Rayna & Gaia

It's been too long...as usual. I thought it was time to post again. Rayna has been a close acquaintance of Gaia's for much of her young life. In the first two years however, there were large gaps of time in between their visits.

Recently, however as our lives as parents who want to improve our community in which we live inevitably crosses that common thread of Pana Columbus who magically weaves this community together with her heavy involvement with the charter schools and restoration of Allentown.

On top of it all she graciously holds a playgroup at her house EVERY DAY!! It's an amazing gift for parents and more importantly our children to learn and share with eachother.

Summer time

I've been playing with some post production effects to achieve a weathered, vintage Polaroid look for my photographs. Thank you Rayna for wearing your favorite denim. It makes the shot.

Luis,Rayna and the funny face

January 30th

We spend a lot of time hovering over "our" kids - making sure they/we are getting all that they "need" stimulation wise. Lately, I am astounded by Rayna's imagination, sense of humor, and keen ability to absorb the world around her. May those gifts carry her gracefully through life.

Happy New Year

For Christmas this year Rayna got a new mini kitchen that fits snugly where Inka's dog bowl used to fit. Don't worry Inka is still eating. We just moved her bowl over.
Rayna's vocabulary and association skills baffle us. Every day she is trying more and more words. It's really great to watch. My new favorite word of hers is spatula.
Rayna pronounces it PAPALA! With great enthusiasm. I guarantee when she wakes from her nap she will run to the utensil drawer and triumphantly yell, "TWO PAPALA!".
I can't believe she's going to be two years old in three short months.

La semana pasada fuimos a Mexico con nuestros amigos

Last month the three of us flew to Arizona for a wedding. After which the party drove south of the border which turned into a huge reunion with many friends from Alaska and their children too.
In total, 19 adults and 9 children made their way to a huge rented beach house at the edge of the Senoran desert and and Sea of Cortez. We and successfully inhabited the space while sharing drinking water, meals and shade. It was a communal effort that reignighted some old friendships. Here are some pictures of our time.

Mommy enjoying some much needed R&R

She helped sing row,row,row your boat while out at sea with dad. Pretty Cool!

Rayna and Augustine hit it off quite well... She still talks about "Auggie"