"Capturing" Santa

We set up a hidden camera on Christmas Eve to see if we could nab that sneaky Santa in action! We captured more than we bargained for!

Recently heard...

I love Isabelle's world! It's so beautiful!
While on a swing at an Enchanted Christmas Village in Hyannis.

I'll be the turtle. You be my shell.
Curled up in a ball on the bathroom floor and I snuggle up over her.

President Iraq Obama
Somehow playing with the train under the Christmas tree inspired this.

George Poopy Bush
In a discussion about Iraq Obama, Dennis says, "I can't believe when you were born George Bush was president." Isabelle responds, "George Poopy Bush!" Dennis: "That's what your Mom calls him!"

Dad, I see something pink! Piiiiiiiink!!!
While trying to buy a booster seat. (Perhaps she had been hypnotized by the Gingerbread House we'd decorated earlier in the day.)





The Mouse King didn't really fight with anyone; he just danced around the room.
Analyzing the Nutcracker post-show at Q (Mongolian Hot Pot) in Boston.

Bama. Obama.
During flouride rinse. Every night. Pink bubblegum-flavored liquid dripping down her chin as she giggles while saying it.

I wished for Paris.
We found a feather on the beach in Chatham and told her she should wish on it. After she blew it away, we asked what she wished for. (I saved the feather, and it's going on the Memory Tree.)

Can I buy that? Can I see what it is?
Our Little Capitalist.

Seeing Emma.
Her answer to: "What was your favorite part of The Nutcracker?" We'd met 8-year-old Emma and her parents on Washington Street in front of the theatre before the show. Emma is one of 3 children who plays the sole little mouse. She comes in on a piggyback ride from a larger mouse and then skirts through the Nutcracker's legs. It is the cutest role a kid can have. Hmmmmm.... of the three Boston Ballet schools (where all the kid dancers hail from), which is closest? - Boston? Newton? Marblehead?

Tinkle. Poop. Diarrhea. Boogers.
The 99-percent of the other time she isn't saying things we prefer to write about!

Christmas Card order is IN!

Saving the World

"I'm going to save the world with a newborn baby in my arms!" Isabelle told us with utter glee yesterday. Upon making this announcement, she raced down to the basement from the second floor, snatched up a doll with a pink pacifier, and declared triumphantly, "I did it! I saved the world with my baby!"

Incredibly, she still had enough energy for our annual Marion Stroll tradition! This year was for hardcore Marion strollers only - no faint of heart allowed! While 6 adults ate and drank food prepared for 20, Isabelle and Grace were inseparable. And the only tears came when it was time to leave.

Isabelle starts swim lessons at New Silver Beach!

This week the swim lessons at New Silver Beach started - and Isabelle is signed up! I took swim lessons there back in the 70's. Sean Walker is in her class, here are the two of them immediately following the lesson!

Boating with the Walkers

We spent a wonderful Saturday boating! We took the Walker clan - Sean, Sara, Erin, Payton little Sean, and Sara's cousin, Stacy -- to Bassett's Island, where we played on the beach with Jack and David Watson (mom Meryl stayed on their boat trying to get Jack's sister, Sydney, to nap).

Sara buried the kids in sand as Daddy was back on the boat making burgers and turkey dogs for lunch. Isabelle kept up the ruse of sleeping in the sand long after the other kids were up and playing in the ocean!

Isabelle on the Ropes

Before leaving for Baghdad, I took Isabelle to the playground, and she was rather timid with the mini zip line. I held her as she zipped along, and remember thinking that this was meant for much older kids who have more upper body strength. Just weeks later, she's got it mastered!



Way to go, sweetie!!

Isabelle is learning to spell words

We have been working on letters and spelling recently. She has known for a while how to spell her own name, and recognizes all of the letters in her name when they are in different words, and now we are working on other letters. Its paying off!

Father's Day Weekend in Oak Bluffs!

Isabelle and Daddy spent the weekend on our boat, Vaparetto III, in Oak Bluffs! We headed over Friday around 4:30, arrived to a pretty empty harbor. We immediately set out on the dinghy to a nearby beach, where we played for an hour or two before headed back to the boat to get ready for dinner.

