Busy New Year

It is a brilliant new year.  Southern California remains blissfully warm and winter light splashes against pale blue skies and snow-tickled mountains in the distance.  There are days...in our new home...that the mountains can be seen on walks.  

We are still unpacking and settling in.  It goes painfully slow with an active and needy toddler at my side.  And regarding decorating, man is it tough to drive through those first nails.  Each hole is considered over a lengthy discussion...and in the end, the art remains piled in or bedroom and we keep the pristine blank walls unscathed.

 

Nora is seriously smitten with our new 'hood.  There are at least 15 kids under the age of 12 that live on our street.   A large gaggle of girls and boys play each afternoon outside.  Nora was enamored with them since our first walk.  But they initially took no interest.  I finally had to walk up to them and tell them just how much they excite Lulu.  They instantly warmed to her and now they clamor for her attention.  When they see us approaching, they run screaming, "Nora, Nora, Nora" and I feel her body electrify with both nerves and glee.  She sits with them for an hour...not making a peep...just soaking in their awesomeness (here they teach her how to stir pretend food).

 

There are horses to ride.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Babies to nurture.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leopard hats to wear.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dear friends to visit (and stairs to climb).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Skateparks to observe.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Puddles to jump in (and then quickly realize your feet get wet).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Songs that need dancing (while Daniel wipes up the now daily Max piss).

 

And most days need a warm bath...as our adventurer continues to love getting dirty.  In the video below, she shows off her German (Ich bin sehr stolz an Die...und Herzlichen Willkommen Erica).

Comments

[Erica]

Alles gute zum neuen Jahr wuensche ich Dir und Deine suesse Familie. Deine suesse Tochter kennt ihre Farbe sehr gut, mein Sohn (18 Monate) weiss nur die Farbe Blaue. Liebe Gruesse

[Aunt Kathy & Uncle Shane]

Ahh, what a lovely way to spend the time while I eat my b'fast. It is great to see you all settling in and see how much fun Nora is having in the new neighborhood. Love & Hugs to you all from cold and snowless central WA!

[Sabrina]

hysterical! She dances just like Dan!!!