tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68091827013985118612024-03-05T07:41:36.931-08:00Tor TalesTorTaleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11724873416713388826noreply@blogger.comBlogger150125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6809182701398511861.post-29324618173143728102017-03-19T13:57:00.004-07:002017-03-19T13:57:48.315-07:00Almost to the EquinoxHaving the following conversations with the boys today reminded me that it's been a while since I've recorded anything they've done, so:<br />
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<i>Looking at drawings of superheroes that Tor invented</i><br />
Col: Mummay! This one is you.<br />
Me: Who's it meant to be, Tor?<br />
Tor: <i>[checks] </i>That's Mustache Girl.<br />
Col: So Mummay, it can be you!<br />
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<i>In the car </i><br />
Tor: Why do some restaurants have Christmas lights out? Is it Christmastime now?<br />
Me: Sometimes people hang lights up just to look fancy, not for a holiday.<br />
Tor: Holiday lights are only certain colors though.<br />
Me: Like what color would Halloween lights be?<br />
Tor: Halloween lights could be red or orange, or any fire color. Or purple. Or black.<br />
Me: Black lights would be hard to see though.<br />
Tor: They would have to be black with white. Like piano lights. Or checkerboard lights.<br />
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Here's a photo dump of the last three months, most notably including skiing in Austria with godparents Josh and April and what the British call a "mini-break" with the Fox-Iredale clan in the Cotswolds. Also: Tor and Col got super short haircuts because I was sick of their bangs always growing into their eyes faster than any other bits got too long and I went a little overboard in briefing the barber.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE_C-6VgIJLMHqbGL_X1TwLj1kJX-rHlCewKtdxivzh2auWwFveidZOlGbVf98p18lvRJ9DoTCHOcd9zYMp1brPeFH9xxmV-OLKwRWvLAmUEkx6oQ5xaipUV_0wfZ3l9wZe6zCOmLq3-c/s1600/Family+ski+photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE_C-6VgIJLMHqbGL_X1TwLj1kJX-rHlCewKtdxivzh2auWwFveidZOlGbVf98p18lvRJ9DoTCHOcd9zYMp1brPeFH9xxmV-OLKwRWvLAmUEkx6oQ5xaipUV_0wfZ3l9wZe6zCOmLq3-c/s640/Family+ski+photo.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The one shot we got at a full family photo ON SKIS</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTYAFpQpI_ZZ80-cjr5yt5ZINeyTfqWCtgRIPK4piHVJVZt82OUkEgiS3k52uSxHH7NY2IiLv7z8IuFF9h2xB_CSsN6Oyu-eBaFiyydYdneEV5FIPO4B6fh7i6rkUQg6acH_shCLL0g7k/s1600/Trump+skis+in+jeans.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTYAFpQpI_ZZ80-cjr5yt5ZINeyTfqWCtgRIPK4piHVJVZt82OUkEgiS3k52uSxHH7NY2IiLv7z8IuFF9h2xB_CSsN6Oyu-eBaFiyydYdneEV5FIPO4B6fh7i6rkUQg6acH_shCLL0g7k/s640/Trump+skis+in+jeans.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saddest part is that's maybe the best thing you can say about the guy</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Hp0YBvdRk324f06Je7xWuBvErNn4zM-jL5h548zNsNvOn_L-nhKNAflqUi72PlohWwaEF_iXHSUphSL4GnvmpQKCzpRN7fzwfqHRyB410ockxU4eE84MSzhYDhJOhLwfM9yvOJ3OSZY/s1600/20170213_153517.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Hp0YBvdRk324f06Je7xWuBvErNn4zM-jL5h548zNsNvOn_L-nhKNAflqUi72PlohWwaEF_iXHSUphSL4GnvmpQKCzpRN7fzwfqHRyB410ockxU4eE84MSzhYDhJOhLwfM9yvOJ3OSZY/s640/20170213_153517.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Absolutely killed his first season ever...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0zBZEzMjsCxq8PLZZNYuENWW2Xj1jMfYIjPN-zUdwDgMqkyIhS-hYH8z1jxe-_o_5bKTkLpfRegoeXTBCoD6mSLhDoQkEeBQv8-yTZfgF094KGwtnGm4WmX8JGW7FvRibeRsFuLiP0B8/s1600/20170215_111820.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0zBZEzMjsCxq8PLZZNYuENWW2Xj1jMfYIjPN-zUdwDgMqkyIhS-hYH8z1jxe-_o_5bKTkLpfRegoeXTBCoD6mSLhDoQkEeBQv8-yTZfgF094KGwtnGm4WmX8JGW7FvRibeRsFuLiP0B8/s640/20170215_111820.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...especially when it came to taking food breaks</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGtgUe2vjwxwdSyPa_u-TCQWBQJ-4dyUU7ZJMHA_Rq-feHAjGEtu1kiaqTwZgzmmXO-YTuTw1P8JPVz0Ce2Vkm0mGR2b-E1rd_GrpuZxsboLFk6dO1ftEmhyphenhyphenMjlNMFNqGksTnQ54yyK1I/s1600/20170215_131015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGtgUe2vjwxwdSyPa_u-TCQWBQJ-4dyUU7ZJMHA_Rq-feHAjGEtu1kiaqTwZgzmmXO-YTuTw1P8JPVz0Ce2Vkm0mGR2b-E1rd_GrpuZxsboLFk6dO1ftEmhyphenhyphenMjlNMFNqGksTnQ54yyK1I/s640/20170215_131015.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lars is now perma-hunched</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx7-FeCo70oCk8khgapgQPdjq9R4Jo2E5xVp7R-0FWMpDooe549TLxm2hhOmn3Ne76CkGymWxMmiS5eW80qfGkt3d0-kCzEBYZC3uql6vOXqt0FeQGEJUV-KMk0Ka3VV8zknDvonw5JdI/s1600/20170215_153531.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx7-FeCo70oCk8khgapgQPdjq9R4Jo2E5xVp7R-0FWMpDooe549TLxm2hhOmn3Ne76CkGymWxMmiS5eW80qfGkt3d0-kCzEBYZC3uql6vOXqt0FeQGEJUV-KMk0Ka3VV8zknDvonw5JdI/s640/20170215_153531.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Capturing the flood snowpants and plaid longjohns</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7aDgeTOqKmBvGpU7NlyzsX1IfUPrSUksXb6OPwZESO37OJj97F_h4C1RLcd9FP3xFeWbx-nBdET6xufBHHFkt3MqeOvcvbINKZRe9L39FnZ19fGdq-2HHdgKtX8smGS5DWyK4vHi-6hI/s1600/20170216_124630.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7aDgeTOqKmBvGpU7NlyzsX1IfUPrSUksXb6OPwZESO37OJj97F_h4C1RLcd9FP3xFeWbx-nBdET6xufBHHFkt3MqeOvcvbINKZRe9L39FnZ19fGdq-2HHdgKtX8smGS5DWyK4vHi-6hI/s640/20170216_124630.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the gondola heading down from lunch</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwPIKUPjninl-0OBRwYccKuFNORu40BDfeHSSKXp9z4Dqt0TRxz1O0jQ-2DNEj4PtTuWjetrDyk8kgjE5znu8xMq7yshlxpfpU0W4HUS7rHoD3RuiZ9-snENeMW7MLicq1g4LfoIM7-bo/s1600/20170216_162401.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwPIKUPjninl-0OBRwYccKuFNORu40BDfeHSSKXp9z4Dqt0TRxz1O0jQ-2DNEj4PtTuWjetrDyk8kgjE5znu8xMq7yshlxpfpU0W4HUS7rHoD3RuiZ9-snENeMW7MLicq1g4LfoIM7-bo/s640/20170216_162401.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The vacation apartment featured shaggy cows!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZvtCrzfNPhNYYrkX2RxLVcWaGPF1syxWDz7rMFgG5jblB19WfLfmSZ86E3-57YheK5odfbC4XjAxAxZISGOmqSSPlubIk-vBxCUevhdAzYavtUadXkWIggDNpvNXxf1Ztag0XnrzsQlQ/s1600/20170218_111238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZvtCrzfNPhNYYrkX2RxLVcWaGPF1syxWDz7rMFgG5jblB19WfLfmSZ86E3-57YheK5odfbC4XjAxAxZISGOmqSSPlubIk-vBxCUevhdAzYavtUadXkWIggDNpvNXxf1Ztag0XnrzsQlQ/s640/20170218_111238.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back in Oxford, immediately following their scalping</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHUj2LlmPuJLQR29UgifEK-YCXVxamYc23QuwwAqAFUV-HrzMdEhWhobRDJ0aTTi34rfEiIsV6HbxtMvaoosvpLoOSLudbheIBCGHo_8rRCBp-hyKvrPBlh7pIYRWe9WYNapp681uBlq0/s1600/20170218_121333.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHUj2LlmPuJLQR29UgifEK-YCXVxamYc23QuwwAqAFUV-HrzMdEhWhobRDJ0aTTi34rfEiIsV6HbxtMvaoosvpLoOSLudbheIBCGHo_8rRCBp-hyKvrPBlh7pIYRWe9WYNapp681uBlq0/s640/20170218_121333.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pit stop while fairy-seeking</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVDYJFRGL1mwugFELvm1nT6u80FUaMC7TpzQ4tX8562HPPHgMK5IaXma43rGtppYD0zb41IkrFmwnMHrTbNx1E7Y1AgZ1uy4COM8rrjOSP3Hp5B7yreKOPopvrb8Qm4gbTWbPnltirWnU/s1600/20170218_121901.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVDYJFRGL1mwugFELvm1nT6u80FUaMC7TpzQ4tX8562HPPHgMK5IaXma43rGtppYD0zb41IkrFmwnMHrTbNx1E7Y1AgZ1uy4COM8rrjOSP3Hp5B7yreKOPopvrb8Qm4gbTWbPnltirWnU/s640/20170218_121901.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Someone was excited</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOqrVVzxghOyw92hwbzo3CMJVSpk1cedtygY_8elTvKMxU4G4DXzZ4m8y01hHaGMcb1aS_a5zKQ_AJK1xJRm87HsSqYyHmft0CaCOsYLRDxOwyU-iY0j0LnI9Uc3nWH3YgXGS3M13JJfE/s1600/20170225_094107.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOqrVVzxghOyw92hwbzo3CMJVSpk1cedtygY_8elTvKMxU4G4DXzZ4m8y01hHaGMcb1aS_a5zKQ_AJK1xJRm87HsSqYyHmft0CaCOsYLRDxOwyU-iY0j0LnI9Uc3nWH3YgXGS3M13JJfE/s640/20170225_094107.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rainy day: doing this puzzle for the third time straight</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdcW7nIQphfrDp-uT0MKSQon7APa9u7DKO6WUtwquwGb9wEse_3KQEM9kMbFHnmuREng2vkUHOYLS9N3NJt5Oc9n_wWk9dWNewzgrpsKmlDUAnXjnzwyJfJzi_etbKFCWs3MkE-SV8HpU/s1600/20170226_135211.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdcW7nIQphfrDp-uT0MKSQon7APa9u7DKO6WUtwquwGb9wEse_3KQEM9kMbFHnmuREng2vkUHOYLS9N3NJt5Oc9n_wWk9dWNewzgrpsKmlDUAnXjnzwyJfJzi_etbKFCWs3MkE-SV8HpU/s640/20170226_135211.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Menfolk relaxing I</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfJVmr2Sn3zec1eugyZfKC1qWaPdwkBkn7QbT5sGzt1JUlNCZ0FR3GJu2Uqk9jLxw9xleFhBXABGskPxD2VbCSUxWDcZqJExhQnjpuIzy-1OSgQh5DKPMfeeuTmQWVschTUAcEuYyhtBk/s1600/20170226_201721.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfJVmr2Sn3zec1eugyZfKC1qWaPdwkBkn7QbT5sGzt1JUlNCZ0FR3GJu2Uqk9jLxw9xleFhBXABGskPxD2VbCSUxWDcZqJExhQnjpuIzy-1OSgQh5DKPMfeeuTmQWVschTUAcEuYyhtBk/s640/20170226_201721.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Menfolk relaxing II</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDtxGlMamIwjNfm39Uv6YV24idAWIbk-S2_n6Cm_0lt6GCnekG4jq6FEPzgYR9UmyzCBe50zHepNbj7GwUY-tCyn6LMgKF7PuTHBIP8yNDfKR8fg4S1k5rgdLGavtXU1bIYQku2KPObQ4/s1600/20170304_144927.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDtxGlMamIwjNfm39Uv6YV24idAWIbk-S2_n6Cm_0lt6GCnekG4jq6FEPzgYR9UmyzCBe50zHepNbj7GwUY-tCyn6LMgKF7PuTHBIP8yNDfKR8fg4S1k5rgdLGavtXU1bIYQku2KPObQ4/s640/20170304_144927.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poor Dad, squinting without those sunglasses</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiowXEyQBRgY8B5C_o1zxwT2cWWfUHt4E5Vy5JvZWmwQhBwimzPw5Mj-nPJA3H4Vs21N-JwQLZ1zBN6DnJ4W0k3fDWnfym8QOqQiM-m7utULsUXETa5zZRRYv4Kzmgp8t0iRwie09Cx7cQ/s1600/20170305_111656.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiowXEyQBRgY8B5C_o1zxwT2cWWfUHt4E5Vy5JvZWmwQhBwimzPw5Mj-nPJA3H4Vs21N-JwQLZ1zBN6DnJ4W0k3fDWnfym8QOqQiM-m7utULsUXETa5zZRRYv4Kzmgp8t0iRwie09Cx7cQ/s640/20170305_111656.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Discovering Birdland, the Cotswolds' hidden gem</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlXIRwN270hTEMXbnjPS92atwyswTqAaOpixWCOA1AZEJhT1Wnvif6aB98PdTc_iqXVff824xBlImcQ5Kh1iDGQJ1Hik64h1c4CxfyZjMJSciqCrEKI81muWNme8W5wckoMa9-4hQsbns/s1600/20170305_114643.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlXIRwN270hTEMXbnjPS92atwyswTqAaOpixWCOA1AZEJhT1Wnvif6aB98PdTc_iqXVff824xBlImcQ5Kh1iDGQJ1Hik64h1c4CxfyZjMJSciqCrEKI81muWNme8W5wckoMa9-4hQsbns/s640/20170305_114643.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Naturally Birdland featured a full-on dinosaur discovery section</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5uCu2OZGXK0UitEMvxrtyLiLQxKIGCkB38xOxR0bKBoStO1CYoF1p6vfNYHw9A6V6UqcuBowRiJ7Ef-0i5euGI_4Y0tHqc-XH5BYgsZOi4OMr8hLD8Dsn50LXoZGJ-Clhxj0SLf8iNNA/s1600/20170305_125631.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5uCu2OZGXK0UitEMvxrtyLiLQxKIGCkB38xOxR0bKBoStO1CYoF1p6vfNYHw9A6V6UqcuBowRiJ7Ef-0i5euGI_4Y0tHqc-XH5BYgsZOi4OMr8hLD8Dsn50LXoZGJ-Clhxj0SLf8iNNA/s640/20170305_125631.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"I'M ABOUT TO EAT CHICKEN NUGGETS"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_RO1baPYMkgHmmrwwaysCJHA875nXQAWC4SWkZTCGrMLW0MB8WYAfxlF8_9Y3xh4nmAHJ4uysfAmzkf0SZPKhex00OifpJTjHgB6pih-vszV4zq3cbSig6Bb-FCLFckKAW1pUi7RLmJI/s1600/20170311_170235.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_RO1baPYMkgHmmrwwaysCJHA875nXQAWC4SWkZTCGrMLW0MB8WYAfxlF8_9Y3xh4nmAHJ4uysfAmzkf0SZPKhex00OifpJTjHgB6pih-vszV4zq3cbSig6Bb-FCLFckKAW1pUi7RLmJI/s640/20170311_170235.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't worry, I was definitely spotting them while taking this picture</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />TorTaleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11724873416713388826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6809182701398511861.post-56523894750156887392016-12-29T01:26:00.003-08:002016-12-29T01:26:45.313-08:00Happy 6th Birthday, Tor!<div style="text-align: left;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0TBF5JnkNxtfD2mOuSWiZQEkSApUxwkXzAqeU-feTIo_J8Z7ltaFL4BfUYHv9Jk3wjYNxi20AUvckGeoZWlF0ltWl_HSeOQsN1hLYOPxw8U7oEXdJUMes9DZXB98KejF__4owu3B-TqQ/s1600/IMG_2451.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0TBF5JnkNxtfD2mOuSWiZQEkSApUxwkXzAqeU-feTIo_J8Z7ltaFL4BfUYHv9Jk3wjYNxi20AUvckGeoZWlF0ltWl_HSeOQsN1hLYOPxw8U7oEXdJUMes9DZXB98KejF__4owu3B-TqQ/s640/IMG_2451.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Word fan you wet</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />TorTaleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11724873416713388826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6809182701398511861.post-15418682142196317992016-12-26T09:04:00.000-08:002016-12-26T09:04:01.984-08:00Another year down!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
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We’ve survived 2016 (well, nearly there anyway)! Here’s an
update from the four of us.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9UqRr1N2JlNlbb2BYSnvQwkK2Zn73gPJooTsYv-nNdK9aoo_L-oJVjGgUGuUfslzngcYDKg60tZ5gp0o2Kmj_JvyOo_7fsH_WZdczv_GffjFd9LrKIg_OBT2ZpFP-EjT2WIlJXS7pfE0/s1600/6050454745366017997_account_id%253D1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9UqRr1N2JlNlbb2BYSnvQwkK2Zn73gPJooTsYv-nNdK9aoo_L-oJVjGgUGuUfslzngcYDKg60tZ5gp0o2Kmj_JvyOo_7fsH_WZdczv_GffjFd9LrKIg_OBT2ZpFP-EjT2WIlJXS7pfE0/s640/6050454745366017997_account_id%253D1.jpg" width="372" /></a></div>
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In terms of the day to day, it’s admittedly not been a great
year of cultivating grown-up hobbies, but we’ve gotten out around town on the
weekends with friends, usually friends with kids, to parks and pubs (if it’s
not raining) or museums and pubs (if it is). Most of the museums in Oxford are
free, and we’re making full use of them. This year we’ve enjoyed teaching Tor
to ride a bike, celebrating a slew of children’s birthdays, participating in
church events, and attending school concerts and plays for both boys.</div>
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Tor is nearly six and in the UK equivalent of first grade,
Year 1 (which kids go into a year younger than in the US). He has complicated,
ever-changing relationships with the kids at school, but mostly they stay
positive and he’s looking forward to his sixth birthday party at the local bowling
alley with several little buddies. His biggest challenge this year has been to
focus on the more curriculum-based kind of learning he’s being asked to do,
compared to the play-based nature of last year’s class. This year he learned
how to swim 5 meters without help, began reading simple books, discovered
Pokemon trading cards, and played out countless imaginary scenarios with family
and friends (most frequently with Col, and lately involving an enormous stuffed
bear). <a href="https://youtu.be/lTJs5Qy5bMA">Here </a>is Tor telling us about learning a Christmas song at school (with a
cameo by Col eating a soft-boiled egg).</div>
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Col keeps a sunny disposition most of the time, though he’s
started to assert his own desires much more this year and can cross over to the
dark side in the blink of an eye when disputing whose turn it is with a toy,
who gets to lead the way into preschool, or where he’ll sit at dinnertime. After
about a year of halfhearted effort, he finally conquered toilet-training shortly
after his third birthday (October 15)—just in time to switch to a new preschool
on January 4, so fingers crossed there’s no backsliding in the strange environment.
He worships his big brother and does his best to imitate whatever Tor does, for
better or worse. He sings the ABCs loudly and proudly but can’t yet recognize
many individual letters. When we put him to bed, he asks for “a big cuddle…now
a little cuddle…now a big cuddle” and will carry on that way until we say “last
time.” He’s speaking in full sentences though the pronunciation is still touch
and go. <a href="https://youtu.be/62sOHDVit4I">Here </a>he is singing “Feliz Navidad” (practicing for his Christmas concert).