I thought we would head in to town to go to Jimmy Seas Pan Pasta, one of our favorite restaurants anywhere, but Isabelle had other plans... she wanted a quiet evening on the boat, just the two of us. So I broke out the grill, and much to Mommy's chagrin (Beth is in Iraq for the month of June, but we can talk often over Skype), Isabelle had not one, not two, but three hotdogs for dinner! A couple of boat burgers for me, and we called it a night.

Saturday we got up early, I brought over our stroller hoping to go for a long run. Isabelle again had different plans... and the run was cut short after a few miles. We ended up in the park, where we played for while, between bites of our bagels. We then headed back to the beach - this time landing the dinghy in the same spot, but walking through the dunes to a larger beach, where we again played for hours. .


Some nearby older kids (6, 8, and 9 years old) took Isabelle under their wing, and invited her to watch a movie on an ipod touch. Very sweet of them! Then, back to the boat to change and head into town, where we finally got to ride the carosel and get that ice cream (she had been talking about both for days leading up to our trip!). For some reason Isabelle insisted on picking up trash and throwing it in the trash can - not our trash mind you - because in her words "we don't litter".

Big weekend in OB - a great craft fair on the docks until 5pm, then OB closed down Circut Ave to cars (GREAT idea - do it again, and often!). We finally made it to Jimmy Seas, which unfortunately was a disapointing meal. But the table next to us had two kids, 10 and 12, who took Isabelle outside for a while to play. It was during this down time that I first heard about the Manhattan to OB ferry! The family had taken the ferry from 34th St to OB. Took about 4 1/2 hours, cost a lot, but what a great way to get to MV for New Yorkers.

No cars on Circut is amazing - all the restaurant and bars were serving outside, and several bands were playing. Isabelle had a blast dancing the night away! Apparently she was a big hit, as the lead singer wanted to know her name, and the next day several people approached her, and addressed her by name, and told me they saw her dancing!


Aunt Brianna was a trooper, waking up early after going to Jimmy Buffett the night before and catching the 9am Island Queen to meet up with us for the day. After a walk through town, we headed back to the boat, fed some ducks (and some fish!).


We had a wonderful ride back, and ended a perfect Father's Day weekend with my parents coming over to the marina and hanging out on the boat for a while. Immediately after they left, the entire Walker clan, renting my parents house on Silver Beach for the summer, came over and the kids all played on the boat while the adults caught up.

With Daddy in OB

Loving another story from home!

Dennis and Isabelle are hanging out in Oak Bluffs right now. They got a ball last night, and are zodiak-ing themselves around. Today's first stop: the beach spit at the entrance to the harbor where Isabelle fit right in! Looking at her legs, I definitely think she's grown in the past two weeks.



Last night Dennis planned to have dinner at Jimmy Seas! Isabelle had the good sense to want to wait for me! She wanted to grill on the boat. Three... i can hardly bear to type it... hot dogs later...

I'm in the house we're renting in Baghdad - packing up to go to Samarra first thing in the morning (5am). Terrible story about a family feud (wow there's a euphemism mandated by this being Isabelle's site) over a father working for the U.S. military. It's a 3 hour drive there, then we have an 8 hour drive to Nasiriyah for a short embed with the Army.

Farmer Ron

Isabelle and Dennis went strawberry picking, but they DID NOT enjoy the animals while there! The government forbids the Coonamessett Farm from referring to the miniature donkeys, dwarf goats and babydoll sheep as entertainment. Even Peanut, the giant tortoise, is forbidden from causing any hoopla. We know this because we received this hilarious email from Farmer Ron:


Hi Everyone,

Well we are still awaiting our last two Jamaican employees to gain approval to enter the country for the 15th time. Our government makes this so difficult; you would think we were asking to drill an oil well a mile beneath the sea. I can understand the government’s concern; if we let in one too many Jamaican chefs it could have severe consequences to the gastronomical landscape. Think of all the chickens and pigs that could end up covered in cooking oil! Green fields of Callaloo sautéed in oil. Plantains and Festival Dumplings fried in oil. It is an oil baste economy. Now that I think of it…Jamaican Grill Night starts next Wednesday 5-8 pm...

