I've a few minutes to spare, while the group is strolling outside, to put into the record the latest familial development: in a matter of weeks Jeff and Liz will cancel their utilities, alert the postman, load up a rusty U-Haul, and stare down the setting sun--they are moving to San Francisco. That's right, the real city of brotherly love, Levi Strauss, Ghirardelli, squawking seagulls, steamy crab cakes on the Wharf, and seismometers in every living room. God bless 'em, they embark on a life-changing adventure of untold proportions. All this comes as a result of Jeff's recent acceptance of a plum job offer with a techie firm (I can't really describe what they do...just like I can't really describe what I do). They are anticipating a mid-November departure.
How does this news tie to NL? Perhaps it's file-able under "Other Happenings" or perhaps it's quite relevant: the kids are saying adieu to an uncle and soon-to-be godfather and godmother (and prospective aunt; I'll let Jeff blog about that). Though, surely the parting isn't permanent. What infant/toddler doesn't beg for a 5.5 hour flight, and what parent doesn't beg to escort them on one? Oh, I kid. No one can say what the future holds...perhaps in a few years the Wieleckis will crave a change of scenery and tire going sweater-less in June, load up another rusty U-Haul*, and set up shop in the Shaky City. I'm not saying, I'm just saying...
*The two mentions of U-Haul in this entry are by no means an endorsement. My experiences with UH left the kind of taste in my mouth that you get when you accidentally ingest Dawn** dish washing detergent.
**The one mention of Dawn dish washing detergent is by all means an endorsement. Go ahead, get dirty, and get Dawn.*** (To clean with, not eat).
***For the record, Dawn is not an official sponsor of this blog. But I'll consider any offers.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Friday, October 10, 2008
Post Peanuts Post
The Saturday after our return from Georgia, NL slept through an entire trip to Cocoa Beach. They missed little, though, as the excursion was wrought with a battle with the sun and constant wind blowing sand into every cranny of their car seats. Still, Kel and I managed to cavort among the high waves and strong current of the warm Atlantic, while JimPa and MarMa chaperoned the kids and discussed whatever it is that JimPas and MarMas discuss in their pre-retirement years.
Noelle and Lucas appear to be entering that magical age that verges on the ability to conduct two-way communication. Day by day they are trying out their vocal chords, so far stuck on all the varietals of "a:" short, long, high pitched, medium pitched, back to high pitched, and then they wait for a response. Fun game for all involved. Sometimes I wonder though if they ever asked me to play or just find it amusing enough to hear themselves speak. Though we're hardly advanced enough to banter about the merits of import tariffs, I'm immensely proud of their achievements in acquiring a sound other than wailing.
On the topic of words that end in 'ing', I'm pleased to report that NL are no longer being subjected to nightly swaddling. Not only was that ritual a royal pain for the swaddlers, but likewise for the swaddlees, who one morning awoke to discover that their blankets migrated to their northern hemispheres. We prefer that our kids enjoy oxygen for the duration of their sleep, and so immediately discontinued that childish practice.
A week ago NL dabbled in some community service by visiting me at City Hall. I'd been promising to showcase them after the first set of vaccines. Six weeks later, I delivered. The kids cooperated for the majority of their visit, patiently allowing themselves to be passed around like a peace pipe, though did take the occasional opportunity to release some pent-up gas on an unsuspecting co-worker.
As a treat for enduring this entire entry, below are photos of the Peanut Fest and miscellany:
http://picasaweb.google.com/gros.islet/PlainsSeptEarlyOct08#
Noelle and Lucas appear to be entering that magical age that verges on the ability to conduct two-way communication. Day by day they are trying out their vocal chords, so far stuck on all the varietals of "a:" short, long, high pitched, medium pitched, back to high pitched, and then they wait for a response. Fun game for all involved. Sometimes I wonder though if they ever asked me to play or just find it amusing enough to hear themselves speak. Though we're hardly advanced enough to banter about the merits of import tariffs, I'm immensely proud of their achievements in acquiring a sound other than wailing.
On the topic of words that end in 'ing', I'm pleased to report that NL are no longer being subjected to nightly swaddling. Not only was that ritual a royal pain for the swaddlers, but likewise for the swaddlees, who one morning awoke to discover that their blankets migrated to their northern hemispheres. We prefer that our kids enjoy oxygen for the duration of their sleep, and so immediately discontinued that childish practice.
A week ago NL dabbled in some community service by visiting me at City Hall. I'd been promising to showcase them after the first set of vaccines. Six weeks later, I delivered. The kids cooperated for the majority of their visit, patiently allowing themselves to be passed around like a peace pipe, though did take the occasional opportunity to release some pent-up gas on an unsuspecting co-worker.
As a treat for enduring this entire entry, below are photos of the Peanut Fest and miscellany:
http://picasaweb.google.com/gros.islet/PlainsSeptEarlyOct08#
Monday, September 29, 2008
Peanut Fest
Yesterday we returned from Plains, Georgia, site of the Peanut Festival. Normally you would've known of this trip weeks prior, but as these times are not normal, you're lucky to hear about it at all.
