the remaking of a kitchen

i had this great plan to have a family photo taken this year. i talked to my neighbor diane who is a pro and she agreed to be our photographer. the best laid plans....first siena's naps didn't work with diane's free time and then when we all were available....well you get the picture. we lined up our cameras and posed for our own, and it was interesting one or two people running to get in the photo before the click.
then on my camera it was inadvertently set for a video, which of course i had to keep. :)

we've seen siena take a bath at home, she loves it. she kicks and splashes looking very serious as if this is her present job and she knows she better do a good job. we weren't sure how she would react to taking a bath in our kitchen sink without her own little tub in place. we soon found out. the only prep was putting a good sized bath towel in the deeper of the double sinks and stretching it up the sides as well. one of the photos gives the setting and shows the pasta sauce cooking on the stove top.
she seemed to enjoy it very much...it was just different and although she kicked, the water was deeper so the splashes weren't so dramatic. it was still fun for all her adoring fans and for siena too.

Labels: bathing, granny's sink, siena

during this holiday visit, it was determined by sarah and david that siena could have her first go with solid food. she started with sweet potato....carefully mashed with a bit of breast milk to make it smooth. it seemed like she had been observing this eating thing and opened her mouth and even leaned forward toward the spoon when david offered it. yeah, i know i am prejudiced in her favor, but she didn't do the pushing food out with her tongue that i've always observed, she simply took it in and swallowed and leaned in for more! sandy and i have always said she was terribly advanced and it's obvious!
the next treat was mashed banana, but sarah was eating the real thing and siena decided she was a big girl too! too cute! sarah fixed a delicious roast chicken one day so the next trial was some pureed white chicken, again with breast milk. she ate it but with a little less enthusiasm.
today as bags were being packed and a bit of lunch enjoyed before the trip home, another trial. siena and sarah were sitting on the love seat with david who was eating some sliced apple. aha thinks siena and leans right over and opens her mouth around a slice! she was pretty excited about gumming and sucking on the slice and showed a big smile! i just noticed that one photo shows her gnawing happily on her daddy's finger.
we feel very privileged that we got to see these first tastes....it's obvious that she is going to enjoy eating solid foods a lot. she even tried to grab the spoon; so she could feed herself? who can tell....the kid is smart!! :)

Labels: apple, banana, chicken, first solids, roasted chicken, sweet potato

we had a lovely family christmas with everyone at home. the schedules were a bit off set, but we had a great time while we were all together! guess who was the star of it all....well yes, it was our sweet sweet siena. she learned so much during her week's stay that she just amazed us all. she also kept us enchanted and in love with her.
i admit to being the crazy grandmother who bought way more cute clothes than were necessary. some how it just seemed to be my job this year. i could not resist.
patrick met her for the first time and he really fell in love, just like the rest of us! who can resist her? not i! not any of us!
it's amazing to watch siena as david or sarah read to her. she seems to enjoy it so very much and she listens and watches the illustrations.

Labels: christmas with family, patrick, sarah and siena

this isn't really our first snow of the season, but i was in oakland and missed the first one. well, i missed seeing the snow come down anyway, but it didn't make my flight from phoenix a couple of hours late, but that is another story. nebraska was hit with a much stronger storm that we got here. we had about 6 inches, and the wind blew most of one day and night, but about half the wind speed and amount of snow that was seen south of us. you can see our red flag parallel to the ground as a gust hit during the photo taking. the other picture is by the front door and the drift is from don's clearing the walk and the roof. we had to have this storm to entertain the california gang.

Labels: first snow, wind

i'm finally getting around to posting the last of the california for thanksgiving photos. we arrived at sarah and david's later than we hoped and didn't get to visit with sarah for long before she headed out the door to an appointment. jewlee was there and she and siena kept us entertained until we had to leave for the airport. we probably allowed more time than necessary for that trip, but we had to get across the bay bridge and then across the city before getting to our destination.
siena was in fine form and we were outside which she loves. we took a walk around the neighborhood and just hung out for awhile and then we really had to go. i hated to leave....i always do, but we have christmas coming very soon. YES, they all have tickets and will be joining us in just 11 days, but really, who's counting. :)

Labels: auntie jewlee, sarah and siena

before siena went to bed one evening we were treated to watching her enjoy her bath to the max. she is a very determined kicker when she's in the water much to the amusement of her adoring family. what can i say, whatever she does we are charmed, enchanted, in love. :)
i love the image of siena in the hooded towel looking over her daddy's shoulder!

Labels: bathing, kicking and grinning, siena

one thing i can count on when visiting sarah and david is excellent food! they both are wonderful cooks who like to work with good meat from the corner butcher combined with herbs and vegetables from their garden. the night before we left there were chicken breasts marinated with garlic and tarragon, and served with alice waters' green sauce. this was served with a yam, potato, apple roast with garlic. oh my goodness what a treat. ahhhhhh, also fresh greens with herbal garden treats and sarah's vinaigrette dressing. tara's furnished the ice cream. yum yum.
on another night we had my fave chicken stew with tomatoes, onions and raisins. delish. it's always just one treat after another!
on sunday afternoon we took a drive up the coast and had lunch in bolinas. it as a great opportunity to show siena the ocean. she loved it!!

Labels: chicken, green sauce, herbs

we haven't seen the boys or some of their parents since sarah's and david's wedding, so it was a treat to be with them again. there was lots of activity as there should be when 4 boy cousins get together. they are lucky to live in the same area and to be such good friends.
patrick was the one missing from our family. hopefully we can all be together soon! airplane tickets are through the roof as a special holiday treat, so we'll have to see how that goes!