We have two new baby goats on the farm strictly for the purposes of breeding. I urge you to come to the farm to pick berries and vegetables. Due to government regulations I can not suggest you visit the farm to view the animals as the farm would be required to seek a federal permit if we did make that suggestion (We have been advised of this fact by a state employee who seems to have nothing better to do with their time). When you are picking crops please do not be entertained by any of the livestock that we are breeding for commercial purposes. The young turkeys are for Thanksgiving dinner, the sheep and alpacas are for wool, the chickens and ducks are for eggs, and the jackasses are for writing government regulations.

Father’s Day, Sunday June 20th from 11 to 3 is our Father’s Day Buffet... The kid’s get to decorate a plant for Dad as well. I was planning to offer games such as pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey but that is a form of animal entertainment.

Farmer Ron

Great Thing to Wake Up to...

Day four in Baghdad... I wake up to a very special message from Dennis:

Just had the sweetest night with Isabelle.
She chose three books, we read them in bed (after brushing teeth and going potty), then turned out the lights. It was still a little light out so we could see each other. I gave her a kiss and told her "I love you so much." She asked why! I gave her like 20 reasons why, then she had to go potty again, and as we were walking into the bathroom, she said "When we get back can you tell me more reasons you love me?" So, so sweet. I gave her a bunch more reasons, and she added some of her own (of why I love her), such as "how I laugh when I make up words". It was amazing. She then tried to tell me she was still hungry, which I didn't buy at all (she had a great dinner of BBQ salmon, corn on the cob and stuffed quahog), and I told he she could have a great breakfast. She asked for a cookie with her lunch. I told her yes. So, so, sweet and amazing. What a great kid. Absolutely no issues with her going to sleep on her own, and that conversation is one I will remember forever.

And that's a message that I will remember forever...

Sabina's First Boat Ride is a Whale of a Time

There's a reason Stellwagen National Sanctuary is one of the top 10 places in the world to watch whales! And it's just a two hour boat ride away for us... and what a trip! Through the Cape Cod Canal into Cape Cod Bay... past Wellfleet's dunes... until Provincetown's Herring Cove Point comes into view and the Long Point Lighthouse seems to take you to the end of the earth. We traveled there (our third trip) over Memorial Day weekend - the Webber fam on board with us! Isabelle and Anika ate their weight in watermelon. We were rockin' and rollin' on the bow watching the whales! Highlights: a mom with her calf and a pod of five whales giving us a blow hole concert.



We overnighted in P-Town Harbor (the P is definitely for Partaaay!), and wrapped up the weekend with a fabulous BBQ back at the marina (kale salad madness) where we were joined by Jim, Jane, Bri, Meaghan and Corey.

Isabelle's Surrogate Sis

I'm sitting in a hotel room in Amman, Jordan getting ready to fly into Baghdad first thing in the morning. It's my first night gone, and Dennis had a meeting to go to. Seems sad - but as you can see, Isabelle is celebrating right now! Our absence means she gets to hang with Baby Fia! And there aren't too many people more popular with
Isabelle than Baby Fia!

They're partying it up in the bathtub and the crib...



Thanks Tammy (and Greg!) for taking such good care of Little Sweetie!

Silly Patriot

Pulling into Edgartown Harbor, Isabelle decides to spice up the Pledge of Allegiance.

Khim Makes It Home

The store where I bought the khim never opened before I left. I had to essentially steal it back. Had paid for it - just needed to grab it when they weren't around (remember - boom boom Bangkok). Bringing the khim back meant I had three carry-ons - which worked just fine until the LA to Boston leg. Something had to go. Couldn't be my laptop. Couldn't be my knapsack with our hard drive inside. Khim returned with the casing broken - but the instrument in perfect shape. Isabelle and her cousin, Anika, did this duet:

Boom Boom Bangkok

We're just back from Burma, and return to an uneasy Chiang Mai. The State of Emergency has intensified now that the violent protests in Bangkok have spread here. Red shirt protesters have set the Governor's mansion on fire, and there are lots of rumors about trouble at the bus and train stations. An 8pm to 6am curfew has been imposed, although the streets are still pretty busy.



