Hi everyone. I promised to get this post up by Valentine's Day, and I did! Happy Valentine's day. It would have been up yesterday, but we lost our internet connection.
In December, we went to Detroit for Charlotte's 70th birthday. These are the best of our pictures - we saw Andi's brother Jonathan and sister Suzanne, Ariella's cousin Benjamin, Rick's Aunts Naomi, Barbara, and Great-Aunt Rochelle, and Rick's mom Nancy and stepdad Ron. It was quite a visit! Many other people took pictures - if you have good pictures, send them to us, and I'll add them to the blog.
Also below are a few gems from Palo Alto in January and early February. And now we're essentially caught up to present!
The last few weeks have been hard - Andi had surgery on her foot/ankle, and has been slowly getting better every day. She's walking now in a boot, without crutches. Charlotte just came out and stayed with us for 10 days, which was a big help. Tonight we're celebrating her return to health by having a date - the first one in about a month! We met 8 years ago this Monday. Amazing.
Enjoy the pictures, and whatever you do, make sure to watch the video at the very end of Jonah trying to fill his daddy's shoes. It's hilarious, and you can see what a personality we are growing here.
Ariella, at Hanukkah, playing dress-up in her new wedding dress.
In Detroit, Jonah experiences his first snow.
We went out to a restaurant to welcome everyone into town - Jonathan and Benjamin showed up.
Gamah Charlotte with Ariella and Ben.
Rick, Andi and Jonah with Aunt Barbara and Aunt Naomi
We visited with Aunt Rochelle and had a lovely time playing in the basement with her toys, and having lunch. Aunt Rochelle is Rick's late paternal grandfather Leonard's little sister.
Then it was off to Ann Arbor for a fun-filled day with Aunt Suzy, Grandma Nancy and Grandpa Ron. First, Jonah wouldn't get out of the firetruck at the Ann Arbor Children's Museum.
After lunch at Zingerman's (Rick was too busy eating to take pictures), it started to snow hard. Rick and his Mom in the snow on the Diag.
Andi, Ariella, and Aunt Suzy snuggling in the blizzard in A2.
The kid won't sleep through the night at Gamah's house, but he'll sleep with snow falling on him outside.
At the party for Charlotte's 70th birthday, Ariella looks on as Andi makes a toast.
Gamah with her 3 grandchildren, blowing out the candles.
Andi and a very dapper looking Jonah at the party.
Ariella clinks glasses with Gamah.
Gamah with all of her children and grandchildren.
Charlotte with her 3 kids.
Grandma Nancy and Grandpa Ron were there, too! (And if they email me a better picture or two, I'll post it). Here, you can see Jonah had just about had it. We kept them up sooo late.
Back in Palo Alto for New Years Eve, Ariella shows her personality trying on new clothes. Andi will make me edit this to add in who they are from!
And here's Jonah, and I know this outfit is from Aunt Suzy!
Before Andi's surgery, and before all our rain, we decided to go to the Japanese Tea Gardens in Saratoga.
Ariella's new glasses convert to sunglasses in the sun - pretty cool, Ari!
Andi with the kids - we hope to make it back there again in the Spring. It's so beautiful!
Jonah at 17 months.
Ariella turned 4 and a half. After Rick ran a half-marathon on Super Bowl Sunday (in a personal best time of 2:18:11 in a blistering hail/wind/rain), Ariella wanted to run, too. The next week was the Juana Run in Palo Alto, and we had a beautiful day. Here's Ariella, warming up for the pre-school girls' race (200 yards - not too long, but not too short either).
Ariella, posing with her ribbon after finishing. She took 9th place out of about 20-25 girls.
And here's our latest contribution to Frenkel's funniest home videos! (See the other ones
here and
here).
OK, hope you enjoyed. Please add a comment!