The non-traditional line he throws in there is, “Now in English!” </div>
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Elissa continued at Oxford University Press this year, still
overseeing the UK team in charge of outsourcing academic book production, which grew to seven people in 2016, and
also heading up a new team of four responsible for manufacturing all of the new
academic books coming out of the UK office (about 1600 titles a year). It’s
been a year filled with new things to learn and chances to think about better
ways to get from submitted manuscripts all the way through to finished products!</div>
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Lars worked this year to further establish his lab and research group,
which now consists of three Master's students, two PhD students, and one
postdoc. Two years of work culminated in the first experiments on
Lars's new rock deformation apparatus, squishing rocks at 2500 degrees
F. Expect pictures next year of all sorts of tortured rocks!</div>
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This year we said goodbye to our much-loved Dendro, who
joined our family in 2001. We were fortunate to be able to visit him at Karen
and Andy’s shortly before he passed. He had a good long life, and we’ll see him
on the other side where we’re confident he’s now able to catch Frisbees and
chase cows once again.</div>
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A highlight of the year was a couple of family trips. In
February we headed to Austria for a week, where we met up with Norm and
Charmaine and Tor’s godparents, Josh and April. Charmaine hung out with Col while
the rest of us skied, including Tor, who spent five days in the ski school and
came out eager to return next year. Then in August we took two and a half weeks
to visit family on the West Coast, including Lars’s cousin Morgan’s wedding; a
relaxing time with Andy, Karen, Tim, Caitlin, and Mormor; and an epic
Disneyland trip with Norm and Charmaine—the kids were the perfect age to feel
the Disney magic!</div>
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Merry Christmas to all and a joyous New Year!</div>
TorTaleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11724873416713388826noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6809182701398511861.post-6664401588442177282016-08-23T13:04:00.002-07:002016-08-23T13:04:26.276-07:00Seems so long ago...You know you're delinquent at updating your blog when all your posts start with comments on how long it's been since your last post. This is a new record for me, though--nearly four months. Turns out I had the below draft sitting from June, and most of the pictures are from May, so this is a little outdated, but to be followed with pictures from later summer. (We just got back from 2.5 weeks in the US and are collating photos from multiple sources! Also, Tim and Caitlin came to visit us!)<br />
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<em>Scene: Bedtime</em><br />
Me: OK, I'm going to put on some music for you.<br />
Tor: What is the music about?<br />
Me: It's just piano music.<br />
Tor: Is it about somebody kicking people?<br />
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<em>Scene: After school</em><br />
Tor: Do you know what we're going to make in our class?<br />
Me: What?<br />
Tor: Tea towels. Each class is going to make one and we're going to put our pictures on them. So I drew a picture of my face. The teachers will put it on the towel and print it out. And you can buy one because they'll be for sale.<br />
Me: Sounds like a good project. We will definitely buy one if they're for sale.<br />
Tor: And Mrs. Varpur said they last forever, too.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPaY64HWR_3-kqswZ27HEX_cys7-4Xs2wgs4W_SOANin4ON6A4VD6fVS2JBdhXWrTgFa0rBpLv_GvSeE3_ZdYTR9WRYBZOquSmcJRh2AouGBoMCpE0uXTO4e30u_iLSzNl3oB1BT5CtO8/s1600/20160415_084515.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPaY64HWR_3-kqswZ27HEX_cys7-4Xs2wgs4W_SOANin4ON6A4VD6fVS2JBdhXWrTgFa0rBpLv_GvSeE3_ZdYTR9WRYBZOquSmcJRh2AouGBoMCpE0uXTO4e30u_iLSzNl3oB1BT5CtO8/s640/20160415_084515.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tor's final school presentation? Put a bird on it!</td></tr>
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We went on a hike with our Cambridge-based buddies the Lascus to celebrate Ioana's and my shared birthday. It was the one day of the year that it snowed.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBV0zl6gJdr0H3X1ze9OY88X20Lsk_3Q4qvr3B251MYYoJ0pPHOyabeRNusnJRHOZbVQHQooGJOSjbHG2VbBBT-BVaNagzo3sJMK2UPUl3zhc8e0yGaiq57kbc_4Y5bjzZ3r9hgOtYbzY/s1600/20160416_134341.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBV0zl6gJdr0H3X1ze9OY88X20Lsk_3Q4qvr3B251MYYoJ0pPHOyabeRNusnJRHOZbVQHQooGJOSjbHG2VbBBT-BVaNagzo3sJMK2UPUl3zhc8e0yGaiq57kbc_4Y5bjzZ3r9hgOtYbzY/s640/20160416_134341.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Off to catch dinner</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOMKJqe-QK4cUi9ovlgmyND6gnBYybYgcotceU2A2nLI2zjSrLTUj59JGV-XtDWSalAq4ZyftAW2r82rbK75gIgRq95P0YagJ0zL5R986kp0FEUgb7_AMd7pULHcTdHKW9tJ0RIBXudD4/s1600/20160416_135014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOMKJqe-QK4cUi9ovlgmyND6gnBYybYgcotceU2A2nLI2zjSrLTUj59JGV-XtDWSalAq4ZyftAW2r82rbK75gIgRq95P0YagJ0zL5R986kp0FEUgb7_AMd7pULHcTdHKW9tJ0RIBXudD4/s640/20160416_135014.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even better!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC-7q26R3N9RgGlMv1STGimmCU42FBWeHOXCgE5VLXuu94okKHRf9ccdmt2tN9DwDa9JJ4tZ0aN2QctZPqvsSFUShfYnqWAkiZGwSTBVlIHNVwZmnBGk2yzM3F0pQIeUG-1MuUWoxxF-w/s1600/20160416_135849.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC-7q26R3N9RgGlMv1STGimmCU42FBWeHOXCgE5VLXuu94okKHRf9ccdmt2tN9DwDa9JJ4tZ0aN2QctZPqvsSFUShfYnqWAkiZGwSTBVlIHNVwZmnBGk2yzM3F0pQIeUG-1MuUWoxxF-w/s640/20160416_135849.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Practicing for his <em>Jungle Book </em>audition</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Aga3HkpoWn4PmInrucF9dBpODCG9CTDfFirfueZnMxYOeZn0MFZvt4-HqygORcTTcuVeZM_nLIcGIT79HCAoNDNlb-6GMwOvrUXzh0njRkGOcsqDspiA4M0kkJ3BX9ztdUgRtQxL3eA/s1600/20160416_140231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Aga3HkpoWn4PmInrucF9dBpODCG9CTDfFirfueZnMxYOeZn0MFZvt4-HqygORcTTcuVeZM_nLIcGIT79HCAoNDNlb-6GMwOvrUXzh0njRkGOcsqDspiA4M0kkJ3BX9ztdUgRtQxL3eA/s640/20160416_140231.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I have no idea where this hat came from. Seriously</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCJke6txWI1MdgfxqVg27E78SWkxLdD3QXxYpUROfc5vRkf9nxdHhOV7Y6fEismOKSvrIZf2Qw31j_acxsu4zKa86od5OLGwaL1ISNTMo8QjaSg_uZyTVZfi18nSUiIlvyQoKPUiQB0iI/s1600/20160418_184550.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCJke6txWI1MdgfxqVg27E78SWkxLdD3QXxYpUROfc5vRkf9nxdHhOV7Y6fEismOKSvrIZf2Qw31j_acxsu4zKa86od5OLGwaL1ISNTMo8QjaSg_uZyTVZfi18nSUiIlvyQoKPUiQB0iI/s640/20160418_184550.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Playing hairdresser in the tub</td></tr>
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Lars and Tor put together Tor's first robotics project, complete with Tor accompanying DaDa to the store to pick out all the necessary bits and pieces. This was notably also Tor's first soldering project.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfDroq4sxs2LYwkKCFMzFvGKZptdd0p8RLbvObUX57CGkcMQbsBSjoxJLn5SHz00xj0O_239bzYTFSAOS4sBRwQHvlf3onAq5TEiZwUAIrAVX8LzWd2CrPcFGqllkW2Sxyzv2_0cfuq8M/s1600/20160423_155736.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfDroq4sxs2LYwkKCFMzFvGKZptdd0p8RLbvObUX57CGkcMQbsBSjoxJLn5SHz00xj0O_239bzYTFSAOS4sBRwQHvlf3onAq5TEiZwUAIrAVX8LzWd2CrPcFGqllkW2Sxyzv2_0cfuq8M/s640/20160423_155736.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The result: a teeny scorpion that turns to keep moving whenever it walks into a wall. So basically a Roomba. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A rare moment of unity when waiting for the bus</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNHlsvThtcXK7SEUWnj0VoRYkx3rEy4PRqihWDvJLO3UeXWXDRKxbFZX_3s3aThOUl8UzP6Xzi4SpBMZjMWmL7F5IF37lkKcXJtjZUle8TQpfsC_nHP_RanWggiplDUZck70J2rxPk3H4/s1600/20160501_112916.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNHlsvThtcXK7SEUWnj0VoRYkx3rEy4PRqihWDvJLO3UeXWXDRKxbFZX_3s3aThOUl8UzP6Xzi4SpBMZjMWmL7F5IF37lkKcXJtjZUle8TQpfsC_nHP_RanWggiplDUZck70J2rxPk3H4/s640/20160501_112916.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Driving" said bus</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoACS8i_9c8LIdZztMGye1Wji2jHQj5KsVWHhhiHC2HdnUJNFWUAU51hgfEbLLJKzJ9ETTzA56rdqUBNb2c05SKHGnX054ORjLObxIz94zn4QL00T0fJPJvXw1IRz2WrI7q3NCYEq-IMs/s1600/20160504_182942.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoACS8i_9c8LIdZztMGye1Wji2jHQj5KsVWHhhiHC2HdnUJNFWUAU51hgfEbLLJKzJ9ETTzA56rdqUBNb2c05SKHGnX054ORjLObxIz94zn4QL00T0fJPJvXw1IRz2WrI7q3NCYEq-IMs/s640/20160504_182942.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brace yourself, Col</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ1_pMHSb0tgYOMRAQdry9QjfJC6s8BhGrSEH-62eSUvLOlS4HRnEPU7zNexuzfgknA7PqJel1Rs1n-AtbQtAN1OG0lEf-SysMTMxx5DoVfnuEM2JsACt2lroc-AuxKuGNGcUXjYzuLq0/s1600/20160507_080602.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ1_pMHSb0tgYOMRAQdry9QjfJC6s8BhGrSEH-62eSUvLOlS4HRnEPU7zNexuzfgknA7PqJel1Rs1n-AtbQtAN1OG0lEf-SysMTMxx5DoVfnuEM2JsACt2lroc-AuxKuGNGcUXjYzuLq0/s640/20160507_080602.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Teddy bear tea--sans parental prompting</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY9nXf13gMqYUuS71etwOkg2pWyghQCeMZnRY4wNXR9LgxnfTosBzoR0MAM3IrCu0p70KX59M7GpKT0V6QmgVx-_SFyrOE8laWXYQN7UThFR_0cy9HDYD_c4RgJRdeOzo9RWccrmjPsx0/s1600/20160507_180229.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY9nXf13gMqYUuS71etwOkg2pWyghQCeMZnRY4wNXR9LgxnfTosBzoR0MAM3IrCu0p70KX59M7GpKT0V6QmgVx-_SFyrOE8laWXYQN7UThFR_0cy9HDYD_c4RgJRdeOzo9RWccrmjPsx0/s640/20160507_180229.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Post-tea-party parallel Lego play</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWGergGau098W_h6UqxxHdjcnmunEci9Pnmf771qyDKNhsSpdy-f0YzdaajSZBjG76WKlVCtKNe7e4NR_VNJls3UbnFMEbm7EaaZECDgdn8B27bjdL2_YLleGdfREoMlZBsznfuIHlm2Q/s1600/20160508_131136.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWGergGau098W_h6UqxxHdjcnmunEci9Pnmf771qyDKNhsSpdy-f0YzdaajSZBjG76WKlVCtKNe7e4NR_VNJls3UbnFMEbm7EaaZECDgdn8B27bjdL2_YLleGdfREoMlZBsznfuIHlm2Q/s640/20160508_131136.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Sun's out, guns out" was actually Oxford Castle's original motto</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpXxOVw8_dUUf4nCurB-TSu-_QHiOYs3Q74D6I-JhAH0iFRm22wMIQrjJaKjPKUjfKyq3D_dFKgUsTcOriEtooUaxXs80aN_75qvnhxs_rJ5tgoe2fXVg407t17l0lLMpG3Eo0gnb3drg/s1600/20160510_194305.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpXxOVw8_dUUf4nCurB-TSu-_QHiOYs3Q74D6I-JhAH0iFRm22wMIQrjJaKjPKUjfKyq3D_dFKgUsTcOriEtooUaxXs80aN_75qvnhxs_rJ5tgoe2fXVg407t17l0lLMpG3Eo0gnb3drg/s640/20160510_194305.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pull-Ups: LET THE GAMES BEGIN</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIOaaIk0l8-KKQyIk-8n7IjVKJqLAQI4Ksd88PYlmyz8ApzgCt4DDdelgoecxJ5VsmTH_FdBPhKVH8ojrAflLAy6za4JNCAJpTrWzLggjVBoe0sQO8n8Db9n5aHwt5CASRs6nCTAWCX3A/s1600/20160512_165612.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIOaaIk0l8-KKQyIk-8n7IjVKJqLAQI4Ksd88PYlmyz8ApzgCt4DDdelgoecxJ5VsmTH_FdBPhKVH8ojrAflLAy6za4JNCAJpTrWzLggjVBoe0sQO8n8Db9n5aHwt5CASRs6nCTAWCX3A/s640/20160512_165612.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spotted: on a treasure hunt at after-school club</td></tr>
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<br />TorTaleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11724873416713388826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6809182701398511861.post-83227515931415034232016-05-06T12:20:00.000-07:002016-05-06T12:20:26.783-07:00The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and other stories<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/IVb_4UgK6PM/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IVb_4UgK6PM?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
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We're enjoying an un-English warm and dry stretch of weather this week and celebrating by toilet training! Here is an ironically unappetizing reading of the children's classic <i>The Very Hungry Caterpillar </i>as told to a 2.5-year-old trying to eliminate. (Spoiler alert: no actual elimination takes place in this video, despite Col's claims to the contrary.)<br />
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While I'm at it, here are a few more photos from the past six weeks (!) since I've updated the blog.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>March: Easter!</b></i></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGYFCxHqV8CEqH7r2k6pvevB47m1iEis0dNDX6fb7mE6X5VA-HLa2RSCfuAHX3-uq0ewRUVQ5bvnz5degD9KBb3nl-KM3XrNxhAskANvgNQWnt-r91kv3pckHuFsD1QinIpNn6ftv25go/s1600/20160327_162242.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGYFCxHqV8CEqH7r2k6pvevB47m1iEis0dNDX6fb7mE6X5VA-HLa2RSCfuAHX3-uq0ewRUVQ5bvnz5degD9KBb3nl-KM3XrNxhAskANvgNQWnt-r91kv3pckHuFsD1QinIpNn6ftv25go/s640/20160327_162242.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Separate egg hunts this year minimized stress and maximized eggs per kid</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiQpVdWJr-oSXPuAJJV0ONTuq7BFKC_-BdMAzbjYiUoQ09v5wwdQsggeXECtVderNGRDVFPhPmu9JDOukOPsYryAT6l5FfyPCPZJaDaL-P6azqcqWxulr_AgY30_kwrle3GQ9SxKhpLcI/s1600/20160327_162225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiQpVdWJr-oSXPuAJJV0ONTuq7BFKC_-BdMAzbjYiUoQ09v5wwdQsggeXECtVderNGRDVFPhPmu9JDOukOPsYryAT6l5FfyPCPZJaDaL-P6azqcqWxulr_AgY30_kwrle3GQ9SxKhpLcI/s640/20160327_162225.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That crazed, glazed Easter chocolate look</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7SMXP45nW_K7pGToSY1G302IKNf-AhzI7JjaN1Jm4X_jFPCl3y-Sc6SjOtexfPKhVwIYZsPASmL5F97GY5dHzki5By0UBVuZbPb1ZqiR9IQvYoMn_oKwDJ7jDPgENpU0v3L-5gRaLP5g/s1600/20160327_140515.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7SMXP45nW_K7pGToSY1G302IKNf-AhzI7JjaN1Jm4X_jFPCl3y-Sc6SjOtexfPKhVwIYZsPASmL5F97GY5dHzki5By0UBVuZbPb1ZqiR9IQvYoMn_oKwDJ7jDPgENpU0v3L-5gRaLP5g/s640/20160327_140515.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moving too fast for my shutter speed</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0fOJHuNoeo4E0sAq2tSyzag9Kl2Oy_i3gJoqtze7ZzGwA_KIr7gXwmFT9d-9sAnpSAIYLcaIKlqnRaQ2jXcfqNeP0hRtbGJZTiW2JcI57IBgbjYx6VElZUTHz9qMVz2yaTwGzGdP4VpY/s1600/20160324_075821.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0fOJHuNoeo4E0sAq2tSyzag9Kl2Oy_i3gJoqtze7ZzGwA_KIr7gXwmFT9d-9sAnpSAIYLcaIKlqnRaQ2jXcfqNeP0hRtbGJZTiW2JcI57IBgbjYx6VElZUTHz9qMVz2yaTwGzGdP4VpY/s640/20160324_075821.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rocking the Easter finery for daycare</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1VwykXeaYNgHjfFTt-B9kY89cSRjzOYCDdJo51Ft2ROZRhA939bhJMWYsRBMp6uOyaPn9o5DUmJMIqEC-aX2y1etZ8fhJVPHJvhW01GoF2qhdEdmHvE76CSfJZz4zvVhakFGtEy0wE9E/s1600/20160325_114000.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1VwykXeaYNgHjfFTt-B9kY89cSRjzOYCDdJo51Ft2ROZRhA939bhJMWYsRBMp6uOyaPn9o5DUmJMIqEC-aX2y1etZ8fhJVPHJvhW01GoF2qhdEdmHvE76CSfJZz4zvVhakFGtEy0wE9E/s640/20160325_114000.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lego action at the Good Friday children's carnival</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwUOmycX7L4lRvBPC1t0J2PfWTOJAvg4khjDE5wZuxN6s6Fg6CC8E27mgZXrvhqYsUpiy4YmqxGVGMJjWYXNfY98tJ02uCWokZmG3o3l6BS8McDgh8xh7hZ5_su9oTip3QAepG4Euu0DY/s1600/20160325_112357.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwUOmycX7L4lRvBPC1t0J2PfWTOJAvg4khjDE5wZuxN6s6Fg6CC8E27mgZXrvhqYsUpiy4YmqxGVGMJjWYXNfY98tJ02uCWokZmG3o3l6BS8McDgh8xh7hZ5_su9oTip3QAepG4Euu0DY/s640/20160325_112357.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aaaaand pulpit action</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>April</b></i></span> <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggCOQq1tqfsl8Y0I6ki6QmiuaW8DTdeCbWP7Rnx214TSqhwJBQV9lE09PtlQFZHPErNkD74Gy4n2fnFax-Rueo2FVtjy4169T8sJZ0RvJFKxjXUb_tLUQbpLhomaJxYrF57Jepu8Hjhlw/s1600/20160326_160207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggCOQq1tqfsl8Y0I6ki6QmiuaW8DTdeCbWP7Rnx214TSqhwJBQV9lE09PtlQFZHPErNkD74Gy4n2fnFax-Rueo2FVtjy4169T8sJZ0RvJFKxjXUb_tLUQbpLhomaJxYrF57Jepu8Hjhlw/s640/20160326_160207.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying delicious "agar jelly" at a science-themed b-day party</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFBn0fz4KG70DeBpfVKKbsWrlUX9jh573zttrTFte47c5MsH4mpVVVoBxGSFQv7mOKXW8mXlz-E1Nrm7yrvhh-xgLUpNvVzQH85mBYNIK_p1VrxuipPcrEdxdyfOasAcpqGIb6LSg6sW4/s1600/20160325_171506.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFBn0fz4KG70DeBpfVKKbsWrlUX9jh573zttrTFte47c5MsH4mpVVVoBxGSFQv7mOKXW8mXlz-E1Nrm7yrvhh-xgLUpNvVzQH85mBYNIK_p1VrxuipPcrEdxdyfOasAcpqGIb6LSg6sW4/s640/20160325_171506.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How Oxford's one BBQ joint lost its pig</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwp9zj9NEVtX9pRd5Ts82WwJB1w4KxTmlvFVEfKSY-sVI_y8KGCIqS_LV55zNjA2EUEif4MglnhbTLGGhAzKVf4WtgqVAgOBa4qPWyP_KtxhrNz5O5MMVGZ8iAOrK99UWJR95t5rE5ZJk/s1600/20160313_112252.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwp9zj9NEVtX9pRd5Ts82WwJB1w4KxTmlvFVEfKSY-sVI_y8KGCIqS_LV55zNjA2EUEif4MglnhbTLGGhAzKVf4WtgqVAgOBa4qPWyP_KtxhrNz5O5MMVGZ8iAOrK99UWJR95t5rE5ZJk/s640/20160313_112252.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hogging the church steps as usual after the service</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjES-RMjpDXlhbuiN7Dz9IrXx-IIMJaFYkRix5A7r6deE6WDopIqNgWRTKOifRBwvnO5-UjCwnYWXQxDPHGx-ITV4uglinODdBpCKBIPNb52f2UCocA66Pdgj047Z6EYzCG2ggklY76lNc/s1600/20160319_082031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjES-RMjpDXlhbuiN7Dz9IrXx-IIMJaFYkRix5A7r6deE6WDopIqNgWRTKOifRBwvnO5-UjCwnYWXQxDPHGx-ITV4uglinODdBpCKBIPNb52f2UCocA66Pdgj047Z6EYzCG2ggklY76lNc/s640/20160319_082031.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I swear this idea had nothing to do with me</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We'll call them simply "Hansen"</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First nice day out!</td></tr>