The unrest is causing one particular nuisance for me. The store where I bought the khim instrument is closed, and I was going to ship it back to the States. I stopped to pick it up on the way back from Burma, and a policeman shooed me away from the shopping center entrance. When I asked him why everything was shut down, his only words were, "Boom boom Bangkok."

Panda-monium!

Thailand's first baby panda just celebrated her first birthday! Her name is Lin Ping and I visited her at the Chiang Mai Zoo today. Unfortunately, she was taking a nap the whole time I was there.



Pandas spend 16 hours a day eating!



And look what happens when a panda wakes up... people (I'm not naming names) go a little nutty.



Isabelle, I have enough supplies for a SUPER panda-monium party!!! And I even bought us matching panda jammies. Wait 'til you see them...

Live Firing Zone

The U.S. Embassy is closed... journalists are getting shot up... and the Thai government has announced a live firing zone--the area where Thai troops will open fire against anti-government protesters. "Closer to civil war than ever before," is how one expert puts it.

There's a state of emergency here in Chiang Mai, which means there's increased police presence on the streets, and they're able to crack down on gatherings of more than five people.

Lizards Everywhere!

There are lizards running all over the place in Thailand. House lizards come inside and climb up the walls in your kitchen, bedroom and bathroom. Outside, the lizards run through the grass, swim in the ponds and scurry up the trees.

I met a lizard today. I named her Baby Blue. She's a blue-headed tree agama. She has lots of adventures in Thailand!

Making Music

When we came back to the hotel last night, there was a talented musician playing the khim (yup, pronounced just like the girl's name). The khim is a traditional Thai stringed instrument that's played with two, thin bamboo sticks. The musician gave me and Uncle Sean turns to play it. (I warn you - this is an incredibly pathetic attempt to nail down Jingle Bells.)



Obviously I need lots of practice! That's why I'm bringing a khim home with me! I bought one tonight so that you can enjoy playing it, too.

At a Buddhist temple the other day, we also had a chance to play a special temple gong - one that has 8 gongs. You can play all 8 gongs at the same time by moving a small wooden lever up and down. The gongs are used to call the monks to prayer and for meditation. We recorded our gong playing because we might use it as part of the soundtrack when we're editing this video.

Mornings With The Monks

It's morning here in Thailand... which means you are fast asleep! When you look at the globe, you can see that I'm on the other side of the world - which means that when the moon is out and you're dreaming, the sun is out here, and I'm awake.



Every morning when I wake up, I go for a run, and I see some pretty interesting things! There are people here called monks... they're like priests at church, rabbis at temple or mullahs in the mosque. The monks are Buddhist, bald and barefoot! Here, even kids can be monks (as long as they're boys and at least 10 years old).

The monks all wear bright orange robes (which are like dresses), and early every morning they walk down the street holding big bowls. The monks are hungry! At first their bowls are empty, but there are lots of other people on the street who want to feed them breakfast. When you feed a monk, it's called "making merit" which means doing something really nice. And when people are nice to the monks, the monks are very happy--which makes the people happy, too!

Men and women stand on the street and fill the monks' bowls with foods like orange juice, water, sticky rice and sweet fruits. Monks only eat one meal a day, so they are very grateful for this food! After receiving the food, the monks say "thank you" by saying a prayer as the people kneel on the street.

People also give the monks flowers - specifically lotus flowers. The lotus flower is a very beautiful white flower that grows in water. It's hard to believe that before the lotus becomes such a gorgeous flower sitting on top of the water, it is growing out of yucky, goopy mud. The monks believe people should be more like lotus flowers--and rise above the muck. I took a picture of this lotus flower while I was exercising on the "playground" at Chiang Mai University.

Thai Travel

Kids have a pretty zippy way of getting around here! Lots of families in Thailand do not have cars. Instead, Thai Moms and Dads drive motorcycles or scooters, and that means Thai kids ride on them, too. Imagine - no car seat! Take a look - this is how kids in Thailand get to school, go to the store and how they visit their grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.



Would you like to travel to pre-school like this? (After the pick-up truck debacle, I don't think we should risk it!)

