Listening: wilco

And boy did we ever receive!

Marc, Harrison and I were lucky enough to receive plane tickets to fly back for Christmas courtesy of two very special grandparents and aunty. It was beyond generous and we are extremely grateful. Because without that we would have had to decorate our own house, cook for ourselves and do our own dishes! In all seriousness it was amazing to be able to spend what will likely be our last family Christmas in California. Which, when we think about not getting to see the Katos every year for the extraordinary meal and revelry, makes me incredibly sad. So, thank you mom, dad and Kylies for getting us out there!!!!

Harrison got a ridiculous haul again – half of which is in route via UPS because it wouldn’t fit in the suitcases.

So Merry Christmas everyone… on the last day of January!

Listening: Black Mountain

Today we have a do have a pretty remarkable life.

So, happy anniversary to us.

Listening: Jets To Brazil (video of JTB playing “Sweet Avenue” our cheesy, indie-rock “first-dance-song”)

So, rather than a peak into our Bay Area-Tahoe-California-summer-extravaganza, I give you a look back on a chubby 1.5 year-old learning the finer points of present-opening

cupcake eating

skateboarding

and family-hugs

There are tons of new photos from our 2009 California Xmas here.

Listening: Gayngs

Regardless of the surprise we were excited to see them – it had been almost 2 years — since Harrison was 3 months old and Kylie and Jeff had gotten married.

They arrived in time for Easter, where we all pulled together a really pretty, great last-minute Easter Egg hunt.

As well as a great Easter meal where the four of us parents attempted to engage in an adult conversation over the din of the newly-acquainted-cousin banter – hence no photos to document the feast.

A couple of days later we visited the cousins at their great resort outside of Austin where there was SWIMMING!

And cows and horses and a sandy beach that lead into the pool and Jillian and Anna — Harrison’s newest, most favorite people in the world.

Jendsen Family – WE LOVED SEEING YOU IN TEXAS! Thank you for sharing a great Easter week with us! Let’s do it again sometime!

UPDATE: It is now months after their visit and Harrison continues to remember Jillian with love. At times when he is very HAPPY he will sing out with glee “Happy Easter Jillian!” regardless of the occasion or appropriateness of sentiment. It is so incredibly cute.

Listening: Those Darlins (Tari – have you listened to them yet!? – Get on it!)

On Friday, Chelsea – the nanny – put a big sign on the playroom door that said “KEEP OUT – private project inside”.  So cute. I had a feeling it was a Mother’s Day project – and it was. Later that afternoon I went to check in and say hi. Chelsea whispered to H if he wanted to give me a present and he said “YE-AH!” So, I closed my eyes and waited.

Who knew egg cartons, tissue boxes and foam letters could be so beautiful.

Thank you Chelsea – for the Mother’s Day gift made from common household trash that I will likely keep out on the counter for way too long, store away in a box to find it years from now and cry over when Harrison is off living his fabulous life and no longer calls me on Mother’s Day. Seriously, I love it.

Listening: Bob Dylan

Listening: The Big Pink

Yet another awesome smile from the kid on Christmas #2.

: )

Listening: Vampire Weekend (the new album – BUT, I just can’t stop thinking that this is the new “Your Mom’s Favorite Band” – which makes me not really want to listen anymore)

: )