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<br />TorTaleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11724873416713388826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6809182701398511861.post-50220076547437366062016-03-17T13:37:00.000-07:002016-03-17T13:37:47.419-07:00Because Photos Don't Do It Justice<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Finally posting a few videos on YouTube from the last several months. Here are three from December 1, 2015, and another three from the final day of Tor's first week of skiing, February 19, 2016 (featuring Pakka as guest narrator).</div>
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Every day with the boys</div>
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Col, laser pointer. Laser pointer, Col's mouth.</div>
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Decorating the tree</div>
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Short slalom I</div>
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Short slalom II</div>
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The big hill</div>
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<br />TorTaleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11724873416713388826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6809182701398511861.post-39511005076194705142016-03-11T13:31:00.001-08:002016-03-11T13:31:23.676-08:00Half-term!There is no US equivalent to this time off of school: whereas US kids sensibly get a week off for spring break, UK kids get a week off in February, then two weeks off over Easter. It is a childcare nightmare.<br />
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So we decided to forego the logistical headaches for the February week and take the entire family on vacation. And where better to go than somewhere with elevation and snow, the two qualities most notably absent from Oxford? <br />
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Avid readers may remember Hinterstoder, Austria, from our <a href="http://tortales.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/see-you-in-september.html">summer vacation</a> there. It was sleepy in the summer but in the winter it buzzes with skiers. It's had a mild winter, and for a few days it was wickedly foggy, but the snow felt good and we were outside--and it's been a goal to get Tor into ski school, so we ripped off the bandaid there.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJt5u8cKBmv2rtY5pm2OtwhzBk5LMNeauPd2E9J9d-9lt5fjzO1dSFDqUjjLlJS7ppoISG7iu_A993W1RK072AgBHaP5VG18k9c63Nl5NKVnyYFKc8F-FIaUJvd0ZNosHqNL7WWgdxiGY/s1600/unspecified7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJt5u8cKBmv2rtY5pm2OtwhzBk5LMNeauPd2E9J9d-9lt5fjzO1dSFDqUjjLlJS7ppoISG7iu_A993W1RK072AgBHaP5VG18k9c63Nl5NKVnyYFKc8F-FIaUJvd0ZNosHqNL7WWgdxiGY/s640/unspecified7.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from the top</td></tr>
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Joining us were Ahbee and Pakka and the Siglers, happily (at least for us). We had a night in Vienna on either end and six nights in Hinterstoder itself, the latter in the same hotel which featured a downstairs with Legos and a train set as well as a tunnel connecting to a neighboring restaurant. (We ate there a lot.)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vienna: Ahbee escapes the dominion of midgets</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"I'LL SLEEP BUT ONLY WHEN YOU CANNOT"</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arriving at the hotel . . . with iPad</td></tr>
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In one of history's great acts of generosity, Ahbee volunteered to hang out with Col while the rest of us skied. The relatively mild winter let them stroll around the town, and of course they spent plenty of time reading, singing, playing with all manner of toys, and coaxing Col to nap. The first day, they came up the mountain with the rest of us to check out the slopes, riding the same gondola that we took last summer.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">100% covered in hand-me-downs</td></tr>
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We'd booked Tor for all-day ski school before arriving: two hours of skiing in the morning, 1.5 hours for lunch, then two more hours of skiing in the afternoon. Keep in mind this was his first time on skis. Ahbee and Pakka got him some sweet ski outfits, so he was warm in the snow and amped to get out there.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFGf0-VpSt022dSdt37qNZNwq-LeQ6dogA9MG7a5nkvuo0I77swW-Fas9mw5k4vdZL3S4vpDyVk-cCWYeqoCsIPBomFsGb8z2B8Dv4WIAaCMAOzGefBT1gICCsH-CrzfVY23rF0RZDjiI/s1600/IMG_20160215_092908_438.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFGf0-VpSt022dSdt37qNZNwq-LeQ6dogA9MG7a5nkvuo0I77swW-Fas9mw5k4vdZL3S4vpDyVk-cCWYeqoCsIPBomFsGb8z2B8Dv4WIAaCMAOzGefBT1gICCsH-CrzfVY23rF0RZDjiI/s640/IMG_20160215_092908_438.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Facing day 1 head on</td></tr>
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Tor stuck it out like a champ on days 1 and 2. He was tired in the afternoons, but not too tired to want to show us his new skills after we collected him from the kids' area. This led to repeated magic carpet rides and short, shallow-sloped runs that alternated between Tor making some legit turns by focusing on his pizza and Tor bombing down the hill on his French fries. (Those are technical skiing terms.)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX8MJy1pxTGvhxSxdWNjyJJuPYB0WE-TwO_sbwU2ODQCblBCYRLC9uTnUB7tchBU7IyCtzmIx9j-grFg0G75tajy8o00vE_UBgsMb46Dtv3ZG4EQLE8D9LcM4HsBMb-NHrwFzp8Ov3Dcg/s1600/IMG_20160215_161030_529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX8MJy1pxTGvhxSxdWNjyJJuPYB0WE-TwO_sbwU2ODQCblBCYRLC9uTnUB7tchBU7IyCtzmIx9j-grFg0G75tajy8o00vE_UBgsMb46Dtv3ZG4EQLE8D9LcM4HsBMb-NHrwFzp8Ov3Dcg/s640/IMG_20160215_161030_529.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Magic carpet in action</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguKZJ9fU4WC5LXLArfy1TxBK94LKGDqj5fxGUxsu3dT-ogioG6LV27Kae7Lx4tRV7bkwL5xXSRXb9PBL0HjNWsM0CTPhKpfXuF7j-hq6j6C7qCni7DEdYKtbRXcslujX8qbi43XQteg_I/s1600/unspecified10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguKZJ9fU4WC5LXLArfy1TxBK94LKGDqj5fxGUxsu3dT-ogioG6LV27Kae7Lx4tRV7bkwL5xXSRXb9PBL0HjNWsM0CTPhKpfXuF7j-hq6j6C7qCni7DEdYKtbRXcslujX8qbi43XQteg_I/s640/unspecified10.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pizza at work</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6jnWekWlpKDfyYkIak6Tz_lYCqMQPO78OG0MPKevZIeoDCyHPAsbBa1g2JE_9JryEulQm33DiVC5ATuxyEihG7Htgm8PZQXknKrXwecMZLzbzif6zpE7UA-0ptxC2Jn1Rqtojjun2Tjg/s1600/unspecified8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6jnWekWlpKDfyYkIak6Tz_lYCqMQPO78OG0MPKevZIeoDCyHPAsbBa1g2JE_9JryEulQm33DiVC5ATuxyEihG7Htgm8PZQXknKrXwecMZLzbzif6zpE7UA-0ptxC2Jn1Rqtojjun2Tjg/s640/unspecified8.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Child-free skiing--this may not happen again for a good decade</td></tr>
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On day 2, the instructor told us that Tor wasn't keeping pace with the other newbies, so she recommended he move to a half-day course plus lunch. Frankly this suited us fine, since we'd been getting pretty tired by the early afternoon and were willing to pick him up then and head down the hill. (One of the days he even talked us out of putting him in the lunch program, since "I can't understand anybody and I'm lonely." First solid experience with a language barrier: check.)</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivTFhpXJfqsh56wNds85DdIVmjWmguCcblciWXDNXhO6ye-Mq12s6KeUyFZ1zLvGmJR3urOxoMbADi4xyPVhiaJfW0VSLcnSSAc1csF5seBteu6weHqY2jdIYG8iGR7KEiCAwgpihRGuo/s1600/unspecified3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivTFhpXJfqsh56wNds85DdIVmjWmguCcblciWXDNXhO6ye-Mq12s6KeUyFZ1zLvGmJR3urOxoMbADi4xyPVhiaJfW0VSLcnSSAc1csF5seBteu6weHqY2jdIYG8iGR7KEiCAwgpihRGuo/s640/unspecified3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hot chocolate: the best reward</td></tr>
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On day 5, Tor's class had a slalom "race" where each kid got to make their own run and get timed. This was followed by an award ceremony where all the kids got medals. Tor came in third because he missed every gate--clearly disqualification was not an option for these long-suffering teachers.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFhQWdZarTj-f-xNW0BJ75de5Nyk421hhOVsrgqUdxRWWJg9CKp9h3vEwuxfqPshMq6PhFIzT-fvo9g_3LzYZrSuplYCVNxDNmzpln6bcSauahTpO3NTEnih4aHiEtDBmuOYPRYbfvt5w/s1600/IMG_20160215_160339_397.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFhQWdZarTj-f-xNW0BJ75de5Nyk421hhOVsrgqUdxRWWJg9CKp9h3vEwuxfqPshMq6PhFIzT-fvo9g_3LzYZrSuplYCVNxDNmzpln6bcSauahTpO3NTEnih4aHiEtDBmuOYPRYbfvt5w/s640/IMG_20160215_160339_397.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still smiling after a long day</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs3F1VnZi6lVGKXCbZ1gqdRgSepIeo0K1vuWT3WAmb-8P_YeElQdrYMOen-1hQzn_1a4YLWONjQl1Y_fJzM2lhknexDURLLguxlNlVKHZT4VcYUqP-ZI7jsayD71USCBy-xkEvqmqcV9g/s1600/unspecified2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs3F1VnZi6lVGKXCbZ1gqdRgSepIeo0K1vuWT3WAmb-8P_YeElQdrYMOen-1hQzn_1a4YLWONjQl1Y_fJzM2lhknexDURLLguxlNlVKHZT4VcYUqP-ZI7jsayD71USCBy-xkEvqmqcV9g/s640/unspecified2.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Recovering from his sprint down the hill</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnHHDzEfsksB7CnCJfnUm8ahGHESPw_9LYeX43cVt54_ZANIrz1LXZ7ILM0V1FSdsyyujTCHvOgw5iC_rPuhA0gJXjB1HbEfngY4lz3BzQEI9CFd6SjCml3m8szoWbBbMmq0Co9ylgHi4/s1600/IMG_20160219_120126_582.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnHHDzEfsksB7CnCJfnUm8ahGHESPw_9LYeX43cVt54_ZANIrz1LXZ7ILM0V1FSdsyyujTCHvOgw5iC_rPuhA0gJXjB1HbEfngY4lz3BzQEI9CFd6SjCml3m8szoWbBbMmq0Co9ylgHi4/s400/IMG_20160219_120126_582.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Third place and didn't hit a gate, suckers"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijoVX4r2lx3arI37ZAjQ2_WX7w7hgA7fNR08On-PvfKOkjWsSyG6Jg3A-pqL63_8Sxf4Mwsl_-Npz2t9JsgFOsGrWQUIZYhyDJRx8JdwXYbAiWl5yaPSc7nP9pq9b6WUjQUT8DW0r_C_M/s1600/IMG_20160219_084948_506.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijoVX4r2lx3arI37ZAjQ2_WX7w7hgA7fNR08On-PvfKOkjWsSyG6Jg3A-pqL63_8Sxf4Mwsl_-Npz2t9JsgFOsGrWQUIZYhyDJRx8JdwXYbAiWl5yaPSc7nP9pq9b6WUjQUT8DW0r_C_M/s640/IMG_20160219_084948_506.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hitching a ride</td></tr>
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On day 5 we skied all the way down the mountain with Tor instead of taking the gondola. It took about an hour, and he melted down a few times, but a very patient DaDa and continuous encouragement from Josh and April held him together in the main.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiww7PC_t7KMVQe0ru6wRC0u9jJX88yqpWCuZz4KK61EPNs63Cf-A6NJoitmyuYl7M9mYl05yerWgtrxZPU5DAQGL3aWzmcapsmxrh6_Djzxl7yPaDEYmispBxjfC8MP-z_jN-NNULq4QE/s1600/IMG_20160219_131924_971.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiww7PC_t7KMVQe0ru6wRC0u9jJX88yqpWCuZz4KK61EPNs63Cf-A6NJoitmyuYl7M9mYl05yerWgtrxZPU5DAQGL3aWzmcapsmxrh6_Djzxl7yPaDEYmispBxjfC8MP-z_jN-NNULq4QE/s640/IMG_20160219_131924_971.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Following the leader</td></tr>
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While not skiing, we filled our hours by visiting nearly every restaurant in town, the local mountain museum, and the very chilly playground, and of course by simply chilling at the hotel together.</div>
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For our final night in Austria, we drove back to Vienna (well, Pakka drove--a 9-passenger rental van). We took the afternoon/evening to explore Stefansdom, a huge cathedral, and the Prater, a public amusement park where you pay per ride but the grounds are open to all. This included a ride on the Riesenrad, Vienna's famous ferris wheel.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPBIBFwtuBt6dyn15toVlf-QQHTNYaEuaExtchBySHRKgAaguEiLHAkJn9UtyfLXqL4vW-7dO5KAVHoFsx2LPk3EUiwA-PYVlXxOfvjV0bLvawfxEOPaLKtDUQMI61_WcxPAD1jwq_h1g/s1600/IMG_20160220_122437_736.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPBIBFwtuBt6dyn15toVlf-QQHTNYaEuaExtchBySHRKgAaguEiLHAkJn9UtyfLXqL4vW-7dO5KAVHoFsx2LPk3EUiwA-PYVlXxOfvjV0bLvawfxEOPaLKtDUQMI61_WcxPAD1jwq_h1g/s640/IMG_20160220_122437_736.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Traveling in style</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clowning at the cathedral</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"View, shmew. Check out this bar!"</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bell did not ring.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicBXCm7IbJfZb3EAepKkqiOqDHmhjNGKGUzyuhjAD2qGcvm3UyFA6NoPENnlGW8qMi3Ig5MoTPz6_XhaMYb6P0suBkfE4-5EcLFviPSs5nDffNA_33mO5eS_5fZ5lc52aCEN5IP_tDWp8/s1600/IMG_20160220_163418_075.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicBXCm7IbJfZb3EAepKkqiOqDHmhjNGKGUzyuhjAD2qGcvm3UyFA6NoPENnlGW8qMi3Ig5MoTPz6_XhaMYb6P0suBkfE4-5EcLFviPSs5nDffNA_33mO5eS_5fZ5lc52aCEN5IP_tDWp8/s1600/IMG_20160220_163418_075.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"How much is that doggie in the window?"</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Round 2 of 3 on this particular attraction</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The most froufrou sheets they'll ever sleep on</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Highly impressed by Viennese public transport</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Toddler's first headphones: the Heathrow bus back to Oxford</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Home! and slipping into something more comfortable</td></tr>
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<br />TorTaleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11724873416713388826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6809182701398511861.post-1467946391335223252016-01-28T14:06:00.002-08:002016-01-28T14:06:17.359-08:00Dear Tor<img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwmptsoMo5yQD8fdiWffgpWkCuYnXyOnqcU4kQyfr6pdQrTjMmX-PTlWRJjkEXBtVnZ6yxK82wtGL_BG3EXDhi7TTeEr3qKX5fZM9Zm-mEG7iXE6B8s_33R5FiqOneSP0aaVgQlBV2bWI/s640/IMG_9344.JPG" width="410" /><br />
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Five. Years. Old. Plus one month, because your mom is hard pressed to keep up with life these days.<br />
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How to describe you at this stage? In a word, quicksilver. You swing from one mood or occupation or identity to the next so fast it's hard for us to keep pace. One minute you're fastidiously serving yourself tuna sandwiches at a tea party, and the next minute you're launching from the couch to dive-tackle your dad. First you're helping Col build a train with Duplos, then you're loudly, tearfully devastated that his vision didn't match yours. Now you're Anakin, now you're Darth Vader.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibTwUj-Mh-GzXCMm4V5x8h7l7_Xbkbd0zLUeyeWpcN1FlvV2Q4YcB5GDW47XZMo8uHvXeYXmIrdnllTnKekGYVuhF-TlLzZ416p-BEL03N4GEPRup9jDbJdSDrM_1qkQYFFVZMmlgQWqg/s1600/IMG_9356.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibTwUj-Mh-GzXCMm4V5x8h7l7_Xbkbd0zLUeyeWpcN1FlvV2Q4YcB5GDW47XZMo8uHvXeYXmIrdnllTnKekGYVuhF-TlLzZ416p-BEL03N4GEPRup9jDbJdSDrM_1qkQYFFVZMmlgQWqg/s640/IMG_9356.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">About to cross over</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6qAsiSXoLeaJX33qEadZemV5rJ1VHR-riOZ21OcnYaI9gErLuCwDE_FTtyQwNZUy1IjydeiMN5ab62MmBNMvDV0ivYgZ4eJteD8kNhw5IuNrZZUDqv3gIg0U5jV0IUSteLkJSdxQEQcw/s1600/IMG_9415.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6qAsiSXoLeaJX33qEadZemV5rJ1VHR-riOZ21OcnYaI9gErLuCwDE_FTtyQwNZUy1IjydeiMN5ab62MmBNMvDV0ivYgZ4eJteD8kNhw5IuNrZZUDqv3gIg0U5jV0IUSteLkJSdxQEQcw/s640/IMG_9415.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Put this one on the computer, because it shows my wings."</td></tr>
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The key to managing your mercuriality--though I don't do it nearly as well as I'd like; Dad's generally more flexible and thus better at it--is to give you plenty of outlets for your energy. You pay close attention when given a task to do, large or small: sounding out letters, putting away the utensils from the dishwasher, filling out workbooks that ask you to connect shapes to their shadows, trying to steal the soccer ball while we try to score a goal, having a battle with your Legos, and so on. It's generally in the down time that you begin to veer toward the manic, though stay too long with one activity and you do lose your focus. You have got a good attention span for stories, particularly superhero sagas or space operas, but also for stories read aloud when you're in the right headspace.<br />
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You can be so gentle with your little brother, though at times you're harsh with him, taking out your bad mood or tiredness on him when he tries to engage you. If he's upset, you often put a hand on his shoulder and ask him, "You okay, Col? You all right, Col?" At times, when it's your turn to pick a book before bed, you pick a "baby book--so Col will like it." Col strives to imitate you and can uncannily nail your diction: when we tell him he can't do something and he says "Okay! That's fine!" it's a perfect echo of you in a blasé mood.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpYrz2FFr4JEycTd07SDUd3rUQ0DkwPXHKOqTdvA5axzl3a1nOW_KXXFQRXhH1UibKngnYA9kuM3hiJmg6EkuaPgYvP9UiaHe2X_HqOJywZWVrGmtVn5QG5UYQDveadCEeHtPb0y0sOr4/s1600/IMG_9381.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpYrz2FFr4JEycTd07SDUd3rUQ0DkwPXHKOqTdvA5axzl3a1nOW_KXXFQRXhH1UibKngnYA9kuM3hiJmg6EkuaPgYvP9UiaHe2X_HqOJywZWVrGmtVn5QG5UYQDveadCEeHtPb0y0sOr4/s640/IMG_9381.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hitting the hyperdrive</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gingerbread house decorating is famishing work</td></tr>
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You're hungry to learn about all manner of things: how paper is made, what happens when people die, how long ago Bible stories happened, what holds books together, what's inside planets. After you peppered us in the car for 20 minutes with questions about how to drive, because "I need to start learning to drive so I'll be ready when I grow up," you sat with a glazed look and said, "Just a minute: I'm buffering."<br />
