Househomey Party

Welcome to the jungle!

Last week we had our homey's over to help bless our new place. And to drink some beers and dip into the loads of finger foods that Annie and our own guests provided: yeah, it was a potluck with an Oriental flare. I opened up the 4 leaf table that we've gauged could sit 16-18 where we lay the spread: pot-stickers, edamommy, mochi balls, egg rolls, chinese pork buns, tempura shrimp and veggies, sushi and more sushi. Most stood around outside and I'm guessing that it wasn't because of the perfect sunny evening, nor the aroma and ambience of the BBQ cooking up the chicken yakitori, but rather, strategic location to be nearest the beer cooler. Remember that next time you host a party if you want to alter the flow of things.

Sushi rollin.

JJ and Oliver.

Grandma Francis sipping Sake-rita's.

Just three beers, thanks, I'm driving.

The food is so good Malia is about to pop
(she will pop near the end of July, to be precise).

All smiles!

Baby Cakes Has A New Look!

Roadtrip, babycakes!

Tis the season, and I'm sure we'll witness a few of those this summer although there are no firm plans made yet. Trips to the Chiwawa just don't seem like roadtrips for us since the travel time is much shorter than the time spent at the destination (my own definition, am I wrong?), but if it is, I'm road trippin today. I'm leaving Mommy and Mr Baby behind for the weekend to reconnoiter in the hills with a few of the guys. I have been seriously out (sick) for almost 4 weeks and so we'll see if I even take to the hills on the bike or stay behind and watch some footie on the telie -- World Cup!

Annie has a test early next week, which pretty much mean that Kian and I have a test, and then Kian's Grammy Francis will arrive to hang out with us from Flagstaff for almost a few months, yeahhhay!

Summers comin, summers comin! (We hope, we seriously hope).

Photo taken 1-year ago today

(bigger, more teeth & hair but usually just as dirty).

A Week In Pictures (Minus Me)

Minus pics of me because I didn't have the foresight nor inclination to get a picture of me in bed or on the couch during the past 4-weeks while I've been sick (off and on, but more often than not on). I did get in 3 novels and more than a few films.

Yum, hot dogs (organic, nitrate free, free-range: even yummer),

but that BBQ sauce is a little spicy!

The daycare shuttle: Kian at "school".

Brand New Digs (New-Used, That Is)

So here we are. So near, yet so far away. We just moved a few miles, from one hilltop to the next hilltop, friendly rival neighborhoods, but its crossing the Montlake-Dixon Line that has made all the difference: we're now Southies!

This video is the last known video filmed at our U-District House. Makes me think about just how sentimental Kian will be about all this since that place is all he knows -- he was there from his very first day until 2-months shy of his 2nd birthday. Naw, its all good with Kiki! The kid has probably spent more time combined in the Tortuga and at the Chiwawa than he did in his own bed.

The weekend that we made the move (the one before last), we were back and forth and gradually our old place went from full to empty while the old place filled up. But the very last time I drove with Kian up to the old place to do the final cleaning he noticed the familiar cars along the familiar roadway and the familiar rooftops and trees, and he said "home!", as usual. Quit touching, made me think about it all for a minute, but then after a few hours I said to Kian, "You ready to go home?" and he got all excited and said "home!". He never missed a beat and has always seemed at home here. But I'd like to take him back to the old place one of these days and see what thinks, notice how he reacts. Take him to his favorite swing that he just about grew up in at our little nearby park.

But we've got some nice little parks very close to home here too, and we're on the ground floor where he can scoot around outside so much easier. Actually, I think I've got some vids of that too! We're pretty happy so far about our new place although there have been some wrenches thrown into some of our former plans, but thats for another post.

Until then, hopefully these will tide you over...

...'til you can come visit!

A Smokin Jacket

We received a care package in the mail yesterday from Clarington, Ohio that had some old-time goodies for Kian: more Uncle Wiggily books, Where the Sidewalk Ends, and other classic books that were mine or my Cousins, maybe even my Uncles, so the tradition continues; he got a couple snazzy size 2T onesies, some white patent leather shoes that fit perfect, and one smoking cool jacket. Thanks, Aunt Barbara!

Okay, Kian, lets try pretending you're...

how about Bill Murray at the Oscars.

Not bad, not bad... the doofy look.

Oh yeah, martini glass pose... like it!

"Har har har"... yep, always the clown.

"Don't push, ladies, there's plenty of me to go around".

The kid's got skillz.

Just the Normal Noises

Kian: The exploded view.

Daddy helping Kian capture his "look".

On this one I was hoping to capture a nasal breach.

Wait A Minute

I just noticed that there are lots of past pics still not posted, and there are plenty of pics still pending, so I realize what a lazy loafer I've been.

In the big boy high chair.

Jeff and Summer had a baby and a very big burrito.

Spring Sprung Changes

Kian started daycare last week for the first time (pics coming). We just signed a lease on a place over on Capitol Hill so we'll be leaving here at the end of the month (pics coming). Annie has her last round of exams coming up and then she'll be starting in the nursing program next month (these pics would be awfully boring). Summer is coming!

Well, we hope its coming, so far Spring comes and it goes like daddies fitness on the bike. We'll have a day or two of Summer stuff and then Winter re-emerges and the mountains get a dumping. Kind of like today: right now its sunny out and its so green and beautiful around here these days (our viney weeds out back literally grow a foot each day, I have to beat them back to get at my car), but this afternoon and most of the week its supposed to be cloudy and wet.

Yesterday Kian and I left for daycare early enough that we could hit the aquarium for more than an hour. These days thats about all takes to see everything, especially when its not so busy down there: the petting tanks, the jellyfish, and sea mammals are best.

Mommy's Day

For Mothers Day Kian suggested that we get out and about on the islands since the weather was going to be so nice. So we surprised mommy by heading downtown and loading onto the Winslow bound ferry. I'd called in a reservation for a Brunch at a restaurant in town, but we decided to skip it so that we could ride more, hang out on some park beaches, and then hit a nice Mexican place on our way back through. What a day!

Today was my off day (I'd raced the day before for

Pete's sake!), so Annie got to lug Kian around the island.

Happy Mothers Day, Honey!

Wow, can I have one of those?

Mas chispas, por flavor!

Country Duck and the City Duck

We have a new addition to our family. Mr. Ducky got married! I know it's hard to believe, the crazy, staunch bachelor we all know and love is finally hitched. They met during a party at Aunt Joanie's as Ms. Ducky was migrating north. It was love at first waddle. As Ms. Ducky puts it, Mr. Ducky "turned her on". "He's a little scruffy but I like that." Of course, Kian isn't quite sure how he feels about sharing his best friend. We are working with Kian, as every day we find Ms. Ducky ousted from the nest, I mean crib. Short of a having a dog, cat, brother or sister, we hope this will be a character-building experience for little Kiki.