case I need a little cash. (cleaning lady, please do not read joanie's blog and find my pirate treasure)

2)CD's wrapped in bubble wrap that I keep around in case I need to pop some of those bubblies (really gets the creative juices flowing)

3)various business cards for people I'm working with now. I prefer to splay my rolodex in seemingly random fashion out across my desk. This allows for quick visual access, as well as displaying as the plumage of a fine bird for all to see the breadth and quality of my professional contacts

4)Lots of notes that need to be turned into meeting minutes (my secretary is being such a slacker lately)

5)some sketches and various pencils and penz (sometimes I like to stack my writing utensils all on end - not today tho - too busy and I might knock them over with my vigourous typing. I type with two fingers and I really strike the keys with some force)

6)phone - my extension is #"I'm pretending not to be here"

7) new widescreen monitor - we all just got these. please do not touch mine with your fingers or write on it with a sharpie. Also, if you are going to place a container of butter on a frisbee and let fly, do it in a direction not toward my screen - thank you.

8)more stuff like sketches and things in a big pile - this is where the magic happens.

Methodology:

a)take a rats nest of paper and sketches

b)add random bits of lost notes, crumple, push aside,

d)work until the middle of the night on your 3rd anniversary

c)pull out hair (professionalism dictates that said hair be your own),

d)throw professionalism out the window - argue heatedly about something inconsequential

e)argue heatedly about something consequential

f)...

g)and two years later you get this: http://www.villanova.edu/nursing/building/

Thank you for taking a tour of my workspace.

When I leave this place - especially at this hour - Irun to the train beacuse this area of baltimore is quite sketchy. Joanie will atest to the fact that I have very impressive top-end speed.

Aztec Roses

When I tell Luca that it's time to go to bed, he'll try to distract me, or tell me that, "It's not good manners to say that." One way that he distracts me is to yell: "Oh no, a deer is eating your Dahlias." He's right, I am so entrenched in an epic battle with our deer over my flowers that when offered the use of a compound bow by a friend, I actually considered it for a moment. But since my ethics would then compel me to eat the deer, I defered. When Luca eats sausage he likes to pretend that he's a dinosaur and the sausages are dahlias (since we all know that dahlias are a dinosaur's favourite food). He also likes to whack my dahlia plants with a stick - but I'm not quite far enough removed from the incident to make an impartial description. He's also finding that girls (his mom) like it when he gives them a flower to put in a vase - our nieghbors would prefer that the flowers be ones picked from our garden. The starches in the tubers of these Aztec flowers were used before the invention of insulin to treat diabetes.

I love this pic of my sweet James-er.
Luca is lovin the slip n slide.

Our first attempt at Dahlia's was moderately successful. Although they are few, those that grew are spectacular.

Which is scarier? Luca in his scary mask?
Or chef Luca with crazed look in his eye?


Luca and I made this quilt together. Sewing with a 3 year old on your lap does not result in the most exact stitching. He loved it though.
Nice Hair.
Note James worried eyes. That is his expression whenever Luca comes on his radar.