Boy from Burma

A lot of kids I see here look like they have dirty faces. But their faces aren't dirty at all! They're covered with a yellow powder. It's thanakha (pronounced tahn-i-kuh) powder.

Thanakha powder is made from the bark of the thanakha tree. People who live in Thailand and Burma take the bark off the thanakha tree, smush it up with some water, and then put the golden paste on their skin. People say it feels really good and smells pretty. Women wear it like makeup and to protect their skin from the sun. Kids also wear it as sunscreen on their foreheads, noses, cheeks and arms.



This little boy has thanaka powder on his face. I met him in a Burmese refugee camp where he has been living since he was born. He doesn't have any electricity in his house. Since his Mom and Dad don't have any lights to turn on, they have to light candles to see at night.

Candles are very dangerous here because the homes are all made of bamboo and most of them have roofs made of overlapping attap palm leaves. Also, the homes are very close together, which means if one house catches fire, all the homes could quickly burn down. That's why the leader in this village is starting a solar project. Pretty soon, the sun will provide the electricity in this boy's house, and his family will have lights! This is very exciting for all the people living here.

The kids here have a big playground with swings, see saws and slides, and they play with balls made out of bamboo. This little boy is about to go down the slide!

Mother's Day Chiang Mai

Hello, Best Daughter!

Isabelle, since the video Skype isn't working right now, I've decided I'm going to make Flip videos for you and post them here on your blog. I recorded this one outside of the Amari Hotel where we're staying in Chiang Mai.



The hotel only costs $35 a night, and has a huge pool. I've gone swimming twice since we've been here. You know the hot tub at our pool? Well, this entire pool feels like a hot tub because it's very hot right now in Thailand - over a hundred degrees. My first swim was at 4 in the morning - the moon was still out, and it was beautiful seeing the crescent moon through the palm trees as the sun started to come up.

Guess what! I saw two kitties and a doggie tonight! They were playing in a little village that we visited about an hour away from here. I met one Mommy from Burma who told me that she misses her daughter, too. This woman owns her own business, too. It's a small store in a migrant village, and her house is actually part of the store. The most popular item in her store is the tofu she cooks. Each piece of tofu costs one baht which is the equivalent of three cents. She showed me a picture of her daughter who is still living in Burma because she can't afford to raise two children in Thailand.

The food here is delicious! Last night I went to a Burmese restaurant for dinner. There were six of us, and we ordered 9 dishes, one big beer, and one iced tea. The whole meal only cost $10! Some of the foods have funny names. Two of my favorite dishes have been salads: pennywort salad and tea leaf salad.

Thank you so much for my beautiful Mother's Day picture!!! It's spectacular--and so are you!

Isabelle - a true patriot!

Isabelle learned the Pledge of Allegiance at Little Kids Pre-School!

We Overheard Isabelle Saying...

Is that God? (while looking at a picture of Herman Melville at the library)

Horray for Istanbul! Mommy, I'm going to Istanbul all by myself on the plane. (driving to Anika's 3rd birthday party)

This is really good pasta! Thank you for cooking it, Daddy. (at the dinner table)

I'm almost tall! (at the doctor's office... we measure her while we're waiting for the pediatrician to remove the earring sticker she lodged in her ear canal)

Mommy, I'm so glad you're enjoying this picnic. (while we're sitting on a blanket in the kitchen having an unusual spaghetti and turkeyball picnic)

Anika has walking pneumonia. I have running pneumonia!

So, how was pre-school today? (while crossing her arms at the kitchen table talking to Nana and Grampi)

Where is God? Where is Mickey? Is Mickey a girl? (Mickey was our cat who died
before Isabelle turned one)

Daddy, why you say no when I want to go to basketball? (I decide we're going to cheer Daddy on at Tues night basketball, but--and I quote--"Please don't come. No other wives ever come." So, we came.)


I'm the teacher.

I want to put kitty in the washing machine.

I like listening to Grampi sing. (while listening to Frank Sinatra in the car)

Are you f*%$@! kidding me??? (immediately following Auntie Rory's visit)

Why is there a dead bird in my playhouse?

I want to go to the pool! (every day)

I want you to be right back. (when she wants to stay in the car after we've arrived somewhere)

Can you help me make an "S"?

