Happy Birthday Mama

We went to the George River on mom's birthday. Dad ran into the sea & mom carried Eloise around because little E is not too sure about all that salt water and sand.






Cousin James showed us the Erskine Falls.

Confirmation, Australians = Adventure

I have this belief that Australians are adventurous, more adventurous than, let's say Americans. Today this belief was confirmed once again. I saw a little boy climb up on top of a street sign. Then I saw a bunch of kids jumping, somersaulting in the air over trampolines built into the ground. And then a saw a tiny boy on a skateboard-scooter, bloody his knee and keep going while his mother sat smack in the middle of the skate board park!

Never been a bird watcher until Lorne

A King Parrot on the deck of the beach house.
Cockatoo. We don't encourage them b/c they actually eat the house; they like munching on wood.
Here's grandpa Andrew with his sister Felicity.

Christmas in Australia

Our first Christmas BBQ! Even though it's summer here in Melbourne, it still managed to hail.
Grandpa's chemistry lab is the tallest building in the background.

First earthquake

Today while feeding Eloise our dining room shook. You know, I don't think Eloise really noticed. She was in my lap.

Speaking of eating. Eloise likes to eat...string cheese, goat cheese, plain whole fat yogurt, cow milk, cheerios, veggie sausage, other "fake meats", real chicken (especially roast), fried tofu, brocolli crowns, cauliflower, asparagus tip, roasted aubergine, banana, apples... and then there's the junk food: crackers, cakes, cookies, ice cream, etc. She's not 100% predictable, of course.

Looks like it was a 3.7, in Berkeley.

She does she loves

She does mush food into her hair. She does give high fives. Yesterday she walked about five steps at a time; today it is about fifteen. She does say bye-bye when her coat goes on. She does break things. Gleefully. Especially things she loves... like "One Red Dot". (Thank goodness the mirror book does not break.) She does drink loads of milk in the night. She does like to deprive us of sleep and she likes a hard day's night. She loves dada, preferably in a top hat. As for mama, you can use her like a compass with mama at the North Pole. She loves dogs ("woof!") and cats ("myeeeeee!") and she loves google image searches for dogs and cats. She loves reading and music and the outdoors. She loves those mini Nori Maki rice cakes wrapped in seaweed. Scrambled eggs go down pretty well too.

play dating

date playing.

First Steps

Our Ella took her first steps today! This is the beginning of a new era. And the end of an old era. I almost wish I could have a bunch of different Eloise's: a new born, a crawler and a toddler.

Thanksgiving (for Sam)

Hey Samer. Promised you a blog post. Here's the blog post.




I look a little nutty in this pic.

art all around

This painting, Freedom of Being, and the heart painting are the work of an artist called Courageous. They're on show at Grand Lake Neighborhood Center right near Lake Merritt, Oakland, CA.


This drawing was completed by Mr. Fun, Stephen Kelly.

Dia De Los Muertos

Cactus pears and baby bananas from our local "All Green Produce" grocery on Foothill, then an afternoon with Bernard, Pete and Michelle at the Dia De Los Muertos festival in our neighborhood of Fruitvale, Oakland.




Pupusas, Horchada, Tacos, Calaveras, Merengue House, Caretas, Aztec dancers, Altars... ("wha...?").

Collective First Year Birthday Bash

The party was hosted by James, Elizabeth and the English twins: Fran and Lila. Twelve one-year-olds, twenty-two parents: anarchy!

The last picture above is of Brad, Young-Joo and Atl (as well as Ian and Eloise). They just got back from Korea. Brad's a doctor at La Clinica in our neighborhood, Fruitvale.

hallowe'enie

Neighbors Mandy, Jo and little Maya host some Hallowe'en Mayhem.
Ella (Elephant), Eliza (Code Pink) and Ian (Wiretapping Wizard)
met a pimp, a witch, their little mini-pimp, an officer of Hell P.D. and various other demons of the night.

Birthday Cones

Vegan cake; no refined sugar; and good friends, Nicole and Laura.

Many others came too: Erin, Uncle Bernard, Jason & Amy...