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You thrive on the attention you get when we're hanging out with our friends. Though you don't go on a lot of play dates of your own yet, you've started to ask for them occasionally. You enjoy Skyping sometimes, but it usually doesn't keep you interested for long.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdh8DKXd96FDD8zVyH7aN8JIB8oEaLlwrEykMTqhDnSDj99FBvmYk5Tb4xAgGKdioL4o_IEVyH5scDqt4T4PjMCD-ZC5tAOniXBbrxqoNMslps7SzJKfBOaTp4TkUwXDnKbTcNIF5MxpU/s640/IMG_9317.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"The Hipster" mustache: straight outta San Francisco</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSXZvbuqCjZ1UczB9DdMc2lflopQaBIYVDODmPfNkog24wGbj2hvesTJYUbnVSN0TDhHLI_ezBooz9wxCG2_BipAC_Ig9-Sg_KFOx6RHtoWV33yME0SF-kT5tE9aARpJAhYBsezxw-4oI/s1600/IMG_9399.JPG" imageanchor="1"></a><br />
You've become known at your school by teachers and students alike, which is a bit of a mystery to me since you tend to be on the shy side around new people. You go to breakfast club and after-school club, and as such have met a large cross-section of the students. Your favorite activities at school, according to your teacher, are imagination games (outside or inside), sharing circle, and story time. You're better at sounding out words than you are at writing them and recently sounded out spellings for reindeer ("raender"), present ("prasnt"), stocking ("sdoken"), and tree ("try"). You've gotten quick and relatively accurate at adding small sums on your fingers and like practicing this using flash cards with Dad.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSXZvbuqCjZ1UczB9DdMc2lflopQaBIYVDODmPfNkog24wGbj2hvesTJYUbnVSN0TDhHLI_ezBooz9wxCG2_BipAC_Ig9-Sg_KFOx6RHtoWV33yME0SF-kT5tE9aARpJAhYBsezxw-4oI/s640/IMG_9399.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Practicing penmanship<img height="16" id="fnlrdl1ajdim" src="data:image/gif;base64,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" width="16" /></td></tr>
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We are amazed to be the parents of such a big kid. Thank you for being part of our family--we wouldn't be us without you.<br />
<br />TorTaleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11724873416713388826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6809182701398511861.post-52370279013203998662015-12-16T13:09:00.003-08:002015-12-16T13:15:24.229-08:00The Karpluses do Oxford<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
December 16! More than eight weeks since Col's birthday. While Col was turning two, we were hosting Oma and Opa for two long weekends in a row (they hopped over to Denmark for three days in between), an experience which yielded more pictures than I've had a chance to winnow down until now! So here you have it: the top 20 photographs (not to be confused with the top lived experiences) of the visit.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP13SjnXRcGfBpCzd8GQL9T56V3-bILVI3clqZWBIfJ15GZvsk5m1j06qocYP4K-JIJ1LzsGdagN_oplutaHoGCHum6ioJxAiW1_zXKe-4U8uUrsNb8Rt6-srQKg9w0tcp7aAz3cPX8mk/s1600/2015-10-10+05.39.57.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP13SjnXRcGfBpCzd8GQL9T56V3-bILVI3clqZWBIfJ15GZvsk5m1j06qocYP4K-JIJ1LzsGdagN_oplutaHoGCHum6ioJxAiW1_zXKe-4U8uUrsNb8Rt6-srQKg9w0tcp7aAz3cPX8mk/s640/2015-10-10+05.39.57.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The simple joy of a plasma ball</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhBpeT5GXKdhqG5RaVfKLqnHgcsP5dKT5j2EuI_ooFvcGonyUOk9U8k27a-HnSvuyIhsgaaxs9G3edQ_PH7IXgVSA1QrbbzvOafD9mFu2pFh5ltgI48M7djFgi8hQWLRRj9zQ8jRgqJFc/s1600/2015-10-10+08.09.24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhBpeT5GXKdhqG5RaVfKLqnHgcsP5dKT5j2EuI_ooFvcGonyUOk9U8k27a-HnSvuyIhsgaaxs9G3edQ_PH7IXgVSA1QrbbzvOafD9mFu2pFh5ltgI48M7djFgi8hQWLRRj9zQ8jRgqJFc/s640/2015-10-10+08.09.24.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Opa brought a whiffle ball and bat all the way from Oregon</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz63fsjEWzwyRexOhdj-DMBPIpaYaB3DbaYXsh9ztiqY4FhnSqh285GIi-SISjvhHLLDdiSdJ4yRaeoG4Zqbg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0PQ44KxCQswXgTr6VMUt1t-Qa1SC1gXuvIJDSicfikceNQani64lt8iNvgHopsezLfipEbhKCM3Gz4ae6jkR_DKGlnqy5O1Jz5_SzxTjWTC7cX_k9lo8gvR8R0MUFp6KTAbFIrlDNUrw/s1600/2015-10-10+11.39.43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0PQ44KxCQswXgTr6VMUt1t-Qa1SC1gXuvIJDSicfikceNQani64lt8iNvgHopsezLfipEbhKCM3Gz4ae6jkR_DKGlnqy5O1Jz5_SzxTjWTC7cX_k9lo8gvR8R0MUFp6KTAbFIrlDNUrw/s640/2015-10-10+11.39.43.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sitting on Opa while Opa sits for him</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwA6nNdq2xoCCinCq6Gm_O94VFlETxTaVDaTEPH5No4EaRe-X0ZLR_RB-mxjC2LUhKi20xTjrfhQC5h0vIjxyKvjTKUzL5Oo6D8jrxVjXkCBuUlC3MEZHpwlDUPSptq188jPXFJ5tJ1DA/s1600/2015-10-10+11.39.57.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwA6nNdq2xoCCinCq6Gm_O94VFlETxTaVDaTEPH5No4EaRe-X0ZLR_RB-mxjC2LUhKi20xTjrfhQC5h0vIjxyKvjTKUzL5Oo6D8jrxVjXkCBuUlC3MEZHpwlDUPSptq188jPXFJ5tJ1DA/s640/2015-10-10+11.39.57.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Post-Col-bedtime big kid activity</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVREBObKSYLa2NtjwFZwyTvChjqWXpmERc-JhO0OoWj4fg_whsGIKI8up3y4ZSVNU7gjD0aI5CQt8dFAF7VC9hvHrbGTkTryLkcIlh4aHpw3l4xPatO5iKtslmRQyo7pf-piJJKdVjvm8/s1600/2015-10-11+04.20.00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVREBObKSYLa2NtjwFZwyTvChjqWXpmERc-JhO0OoWj4fg_whsGIKI8up3y4ZSVNU7gjD0aI5CQt8dFAF7VC9hvHrbGTkTryLkcIlh4aHpw3l4xPatO5iKtslmRQyo7pf-piJJKdVjvm8/s640/2015-10-11+04.20.00.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rage punting</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5zKuIIhyxxC0Xwqo6qYM1RbzDhtqMbY_GYuqGPRzObN76nm7f_jezGTwDWkonF4c82pTf2ydhRe_fRoFigDjnq550J_4yWOLEuE8ZNsmcKZ-ZC4y_zIYetbEyJmh0wN6_O0_vcBqlStQ/s1600/2015-10-11+05.22.53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5zKuIIhyxxC0Xwqo6qYM1RbzDhtqMbY_GYuqGPRzObN76nm7f_jezGTwDWkonF4c82pTf2ydhRe_fRoFigDjnq550J_4yWOLEuE8ZNsmcKZ-ZC4y_zIYetbEyJmh0wN6_O0_vcBqlStQ/s640/2015-10-11+05.22.53.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Punting destination: lunch at a pub accessible only by boat, foot, or bike</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhapluaMSz773hSTgdaVfXuwv0dzBg3XXY7TAC-Y5xzGVerWuX0g1WPX2uBkpKscdv79yl-0IYTIl4CbOIwdhRgAHXNaBDgN-CNFmNNTc0zMlWK4vubD5sRaWbrOg_aA7uPv6v_LBLwViY/s1600/2015-10-11+05.36.37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhapluaMSz773hSTgdaVfXuwv0dzBg3XXY7TAC-Y5xzGVerWuX0g1WPX2uBkpKscdv79yl-0IYTIl4CbOIwdhRgAHXNaBDgN-CNFmNNTc0zMlWK4vubD5sRaWbrOg_aA7uPv6v_LBLwViY/s640/2015-10-11+05.36.37.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Curry, England's favourite food</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTSzNvrxdKSSW86mR2yuXXeuAMIiIVmITGDafJ-hnMPn6cwqElahdRUUSJ6Z-NILT9Cv5bnSTgxev5VU_KoEZiM-rsr4Et55N2OdkaB6yIYu-c67iIxnR8ZAuwa_msUdNzfe6xB5P-Ke4/s1600/2015-10-11+06.23.59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTSzNvrxdKSSW86mR2yuXXeuAMIiIVmITGDafJ-hnMPn6cwqElahdRUUSJ6Z-NILT9Cv5bnSTgxev5VU_KoEZiM-rsr4Et55N2OdkaB6yIYu-c67iIxnR8ZAuwa_msUdNzfe6xB5P-Ke4/s640/2015-10-11+06.23.59.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Opa just before taking an unplanned dip into the Thames</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrAN_LlIGf_m8b10OPssMFCCvYpFGy0w5A1lLRhVNdLKkYVn23PpB9Qx_Ss-FeV897O2r6KwHmqV1jxQPOQgtjdAcD13jSyApsj3oKL9Eoth9ZWCttT5rTDGhA6SkDAzmkE-3EnWvTCWY/s1600/2015-10-11+06.33.06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrAN_LlIGf_m8b10OPssMFCCvYpFGy0w5A1lLRhVNdLKkYVn23PpB9Qx_Ss-FeV897O2r6KwHmqV1jxQPOQgtjdAcD13jSyApsj3oKL9Eoth9ZWCttT5rTDGhA6SkDAzmkE-3EnWvTCWY/s640/2015-10-11+06.33.06.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is what privileged childhood looks like</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdisLtJS6SA8Ov1hEj4gdbvG9Z-qbvcKmXinzEX7_XXaq-NwJbyRX0m_m4OClOW28OyZMhFisikg8MHNXhTjlNeAp13MkyGbHXuevPxqHWCPoxrLmGIETzbk8OirGbkoEkaJpv-u20CR8/s1600/2015-10-14+23.39.34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdisLtJS6SA8Ov1hEj4gdbvG9Z-qbvcKmXinzEX7_XXaq-NwJbyRX0m_m4OClOW28OyZMhFisikg8MHNXhTjlNeAp13MkyGbHXuevPxqHWCPoxrLmGIETzbk8OirGbkoEkaJpv-u20CR8/s640/2015-10-14+23.39.34.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Off to school!</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdZe93DihcRWkY88mhydghTVBZyQ2UDCPy0nBMGEDX2mzHcg8CY6Ylz8hu31ICmkSHYYc1w7XczLKpmJ1bim6W2_O1H6bqYksbzjGFEJcHqssJX9Uw2rQXFIj4jxnCz5ELDHw4ZJ2ZNwE/s1600/2015-10-16+03.32.37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdZe93DihcRWkY88mhydghTVBZyQ2UDCPy0nBMGEDX2mzHcg8CY6Ylz8hu31ICmkSHYYc1w7XczLKpmJ1bim6W2_O1H6bqYksbzjGFEJcHqssJX9Uw2rQXFIj4jxnCz5ELDHw4ZJ2ZNwE/s640/2015-10-16+03.32.37.jpg" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First ride of the day at Legoland Windsor</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMCCTbHMbp9H6xIEOJzJssvvWbMYUSr_zmWQZv4lfosf_ekHieU_4WgBJyY3moEQPHFcrYYQ9QZiFj1-L6Wa3Obqaqg257sZEx6zXafKBnwZWqoKOKXTs05AsyFgK9Q3xAtxqeogL6_BM/s1600/2015-10-16+03.57.46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMCCTbHMbp9H6xIEOJzJssvvWbMYUSr_zmWQZv4lfosf_ekHieU_4WgBJyY3moEQPHFcrYYQ9QZiFj1-L6Wa3Obqaqg257sZEx6zXafKBnwZWqoKOKXTs05AsyFgK9Q3xAtxqeogL6_BM/s640/2015-10-16+03.57.46.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yep, my dad is the dad who takes photos of the photos at theme parks</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT_IkcsBCoHKwkjI4OlPYe3cEAgLSZQhrANVnvQlJ_HGlb5ixrp-QtzZ4otW_1KnXE7IyGpxU16k5cNJzYx5L_xIbuxdRYA9fYOrNxdzgMAgB-qYa_2NJ80rAAnh5fX5HspODdJn2lHwQ/s1600/2015-10-16+03.59.06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="479" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT_IkcsBCoHKwkjI4OlPYe3cEAgLSZQhrANVnvQlJ_HGlb5ixrp-QtzZ4otW_1KnXE7IyGpxU16k5cNJzYx5L_xIbuxdRYA9fYOrNxdzgMAgB-qYa_2NJ80rAAnh5fX5HspODdJn2lHwQ/s640/2015-10-16+03.59.06.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lumberjack and Ninja enthroned</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Nj9xx3-rmqS1o2x0jUJrPtU4-5gPTiLs834hRRTpkESdca8Tlr_5RSw0BI04f_aSCJVjSCCEwpaElqBxioejK_RaJmz7Cv0WATSnLRSKbkUvSghKlZwDx7ks6P9vaN1bhkLCvQB8byo/s1600/2015-10-16+05.29.07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Nj9xx3-rmqS1o2x0jUJrPtU4-5gPTiLs834hRRTpkESdca8Tlr_5RSw0BI04f_aSCJVjSCCEwpaElqBxioejK_RaJmz7Cv0WATSnLRSKbkUvSghKlZwDx7ks6P9vaN1bhkLCvQB8byo/s640/2015-10-16+05.29.07.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of Col's 18 merry-go-round rides</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigRHUbRvMD5bzTH1Sqdmis9sM8zuHls1c5u2pKiCZDNW_ey6I7ZnZNP528H6wYp45JVgKzJWeMczElEUbEi88C3LJBSgySGxxVEnQdDL0Hzhf6pXbdLsWK1Qe9zXZetRtvDRtjy7ZJxMw/s1600/2015-10-16+06.08.42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigRHUbRvMD5bzTH1Sqdmis9sM8zuHls1c5u2pKiCZDNW_ey6I7ZnZNP528H6wYp45JVgKzJWeMczElEUbEi88C3LJBSgySGxxVEnQdDL0Hzhf6pXbdLsWK1Qe9zXZetRtvDRtjy7ZJxMw/s640/2015-10-16+06.08.42.jpg" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">About to go up the tower</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ2WS6ZmHsJj6wmpSU5CQShmeoSFGWw4fHw-cY9HCKVngKDMf_c_Fu8e9oc-5Y2iNEJsGtf3PZCFUkcGm__zGrS_UZSO707IlpI7MdI9iI72Ra1utUixedHTdZoi47kgR7mA5lmpQGOAY/s1600/2015-10-16+08.24.17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ2WS6ZmHsJj6wmpSU5CQShmeoSFGWw4fHw-cY9HCKVngKDMf_c_Fu8e9oc-5Y2iNEJsGtf3PZCFUkcGm__zGrS_UZSO707IlpI7MdI9iI72Ra1utUixedHTdZoi47kgR7mA5lmpQGOAY/s640/2015-10-16+08.24.17.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Let me get that camel for you, sir"</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdKVAIqfvoilvBXBM-Wvq1kSh2hrzJXS3XjlYoF7Re2wzBNzandQhtDQE_m2cS5_0PoptUGE7Gixp_Lx1Oh6zIcWxPP_gE1yGRYdagtelcKJbC6XNj1tNEgMws94NYWnHE01oNwXCBUGM/s1600/2015-10-16+08.34.12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdKVAIqfvoilvBXBM-Wvq1kSh2hrzJXS3XjlYoF7Re2wzBNzandQhtDQE_m2cS5_0PoptUGE7Gixp_Lx1Oh6zIcWxPP_gE1yGRYdagtelcKJbC6XNj1tNEgMws94NYWnHE01oNwXCBUGM/s640/2015-10-16+08.34.12.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of Col's 18 merry-go-round rides</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Human dryer after a river ride</td></tr>
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<br />TorTaleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11724873416713388826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6809182701398511861.post-20806508867296155342015-10-15T14:05:00.000-07:002015-10-15T14:05:05.460-07:00Happy Birthday, Col!Darling Col. We've come a long way, baby.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">The face of croup<br />
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Last week we were home for a day together while you recovered from croup. I spent the night on the floor listening to you bark and wheeze and holding your hand. In the morning you were still in poor form, but after a few hours, you bounced right back to your sunshiny self. It was a treat to get some one-on-one time with you--now that DaDa is taking you to school, I miss our commute together but I'm glad you get that time with him.<br />
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You mimic everything we do. Scratch our heads? You scratch yours. Clear our throats? You clear yours. Sit on the toilet? You sit on yours (and sometimes even go!). Putting socks on, sweeping the floor, picking up toys, doing sit-ups, washing hands--all these are things you must do immediately when you see another person doing them.<br />
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You are spouting off all kinds of stuff that surprises me--putting together word combos ("No car, Mama, toast please," "Uh-oh, sock," "My turn, Brother"), counting up from one through ten while stacking blocks, remembering the titles of your favorite books and asking for them at bedtime.<br />
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At daycare, you get along with everyone. Though you very occasionally throw tantrums and toys, you are easily distracted and always up for reading a book, playing with Duplo, building a block tower, or painting. On the back of your recent move to the next class up, your new teachers seem enamored of you, although maybe they just act that way for all the kids.<br />
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You are all in for anything to do with water. You're a moth to a flame with the water tray at school. When I start the water running and say it's bathtime, you charge up the stairs chanting, "bathbathbathbathbath...."After going to the bathroom while watching you last week, I came downstairs to find you, a guilty thing surprised, in the half-bath washing your hands and the entire floor.<br />
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You love hanging out with your family, and particularly adore your big brother . . . and love to tease him. He is at a stage where he painstakingly sets up toys in a tableau of perfection and doesn't want anyone to touch them in a way that doesn't match his imagination. You have other ideas. A signature move is darting in, grabbing a toy, and just sitting there clutching it and looking at him out of the corner of your eye waiting for him to grab it.<br />
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"How do I put this, Big Brother? IT'S MY TIME NOW"</div>
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Happy birthday, sweet boy! You are an absolute delight and we are beyond grateful you're part of our family.<br />
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TorTaleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11724873416713388826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6809182701398511861.post-50066491782649899332015-09-25T13:01:00.000-07:002015-09-25T13:01:11.330-07:00Schoolkid<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Tor's transition to "big school" has gone remarkably smoothly. He goes to breakfast club at 8:15, has kindergarten from 9 to 3:20, and then has after-school club until 5:15. Each of those groups has different kids, albeit with some overlap, and different teachers, and he's done an admirable job just going with it and making new friends. They also do "forest school" once a week, where they go outside for most of the day and pick berries, build a fire, drink hot chocolate, and build things out of sticks. He's tired and irritable some nights, but honestly that's nothing new.<br />
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One kid from his daycare also is in the kindergarten, and he told me that they're not friends anymore because "now I have new friends." So we talked about how you don't need to stop being friends with people when you meet new friends, and talked about all our friends in the places we've lived, and I taught him the song about "make new friends but keep the old." Hopefully that takes.<br />
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Tor is getting highly sensitive to people's emotions and will sometimes report to us when someone is sad, as well as telling us how he's feeling. Yesterday he told me that he and Dad were walking in the city center, and they saw a man selling magazines, and the man wanted Dad to buy one, but Dad said not now, and "I saw the man's face and i could see that he felt very sad." That was a tough one. I said we want to make everyone happy, and we have to do what we can, but we can't buy magazines from everybody (we see a lot of people selling magazines). But there are other ways we help people and everyone has to help in the way they can. I'm sure there are better answers, but that's what I came up with on the bike ride home. No judgement.<br />
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Tor has also begun using similes with noticeable frequency. "My leg looks like a bridge." "The camera sounds like bread crusts crunching." "The fresh-squeezed OJ tastes like cow poo." I pulled him up on that last one because 1) it's rude and 2) how does he know what cow poo tastes like? He explained, "I've seen a lot of cow poo and I know what it smells like, and the smell is what this juice tastes like." Touché, son, touché.</div>