The WT blog was not yet born when we attended the Peanut Festival last year. What's so darn special about Plains and peanuts? Jimmy Carter lives in one and eats the other. Each fall, right around his October 1st birthday, the town of 600-plus warm souls opens its shell for a celebration involving a foot race, parade, and book signing by JC and wife Rosalynn, flavored with plenty of southern barbecue and tunes. Following the race, Mr. Carter personally awards trophies and a warm handshake to top finishers while the assembled peanut-eaters and gnat-slappers applaud. Kel last year won the 5K in her age group and accepted her accolade under the shifty nervous eyes of Secret Service agents.
So, where is this entry headed? Judging from the cries downstairs, an abrupt conclusion. Friday morn, we packed up the family truckster, sent the pets off to a kennel, and, along with MarMa, Liz and Jeff, and oh yes, the twins, made our way north for another weekend of salty nuts and sweaty butts. JimPa made his way from Chicago. This year, Kelly, JimPa and I hustled across the finish line early enough to secure awards. (I admit with a red face and heavy heart that I competed only in the one-mile 'Fun Run' and finished 16 seconds slower than I did in high school). I proudly carried Lucas onto the award stage, while Kelly had Noelle, and both kids came face-to-face with the great JC himself (not that JC, mind you; it's much too soon for him). Say what you will about his presidential accomplishments, Jimmy's post-White House years should be a model for all. Especially for the dolt leaving in January.
I will post photos at my next opportunity. Speaking of photos, just a quick comment on last week's adventure. We took NL for passport photos at Walgreens. For $7.99, we should have expected this: the amicable clerk laid a blank white 2x3 poster on the linoleum floor next to the counter and instructed us to position each child directly on it for their photo. Rather crude, if you ask me. But the job is done.
The WT blog was not yet born when we attended the Peanut Festival last year. What's so darn special about Plains and peanuts? Jimmy Carter lives in one and eats the other. Each fall, right around his October 1st birthday, the town of 600-plus warm souls opens its shell for a celebration involving a foot race, parade, and book signing by JC and wife Rosalynn, flavored with plenty of southern barbecue and tunes. Following the race, Mr. Carter personally awards trophies and a warm handshake to top finishers while the assembled peanut-eaters and gnat-slappers applaud. Kel last year won the 5K in her age group and accepted her accolade under the shifty nervous eyes of Secret Service agents.
So, where is this entry headed? Judging from the cries downstairs, an abrupt conclusion. Friday morn, we packed up the family truckster, sent the pets off to a kennel, and, along with MarMa, Liz and Jeff, and oh yes, the twins, made our way north for another weekend of salty nuts and sweaty butts. JimPa made his way from Chicago. This year, Kelly, JimPa and I hustled across the finish line early enough to secure awards. (I admit with a red face and heavy heart that I competed only in the one-mile 'Fun Run' and finished 16 seconds slower than I did in high school). I proudly carried Lucas onto the award stage, while Kelly had Noelle, and both kids came face-to-face with the great JC himself (not that JC, mind you; it's much too soon for him). Say what you will about his presidential accomplishments, Jimmy's post-White House years should be a model for all. Especially for the dolt leaving in January.
I will post photos at my next opportunity. Speaking of photos, just a quick comment on last week's adventure. We took NL for passport photos at Walgreens. For $7.99, we should have expected this: the amicable clerk laid a blank white 2x3 poster on the linoleum floor next to the counter and instructed us to position each child directly on it for their photo. Rather crude, if you ask me. But the job is done.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Another Lame Title
A rainy night in Orlando. Otherwise I'd be out running with the white pet. So naturally my second option is to blog. I'd love to have more to report than the rubberstamp of the last several entries. I will say, however, that another week has brought us noticeably more smiles. Unfortunately, most elude the camera: it's never near enough, or the flash doesn't load fast enough, or one of the dogs' ears gets in the way.
We've been amazed to discover that we filled a whole bag of clothes that no longer fit NL. As is apparent from the weekly series of photos, the kids have been developing a considerable plumpness in their limbs and necks and now go through a good five to six ounces of breastmilk/formula at a sitting.
Again I have to cut things short, but not without a consolation prize of the latest photos:
http://picasaweb.google.com/gros.islet/MidSeptember2008#
We've been amazed to discover that we filled a whole bag of clothes that no longer fit NL. As is apparent from the weekly series of photos, the kids have been developing a considerable plumpness in their limbs and necks and now go through a good five to six ounces of breastmilk/formula at a sitting.
Again I have to cut things short, but not without a consolation prize of the latest photos:
http://picasaweb.google.com/gros.islet/MidSeptember2008#
Sunday, September 7, 2008
September Check-In
Each day with NL is a tiresome joy. One after the other the days roll along, with little variation among them. Only our weekly photo session creates a short pause by capturing a split second in the kids' lives and ours. Before long we'll be posting their three month photos, then of babies' first Halloween, Christmas 2008, "Easter Bunny Visits WT" and shortly thereafter a photo album depicting their First Birthday Jamboree. We can't stop time but we can lessen our future regret of its passing.
My free time is approaching an end. I will use the balance to jog with Hana as she is uber bored and my rear is uber stiff. Sorry for the brevity--but at least you get pics:
http://picasaweb.google.com/gros.islet/EarlySeptember2008#
My free time is approaching an end. I will use the balance to jog with Hana as she is uber bored and my rear is uber stiff. Sorry for the brevity--but at least you get pics:
http://picasaweb.google.com/gros.islet/EarlySeptember2008#
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