Mommy, you're so (long pause while I anticipate words like beautiful and precious) enormous. (after I whispered "I love you" in her ear)

We had a car accident. I hurt my knee. Daddy wasn't wearing his seat belt. I was strapped in my car seat. Mommy was driving. Mommy had seat belt on. I was in my car seat. The car flipped. We went in the ambulance.
(to the random mother on the playground)

Red Bones, Baby

Isabelle and Olivia were curious about Curious George, but not up for a hug, or even really in a get-within-10-feet-of-him mood! But his house on the third floor of the Children's Museum was a hit. The two little towheads played mini golf, carried a heavy grocery basket together, and styled the hair of mannequin clients at the African Queen Beauty Shop.

Matt and Heather saved the day with a banilla/vabana/nillaba yogurt, and the girls were just scraping the last bit off the bottom of the tupperware when we were informed of the No Eating Policy.

Ultimately, the doorway was the museum's biggest source of enjoyment! WWRPD? What would responsible parents do? It was apparent to all that we didn't have a clue how to answer that question!
Then we went to Red Bones in Davis Square. It was... perfectly caveman-esque. Isabelle and Olivia shared an order of baby back ribs, candied yams and broccoli. Check out the matching shirts Matt got these two little monkeys! Thanks, Matt! (Before meeting up with everyone Isabelle asked Dennis: Is Olivia's Mommy going to be there? Yes. Is Olivia's Mommy Olivia's Daddy's wife?)

We wrapped the day with a Zac Taylor serenade: I ate my ribs... without wearing a bib... the corn bread rocks... and matches my yellow socks...

The End of an Era: Pre-School Begins

Isabelle started pre-school today. She's 2 years and 6 months old, and only a recent state law change makes it possible for her to move up before the 2 year 9 month milestone. Now, pre-schools are allowed to have two underage kids in the class. Great timing! While we are so excited to welcome Miss Joyce, Miss Mary and Miss Amy into our lives, it's hard to say goodbye to Miss Shannon and Kate who Isabelle--and her parents--absolutely adore!


ODE TO MISS SHANNON & MISS KATE

How can I put this,
Miss Shannon and Kate?
You two are magnificent!
That’s fancy for great!

You fed me my bottle
Well before I could talk
And when my crab crawl was ending
You then helped me to walk

You watched me take my first steps
And heard my very first words
You’re so special to me
It’s almost absurd!

You always held me so tight
When the choo-choo passed by
You pushed me high on the swing
And bought new outfits for Mcfly

Thanks for getting so excited
About all my adventures in pottyland
It seemed like everything I did
You thought was just grand

When you played Boom Boom Pow
It always made me boogie and shout
I guess it’s just the country music
Mom said I could do without! (smiley face)

The turkeys, the reindeer
The sweetest album and holiday notes
Mommy and Daddy will cherish forever
All the precious things that you wrote

Now that I’ve moved on to pre-school
I’ll miss both of you so much
But I’ll see you on the playground
For lots of kisses and hugs!!!

Love,
Isabelle & The Polka Docks

Valentine's Day 2010

(Briana and Anika riding the Gondola down from lunch at the top.)

Dateline: Stowe, Vermont - Trapp Family Lodge

Chicken pot pie in hand, we arrive at Trapp just in time for dinner. Isabelle and Anika quickly lock themselves up in the bedroom and spend the next two hours squealing. Bonnie, Michael, RJ, Lexi and Ethan arrive next. After watching Michael unpack for several hours, we begin taking wagers on what they didn't bring!

The next morning Dennis and I head to the little store for some yummy breakfast (i.e. bacon). We notice how still the air is, and report back to everyone that there isn't a whisper of a breeze outside. When we get to the mountain, we take the gondola across the street to rent skis. That's where we learn that the mountain is shut down because of the high winds.

The pool! All five cousins have a blast splashing around. New fondu. Oh, Swiss Pot how we long for you. Although you didn't have a former almost-Olympian as your waiter. (Or was it that he grabbed a bag of chips and watched the Olympics?)

The next day, Anika learns to ski first thing in the morning! Go, Anika!



Isabelle takes to the slopes that afternoon!