Disney Daze

More Disney World? With a one year-old? I can explain. When we were there for the 4th of July we bought a 3-day pass to use when Bim's family came to visit. Unfortunately they had to change their plans, so we decided to use the last 2 days over Thanksgiving weekend before they expire. Here are some of our "magical moments."

The Thanksgiving Post

First, the Parade (what else?), then the beach. For dinner, Chima (Brazilian rotisserie) in Fort Lauderdale. We are so thankful for our year in Miami!

Thousands of Words

Like, What Little Likes

Some Things Little Likes:

Swimming with Dad & duts (ducks)

Piggy-back rides

Friends at church

Current Dislikes:

nap time

"no-no"

the bathroom door (closed)

the vacuum
getting out of the bath tub

My Anthropologies

Oh, my goodness.

Countdown to Grandpa Visit

Ally with Grandpa Tom

As Ally clung to Bim this morning (and only reluctantly came back to me when he left for work), she made me wonder. Can she actually be getting tired of her mother? Could I be...boring? Lucky for me, new winds are blowing in from the beach, just in time for the holidays, and my dad is coming with them. Ally will soon have a new play buddy and--if I'm lucky--I might get to be her hero for at least a couple of hours while she gets familiar with him again. Yeah for grandparents!!!

Veteran's Week

David Earl Richardson (Bim's dad)

David Earl at Basic Training, Fort Ord, California
D.E.R. is 2nd row up, 2nd from the left

D.E.R. serving in the Army, National Guard

Thomas L Halverson (Krista's grandfather)

Grandpa Halverson on the right

...with the other flyboys

...with his brother, Harry

...with his brother, Don

... in his speedy plane

...with a friend

Really cool plane!

Thomas Lyman Halverson (Krista's great-grandfather)
and his brother, Vernal

Today we officially honor our veterans, but I have enough pictures here to last the whole week. I love these old photos, so I'm including all that I have; I don't have the discipline to choose between them. To all our loved ones who have made these great sacrifices for us, we are so grateful.

Bridge of Sighs

It's Miami's International Book Festival this week, so Bim and I followed up the Pinsky reading by going to hear the novelist, Richard Russo (favorites: Empire Falls and Straight Man). His new book, Bridge of Sighs, is the fictional memoir of his main character, Lou C. ("Lucy") Lynch and is the self-proclaimed "dullest story ever told." A NPR book review disagrees, calling it the best fiction pound-for-pound to be read this year. Whether or not that is a backhanded compliment referring to its large size is yet to be seen.

Gulf Music

Bim and I went to hear the poet Robert Pinsky read from his new book, Gulf Music, tonight. The auditorium was only half full, despite his being a pretty famous former Poet Laureate, but that worked in our favor--better seats. Here is one of my favorites:

Samurai Song

When I had no roof I made

Audacity my roof. When I had

No supper my eyes dined.

When I had no eyes I listened.

When I had no ears I thought.

When I had no thought I waited.

When I had no father I made

Care my father. When I had

No mother I embraced order.

When I had no friend I made

Quiet my friend. When I had no

Enemy I opposed my body.

When I had no temple I made

My voice my temple. I have

No priest, my tongue is my choir.

When I have no means fortune

Is my means. When I have

Nothing, death will be my fortune.

Need is my tactic, detachment

Is my strategy. When I had

No lover I courted my sleep.