Front Page Watermelon

That's some serious close-up photography goin' on there! Good thing Jan's a boy. A girl might not have been too thrilled to see that picture on the front page of the paper.

Yes, I Can!

Be patriotic, that is. I go to the annual 56th Army Band (Ft. Lewis) concert and get as verklempt as the next gal when they play the Armed Forces Medley.

Celebrating our first teen (June 7)

Ta da! Introducing Jan Christian, newly minted teenager! Part of his birthday festivities included a few days spent in Victoria, Canada. It's one of our favorite destinations and home to the Royal B.C. Museum, which Jan wanted to visit again. We were also able to again hook up with Adrian, who had been exploring the West Coast of Vancouver Island, before he headed back to Switzerland. Despite much-cooler-than-average weather, we enjoyed our excursion. I made a special point of remembering my camera...only to discover I'd left the battery at home.

Can this really be the thirteenth time I've presented Jan with his traditional German Chocolate Cake? What a swift journey! I stand in awe of the young man he's becoming...yet yearn to have just one hour more with him as a baby. One more walk along the Swiss footpaths, pushing him in his kinderwagen. One more chance to kiss his sweet baby cheeks. Once more....

Jan's brothers gave him more Asterix books for his collection.

Oma & Opa came up to celebrate with us. I virtually never saw any grandparents when I was a child. I love watching and listening to the interactions between my boys and my parents.

Inhale, Exhale

My friend Julie, a gem of a writer if there every was one, recently blogged about experiencing her first cigarette. I've been there, done that. My days as a smoker are behind me. But on rare occasion, given the right time, place, and company (or lack thereof), a smoke hits the sweet spot. Julie captured that perfectly http://julieunplugged.blogspot.com/2008/05/smoking.html. Her words came to mind of late when my classic German ash tray served as the receptacle for Adrian's daily Parisienne.