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Finally, he's getting even more helpful (though, on the balance, he's also a complete basket case at least three times a week), so we try to reinforce that whenever possible. Today Col took a bath and while I was getting him dressed, Tor drained the tub, squeezed out all the toys, and put them back on the shelf. Massive fanfare! Gold star for Tor! As soon as I got Col dressed, Col barfed all over himself, me, and the rug. While I cleaned him up, I asked Tor to go to the drawer downstairs in the kitchen and get me a big tupperware. He came up with a glass bowl. I told him thanks but no, the drawer above that and it has to be plastic and big. He came back with exactly the right vessel for catching toddler puke. Celebration! Tor is great! (Now Col is in bed with the tupperware next to him--fingers crossed it's a 24-hour thing.)</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready to conquer day one</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Veg sesh after the first day of school</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He's from Minnesota, what can I say</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Modeling our friend Casey's hat and a smirk that's all Tor</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"I spelled your name!"</td></tr>
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Tor and Dad had a special outing to the lab where he got to use the electron microscope to look at a dead fly located specifically for this purpose. A few TorTales buffs may recall that <a href="http://tortales.blogspot.co.uk/2011/01/babys-first-lab-visit.html">the first-ever post on here</a> featured Tor at an electron microscope--another place, another time.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Proud to be in the driver's seat</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpS8pEqzq3-BbLBOjdOWqIu1_qlXcY_oQmD1kLjOjT-qukzZkCB0m8Kkt8Q4KgjHjGr8dQcIkyQA2FMvztszEek2X2rLa9IRi9OeYtRtmm7Ydo0PjW3cI8NGsVNf8XCg9OsGZ3fU78jJk/s1600/tXlxXYRoZ5s6E0OAeRIl6IuPuJM4Iibp9OrbWM482ZQ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpS8pEqzq3-BbLBOjdOWqIu1_qlXcY_oQmD1kLjOjT-qukzZkCB0m8Kkt8Q4KgjHjGr8dQcIkyQA2FMvztszEek2X2rLa9IRi9OeYtRtmm7Ydo0PjW3cI8NGsVNf8XCg9OsGZ3fU78jJk/s640/tXlxXYRoZ5s6E0OAeRIl6IuPuJM4Iibp9OrbWM482ZQ.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wearing his lab camouflage</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAdSmM-rUTYMTm5UAe-l-dF8rXZCz9nNXaexv80h2OIM7wRh14EzIQf-fqaV0-UifLe-3xXLEAPYWdKp1GcsznojT1TYHVdBubg9Ewy-qBvVQDbTay0AiiO_qVorEUf_j8OzW61W-099k/s1600/-xVurVrySJD4l97g87hNdco3BYbtLX5QHU8LQIbpNfg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAdSmM-rUTYMTm5UAe-l-dF8rXZCz9nNXaexv80h2OIM7wRh14EzIQf-fqaV0-UifLe-3xXLEAPYWdKp1GcsznojT1TYHVdBubg9Ewy-qBvVQDbTay0AiiO_qVorEUf_j8OzW61W-099k/s640/-xVurVrySJD4l97g87hNdco3BYbtLX5QHU8LQIbpNfg.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Kafkaesque outcome</td></tr>
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I'll write more about Col for his big oh-two next month, but to touch on where he's at, the kid likes being engaged in conversation at any given time and will nod and shake his head as if he understands exactly what you mean. This tactic allows him to slide by if you're using yes-or-no questions, but once you ask him why or how or when, or "What did you do at the playground," it breaks down. He's pretty good at who and where questions, though, and is particularly endearing in holding up his hands in an "I dunno" gesture when you ask him where something is.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0H0-LVjrnCTBLsW8lFRH3QLWftbLpHUdlJ7LVCOQGQWUJgfEH7DMP1ryKvEI2G0WYr6IaTGqhk09nJqFcdyegzrW9hiJe6nXNhqxjj0V-Px9eiuSEME34UXJXazVtbbMNejcFo2YXppM/s1600/IMG_20150822_113032_340.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: #20124d; clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0H0-LVjrnCTBLsW8lFRH3QLWftbLpHUdlJ7LVCOQGQWUJgfEH7DMP1ryKvEI2G0WYr6IaTGqhk09nJqFcdyegzrW9hiJe6nXNhqxjj0V-Px9eiuSEME34UXJXazVtbbMNejcFo2YXppM/s640/IMG_20150822_113032_340.jpg" width="358" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #20124d;">Caster wheels? Check, Helmet? Absolute necessity.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5lNdEWXtG1szbu__l7iKQDYjtqkT-XEPsuOMTvWxfZJPE2gbSN5MQghKf5L1FOkYskzZdk-wR1WXKKq2Y0l-nKuHsHgNQxcym8YuxKz_cTpD7tDr6KYHp7rRTPQohE0wp6A97gc2GtY4/s1600/IMG_20150817_184511_628.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: #20124d; clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5lNdEWXtG1szbu__l7iKQDYjtqkT-XEPsuOMTvWxfZJPE2gbSN5MQghKf5L1FOkYskzZdk-wR1WXKKq2Y0l-nKuHsHgNQxcym8YuxKz_cTpD7tDr6KYHp7rRTPQohE0wp6A97gc2GtY4/s640/IMG_20150817_184511_628.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #20124d;">Discovery at work (actually getting pretty good with the two-piece puzzle)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrgXYTW9j3ujxB7szAeXC0ticKGB_isOo50KIlAyZ3tA_3Auakf-8JryeAkwZLoldAX0Z4JU3tqrbaALgaAwzDG908uHVqFV_d4B_BZBDIZ78vyh5YFp91_oAI7UVoLC1HXqKUIx6PIjg/s1600/IMG_20150808_175742_072.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrgXYTW9j3ujxB7szAeXC0ticKGB_isOo50KIlAyZ3tA_3Auakf-8JryeAkwZLoldAX0Z4JU3tqrbaALgaAwzDG908uHVqFV_d4B_BZBDIZ78vyh5YFp91_oAI7UVoLC1HXqKUIx6PIjg/s640/IMG_20150808_175742_072.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">RIDE THAT DRAGON</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihabacYbdPQDPOPkHiuG9FET12EyKax-E2vVTMYJR-JEBlhvCUHn5P6UkOpZAStY8dHbF4EklPvn4ZHYr-4cVQZ7d_0050Sh9IffQVAecmpBfSAA3_A5PcXVsN7cOFy1W74AFrfV_DQg8/s1600/fwrd-xoPny5ZXLifjnMCgO_vGfr-y4uzxpGIuEsIkbA%252CXlJAHb-r0njU1FWjCmz-vlg3KR6pWHYo3vT41rroW5Y.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihabacYbdPQDPOPkHiuG9FET12EyKax-E2vVTMYJR-JEBlhvCUHn5P6UkOpZAStY8dHbF4EklPvn4ZHYr-4cVQZ7d_0050Sh9IffQVAecmpBfSAA3_A5PcXVsN7cOFy1W74AFrfV_DQg8/s640/fwrd-xoPny5ZXLifjnMCgO_vGfr-y4uzxpGIuEsIkbA%252CXlJAHb-r0njU1FWjCmz-vlg3KR6pWHYo3vT41rroW5Y.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">Napping, wringing hands post lab visit with Cousin Laura</td></tr>
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TorTaleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11724873416713388826noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6809182701398511861.post-66010249708624752622015-09-01T23:28:00.002-07:002015-09-01T23:28:34.762-07:00See You In SeptemberToday is Tor's last day of preschool. Tomorrow is his first day of kindergarten. Where is life going?<br />
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This makes me want to record more memories, but then I'm always torn between taking pictures and just enjoying the moment. Anyway, here are a few from the summer.<br />
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When we get to daycare in the morning, Col usually wants to hold Tor's hand and Tor usually doesn't want to hold Col's hand. The trek across the parking lot thus usually involves Tor running away from Col and Col running after him screeching, "<em>Hanh? Hanh? Hanh?!</em>" before usually falling down. The teachers must love seeing us coming. A few times Tor has been willing to hold hands, though.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img aria-label="Photo - Landscape - Jun 23, 2015" class="SzDcob" height="359" jsname="uLHQEd" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI_vR6837aTdLW8RH7n3kvE-vu60_5l_nGuBBGq3W4HxjALyDKbCzw1SaXZNWqviGeafL7BMuQQ2aV64aUO3uhDMjm1Kn-7mDheMlrbOpugPPn-aOcInFLvuVYEo2AVE0ybwv0BsucsWA/w1197-h673-no/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; transform: translateZ(0px);" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Come, brother, together we shall wreak much havoc upon this nursery."</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img aria-label="Photo - Portrait - Jun 20, 2015" class="SzDcob" height="400" jsname="uLHQEd" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtQlMuwKJl6cZtWXGXhZUrqClhcylh49efWzz8VvFq8Du967KwcBH6JrvvH9L0WCkOawprjudIlK6ncaangeEXF4ib6ASY0sB5rPsL365VLk5pTVswpSq3lFVluNU9HU0on8pa1iyrrVE/w379-h673-no/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Remove pants, gnaw banana </td></tr>
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Scotland with the Siglers was, in a word, as awesome as we expected. To be fair, with the company, we would have had a great time anywhere. Highlights for me were Stirling Castle, country walks, a particularly excellent pub, and a full spectrum of scotches yielded by Josh and April's foregoing distillery tours. The place we stayed had a river view, a playground in the yard, and twin beds for the kids.<br />
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<img aria-label="Photo - Landscape - Jun 25, 2015" class="SzDcob" height="359" jsname="uLHQEd" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGi1S4IHoC5Xja0UBXlgr-8m01_CiZIrdHFWfrOnBI-gxVCBdnUyog56ffI3ofKoKYb6Zu5Yt987BTqLJFyB2Dhe6o5Ad3PNMmaNvaQrSKRMq1ftq-FM_CeE1_W7jQ7eNQGnVVsSZjfGc/w1197-h673-no/" style="transform: translateZ(0px);" width="640" /><br />
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It was Col's first time out of the crib. The first night, he seemed happy enough to go to sleep in the bed, especially with Tor there. A few hours later, we heard a THUMP. Lars raced upstairs to find Col on the floor with head and torso beneath the bed, still fast asleep. That got repeated a few times (though he didn't stay asleep for all of them).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img aria-label="Photo - Portrait - Jun 24, 2015" class="SzDcob" height="640" jsname="uLHQEd" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuQfx5BTbSGey_92Lj-HYNd42KawUMfJnysB3lVr7oTCv72hlN-m8IvjNABZN8POj5e-WvPf5iS10nln3NRDrirokodiwdMKO01b6haKbxrHuitp9o5EEZzdoEwdhCWUekJb85McLks14/w379-h673-no/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; transform: translateZ(0px);" width="360" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With his big boy bed</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img aria-label="Photo - Landscape - Jun 26, 2015" class="SzDcob" height="359" jsname="uLHQEd" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7TnpMkv9v3m4tFZzwTsNtkEHULy3zwxX-rTCbFV9xFAQ5jLWIcCEwzj5R1cewDWmg8E3OpReV0Jzr8_zQpCWwGYUAzvYXeZn8GJvJbVlZ2uaQnGyDDCgtxZz7DVnsvXDDGiocZF2hoCk/w1197-h673-no/" style="transform: translateZ(0px);" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Success: We all came away from this with all our fingers</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://photos-4.dropbox.com/t/2/AAAx-rRPr8mPQ-s-b7t4yQH44mX5d7tgEATov1CyJH22Rg/12/25110932/jpeg/32x32/1/1441144800/0/2/2015-06-28%2014.56.06.jpg/CJTT_AsgASACIAMgBCAFIAYgBygBKAIoBw/9joSS3uNy-lPgaLaM-I8bRRuja-bnjCLyPSQywoD0og%2CwOOTWh0DcL1YmMzj9kM8ZCvErdgQgBTPVT0iqiMv1Dw?size=800x600&size_mode=2" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The boldest knight of Stirling Castle</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTbs1X0Le9kq-SOlmeo-Otbc9q93592rSPR8H4hjO5I0gjKhUbvYbvIEgbBvpase6Ua5xUhlImRVnUIyCQ2dk_gghtdLORvn2y__OWHy6BAuBhvNua3u7qXz6G2cLBgl_1h2CuFHvICbw/s1600/IMG_9112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTbs1X0Le9kq-SOlmeo-Otbc9q93592rSPR8H4hjO5I0gjKhUbvYbvIEgbBvpase6Ua5xUhlImRVnUIyCQ2dk_gghtdLORvn2y__OWHy6BAuBhvNua3u7qXz6G2cLBgl_1h2CuFHvICbw/s640/IMG_9112.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"I GOT THE POWER"</td></tr>
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Then in mid-July the four of us spent a week in Hinterstoder, Austria, about 90 minutes east of Salzburg. In the winter it's a ski resort, and we wanted to see some mountains--as you may be aware, England is pretty flat.<br />
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<tr><td><img height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXy2KFSymIoWwkqSyEWGW2jrDwJUD1PnVK8chgscTa1ZzIcJo0xIsSciu_1lHGw_a8xDoq4zUpj6f4uwK-iJ718lapq2xRYQmAFapGdekibQ9WuOhJk8XozzdteAucm5-e-weroVxz4SU/w1144-h643-no/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Al fresco dining in 90-degree weather: that's vacation</td></tr>
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Trails right by the place we stayed went along a river with good spots for snacks. Tor did some foot dragging, but for the most part was game to go a mile or two. Col rode in the backpack for his final hurrah--he is definitely waaaay too long and heavy for it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc9qw9I3aqgYzG9TZ4fygZncnLys8H0JHiQLXIhJQKMoPERT2KRKcd4N-L7rHWfl36aD_UQzKi3LtroGcFTVXKyST-2T8HEUBJgH5kWDK_M0mQjToh-btRN1aJFB4Yk8gXrMtqS7IItQk/s1600/c1baSqUAcMnZI752OAvyf5zbN043STpN1gYmuwvndU0%252C6HmHGPhxTwdRkCeIWa2FqkKr2CXVmQID1I9pQAk4Qks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc9qw9I3aqgYzG9TZ4fygZncnLys8H0JHiQLXIhJQKMoPERT2KRKcd4N-L7rHWfl36aD_UQzKi3LtroGcFTVXKyST-2T8HEUBJgH5kWDK_M0mQjToh-btRN1aJFB4Yk8gXrMtqS7IItQk/s640/c1baSqUAcMnZI752OAvyf5zbN043STpN1gYmuwvndU0%252C6HmHGPhxTwdRkCeIWa2FqkKr2CXVmQID1I9pQAk4Qks.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In which I explain that if Tor keeps whining, the cows will charge</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpcs_aZGk0X5wFn33PX4cQgcEb3k0fiuXksJJUni87x74W7DJEEYQF9xgp8mjsfDP4LbX3KZ_UHN3J1AlygYDTMrH4ALVxkP2bakp7BdyJeojzK8tNpP7Di23UhAP2WPtfY44QYozFF2M/s1600/Bkbv2Ni9RhvUtbiSf18AvkV2uFbzBWOhTmtES5SJLls%252C91RDZHK_SK4ncZoyY0lS70eCJ3fOFQx6XLIYWUyhE_E.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpcs_aZGk0X5wFn33PX4cQgcEb3k0fiuXksJJUni87x74W7DJEEYQF9xgp8mjsfDP4LbX3KZ_UHN3J1AlygYDTMrH4ALVxkP2bakp7BdyJeojzK8tNpP7Di23UhAP2WPtfY44QYozFF2M/s640/Bkbv2Ni9RhvUtbiSf18AvkV2uFbzBWOhTmtES5SJLls%252C91RDZHK_SK4ncZoyY0lS70eCJ3fOFQx6XLIYWUyhE_E.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A rustic rest</td></tr>
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And a gondola/chairlift combo a quarter mile from the house took us 4000 feet up the mountain. So though we couldn't hike particularly far, at least we did it at elevation.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTC8svmWcSU4Xvr3ssu31eDpUaq3EARY3bRDhdIAP7NcMFkZaQxDzqecarRabrE6arptBGb3mdOlltS1c4sQBiLsbCrAfTorskaNnSbZZCqJDuYB8wG5RSBJnlhnk21QcmM1GTKsalY0c/s1600/43e4pbpRArN1cNwSRNFIw4C4orKvpHOuUgdbgauYL9c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTC8svmWcSU4Xvr3ssu31eDpUaq3EARY3bRDhdIAP7NcMFkZaQxDzqecarRabrE6arptBGb3mdOlltS1c4sQBiLsbCrAfTorskaNnSbZZCqJDuYB8wG5RSBJnlhnk21QcmM1GTKsalY0c/s640/43e4pbpRArN1cNwSRNFIw4C4orKvpHOuUgdbgauYL9c.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First ride up</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9h5ZynRBAFx6rxga6eNRrwbvPoAu0ytJRJ2oQ8XSeNYdgXpk5bQibbVm4PCI495fSYBN_O_mzk_Hrn9oGEHKlhvM_jlt2GxkxhJvBIow0jSI-ZHl1A5TvumZMnM_-obuOHnK9ZMV2z1Q/s1600/BBr5laQqrk-detvCb01HMsM5Stqci9w1Y-sP4vdgKus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9h5ZynRBAFx6rxga6eNRrwbvPoAu0ytJRJ2oQ8XSeNYdgXpk5bQibbVm4PCI495fSYBN_O_mzk_Hrn9oGEHKlhvM_jlt2GxkxhJvBIow0jSI-ZHl1A5TvumZMnM_-obuOHnK9ZMV2z1Q/s640/BBr5laQqrk-detvCb01HMsM5Stqci9w1Y-sP4vdgKus.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leg two of the journey to the top</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7OFMTUTIi4sjeUUXwPVj1UmjBuh12bFfA5MMKoK1GCANK7iuEHP3ECZEM8E0Lc_4tw8rGrz3CyT8UAvvlee4NLAVdsDcYuIz5aVq7FeERTDFj4QJWL41ZuGgc_7j3bOWpslZyJiFEW9g/s1600/BZrn8_9NLFVCDHj3QK1jkwyhePT0F7yLcUt2ElYvjrk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7OFMTUTIi4sjeUUXwPVj1UmjBuh12bFfA5MMKoK1GCANK7iuEHP3ECZEM8E0Lc_4tw8rGrz3CyT8UAvvlee4NLAVdsDcYuIz5aVq7FeERTDFj4QJWL41ZuGgc_7j3bOWpslZyJiFEW9g/s640/BZrn8_9NLFVCDHj3QK1jkwyhePT0F7yLcUt2ElYvjrk.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another day, another ride</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgi60J-0kfSjdqVRt0l0BbLnlF_2-KinUZeolS5vrgkPLYYzpG6fC7MX40G-AIE5cqzpr6w54EYKqyMPp4AWnvYGZftbadt8HaKQ5qoxHVSU5RKNxhyAUCtqbmlsB0SNSGeX2QBZ5uU5k/s1600/DQQnyF_6eFkt_pE31RbF5iZcSAyRkOEeZqn9b86KWic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgi60J-0kfSjdqVRt0l0BbLnlF_2-KinUZeolS5vrgkPLYYzpG6fC7MX40G-AIE5cqzpr6w54EYKqyMPp4AWnvYGZftbadt8HaKQ5qoxHVSU5RKNxhyAUCtqbmlsB0SNSGeX2QBZ5uU5k/s640/DQQnyF_6eFkt_pE31RbF5iZcSAyRkOEeZqn9b86KWic.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wholeheartedly embracing Austrian mountain cuisine</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfnw7D9c-6q4kAm5sKZhCwBsLxfvyHrr5iT6RFNFNj3F8js54trU5OTmzw1FzxhHxAynz3yb1741cpFkbgg6zR2KM-WWa5TLdrvbudxHVUtBFXskEBiYQgU1WxjUTW0hhJihCrgR1_eoA/s1600/u5wbfqVUaUEhhGhZVfgRExVdLxOoqHQmLqXUY_6FChU.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfnw7D9c-6q4kAm5sKZhCwBsLxfvyHrr5iT6RFNFNj3F8js54trU5OTmzw1FzxhHxAynz3yb1741cpFkbgg6zR2KM-WWa5TLdrvbudxHVUtBFXskEBiYQgU1WxjUTW0hhJihCrgR1_eoA/s640/u5wbfqVUaUEhhGhZVfgRExVdLxOoqHQmLqXUY_6FChU.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Schnitzel, schnitzel, schnitzel, kartoffler<br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc8grP-C2AlQXoUEL9koPNCg8orFXqnf__1Zh87N_NmVwH_AZeEIlNYGeakHtiMVf2ZEV8K_j4c10a4eduY7Unrx11NterbvjfS_i8dkIoMwAQjKrtH8CZfR5jY1lqNyCMbe2rXORF8vw/s1600/l7GbCbS9PaL76vAjFlB50jHHMoC8za7sAhQuIs4VVEw%252CUbesgBirKcxlORlmsutKSyWmyNbpwteoyNJ1XD3DeqA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc8grP-C2AlQXoUEL9koPNCg8orFXqnf__1Zh87N_NmVwH_AZeEIlNYGeakHtiMVf2ZEV8K_j4c10a4eduY7Unrx11NterbvjfS_i8dkIoMwAQjKrtH8CZfR5jY1lqNyCMbe2rXORF8vw/s640/l7GbCbS9PaL76vAjFlB50jHHMoC8za7sAhQuIs4VVEw%252CUbesgBirKcxlORlmsutKSyWmyNbpwteoyNJ1XD3DeqA.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fambly!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjefDgpKDPmWeAJ8Ttjk-Yto7IE56RAcL4RaM9yaKcmVaL8eReo2Jm4Bi3oy0PTSmcSaXMMGFcaOUVNj68RpKvpsSODfFG-ticzkndE0DM_0O2PCjL-n57jgUCljbh0SqwCQPqIN2G2Fnc/s1600/TL6XF40WcqwEl4GQDbq_bBrSEZ-jbChohbj-FTtAClA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjefDgpKDPmWeAJ8Ttjk-Yto7IE56RAcL4RaM9yaKcmVaL8eReo2Jm4Bi3oy0PTSmcSaXMMGFcaOUVNj68RpKvpsSODfFG-ticzkndE0DM_0O2PCjL-n57jgUCljbh0SqwCQPqIN2G2Fnc/s640/TL6XF40WcqwEl4GQDbq_bBrSEZ-jbChohbj-FTtAClA.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fish-watching and keeping Col out of the water</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVKWXmzYSms5n8CUfn-Sh_rZ2KEufiab_CfTdwJcfiiPegi-zszGUQoPIM7zBXiAQnxm0W45ie0_-Z8buoC4jhkxT7yHiHG2xOxo9oM18U-CgBTHXvxMnECkzKdzF2XlegJZA1a7zJEn4/s1600/umqfipdK87BeuONGxObp2QUFO6QOXgmdCCH3jpSnG8k%252C1YxJnlXUZ1Vnj2EB_R1sJ0W8WyITGrscyezC8IQiTEA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVKWXmzYSms5n8CUfn-Sh_rZ2KEufiab_CfTdwJcfiiPegi-zszGUQoPIM7zBXiAQnxm0W45ie0_-Z8buoC4jhkxT7yHiHG2xOxo9oM18U-CgBTHXvxMnECkzKdzF2XlegJZA1a7zJEn4/s640/umqfipdK87BeuONGxObp2QUFO6QOXgmdCCH3jpSnG8k%252C1YxJnlXUZ1Vnj2EB_R1sJ0W8WyITGrscyezC8IQiTEA.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hot and sweaty and loving it</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1DkwQgI_3nz3R7HArhEg_2te00thUtLfCOJ0QbnB4si8Yi6XZh-urR7KjxZDKUnAYUGl7uEaNL7qcGEZ-OCkQP5-oOlw1b2RGYWsQcXT5ZYv8O9p3HYjI4YaJ9-F39Jotd6tV7QZwG7Y/s1600/y6kvPMINybuzDDRQ2Guk9GfYmRGoz2ji84PGCaPIY6s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1DkwQgI_3nz3R7HArhEg_2te00thUtLfCOJ0QbnB4si8Yi6XZh-urR7KjxZDKUnAYUGl7uEaNL7qcGEZ-OCkQP5-oOlw1b2RGYWsQcXT5ZYv8O9p3HYjI4YaJ9-F39Jotd6tV7QZwG7Y/s640/y6kvPMINybuzDDRQ2Guk9GfYmRGoz2ji84PGCaPIY6s.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lars's finger joins in the action</td></tr>
