Want to laugh?

The guy in the pink shirt is fantastic!

Happy Birthday Uncle Kiddi!

Happy birthday to Kiddi!

Papa & Pabbi

Happy Father's Day!

We had a low key Father's Day today, but fun nonetheless. The day included an outing to the playground where the Reyes sisters took to the swings and wouldn't leave. Carlos and I definitely got a workout pushing them. Elsa loves swinging so much that it practically took two of us to get her out of the swing when it was time to go home. That girl is strong!


In honor Father's Day, I dug out my all-time favorite photo of my dad and I. This was taken at the beach in North Carolina, August 1977. Pabbi and me.

Start your engines!

Elsa is off! Yesterday Elsa decided it was time to stand up and walk the entire length of our kitchen/family room. All by herself! It was wild. It seems that she's decided that now is time to start walking on her own. It was fantastic to see the expression on her face -- she was literally beaming, so pleased with herself.

I'm thinking that the catalyst for Elsa's pedestrian activity was our lovely friend Alison. I love the company she works for because it keeps sending her to London on business, and she manages to come for a visit every time she comes. It is great to see her, and the girls love love LOVE her. So Elsa must have decided it was time to show off for our favorite house guest!

I've crossed over to the dark side

I had toast with Marmite for breakfast this morning.

Did I mention ...

the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre (the organization I work for) launched a new website yesterday. It looks quite snazzy, especially compared with the old one.

London Walkies

Oh to be a dog in London. On two separate occasions this week, I've seen a dog being taken for a "walk" in a stroller. Yes, a dog in a baby carriage! That's nuts. On Monday, I saw an old lady taking her Westie out for a walk in an old fashioned baby carriage (it looked like something from a WWII movie). And today, I saw an old lady in central London with her poodle in a stroller, and it looked like the stroller was made specifically for dogs. Again, that's nuts.

Mother of two?!?!?!

When did that happen?

I know I have two daughters, and I absolutely adore being a mother, but deep down I still think of myself as someone much younger than I actually am. It's not that I have an issue with being 35 (nearly 36!) because there's no changing your age! But, I never feel like a proper grown-up. Isn't that weird because how much more grown up can you get than becoming a parent?!

It is the picture I've posted below that has prompted this random musing. This picture of two slippery, delicious and juicy little girls that constantly amaze me. I love them so much that sometimes I feel like I could turn inside out! When I see Anna and Elsa sitting in the bath together I'm always shocked. I think: "Holy crap! I've got two kids!" What is it about this bathtime setting that brings this fact front and center for me?

Here they are:

3.5 years & 15 months

Anna goofing off on the stairs. 3 and 1/2 already!

Miss Elsa. 15 months today. She's taken some steps on her own, and she can do it, but I think she doesn't see what all the fuss is about because she can scoot on her bottom at the speed of light. I love this picture -- it captures the mischevious look that she almost always has in her eyes.

It's all gone!

My hair, that is. Yup, I've taken drastic measures and cut it all off. It feels excellent! Not sure how it looks, but it feels great. I seem to be on a continual 5 year cycle of growing my hair long and cutting it all off.

I better mark my calendar, here's the beginning of another 5 year cycle -- no long hair until 2012 (by the time the Olympics are in London)!

Here is the result of my attempt at a self-portrait: