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Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Rain Days

It's been almost a year since our last fruit tree grafting post. Our attempts last year yielded one successful apple tree grafting. This year, we plan on many more! We went to a local "stick exchange." It's amazing how many varieties of fruit trees were represented.


We collected several kinds of plums, cherries, and apples to graft onto our established trees. In a few weeks, we will prune them way back and attach these little "sticks." (To be continued...)



Avery's first real walk to the park. He held Luna's leash (with some assistance).



He also visited about seven neighbors' front doors on the way.


The weekend ended with his first trip to the emergency room. We seriously didn't think that playing inside wooden drawers was dangerous. 



A deep cut under the lower lip, but no stitches needed. He was a pleasant little patient.


He has a reverence for tall doctors.

Monday, January 16, 2012

Avery = One


"It's tomorrow?!!?"



Gotta love the student cards.



We celebrated with Lauren, Tommy, and Brennan. Avery got to stay up late (past 7pm!) and eat berries off his cake. We also gave him some whipped cream to splatter around. 



The birthday party! Avery's theme: Elf King. 
Fortunately for Avery, others wore costumes.



Amazed by kid play.







Dear friends



Carrot cake! 



Nikko shows how to blow out the candle.



The birthday cake high made way for a dance party. A real clip can be seen HERE!




Party leftovers. 
But, oh how amazing!



Tuesday, January 10, 2012

The New Year

Avery has been playing in our neighborhood park, showing off his new walking skills.






Making yogurt biscuits can now be a team effort with such a capable young chef.




New Year's in Tahoe with his new friend, Lois. 
Lois knew some toddler moves that impressed Avery.
Here she is pulling him for a hug.



Ahhhh, a baby and a Papa on vacation!

Grandma visited for a day at Joaquin Miller Park.

And she plays piano like nobody's business (except maybe Avery's).

Fetch with Luna: Avery watched Papa throw.

And then he tried it himself.


The sad news from the winter break is that our bee colony disappeared. Some died, but the hive was pretty empty. We found some melted comb, some mold (both signs of imperfect living conditions), and some dead bees. We wish them well in their new home.

Meanwhile, ants were invading the empty hive for the honey...

...but we are bigger. And we have tools.


So in all, we harvested another 7 quarts of honey. 
We plan on getting a new swarm this spring. 


Thursday, January 5, 2012

First Christmas


Avery really began walking while we were visiting family in Washington, D.C. 
He discovered the basketball waddle.


Avery and Mimi after a bath

Avery and Uncle Peter
Plaidship - kinship

So proud


"Santa?!"


"It's you!" 


Avery seems to realize that this Santa is his Opa.


Christmas morn


Avery opens his Turkish hat from Mimi and Opa's recent travels



At the National Zoo