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Other highlights included an alpine slide (just Lars and Tor), and a hike to a hut with no one but us, the proprietors, their cows, and bread, cheese, and beer. I realized how bad my German is and bought some comic books for motivational reading.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7b5FJB5A9-a4Xf4hMqrONbmtBXxYM0jOgrmubnHy1HvjhsQfgYu3SYKiFwImcD0k7k_BvSzu2Y5IVym1AvfhKP71OEJRScwrEwI-wzHNR1cLnVIowqtxvfoZCvMEkmnB-860imqKIDGU/s1600/5OD95F2VQDrWt1esaQyQH1cCkWqVa--d-lDqmTghauI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7b5FJB5A9-a4Xf4hMqrONbmtBXxYM0jOgrmubnHy1HvjhsQfgYu3SYKiFwImcD0k7k_BvSzu2Y5IVym1AvfhKP71OEJRScwrEwI-wzHNR1cLnVIowqtxvfoZCvMEkmnB-860imqKIDGU/s640/5OD95F2VQDrWt1esaQyQH1cCkWqVa--d-lDqmTghauI.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Final lap plane ride</td></tr>
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We drove to Cornwall for the weekend to sneak in a mini-vacation while Lars did some field work. The kids loved the beach and Lars's colleague's three-year-old daughter. The caravan park where we stayed had a swimming pool, and Tor had just finished up a solid week of swimming lessons (facilitated by great self-sacrifice on the part of DaDa, who biked him there every morning), so we got him a Spiderman innertube and he was basically self-sufficient. He's signed up for weekend swim lessons starting in September, at which we have big hopes that he will progress to swimming without external support.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhURvmOc2XYDHLgvPfKOVtt16zk6bcMFnT9oTScotj4cKhqDKQPMdvqHeiXKCVqWFj8EJjf_p81kDg3f-vOrGdd0U24Gq8QX5lYJ8hyvHqCf2aJc50nSqX4M43CG72sigVZKgEfMZGYFBE/w362-h643-no/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="360" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tired AND hungry? Now there's no need to choose</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis5kJisMkL182jVVKHXY1iebNRm6QnL_VZIH6AJcPHUvOixWWfQJwZU812BD2tWrKUAeQqwrNPwsiQvcMMTnmnBbLtp55YzJHMVJYe9_IRCyD3Rq2mAN7lpF7OLBCW6dnGJ5e77Dv1hhc/w1144-h643-no/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Burning off some steam while waiting for dinner to arrive</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYtqfCX4dP_GJxTT57A4ef2JItoo30nU94Eqf-rA9FbtTz0yxpr1S6g6FY9Fj27tCdQb0pco5Q7V7mgiO6KYW5KeBfr6UYxk7XL81Et1ZtJ3q1yUL3QCjDl8V56WScZ4gOUZL3wOYd8Y4/w1144-h643-no/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Look, kids, work is fun!"</td></tr>
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<img height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUEcRVjjw_w7XHxLnAUqe3ejDkJb7vCIBxud2Eb0d9lpBm3NIPv-JUjAHlCE75GX6oXch4dzkjG3STFKcoxpsqyN68rkeqefPLie5C1iEUZjphkVXjUG6RssvPZUbFcQZxAySLJYdFLfU/w362-h643-no/" width="360" /></div>
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Aside from Scotland, Austria, and Cornwall, we've spent most weekends at home. Tor joined the library's Summer Reading Challenge! and has surpassed my expectations at reading books all by himself (with a lot of cheerleading, of course). Lars has been particularly dedicated to this at bedtime.</div>
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Col has joined the legions of children in love with Elmo. And with coloring on themselves.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDxHD2OswD7uFUlYLct5uHq9L1rYNiWIKCgkJ2ZMpKvB5yfRhHW5oQPd6OdWbp56Y5E5XqvDmoor-_2L4HCToVeyfjyKqKeWoCDIOHrTIo_VWP3SDr3oyw9onnxsmN72TXkYVLTt3SSHU/s1600/IMG_9160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDxHD2OswD7uFUlYLct5uHq9L1rYNiWIKCgkJ2ZMpKvB5yfRhHW5oQPd6OdWbp56Y5E5XqvDmoor-_2L4HCToVeyfjyKqKeWoCDIOHrTIo_VWP3SDr3oyw9onnxsmN72TXkYVLTt3SSHU/s400/IMG_9160.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8rH5Lvh0xpsDP10SlljcpdR2p2OJ_3PRhFwoQujeYCGQ1etTFsoJE7AVgRwHLZHT1ICR5r217RBVXNQX-cQ-ZqZMAIsWMY6KGx2RAXKNWrp1eTaKwf_YnT_Uonh_c_dEfUjyWQwDObLM/w1144-h643-no/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">His name is Zachary and he's fabulous</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm20ufICvPrVU7GXXrSF7WcE4deJL8wVrAvjvXOBFdxcq6M7RlDBe0eaR7EghUNLhQeY6n2ccUhFWbMh5X6uRxxlRcxjkN_KP4X7B9T8yTa-BebgTKfqiDwoi_Nsei7o-wCqxy8dFbhWo/w1144-h643-no/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"You'll need to pry these pouches from our cold dead hands"</td></tr>
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<i>At the playground</i></div>
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Tor: Col can be Peter Pan, you be the princess, and I'll be Wolverine.</div>
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Me: Why am I the princess?</div>
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Tor: Because you like princesses.</div>
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Me: Why do you think I like princesses?</div>
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Tor: Because I want you to like them.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCXIcaXi3kf4xkiglM5Q-9pQUn0c-PCccvVfdIYMFaVJC9puuKLkPWrLSHK92kQcXkWHFTWfIzDiEhthX3jPHyUo3DiHAW9IIE4WiASQtv0Y2JEWHgcADU9Mq_Pu6tu1b-stoxqjLj6T0/s1600/IMG_9105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCXIcaXi3kf4xkiglM5Q-9pQUn0c-PCccvVfdIYMFaVJC9puuKLkPWrLSHK92kQcXkWHFTWfIzDiEhthX3jPHyUo3DiHAW9IIE4WiASQtv0Y2JEWHgcADU9Mq_Pu6tu1b-stoxqjLj6T0/s640/IMG_9105.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px; text-align: center;">Expression turned to disappointment upon realizing wine is not juice<br />
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<i>On the way home after Col's classroom did fruit tasting</i><br />
Me: Did you like the pears, Col?<br />
Col: YEAH!<br />
Me: Did you like the apples?<br />
Col: YEAH!<br />
Tor: I like apples and pears together. As a team.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQhQzAkDp0WV7ejqMrVeTvl6-M-G_e6p1KnhyGdCeAaQiyBuQnrEcMPz0d0pTVXtAUMJGT8zP2cxQ_j-HZrMsyw5WXLXWL16DAwKLqIjACPVjON53mvuKS5WzfQ2U4vGOb3bcttYenANQ/s1600/IMG_9163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQhQzAkDp0WV7ejqMrVeTvl6-M-G_e6p1KnhyGdCeAaQiyBuQnrEcMPz0d0pTVXtAUMJGT8zP2cxQ_j-HZrMsyw5WXLXWL16DAwKLqIjACPVjON53mvuKS5WzfQ2U4vGOb3bcttYenANQ/s640/IMG_9163.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No letters can spell the sound Col makes that means "CHEESE"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMklIZPAaPuuuz2Ye7vwmCh9igOXSE7S25_NyPu0eOSJ7XOaK3jUDpvUJooEOgvlQ6zv1i8M4g1P3BXDQmf4YjvMFSZ2_Pif5AWRazOhK2M6ra-u4mU07BjqoXQQpEpvV-_8mOZ5lAQvg/s1600/5SIlW6_jNd_txjHZPfZ-DicLv32PmpK1tlT884-SMhg%252COGr5GnLXXWyo3lk-40DizPeq4HtGCnJ7uXQUSJ1uI2c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMklIZPAaPuuuz2Ye7vwmCh9igOXSE7S25_NyPu0eOSJ7XOaK3jUDpvUJooEOgvlQ6zv1i8M4g1P3BXDQmf4YjvMFSZ2_Pif5AWRazOhK2M6ra-u4mU07BjqoXQQpEpvV-_8mOZ5lAQvg/s640/5SIlW6_jNd_txjHZPfZ-DicLv32PmpK1tlT884-SMhg%252COGr5GnLXXWyo3lk-40DizPeq4HtGCnJ7uXQUSJ1uI2c.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Can I ride back here today?"</td></tr>
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TorTaleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11724873416713388826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6809182701398511861.post-53550805916189804302015-07-14T13:03:00.002-07:002015-07-14T13:03:58.905-07:00Spring Round-Up<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
April and May were packed to the brim with family visits, trips, and the daily grind. As I posted at the end of May (!), I've got a few more pictures to put out there.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifebidFH73AovOMhvXAKIQlquJFHFjIqtQL9QNDnBY7bPXzbHfc0_6Irm_vPDJBL0gq7HSD1uBaSMjYDTT0GApxQMgusfsFet2uvZV5g3w126BmJqA-yUteo8RYxECk-I61nf1ZwsYMNQ/s1600/IMG_0110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifebidFH73AovOMhvXAKIQlquJFHFjIqtQL9QNDnBY7bPXzbHfc0_6Irm_vPDJBL0gq7HSD1uBaSMjYDTT0GApxQMgusfsFet2uvZV5g3w126BmJqA-yUteo8RYxECk-I61nf1ZwsYMNQ/s640/IMG_0110.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More fun than a barrel of monkeys</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipkJqT4R69aYZs2fKwypBNRe2E6fMF3TyPeOZKBg7M7_8JQB6xDzGL7SSfno2WnLFeK7kj3aufZKl8tWEdT4wYUeh8eaQJU3UMrdkJYTDNVi9pA2OQDSV6s2oc_Z47NaDOqBSR0K568bA/s1600/IMG_0123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipkJqT4R69aYZs2fKwypBNRe2E6fMF3TyPeOZKBg7M7_8JQB6xDzGL7SSfno2WnLFeK7kj3aufZKl8tWEdT4wYUeh8eaQJU3UMrdkJYTDNVi9pA2OQDSV6s2oc_Z47NaDOqBSR0K568bA/s640/IMG_0123.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All dressed up and nowhere to go</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqvUgKpNScBwOGH-_8wMcVPnkuYTpCMbl7hCMiOCno8AUBiiP4fsBNFiaFnO7FQtSDHC7_4rUVZwxZPdID_dtZFfNVrlidoXDu9E8U-PBtF5o_hnSXN4gV32mqJyOcV6aQfWNcyDEBO4Y/s1600/IMG_0132.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqvUgKpNScBwOGH-_8wMcVPnkuYTpCMbl7hCMiOCno8AUBiiP4fsBNFiaFnO7FQtSDHC7_4rUVZwxZPdID_dtZFfNVrlidoXDu9E8U-PBtF5o_hnSXN4gV32mqJyOcV6aQfWNcyDEBO4Y/s640/IMG_0132.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Right before Oxford's most aggressive duck took Tor's croissant</td></tr>
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Ahbee and Pakka's visit was a whirlwind of catching up for the first time post-Christmas (and the first time in Oxford for Ahbee), sightseeing, and great home cooking.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhm4qSdQ-_h_qhj9NIYGO_0kQcAMMliAD2KLZCwsgO7U9y7VK76S1TD6egbON69eF-D53W4dXYXY5bnGq_hKiqqD4rAuIChpd1PsYi4-jTX4Lpuj4E26ZiiZXwuJSZK1gJO0K2Tcto-gs/s1600/IMG_9074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhm4qSdQ-_h_qhj9NIYGO_0kQcAMMliAD2KLZCwsgO7U9y7VK76S1TD6egbON69eF-D53W4dXYXY5bnGq_hKiqqD4rAuIChpd1PsYi4-jTX4Lpuj4E26ZiiZXwuJSZK1gJO0K2Tcto-gs/s640/IMG_9074.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trying out Tor's new <i>Noodle Kids</i> cookbook</td></tr>
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We all enjoyed a day at Legoland (surely the first of many over the years...I collect coupons from all our cereal boxes).</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjowvVImic5wfoRZrdcr3wzH_UFGocG6bDdhCpNoGbxpnVcL8nfbPcI34JcgctGzyxhMDJMoKVYy6SOzxuE03-g1bDsArXn2I6IJPAxfg1SmHFzUp1uj2qvMf4ex83JPTLA__Cf5aa42Dw/s1600/7xsQy_KvEuBx7F9t-UJ-QaP383J8iNaRyhZZ4epQtt4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjowvVImic5wfoRZrdcr3wzH_UFGocG6bDdhCpNoGbxpnVcL8nfbPcI34JcgctGzyxhMDJMoKVYy6SOzxuE03-g1bDsArXn2I6IJPAxfg1SmHFzUp1uj2qvMf4ex83JPTLA__Cf5aa42Dw/s640/7xsQy_KvEuBx7F9t-UJ-QaP383J8iNaRyhZZ4epQtt4.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hoth pit stop</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRtG73l_OYL8tmScQMQ8P20pWJJbmYwhfAFqbgwuLRiMLtONgIIOhL8MdAq9ls-mlqTdRXJeWjwcfIq4gLJyQxyB7_WdUc-LHimsbZIcDraTFR6YrwAEYcNTdacbVyORw1BtQnzv17t-s/s1600/Tor_Legoland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRtG73l_OYL8tmScQMQ8P20pWJJbmYwhfAFqbgwuLRiMLtONgIIOhL8MdAq9ls-mlqTdRXJeWjwcfIq4gLJyQxyB7_WdUc-LHimsbZIcDraTFR6YrwAEYcNTdacbVyORw1BtQnzv17t-s/s640/Tor_Legoland.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fearsomest Lego shark ever</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjreS-5VnnrXZb5mTnTI67XhzDKobQCtfHdvaJ1K2bVoWJSf2RMMyLJni0tDvEY0VATBGaAXk3ud0K-GTTyTGjEkRBmIAgmtpZq828vO2a1vGsgW48xe8mc5vZ3YY0XUF1Qg0ZWA5r1vTc/s1600/IMG_9076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjreS-5VnnrXZb5mTnTI67XhzDKobQCtfHdvaJ1K2bVoWJSf2RMMyLJni0tDvEY0VATBGaAXk3ud0K-GTTyTGjEkRBmIAgmtpZq828vO2a1vGsgW48xe8mc5vZ3YY0XUF1Qg0ZWA5r1vTc/s640/IMG_9076.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;">Post-Legoland <i>Star Wars</i> construction action<br />
(yes, I buy hand soap three bottles at a time)</td></tr>
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Our next excursion was a four-day weekend to the Lake District, six hours north. The kids were champion road trippers both ways and Lars found us an amazing vacation cottage with several hikes that started right outside our door. It felt great to get some elevation.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxD6YuZCZ0liLkOVDoXoKoVnGDFOspPd8xF-IgcvYjJzZzmCsuVQSie4xfU4ufi9u4y08dkBj0EkCgkX_rwxVgUFb_vdmYsPYhaUCbNf66tANxwnJ0PVy41F7ZVC86y6rQwXFel9F0ZDI/s1600/IMG_9081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxD6YuZCZ0liLkOVDoXoKoVnGDFOspPd8xF-IgcvYjJzZzmCsuVQSie4xfU4ufi9u4y08dkBj0EkCgkX_rwxVgUFb_vdmYsPYhaUCbNf66tANxwnJ0PVy41F7ZVC86y6rQwXFel9F0ZDI/s640/IMG_9081.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Just outside the house at the base of a 400-meter hill</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7qayNJ1nrx6UGJGDnfsIzlQle0hfUW_327L0TO_maJLovZ_1O83ryIPkt0dvEU54ouqieOc8-wEGVTDHeRbW3gkte29DXFLf6H7iTrFBNfJ2R6VNyqZWr-q2LSpHR7VElxscjvcLEoBw/s1600/IMG_9091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7qayNJ1nrx6UGJGDnfsIzlQle0hfUW_327L0TO_maJLovZ_1O83ryIPkt0dvEU54ouqieOc8-wEGVTDHeRbW3gkte29DXFLf6H7iTrFBNfJ2R6VNyqZWr-q2LSpHR7VElxscjvcLEoBw/s640/IMG_9091.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trekking to the top</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hunkering down to escape the wind</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On his last legs on the way down...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...and back at the cottage</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7FwdhcN1vuyPoBdE_Tlhv5MyOV31NdYcOVi-qNC7MaHK4uv8F4VAVxFlRMjmd-kZy5DB-U_quBYJnwSKHzhlcWMT4dRWebTM81DApEl3VtnUf-7W4rKys-owXxLF4gIVPLL9EvAIqqwQ/s1600/D9cbDrZSfNqrClLYLeS2DvYRr9_igB_l3mPqeQDnSUY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7FwdhcN1vuyPoBdE_Tlhv5MyOV31NdYcOVi-qNC7MaHK4uv8F4VAVxFlRMjmd-kZy5DB-U_quBYJnwSKHzhlcWMT4dRWebTM81DApEl3VtnUf-7W4rKys-owXxLF4gIVPLL9EvAIqqwQ/s640/D9cbDrZSfNqrClLYLeS2DvYRr9_igB_l3mPqeQDnSUY.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The aftermath: zonked out to <i>Mike the Knight</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqMC1i_WMyM3WtYeuilQefCybhZYd0W-q_qbR0NPWpbUoYBjm4XBj-zuUU2ymiX7omN_OJ4TzjNljv69DXznxBE-wQ9A23Sj2JlqQ89h6eDgX94FAE4tt6fqumckmZrEYLoJL-avcjugk/s1600/gPrER4Px-eEpnPztWdxhBPAj2GddIYV9YpPUsdTfyUk%252CnloPpE3lN1UcB-exHHHZxHfxVrojCT2PxQxcNjkqEGk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqMC1i_WMyM3WtYeuilQefCybhZYd0W-q_qbR0NPWpbUoYBjm4XBj-zuUU2ymiX7omN_OJ4TzjNljv69DXznxBE-wQ9A23Sj2JlqQ89h6eDgX94FAE4tt6fqumckmZrEYLoJL-avcjugk/s640/gPrER4Px-eEpnPztWdxhBPAj2GddIYV9YpPUsdTfyUk%252CnloPpE3lN1UcB-exHHHZxHfxVrojCT2PxQxcNjkqEGk.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gardens and adjacent mini-golf at a nearby village</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglVS0lzisT3alDDGLcc7bIpn3gjc2DLRkGoV32dpOSloHK3VSRR6Ml3V6VRb82AZiNAcVRP_gYsJhzWQZpjuTwKlNZCiMFqVS81FrXJXsW-cUk7cMhuSZ7TBHsSg1jk4RnL43oDGov6xY/s1600/KRRjnRJ_WtN5VKzYzBYpRO6y8wqv3lo4B4BhEI2lmz4%252CRz9GyFszXJ76qLD99pty6fqiOfdJNtx-vsa06DTZntY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglVS0lzisT3alDDGLcc7bIpn3gjc2DLRkGoV32dpOSloHK3VSRR6Ml3V6VRb82AZiNAcVRP_gYsJhzWQZpjuTwKlNZCiMFqVS81FrXJXsW-cUk7cMhuSZ7TBHsSg1jk4RnL43oDGov6xY/s640/KRRjnRJ_WtN5VKzYzBYpRO6y8wqv3lo4B4BhEI2lmz4%252CRz9GyFszXJ76qLD99pty6fqiOfdJNtx-vsa06DTZntY.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outdoor pub games: parents' best friend</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeYTmNmwVrdatuBi07e48cyrvJ88vC_SEIa8m-xsMCFKn3i52gTQMhjHvqwX6BstH_WUm87FaLpdmG2qC4XqM6hT0QAFieDwllNx1-BjjmW01EvQz6qEKxYDP8LuwAeOsp1fSxhJYfWpo/s1600/ol2H7Ag1I2_biVyRapPsomrTM5VkA9N7XhH8DM7kFv8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeYTmNmwVrdatuBi07e48cyrvJ88vC_SEIa8m-xsMCFKn3i52gTQMhjHvqwX6BstH_WUm87FaLpdmG2qC4XqM6hT0QAFieDwllNx1-BjjmW01EvQz6qEKxYDP8LuwAeOsp1fSxhJYfWpo/s640/ol2H7Ag1I2_biVyRapPsomrTM5VkA9N7XhH8DM7kFv8.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peak bagging</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD3xrDxrZuQbZYtG1IWPRGZhuGUy89bstjlcnrUs-vgVj2W7S_h7tFjuAPTyUyVBlX6ebE8txhJ5cWjKNq6i72W9bFTwN1NGsx9IMkFCOh_RxfWoaFjUxKORJ5-CxQ__aBHf6BcJZusIQ/s1600/2S1zIp4KabSIkqfK7VZRgpJw0fnfyA4JLDmSpbzJBAc%252C2SP0Ow-72DE6eB4Itl8fKA1C-C6ATPWK_iTpKf3ahgA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD3xrDxrZuQbZYtG1IWPRGZhuGUy89bstjlcnrUs-vgVj2W7S_h7tFjuAPTyUyVBlX6ebE8txhJ5cWjKNq6i72W9bFTwN1NGsx9IMkFCOh_RxfWoaFjUxKORJ5-CxQ__aBHf6BcJZusIQ/s640/2S1zIp4KabSIkqfK7VZRgpJw0fnfyA4JLDmSpbzJBAc%252C2SP0Ow-72DE6eB4Itl8fKA1C-C6ATPWK_iTpKf3ahgA.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back in Oxford at the Jericho Street Festival: <em>Dances with Wellies</em></td></tr>
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We'd been watching these buds for weeks and they finally bloomed!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwfr0dwRx3JUQMRlsntNmifq1QwTZrIwKrqxzZ8pYoYq-E59X7PbWDmgIv1lzPrhBcSpPnOOYrXOW4u4f62Wl7f12MtM_ABiGTcm0Ycuw_fatx9RKWchrQUGvIwCLG24Q7MGS8xBJsnE4/s1600/6n42UnQc3Ne7IIMBpwMOISsLykQzVaeY6urcZQ4FSSk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwfr0dwRx3JUQMRlsntNmifq1QwTZrIwKrqxzZ8pYoYq-E59X7PbWDmgIv1lzPrhBcSpPnOOYrXOW4u4f62Wl7f12MtM_ABiGTcm0Ycuw_fatx9RKWchrQUGvIwCLG24Q7MGS8xBJsnE4/s640/6n42UnQc3Ne7IIMBpwMOISsLykQzVaeY6urcZQ4FSSk.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Lookit! Lookit! They're <em>white</em>!!"</td></tr>
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Next post: Scotland with the Siglers and Austria with no buffer between us and our intense but lovable offspring!<br />
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<br />TorTaleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11724873416713388826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6809182701398511861.post-87592563475982791472015-05-25T14:08:00.001-07:002015-05-25T14:08:26.973-07:00Busy Spring<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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With one thing and another--Oma visit! Chicken pox! Ahbee and Pakka visit! Vacation!--the blog completely got away from me. I can't believe I haven't posted since Easter (or that it's nearly June). How?<br />
