Thanksgiving 2015

We just returned home (to a frigid house as our heater is out and hasn't been replaced yet...but it will be this week) from hanging out in SB for Thanksgiving.

Ellie had the whole week off of school and she spent time at Kids Klub, hanging with friends, and the up in SB. Nick came up and then came back down to go to a hockey game with his cousin who is living in SD. Jim was up in SB and hung out with the kids at a museum. However, Susie stayed in Boston.










Thanksgiving, the meal, was fantastic. Ellie helped with almost everything that was in the table. All the traditional fixings and fun people and conversations.



























The weekend had fun times at the Natural History Museum with Jim, digging through baby boxes, watching VHS tapes of young Ann and Susie dancing in the Nutcracker, quality time with Grandma Van, napping, and playground time.


























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Happy 20 Month Birthday, Cal!

It was a late-night (for Calvin and a tired Daddy) photo session with Hobbes today. Late because Ellie, Cal, Grandma Pam and I enjoyed a fundraising dinner for Ellie's school at Maria's, an Italian restaurant here in Pasadena. Ellie enjoyed the typical breadsticks and macaroni & cheese. Cal, having apparently inherited my infamous hollow leg, ate one and a half substantial breadsticks, four roasted Brussels sprouts (with balsamic vinegar, Parmesan cheese, and pancetta) which he mooched off of Grandma Pam, a few bites of my antipasto salad & meatballs, chopped carrots, zucchini & broccoli, and more macaroni & cheese than Ellie ate. And he was still shoveling food in as we walked out the door. So.. he was in a good mood at picture time.

He wanted to tickle, hug, and carry Hobbes away.. apparently.

Happy 20 Months, Cal! We love you!

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Halloween 2015

It was just me (Nick) and the kiddos this Halloween.. well, and a bunch of friends. Ann took off for a work trip to KC on the holiday's afternoon so Ellie, Cal and I spent some time with Ellie's old preschool teacher and her family.. as well as some old friends.

It was a fun evening.. one in which we all discovered Calvin much prefers edamame (served at our friend's place along with some other snacks) and corn nuts to pretty much any kind of candy. It took some convincing to get him to even try some M&M's.

Cal dressed up as the same duck Ann made for 2-year-old Ellie. He wore it well, but its inherent warmth was definitely better suited for a 50-degree Halloween night in Boston than an 80-degree Halloween night in Pasadena. Ellie went as an Ann-made Wonder Woman in the afternoon for a carnival at Cal's school, and then as Princess Leia (courtesy of KTLA & Disney -- video link here: http://ktla.com/2015/10/27/disney-halloween-costumes/?ak_action=reject_mobile&redirect_to=http%3A%2F%2Fktla.com%2F2015%2F10%2F27%2Fdisney-halloween-costumes%2F) for evening trick-or-treating. She really didn't want to wear the wig or have her hair in side-buns or a braid.. as they "bother" her.






















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