A backseat performance

Occasionally Annabel will belt out a tune in the backseat...you'll have to listen closely this time, it's the only one I caught on camera.

Brunch with Friends

We had an awesome weekend filled with visits with friends and family.  On Sunday (the morning after Jolliday, no less) we enjoyed the company of our friends with little ones the same age as Annabel.  In fact, these little guys met at about 3 weeks old (well, Oliver is the "older man") when I went to my first Mom's Group outing (I needed out of the house!) and met Alison & Kaycie who were also there for the first time (and also probably needed out of the house!).

This is where we let Annabel eat the reminent maple syrup on her plate with a spoon...and paid for it with a mini breakdown when we took the plate away.  This is another thing she does to remind us that she is her father's daughter, like her obsession with maple syrup and sour cream.

The kids spent most the time doodling around the back yard - with balls, bubbles, baloons, and a box turned into a playhouse.

The box-hut was a hit, but it lacks a few amenities...like stability and a solid foundation.  So, hopefully we'll upgrade at some point...but in the meantime we'll just say that we're "upcycling" (that's the hip way of saying we let our kids play with trash).

 

Here they are - Oliver, Annabel & Quinn - at 18 months.  Quinn's mom Alison has a good picture of another outing we had when they were 4 or 5 months here.  Quite a difference!

Happy 10th Annual Jolliday!

Friend gathered for the 10th Annual Jolliday this weekend at The Office, just one of 10 locations across the country celebrating this year (including a "retirement" community in Florida...woot, woot!)  Jolliday was born on New Year's day in 2003 in Boston when, upon the thought of facing another 5 long months of cold, gray weather, we decided we needed something to look forward to to get us through those dreary months (inevitably, winter lasts 6 weeks longer than you think it will).  So we dreamed up Jolliday, a fake holiday that involved bar crawls and house parties (it was 2003 and we were in our early 20's - it happens). 

However, this year's get together in NorCal was decidedly more family friendly as we took over the bocce ball court for the kids to run around in.  At least we made it to a bar.

Annabel and Addie confering on how to escape.

Double-fisting...prepping for Jolliday!

Moving tanbark at the park

Just Like Daddy

It is a pretty common occurrence for someone to meet Annabel and say "You look just like your Mommy"! It is true, especially when you seen Lisa's baby pictures. Annabel is a Lisa mini-me.

As a Dad, you look to see if your child has any of your characteristics, either physically or in their behavior. Sunday when we were playing outside I got my answer. We were playing with her various balls, working on our throwing and kicking. She picked up one of her buckets and put it on her head. Turns out Annabel is silly like her Dad.

Happy Valentine's Day!

A Beautiful Day at CuriOdyssey

A Goodbye

Last weekend we bid my grandmother a fond and final farewell after 92 healthy years which she spent with family and friends, often in her garden among her avocado and other fruit trees (not to mention beside a random sheep or cow or two). 

She was a quiet but commanding presence in a pint-sized package and the matriarch of the family.  I have a lot of favorite memories that I've shared with her over the years, but as you may expect, I very much treasure the time she shared with Annabel. 

My grandmother's nickname for Annabel was "wiggleworm" and she would regularly declare what a "busy body" she was.  Guess it's hard to keep up with a curious toddler who would mischievously run into the backroom of her home to search out little treasures like rouge golf balls and to "play" the piano. 

The story she'd tell over and over (and over) again was about a time she took Annabel for a stroller walk up her street by herself.  That day we arrived and no sooner than we'd pulled into the driveway my grandmother decided she'd take a walk with Annabel.  I was afraid that after an hour+ in the car the then 10 month old (ish) wiggleworm who suffered from separation anxiety would look unfavorably on being strapped in again and on her own, but she insisted so off they went together.  Figuring my grandmother had raised 3 children a screaming infant was nothing she couldn't tackle. But in her story, she would recollect how her neighbors poured out of their homes to greet her and Annabel, who behaved perfectly smiling to all that came up to her. 

After talking with her neighbors, it was clear that even if Annabel had screamed her head off the entire time, to my grandmother she was just smiling.  She would give her friends along the street updates on what Annabel was up to and I'm happy Annabel brought her such joy.

This Christmas, standing in her kitchen, my grandmother slyly placed her hand on my stomach searching for another great-grandchild without having to ask the question.  Or maybe she was just suggesting it was time for Annabel to have a sibling to play with.   I had to break the news that nobody was growing in there, yet.

While I wish I had the opportunity to spend more time with her to enjoy her and learn more from her, I'm so very grateful for what I got.

The pint-sized wonder



I always loved how happy she looked with her.



The bigger Annabel got, the smaller she would seem.

 

4 generation of Fuji ffamily women



Celebrating Annabel's First Birthday