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Col's hero worship of Tor is increasingly pronounced, but so is his will to have his way. These make an explosive combination when Col decides he MUST have the toy/food/book that Tor has: he is not easily dissuaded. And Tor still has a tendency to burst into tears whenever, as he says, "Col's snatching it off me!" Even if they have the exact same things (see drums below), those things get passed back and forth as Col repeatedly decides the grass is greener.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu4btZ1sTZlxk_wsdM2sBbvC7UOrWySPka4bCTjaobMpuBB4Y52BWa6ElkTGITyyJpEjLUMNEMSOU_PoB-9gTlK7BsEtIbBOObqgk1sBiGtTQIcEIxLzu4DKjI9YuTAj8ioi1ZO_JZHl4/s1600/IMG_20150426_092737_028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu4btZ1sTZlxk_wsdM2sBbvC7UOrWySPka4bCTjaobMpuBB4Y52BWa6ElkTGITyyJpEjLUMNEMSOU_PoB-9gTlK7BsEtIbBOObqgk1sBiGtTQIcEIxLzu4DKjI9YuTAj8ioi1ZO_JZHl4/s1600/IMG_20150426_092737_028.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Why we get to church early</td></tr>
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Some of their play, in the interest of evenhandedness, is collaborative.</div>
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<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Dfxv84cjnLQ/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Dfxv84cjnLQ?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGfSGW1dvptvYqpFqXbUjC5ElX1m4RY5DROyi449ikmzIaw5VcK37nb8nbrcAT0m4qk4FyfeATmHppTxhCF1OBSQXdbKYWrG26M-CIUirdgx5-VUlH1BuG4cnbphwIEeWCjNEORDZ_1QI/s1600/IMG_20150425_121122_650.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGfSGW1dvptvYqpFqXbUjC5ElX1m4RY5DROyi449ikmzIaw5VcK37nb8nbrcAT0m4qk4FyfeATmHppTxhCF1OBSQXdbKYWrG26M-CIUirdgx5-VUlH1BuG4cnbphwIEeWCjNEORDZ_1QI/s1600/IMG_20150425_121122_650.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tough to tell from here, but this was a full-on pony death grip</td></tr>
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My mom came to visit for a week while Lars was in Vienna for a conference. Obviously it was great to see her and to have a second adult around, but it became a serious godsend when Col came down with chicken pox. On my birthday.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUMFURWCHFSVfzYWaANmYooNCsWEEtIE7lxwUOgX8chd65-uqRllXlYyVO9V515lc_OkNS-cdNVPMSlYH0q3xwyh5bsO4XwbE26EcmHs2vFPAzGOcUFXJkcr5r_r56MUWcfCDTeqJhwnc/s1600/IMG_20150418_153632_519.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUMFURWCHFSVfzYWaANmYooNCsWEEtIE7lxwUOgX8chd65-uqRllXlYyVO9V515lc_OkNS-cdNVPMSlYH0q3xwyh5bsO4XwbE26EcmHs2vFPAzGOcUFXJkcr5r_r56MUWcfCDTeqJhwnc/s1600/IMG_20150418_153632_519.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px; text-align: center;">Bust out yer plague masks--it'll be a long week<br />
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So Oma had Angry Itchy Baby Time instead of a mother-daughter birthday tea as we'd planned. She was immensely gracious about it. And we did get our tea when Lars got home and took the kids for the afternoon (including a mercifully more scabrous Col).<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmWI6yug4PbccARMEOqpZOiShnGvPtsHzjtRI3C0jBDZxDu8Z3HA5eTZv4dHdjqmnIqwMRo056moATOKMVFM-ozQRUteWG6UEOcKKVIvxAXc5Gnnz-6d4diNXtIbhfqKXmI-qla7bgqqg/s1600/IMG_20150419_095615_136.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmWI6yug4PbccARMEOqpZOiShnGvPtsHzjtRI3C0jBDZxDu8Z3HA5eTZv4dHdjqmnIqwMRo056moATOKMVFM-ozQRUteWG6UEOcKKVIvxAXc5Gnnz-6d4diNXtIbhfqKXmI-qla7bgqqg/s1600/IMG_20150419_095615_136.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Braving cloudy skies to hike with Oma</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoSpIFFeSjXrd8vRH_5NUTPxXO8bCAuNcRK8EDYp5sL-SsjP-aq0TNR5m4ApPcpL8E7JbNF5gJtEkqhqaTL-Asods4251yijb419tDhM_T2T0uDYSKwbURK1Dlf3AFaz0ggjfGy8FmmSU/s1600/IMG_0146.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoSpIFFeSjXrd8vRH_5NUTPxXO8bCAuNcRK8EDYp5sL-SsjP-aq0TNR5m4ApPcpL8E7JbNF5gJtEkqhqaTL-Asods4251yijb419tDhM_T2T0uDYSKwbURK1Dlf3AFaz0ggjfGy8FmmSU/s1600/IMG_0146.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unbeknownst to us, the toys in Tor's bucket were already plotting their escape</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1OMOdnWk3BPBjZCbFACHm_C8Rr-MP_CSidt8mXWvwvX-ez53XQJ7GZERCwsA4_gqXiVmAPK7xztuCTQNFIk5rS-WghmV21-C45KGoMuHbcKjPY_wyXiPcrjhnz1oKh6shhwoq53tSv2M/s1600/IMG_0160.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1OMOdnWk3BPBjZCbFACHm_C8Rr-MP_CSidt8mXWvwvX-ez53XQJ7GZERCwsA4_gqXiVmAPK7xztuCTQNFIk5rS-WghmV21-C45KGoMuHbcKjPY_wyXiPcrjhnz1oKh6shhwoq53tSv2M/s1600/IMG_0160.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can take the toddler out of the dirt, but . . .</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCQzz_JtzY5qc8MbDWySWAZEEkEZgN_iLzftkF-hYFiilWhvfEJj-n3CmszRVmn8s9ygsh37PAHeoKWnoBlhyphenhyphenzOB7WVNgDkelSsKWHvUsfO93dLgrOuGCYfz5MClcmQTp7j1BbJ20k414/s1600/IMG_0161.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCQzz_JtzY5qc8MbDWySWAZEEkEZgN_iLzftkF-hYFiilWhvfEJj-n3CmszRVmn8s9ygsh37PAHeoKWnoBlhyphenhyphenzOB7WVNgDkelSsKWHvUsfO93dLgrOuGCYfz5MClcmQTp7j1BbJ20k414/s1600/IMG_0161.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Didn't last long. We'll build up to it.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBjFlu3AeaK0uOPT-TmR7uOIftumd6DGmB5faIKmexLrR9YqXUxNBrUpu0L6qvtwrnppgFODCRYRipP2h8enbi3bB15iDiNVBNZxgSFtDCFH00d5DUHtyf0rkhjasF7zANupElOO4aKIs/s1600/IMG_0126.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBjFlu3AeaK0uOPT-TmR7uOIftumd6DGmB5faIKmexLrR9YqXUxNBrUpu0L6qvtwrnppgFODCRYRipP2h8enbi3bB15iDiNVBNZxgSFtDCFH00d5DUHtyf0rkhjasF7zANupElOO4aKIs/s1600/IMG_0126.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px; text-align: center;">A far nicer day at the botanical gardens--busting out the double stroller<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyVEZrtBn6XobDizCfWXBw2nyfez7w3dfMoHWpPFM_DYFAVC6Wt-b7DhM3H6t6JH6K_OO57aD2oU7inAU1ePxTlSxEAPf2vQrQ33gKV8k2YgT3Ll6znNbiT0t74ZZhE1-WwZ73KAQ7Z2U/s1600/IMG_0139.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyVEZrtBn6XobDizCfWXBw2nyfez7w3dfMoHWpPFM_DYFAVC6Wt-b7DhM3H6t6JH6K_OO57aD2oU7inAU1ePxTlSxEAPf2vQrQ33gKV8k2YgT3Ll6znNbiT0t74ZZhE1-WwZ73KAQ7Z2U/s1600/IMG_0139.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px; text-align: center;">My "coming of age as a Hobbit" birthday celebration, rudely punctuated</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy-sVOnFS4N85neqccQc7rAzR9jzBbHdR_07Z0djKdzo-8swxL3KH0wvHV0Xytnjms3EpSZyUhR89qBe2YDj9mYVctWB4fL6VBqZ29EwHBcI-8gXA5HIrGd6b-rPhivLnGeI52e2S0izg/s1600/IMG_20150411_182542_366.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy-sVOnFS4N85neqccQc7rAzR9jzBbHdR_07Z0djKdzo-8swxL3KH0wvHV0Xytnjms3EpSZyUhR89qBe2YDj9mYVctWB4fL6VBqZ29EwHBcI-8gXA5HIrGd6b-rPhivLnGeI52e2S0izg/s1600/IMG_20150411_182542_366.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loving the light evenings!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRFq8On41tbTFZ4YswIx2x9-JpAKlfny3P3thYmpUo50h8F_Z9twkk8EswhHolBH8zrYp__RAEoLHdsBvScMZxPvJlOW-AU5CQ_UWBSUjtR5G1ZmP8sBB7pzvZK8AgNo2o4tHUNifJbRk/s1600/IMG_20150407_191901_065.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRFq8On41tbTFZ4YswIx2x9-JpAKlfny3P3thYmpUo50h8F_Z9twkk8EswhHolBH8zrYp__RAEoLHdsBvScMZxPvJlOW-AU5CQ_UWBSUjtR5G1ZmP8sBB7pzvZK8AgNo2o4tHUNifJbRk/s1600/IMG_20150407_191901_065.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Longer days, warmer temps = picnics in the park</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFo6fqIpff5RbdA_GgIddd71vP5JuM_JM78lhFC5njJsjboHuK37s5TOPAFDJcGFUXsEGUduOL_6hEfPSL72sMbPA8dBQsFbjil26kKDvP0eFXUM2KWFjVxnYplDbuKHYAMgAaOHQtMgI/s1600/IMG_20150407_190219_966.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFo6fqIpff5RbdA_GgIddd71vP5JuM_JM78lhFC5njJsjboHuK37s5TOPAFDJcGFUXsEGUduOL_6hEfPSL72sMbPA8dBQsFbjil26kKDvP0eFXUM2KWFjVxnYplDbuKHYAMgAaOHQtMgI/s1600/IMG_20150407_190219_966.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fully worth bringing from California<br />
(and the play structure too)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdG3IPt_TRsv1ajvLOsueDCt02OV7Mj9O10L0wR0fYIjV033LbrK11tK1IqxmIBkD0hX_SnVkRhxzzmrHNZ3i4IMBg6oI40XY4PTBQohhDnIIwkt2e-nsPse9uhTBjxIYtvp4JbouxHIE/s1600/IMG_20150407_184641_869.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdG3IPt_TRsv1ajvLOsueDCt02OV7Mj9O10L0wR0fYIjV033LbrK11tK1IqxmIBkD0hX_SnVkRhxzzmrHNZ3i4IMBg6oI40XY4PTBQohhDnIIwkt2e-nsPse9uhTBjxIYtvp4JbouxHIE/s1600/IMG_20150407_184641_869.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Practicing ninja moves</td></tr>
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In posts to come: more photos from Oma's visit, Ahbee and Pakka's visit, and the Lake District!<br />
<br />
A couple of Torisms to round out the post:<br />
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<i>At the playground</i><br />
Tor: Let's play <i>The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe</i>. You can be the snow witch. I'll be Aslan.<br />
Me: Okay. Who should Col be?<br />
Tor: Col can be the wardrobe.<br />
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<i>After school</i><br />
Me: I saw that the sound of the week is /i/ this week. Like "biiiit." Or "piiiig."<br />
Tor: Or "vegiiiitarian."<br />
<br /></div>
TorTaleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11724873416713388826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6809182701398511861.post-79350592000888480732015-04-06T01:08:00.001-07:002015-04-06T01:08:14.467-07:00Happy Easter!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-lwO1zS6_xsO-oOJU_F9OmU3xLmEla4DPkUbQkIzzelf-qonJFM3s2zUhRrnlA-xF6HksAJR2e3O76d9DV04GKenxEPpGmP6vdgBL3siGIbKNxbTElt4-bY3XNkwc1PvFYznDFUrt_1E/s1600/IMG_9051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-lwO1zS6_xsO-oOJU_F9OmU3xLmEla4DPkUbQkIzzelf-qonJFM3s2zUhRrnlA-xF6HksAJR2e3O76d9DV04GKenxEPpGmP6vdgBL3siGIbKNxbTElt4-bY3XNkwc1PvFYznDFUrt_1E/s1600/IMG_9051.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still in his Easter finery--made it to church and back before soiling it</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_KZJv3JA_W-__H6BBc8-2OZsqiPXE0_tW3J4n588Di5mdz64vNq6j_vvxyD6N2CStv74Q0cW4LBnxrhQFnORImbYiuv5Xog8uknGgYWQ_7rcNbmbUttus_dfOJBUufJyqlRmwnbjHpFk/s1600/IMG_9055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_KZJv3JA_W-__H6BBc8-2OZsqiPXE0_tW3J4n588Di5mdz64vNq6j_vvxyD6N2CStv74Q0cW4LBnxrhQFnORImbYiuv5Xog8uknGgYWQ_7rcNbmbUttus_dfOJBUufJyqlRmwnbjHpFk/s1600/IMG_9055.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We didn't realize that Tor has outgrown all his nice clothes, so he took the superhero route</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpohHGcGNw-t3OHEZ-2eYmqYpzJozHEV0G4eZxHGYAMP87dueNC0zjJc6mTDXHOIIsqMooXiQeXQMXpdkoqTp3trzcc64JPS77VQAA6diKbXM4GtioOp0B-jQLOPZScWw1Kt1ZHbGG3Ls/s1600/IMG_9060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpohHGcGNw-t3OHEZ-2eYmqYpzJozHEV0G4eZxHGYAMP87dueNC0zjJc6mTDXHOIIsqMooXiQeXQMXpdkoqTp3trzcc64JPS77VQAA6diKbXM4GtioOp0B-jQLOPZScWw1Kt1ZHbGG3Ls/s1600/IMG_9060.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reacting strongly to positive reinforcement</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUTB3hgeLRYG5QEyoI9cf7XXQzxeKUfrauKILsDZN1h7GWzqT41raLVwQZBwUWTmipj-yyCdw5_7V8k01YFdWhuf-980IAeT_WzMJC191yTNl-NSdIPGN8uIrDGThzSyPWK7SxuKdLRIQ/s1600/IMG_9063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUTB3hgeLRYG5QEyoI9cf7XXQzxeKUfrauKILsDZN1h7GWzqT41raLVwQZBwUWTmipj-yyCdw5_7V8k01YFdWhuf-980IAeT_WzMJC191yTNl-NSdIPGN8uIrDGThzSyPWK7SxuKdLRIQ/s1600/IMG_9063.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just before dumping the basket over his head</td></tr>
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<br />TorTaleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11724873416713388826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6809182701398511861.post-72174487857586088712015-03-31T14:34:00.001-07:002015-03-31T14:34:16.093-07:00Two-Word Sentences!The title says it all: Col is obviously highly advanced for his age! Ha ha. Actually, he is now saying a handful of words, but they're largely unintelligible except through context. He says "bye-bye" with a wave, "Hello doggie/duckie/Da-Da" (these all sound exactly the same), "all clean," and "all done." I am no longer "mama" but "mummay," since Col's imitating Tor.<br />
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The animal noises are the easiest to distinguish from each other. For a horse, he clicks his tongue like hooves; for a lion or tiger, he roars; for a pig, he grunts (my favorite). We are working on cow. I've got to get some video.<br />
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Speaking of which, here are two older ones. This will surely motivate me to get more recent footage during this life stage of rapid growth and change. More on Tor in the next post--suffice it to say he's hanging tough.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jA6N97o6tUw">December 2014</a>: just learned to play a kazoo </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">(excuse our messy room)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://youtu.be/CGlh6ig4DYU">January 2015</a>: just learned to blow his own nose </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">(again, excuse our messy room)</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLN6vD7zybLP3W9lquexQ6rI3HZOz15C8bykk4rhZ2wZyxjlbJhq0UisEgYZaAYqMWXyHNWrZcRW23auhVJuYv4wAEoZQX8eT2kCN7b1m5JZMLVmacJC3sOYTuoqANub0W_165TXAnqK4/s1600/IMG_20150308_160834_721.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLN6vD7zybLP3W9lquexQ6rI3HZOz15C8bykk4rhZ2wZyxjlbJhq0UisEgYZaAYqMWXyHNWrZcRW23auhVJuYv4wAEoZQX8eT2kCN7b1m5JZMLVmacJC3sOYTuoqANub0W_165TXAnqK4/s1600/IMG_20150308_160834_721.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Terrible quality, but captures him off with a book as usual</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn0Up34I_ELKU0XMc85gv1jdY1ap-byuN-dhFc8cthBrt1VZiVthUOt9KHctqFcMBnZTL8eQI-Pz09LOpZu52vlkb33iKDriyh8i6Ct7nFFSbK9tQVHTjv8EbhsSKPkWHd7w1xCzvn11E/s1600/IMG_20150315_145642_739.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn0Up34I_ELKU0XMc85gv1jdY1ap-byuN-dhFc8cthBrt1VZiVthUOt9KHctqFcMBnZTL8eQI-Pz09LOpZu52vlkb33iKDriyh8i6Ct7nFFSbK9tQVHTjv8EbhsSKPkWHd7w1xCzvn11E/s1600/IMG_20150315_145642_739.jpg" height="640" width="358" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Books: even better with a buddy!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7AxtpvG6EPkI6nquy7hz3u1t59aSJN0ad-lwp5KmugBTRLnjo3fPDjMynyuMOzcH1nd0_a5-W4Zr16c5tFMPMPDCgzcoy6GLJpOJOepB6vWWQ2UfORi-N0TlyW6t8A0IXCkiH1GfgNNY/s1600/IMG_20150321_124121_988.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7AxtpvG6EPkI6nquy7hz3u1t59aSJN0ad-lwp5KmugBTRLnjo3fPDjMynyuMOzcH1nd0_a5-W4Zr16c5tFMPMPDCgzcoy6GLJpOJOepB6vWWQ2UfORi-N0TlyW6t8A0IXCkiH1GfgNNY/s1600/IMG_20150321_124121_988.jpg" height="640" width="358" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Col tries the web, undaunted by the playground specter<br />
who frightened <span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">all the other children off this particular structure</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifEfqJvb6cUDxzi5TBtFQswPTQjam2Vu_FtcyoRlJ5HySQAwPA0RbtRnR4CKb-Gw5auCz6uRpCPxcm5Z35aOYDyE7tX1ShlYB_5hS_pjv8LUwjofrzNw6fmZxyQyMpN90jn5s8EWBFjTg/s1600/IMG_20150321_131028_453.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifEfqJvb6cUDxzi5TBtFQswPTQjam2Vu_FtcyoRlJ5HySQAwPA0RbtRnR4CKb-Gw5auCz6uRpCPxcm5Z35aOYDyE7tX1ShlYB_5hS_pjv8LUwjofrzNw6fmZxyQyMpN90jn5s8EWBFjTg/s1600/IMG_20150321_131028_453.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coffee/bun break while shopping for gardening supplies (or, "The Specter Unmasked")</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCNu43JChKDGG9CGLBNT1iMLLkFXdvHuJeahUI_rKpc6BCauTUTClHcUIImt_GnYkeF-AykAIWxNgGr-B3kj7WCiO6U3i3X7vvzlwLKkvC7KFmquj5Vp3x_eX6ZR-tpOCBmLBFmzQ3Uas/s1600/IMG_20150321_131149_810.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCNu43JChKDGG9CGLBNT1iMLLkFXdvHuJeahUI_rKpc6BCauTUTClHcUIImt_GnYkeF-AykAIWxNgGr-B3kj7WCiO6U3i3X7vvzlwLKkvC7KFmquj5Vp3x_eX6ZR-tpOCBmLBFmzQ3Uas/s1600/IMG_20150321_131149_810.jpg" height="640" width="358" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Captured in mid-claw</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq-rsiNqgLda_qmHbo4xr0ksf9AW08SuORdjRnWLLRC62JjYf7kQjdciMEfdDWpAH_v-RWfNpKpwFg4n5eV1x-GzLpltPNQF1yevw5K5mDoj9q4ty09efXt6F98tufbMQuDm_qIVlLdoM/s1600/2015-03-21+12.50.00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq-rsiNqgLda_qmHbo4xr0ksf9AW08SuORdjRnWLLRC62JjYf7kQjdciMEfdDWpAH_v-RWfNpKpwFg4n5eV1x-GzLpltPNQF1yevw5K5mDoj9q4ty09efXt6F98tufbMQuDm_qIVlLdoM/s1600/2015-03-21+12.50.00.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px; text-align: center;">"What're you looking at, horse?"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiofE6_DrG5jAhctmq8RIGFbMLa4OAp33p9pIPaBp-DIGBV33EzqvtsMA_wFsu6m2OaskR_VKI4xEBn9EogK0WaS3tQ3KpzMA6BCYTG94HBZVtKabbcvjUIzowA10NNw1tS2E4nQ8geI6Y/s1600/IMG_20150322_163130_781.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiofE6_DrG5jAhctmq8RIGFbMLa4OAp33p9pIPaBp-DIGBV33EzqvtsMA_wFsu6m2OaskR_VKI4xEBn9EogK0WaS3tQ3KpzMA6BCYTG94HBZVtKabbcvjUIzowA10NNw1tS2E4nQ8geI6Y/s1600/IMG_20150322_163130_781.jpg" height="640" width="358" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Right before attempting to fling himself from the moving<br />
merry-go-round--no match for maternal reflexes</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkcB1CMFH4ytaiMy_D6-6fy2krshDNJCRTXjOSSTA3-V9TGqItF7qJUPyTvI48crImlQlIprYo9FSGQABLeXGPmYvHcoDxjxGdia_IpMIhoeDDVrdQG9wxGmU2vmDG0O-EyHKIpPPek0w/s1600/2015-03-20+09.42.34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkcB1CMFH4ytaiMy_D6-6fy2krshDNJCRTXjOSSTA3-V9TGqItF7qJUPyTvI48crImlQlIprYo9FSGQABLeXGPmYvHcoDxjxGdia_IpMIhoeDDVrdQG9wxGmU2vmDG0O-EyHKIpPPek0w/s1600/2015-03-20+09.42.34.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not kid-related, but we had a partial solar eclipse and Lars's work set up a whole thing to watch it!</td></tr>
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<br />TorTaleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11724873416713388826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6809182701398511861.post-28442113920994895352015-03-02T14:45:00.001-08:002015-03-02T14:51:16.009-08:00Multiple PersonalitiesOne of Lars's colleagues recently asked me what the two kids' personalities are like. Of course any quick response to a question like that is reductive, but in short, I said Tor is sensitive and has wild mood swings, and Col is more happy-go-lucky and even-keeled. There are exceptions--Col certainly screeches to make his wants known, and Tor reacts calmly to bad news plenty of the time--but on the whole it's a good rough sketch.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQH06Dme1cdSl2qcZySNScJB1mRpbXARDaa2EmAzU1ff2Ug7nAKYTPLRnXMJsncXEtvvloZIk6s5ES4-0D-Pn2HYsyxpePS7CVG2di7a6o-UPT5b9buE1qu-1gEZzUb33GeuAzpSiwcOI/s1600/2015-02-21+11.31.33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQH06Dme1cdSl2qcZySNScJB1mRpbXARDaa2EmAzU1ff2Ug7nAKYTPLRnXMJsncXEtvvloZIk6s5ES4-0D-Pn2HYsyxpePS7CVG2di7a6o-UPT5b9buE1qu-1gEZzUb33GeuAzpSiwcOI/s1600/2015-02-21+11.31.33.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"We made a pirate ship!"</td></tr>
