christmas part 2

My parents, sister (Lisa), brother-in-law (Jason), niece (Machen), and nephew (Adamen) came over for a post-xmas visit. They stayed for a couple days. Aria has been pretty sick for a while, unfortunately, so she wasn't her usual chipper self for most of the visit. She spent most of her time coughing and sequestering herself in Hosanna's lap.

By the third day of the visit, though, she finally started feeling better, and started playing in a fort with Machen.







Meanwhile, Jason repaired our couch (broken leg required reconstructive surgery), one of our dining room chairs (broken support beam required new dowels & re-gluing), and got us started on taking apart our huge desk where the previous owner stripped all the screws.



Jason also brought up their XBox 360 and Guitar Hero 2. Me, Adamen, Machen, and Hosanna played it a bunch. I spent entirely too much time trying to beat "Trogdor" on hard (yes, including one night until almost four in the morning). Ever since they left, I've had "Surrender" by Cheap Trick jammed in my head. (Please... someone... make it stop.)

Hosanna gave everyone an impromptu recital, now available on video for the first time! Yes, this is my kick ass wife! She's playing part of the piece that I only know as "The Grieg." (If she were here, I'd ask for the real name of the piece, but she and Aria are going to bed now.) [editor's note - actually, it's Sonata Pathetique by Beethoven. I wasn't even close.]



I especially love the new ending - it's so avante garde, don't you think? :)

Adamen was especially enthralled - you can hear him laughing in the video.

christmas in yosemite

Christmas in Yosemite is where it's at. The pictures speak for themselves.







Humans at play:






Here's the cabin we stayed in. It's at the Yosemite Bug Hostel in Midpines. This one is called the Barn Studio. It has central heating, a small fridge, a kitchen with a great stove, and some pans & utensils. (Hint: bring your own knives, spatulas, and sauce pans.)



Here's a virtual tour - complete with everyone dancing & having a great time.

more about sleep

Aria fell asleep in Hosanna's arms tonight. She's feeling a little sick and we wanted to let her enjoy the closeness rather than go through the usual routine. Once she was asleep, she was out like a rock. We even changed her diaper (including taking her jammies off & putting them back on), then Hosanna lifted her up off the couch, carried her upstairs, laid her down in the crib, and covered her with a blanket... all without waking her up.

Manny was watching us with amusement as we were breaking down her sleep stages: "Do it now, she's past the twitchy stage and moved into the deep breathing stage." "No, we can't do it yet - she's not into REM yet!" etc.

We had Christmas in Yosemite and all I can say is, it was stunning. More later when I can get some pictures up.

date, interrupted

Hosanna & I had a big date night. Got all dressed up. Went to a holiday party at my work, followed up by a movie out. We talked, we laughed, we held hands in the theater. Nana put Aria to bed. We got home in such a light mood, for the first time in a while. At the risk of sounding trite, all I can think to say is that it was really, really nice.

As we were getting ready to go to bed, we noticed that all the lights were on in Aria's room. So I just popped in there to turn them out. I've done this dozens of times before. This time, that little light on the nightstand makes a tiny little click. Boom, Aria wakes up. She starts crying. Our date night has evaporated into reality. And since, for whatever reason, Aria only wants Mommy this week, I am banished out of the bedroom while mother & daughter go to sleep. I will go fall asleep on the couch, wake up in a couple hours, go move Aria back to her crib, get in bed, and contemplate my sleeping wife.

These kind of nights are lonely. They are the nights that remind you how much it means to be married and get to crawl into bed with the one you love night after night.

doug & jenn's new baby!

Doug & Jenn had their baby! Check out their blog!

the trumpet shall sound?

I pulled my trumpet out today for the first time in, um, I'm ashamed to admit how long. At least since we moved here. I took requests from Aria for a while. Many renditions of Hickory Dickory Dock later, she wanted to try for herself. And then the camera came out...



Earlier this week Aria was also clamoring to put her fairy costume back on, so Hosie snapped a couple pics of that as well...