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Col is in a charming phase where he's eager to help with anything we're doing. Hanging up laundry to dry? Col will take it out of the washer and drape it on the drying rack. Getting cereal out of the pantry in the morning? Col will hand you each box individually along with his main utterance: "Ta?" Raking leaves? Col will snatch up fistfuls and sprinkle them near the yard waste bin. Opening a door? Col will open it for you. Then close it. Then open it. Then close it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_bgktQAC8-dbULYrSX55lydHsMPMAHy8pbM_ZXOgEXmyj4m7HktZRbnplTIFcsrCbqKRjL7hat8U5BNI-gHcWziUvKKgxoIxr6qImK7qLHCCb51erJIdhUtmCTtdsW42Y4EooKz76638/s1600/IMG_9016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_bgktQAC8-dbULYrSX55lydHsMPMAHy8pbM_ZXOgEXmyj4m7HktZRbnplTIFcsrCbqKRjL7hat8U5BNI-gHcWziUvKKgxoIxr6qImK7qLHCCb51erJIdhUtmCTtdsW42Y4EooKz76638/s1600/IMG_9016.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"I'm loud! I'm proud! Get used to it!"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoU3fWXe_4k6uI-dKxgNn81o1Zz8rcYI07MN4vt7B-cJPEcc2X-siq63Hw5iYQibV7mzZBLcSgRx8YuAbSFQVuyzLAkKoD4v_VX0lojdQusier-Ogaoh1ltTJmldubmri_yUSYV06kFTM/s1600/IMG_20150211_080417_398+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoU3fWXe_4k6uI-dKxgNn81o1Zz8rcYI07MN4vt7B-cJPEcc2X-siq63Hw5iYQibV7mzZBLcSgRx8YuAbSFQVuyzLAkKoD4v_VX0lojdQusier-Ogaoh1ltTJmldubmri_yUSYV06kFTM/s1600/IMG_20150211_080417_398+(1).jpg" height="640" width="358" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thigh rolls captured for posterity</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhojqCFTTv6wbifRDfgO6suPzYOzRopumZHkXCgCbNV704zAOprjt_gU7FPAyuo34gyMR9ZlSS__HvHadxZ3hWCiwJ4IJQ-xKSp1unPY0tZ716QXYYkm6ZL2ufy6LumeMlHWsnNFpk18vg/s1600/IMG_20150214_140915_848+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhojqCFTTv6wbifRDfgO6suPzYOzRopumZHkXCgCbNV704zAOprjt_gU7FPAyuo34gyMR9ZlSS__HvHadxZ3hWCiwJ4IJQ-xKSp1unPY0tZ716QXYYkm6ZL2ufy6LumeMlHWsnNFpk18vg/s1600/IMG_20150214_140915_848+(1).jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amazed to be riding the train at the zoo</td></tr>
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Col has also taken a serious liking to reading. He'll hold out a book to us and not give up ("Ta? Ta? Ta?) until we take the book, put Col in our lap, and read it to him. Tor loved <i>Good Night, Gorilla</i> when he was about this age, and Col is super into it now. He's even been taking it with him in the trailer ride to school--that and a graham cracker, which is usually required to coax him into the seat.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiaXNcALY6OlPVVkHW66Ru1BIgKICCArmS3FArDMVn5OcJiXSRnryMkpCvmr2ls16mRaKmWcCJySea9_4R5UVUqUJ0KndwLEIfY-nLG3z8TF2GE2x_Q-R9WYDOFOL6trxYKyvTMuolTqM/s1600/IMG_20150224_191735_934.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiaXNcALY6OlPVVkHW66Ru1BIgKICCArmS3FArDMVn5OcJiXSRnryMkpCvmr2ls16mRaKmWcCJySea9_4R5UVUqUJ0KndwLEIfY-nLG3z8TF2GE2x_Q-R9WYDOFOL6trxYKyvTMuolTqM/s1600/IMG_20150224_191735_934.jpg" height="640" width="358" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He can, however, be distracted from his book</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2bsWvsY3KzSPHcrpJfLGPRMwYVjQ9QhUoHjXR4SnSgzQ6Q6TR_2TwKk8s384nxnST7-S_dlVBFqja0UB-1HFFjIht0aagxjsFxFVvIARPnJXVlsiIo0NDWrdD5vGAA1_45MPPX5Xje0I/s1600/IMG_20150214_130804_694.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2bsWvsY3KzSPHcrpJfLGPRMwYVjQ9QhUoHjXR4SnSgzQ6Q6TR_2TwKk8s384nxnST7-S_dlVBFqja0UB-1HFFjIht0aagxjsFxFVvIARPnJXVlsiIo0NDWrdD5vGAA1_45MPPX5Xje0I/s1600/IMG_20150214_130804_694.jpg" height="640" width="358" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"I saw this dude in <i>Good Night, Gorilla</i>!"</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicPuf57Y6wIsIuWjhUr5r83u-yOBDKzcGchfWLkNA2pQ4a8V-kEbSV9pNkXXEZdBw6sUQfgVFV4hLOHqVdz8I2SpjQWAE_W-WTSptoV9G-Rk2hB_0Il8E7SEsDMue01Pbrl_eXUHLwKN4/s1600/IMG_20150214_140556_429.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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Tor is unpredictable but when he's in a good mood, he's great company. He can be helpful, and I mean seriously getting things done, not just cutely pseudo-helpful like Col--setting the table, getting himself dressed, cleaning up toys, playing with Col while we're working on something else, sweeping the driveway, flagging down the bus. As I mentioned last post, he loves learning about new things, like what trees eat ("sunlight") and what an osteopath does ("help your spine and muscles"). He is also frequently funny, whether inadvertently or intentionally, and he generally does a good job describing things when we have trouble understanding him--which happens mainly when he learns new words.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicPuf57Y6wIsIuWjhUr5r83u-yOBDKzcGchfWLkNA2pQ4a8V-kEbSV9pNkXXEZdBw6sUQfgVFV4hLOHqVdz8I2SpjQWAE_W-WTSptoV9G-Rk2hB_0Il8E7SEsDMue01Pbrl_eXUHLwKN4/s1600/IMG_20150214_140556_429.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicPuf57Y6wIsIuWjhUr5r83u-yOBDKzcGchfWLkNA2pQ4a8V-kEbSV9pNkXXEZdBw6sUQfgVFV4hLOHqVdz8I2SpjQWAE_W-WTSptoV9G-Rk2hB_0Il8E7SEsDMue01Pbrl_eXUHLwKN4/s1600/IMG_20150214_140556_429.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zoo train, part II</td></tr>
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<i>Reading a story about Angelina the mouse at a costume ball</i><br />
Tor: Angelina's a girl, so she does a Quincy.<br />
Me: Huh? What's a Quincy?<br />
Tor (<i>stands up</i>): When you're a girl dancing, you stand like this and cross your legs. Then you bend your knees and put your hands out. Like this.<br />
Me: Ohhh. A <i>curtsey</i>. And when boys dance, do they usually curtsey too?<br />
Tor: No. Boys bow.<br />
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<i>Reading an alphabet book</i><br />
Tor: K. K-k-k-kangaroo. (<i>pause</i>) Kanga-POO!<br />
(<i>We laugh about this for a few seconds.</i>)<br />
Tor: A kanga-poo is a poo that jumps!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-jnZxsHQJXkMPW5ZgnjANZljkqNcwqrkb9h_-SI7qktFYve_AH1QjFjfHHxfvBZGTDiOxXtXayne81GELkUBT7_luStYU_DSVrB3VPaAbfrqCO-fLlge8j2Y_PiMklL4w3bBs4Z1hf2o/s1600/2015-02-21+14.06.50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-jnZxsHQJXkMPW5ZgnjANZljkqNcwqrkb9h_-SI7qktFYve_AH1QjFjfHHxfvBZGTDiOxXtXayne81GELkUBT7_luStYU_DSVrB3VPaAbfrqCO-fLlge8j2Y_PiMklL4w3bBs4Z1hf2o/s1600/2015-02-21+14.06.50.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happily playing Pooh sticks . . . five seconds before Tor<br />
dropped his toy car into the deep, icy river and melted down</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifIA7RFDx-2vnkpDEBultc2J6P5y2_0HTr_eM_DKjgwGgTvPtIVM_KOMvK9evrjbfuyVW5AbawObRfz5ARS_dNb-YtXZdYntQRSs-L5bA-tXpIw34I4A1_dtF2YaiayyuHb0zvXQB7uUc/s1600/IMG_8981.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifIA7RFDx-2vnkpDEBultc2J6P5y2_0HTr_eM_DKjgwGgTvPtIVM_KOMvK9evrjbfuyVW5AbawObRfz5ARS_dNb-YtXZdYntQRSs-L5bA-tXpIw34I4A1_dtF2YaiayyuHb0zvXQB7uUc/s1600/IMG_8981.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Basking in the limelight at his fourth and final birthday party</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyraWWh1mzZxj57mQ71eY6XXg2y2GC4NHyuSp0LsOCny4xAPULpTl2ULsTe4nGg4tznq8ydUvxNMdE_9kAXHqrbyVOlM1dWHbzzYxaqsFnsR1MbApSE9YuFm9CC4hrSDftAku9BDaCULA/s1600/IMG_9001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyraWWh1mzZxj57mQ71eY6XXg2y2GC4NHyuSp0LsOCny4xAPULpTl2ULsTe4nGg4tznq8ydUvxNMdE_9kAXHqrbyVOlM1dWHbzzYxaqsFnsR1MbApSE9YuFm9CC4hrSDftAku9BDaCULA/s1600/IMG_9001.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Post-party Spiderman Lego action</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHfMpU18dlZy2g3E0wrjxO1ZPiEuIeYwLSElJezNseUAbxEOkqRxA4ZB0wbm8fKYt8URUIOQqeir8zAPI5EstfsHmqDRyc1dQ-uuhQXo_tdfk-H8JvJzblRQoZ0O9u3xvibWras_a6xBM/s1600/IMG_9021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHfMpU18dlZy2g3E0wrjxO1ZPiEuIeYwLSElJezNseUAbxEOkqRxA4ZB0wbm8fKYt8URUIOQqeir8zAPI5EstfsHmqDRyc1dQ-uuhQXo_tdfk-H8JvJzblRQoZ0O9u3xvibWras_a6xBM/s1600/IMG_9021.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Dad! Dad! Dad! Can we pleeeeease play rock-n-roll band?"</td></tr>
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TorTaleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11724873416713388826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6809182701398511861.post-13663030679344446702015-02-10T14:44:00.000-08:002015-02-10T14:44:17.575-08:00The Holiday Stragglers<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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The verdict is in: we not send a holiday card this year. Nor did we put out a holiday email. I didn't even manage to get the holiday photos on here until today. Apologies to all fans of the boys for thus reserving them from the public eye. You're effectively having the same childhood as Michael Jackson's kids, fellas, so don't say we never did anything for you.</div>
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The photos! These span Oregon, Nevada, California, and Oxford from mid-December to early February. They've only got captions, no narrative, since I just need to get them up and end the photo glut. </div>
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A few new developments this month:</div>
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1. Col is saying a few new words that are completely unintelligible, but given the context you can tell what they are: "all done" after eating, "all clean" after washing hands and brushing teeth, and "Mama" when he wants me (that one's clearer, right up there with "DaDa").</div>
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2. We bought a car! So we will be exploring more of the country. First on the list is getting on people's calendars who live close by--the Lascus and Sunningdale Andersens can expect visits soon (if they'll have us).</div>
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3. Tor is very into "science" at nursery. I put this in quotation marks because he calls any kind of fact about the world "science." For instance, he told us, "We learned some science at school today and it was about owls. They can turn their heads ALL THE WAY AROUND to see behind them." (Lots of praise for being interested in this before we clarified that owls are not in fact like the little girl from <i>The Exorcist</i> whose head spins 360 degrees.)</div>
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I'll empty our camera for the next post and see what we find on there. Hopefully I got a few good ones of Tor's "friend party" (i.e., his fourth and final birthday celebration)--he got cake-sick and passed out 3/4 of the way into the party, but I'd still call it a success.</div>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKFhXZ_-honbpzgMAjtxGzVpwLkDtw-s8Ykm9F925tMdw3-4DL9zFV2nMN3gWxhw6xFqm2uM9TK3KADSItzRG7fgJMnE_L9BNAeGEF2tKn6wydesuQrSG26QZuY3YuS38-LOe1nov5Hes/s1600/IMG_3766.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKFhXZ_-honbpzgMAjtxGzVpwLkDtw-s8Ykm9F925tMdw3-4DL9zFV2nMN3gWxhw6xFqm2uM9TK3KADSItzRG7fgJMnE_L9BNAeGEF2tKn6wydesuQrSG26QZuY3YuS38-LOe1nov5Hes/s1600/IMG_3766.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You'd never know the weather-related whining that bracketed this photo</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdizlp8r_xyCruV5cEL1BoTDu-6vFloEZS0QoBwHw-5fhzAKoaMMhW3JeZDBbjSj4ky9_KD_M0ob081gvRyvRDhQySCdQh4L9psOnMaP3hvbr1H_vS3nWLuInSvE5m4qPlEgOkOCQCoTs/s1600/IMG_3834.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdizlp8r_xyCruV5cEL1BoTDu-6vFloEZS0QoBwHw-5fhzAKoaMMhW3JeZDBbjSj4ky9_KD_M0ob081gvRyvRDhQySCdQh4L9psOnMaP3hvbr1H_vS3nWLuInSvE5m4qPlEgOkOCQCoTs/s1600/IMG_3834.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anticipation!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbLZpx4YYSSfJ-hwpLfNeLHfTv1T_X3vHLE8cQGphAadVkwpwaJoSFQeE8nXlUbm56uJBiLGur4Svl100xijF3Q00LY7qbcMoJJLHCGc8DYBWEhA9BGFTel0nPTZ19ltlNo8xNQaUkLJg/s1600/IMG_3849.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbLZpx4YYSSfJ-hwpLfNeLHfTv1T_X3vHLE8cQGphAadVkwpwaJoSFQeE8nXlUbm56uJBiLGur4Svl100xijF3Q00LY7qbcMoJJLHCGc8DYBWEhA9BGFTel0nPTZ19ltlNo8xNQaUkLJg/s1600/IMG_3849.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Birthday breakfast (pancakes by Opa)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE9Gu6KlSO3N71W_T9_1gIgQ-Sf_TEO2iDU0aHCmw3i6sN0brutRn-g4gHmZ034nVYVW5zSt2qNxDupggCuUJdY-4wY8dLRjDvNe9MoQY718h5FvNzsFNgewpr5rJKMjYUk7lXznLd1Lk/s1600/IMG_3892.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE9Gu6KlSO3N71W_T9_1gIgQ-Sf_TEO2iDU0aHCmw3i6sN0brutRn-g4gHmZ034nVYVW5zSt2qNxDupggCuUJdY-4wY8dLRjDvNe9MoQY718h5FvNzsFNgewpr5rJKMjYUk7lXznLd1Lk/s1600/IMG_3892.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First introduction to blindfolds--he's a peeker</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEe00nuCV3uA92GJzgmB8KpUCrJkrKShlRXFTt52FQuZZNUYDANkBWc7T7mM8h4RLjwMMU4Wj_h-ET9fcqOzhMf5G7dr90iPj9cfIh1JqlY134TuKSIq7TnoGlBU6boPfgtOKhhXtujSs/s1600/2014-12-26+11.01.14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEe00nuCV3uA92GJzgmB8KpUCrJkrKShlRXFTt52FQuZZNUYDANkBWc7T7mM8h4RLjwMMU4Wj_h-ET9fcqOzhMf5G7dr90iPj9cfIh1JqlY134TuKSIq7TnoGlBU6boPfgtOKhhXtujSs/s1600/2014-12-26+11.01.14.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Follow my finger"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpcqg-CuG9t-M7GWT0y5tJkmpHTRDDrxGHZd0IEiVF-RlsYsrhH2scgCWHUGp-xTQLYXLNMsWh3wuuGQaFWPZuafOS9-GOzB0bL1v_85KPdC_XXyHrA5TFH2PPXABttSe-8pyGk_RC4b0/s1600/2014-12-31+14.01.47.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpcqg-CuG9t-M7GWT0y5tJkmpHTRDDrxGHZd0IEiVF-RlsYsrhH2scgCWHUGp-xTQLYXLNMsWh3wuuGQaFWPZuafOS9-GOzB0bL1v_85KPdC_XXyHrA5TFH2PPXABttSe-8pyGk_RC4b0/s1600/2014-12-31+14.01.47.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The seldom-seen contemplative side of Ironman</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYGkCC9BO7vj4IYVT81gfCmK07rA2xvPcqlCfC7Bj1yE2Cr7wi7hqa_K7S-KhIv2h5_FQ84QuDXdICn3TaO31n8yo7HAKXl9_3H_QqPaEuwwqJZtPASPHLkP7ObFifwxR_0hawLTjHO8Q/s1600/2014-12-31+12.15.13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYGkCC9BO7vj4IYVT81gfCmK07rA2xvPcqlCfC7Bj1yE2Cr7wi7hqa_K7S-KhIv2h5_FQ84QuDXdICn3TaO31n8yo7HAKXl9_3H_QqPaEuwwqJZtPASPHLkP7ObFifwxR_0hawLTjHO8Q/s1600/2014-12-31+12.15.13.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Orinda: Li'l Danish Chef</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRJoF9H-VxVFUlxroMmG63XVuhxGkACPEeF0yCKq1O4cdK-Su9wnRUrF_x-E6QvkSbpA4JcO4M99jIJz0-AAi6yG_IaKP8U2fifC_cXzENBLYCnTD8l8W_rX65L9AMccowyKIDwULnzUM/s1600/2014-12-31+12.08.27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRJoF9H-VxVFUlxroMmG63XVuhxGkACPEeF0yCKq1O4cdK-Su9wnRUrF_x-E6QvkSbpA4JcO4M99jIJz0-AAi6yG_IaKP8U2fifC_cXzENBLYCnTD8l8W_rX65L9AMccowyKIDwULnzUM/s1600/2014-12-31+12.08.27.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Oi! Hands inside the vehicle!"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglCdyBiv_x4EAdK3vZQjfFI7QQ12Jut52Y_gblR4-V_R2GhzjaBnu4sVg_R_IMMd7g6JKjExFlq8swZi0faniBg8g0nKFgZe75g9yo1JVN1m3Ll1S-mTtvBsKbCWeBzOgfWsDEhiT7mmY/s1600/2014-12-25+13.27.31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglCdyBiv_x4EAdK3vZQjfFI7QQ12Jut52Y_gblR4-V_R2GhzjaBnu4sVg_R_IMMd7g6JKjExFlq8swZi0faniBg8g0nKFgZe75g9yo1JVN1m3Ll1S-mTtvBsKbCWeBzOgfWsDEhiT7mmY/s1600/2014-12-25+13.27.31.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't get used to the sun, son, we're heading home soon</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE9If8G8vliRd6jxeNz6fXSbLDbX0KI_9Q2KDv6q2F_bnMizsMQripx4A9w05mSVPUoLDRuG6e3RwZl8WzN7Dimj5Uz_PSCsx_XXP3wK9eHvcS_TzllwINqcGjXnfjm5RPDnMHo03Q9O8/s1600/IMG_20150106_201303_580.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE9If8G8vliRd6jxeNz6fXSbLDbX0KI_9Q2KDv6q2F_bnMizsMQripx4A9w05mSVPUoLDRuG6e3RwZl8WzN7Dimj5Uz_PSCsx_XXP3wK9eHvcS_TzllwINqcGjXnfjm5RPDnMHo03Q9O8/s1600/IMG_20150106_201303_580.jpg" height="640" width="358" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"I'm going to wear my trousers down HERE and<br />my new pants up HERE so you can see how cool they are."</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif2gPcR850i0wSPME3Eoncs33H2GuPuCKXFAYYI103FzTGDyUWO-MkCLUoqKsKL9cxkaevuy_7aU_2kC2qTPumLFa1NcSb6EUJThIPi2tpZnz2m_H9kICvhcXVNZFVf4fd-RaEWqmgV_4/s1600/IMG_20150107_092937_121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif2gPcR850i0wSPME3Eoncs33H2GuPuCKXFAYYI103FzTGDyUWO-MkCLUoqKsKL9cxkaevuy_7aU_2kC2qTPumLFa1NcSb6EUJThIPi2tpZnz2m_H9kICvhcXVNZFVf4fd-RaEWqmgV_4/s1600/IMG_20150107_092937_121.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Col was surprisingly gentle; Dendro was surprisingly tolerant. A success on all fronts.</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPUTqzWN4pIClAvVxDcr4z7mZD1b_pqPFL-foPxn5A-N5n3yduDhBCKy0mjJu8e-HNFHIvLrekWwdUqh0YgYV2r3lGn1R4C9CZOazNF7S-KDNAR463nwcugn7ma19xCpcETFIUDMy6dv4/s1600/IMG_20150107_094219_877.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPUTqzWN4pIClAvVxDcr4z7mZD1b_pqPFL-foPxn5A-N5n3yduDhBCKy0mjJu8e-HNFHIvLrekWwdUqh0YgYV2r3lGn1R4C9CZOazNF7S-KDNAR463nwcugn7ma19xCpcETFIUDMy6dv4/s1600/IMG_20150107_094219_877.jpg" height="640" width="358" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rolling beeswax candles for his teachers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWrJIDCb4qTfKEeyiUIUtlnwzRLAGXP2d_RAgDpPEA3CfFt8fJmiQVcbqaoon2ejAuHpPjMcY3KuG8gvjYf6PKFvk9IOIitgO_lt6svu99J1uF0vbPUiEwJT4rI5DepfX7fh4DFrmnUL0/s1600/2015-01-02+18.17.53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWrJIDCb4qTfKEeyiUIUtlnwzRLAGXP2d_RAgDpPEA3CfFt8fJmiQVcbqaoon2ejAuHpPjMcY3KuG8gvjYf6PKFvk9IOIitgO_lt6svu99J1uF0vbPUiEwJT4rI5DepfX7fh4DFrmnUL0/s1600/2015-01-02+18.17.53.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A talking robot birthday card: who needs presents?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlOOw7PhgWcc_KcLRTmTSQT9D4YA42AGI1HxfVz5qQ8gQx5xu3sWfO92iHrhvY6yEap8SqnQcQVIg5xAR9VEGVZ-fdwh7fOwsupwXCepEWzeypEOxW8A7KyAbIlyGttzjkeXToX6_vK38/s1600/IMG_20150107_155150_192.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlOOw7PhgWcc_KcLRTmTSQT9D4YA42AGI1HxfVz5qQ8gQx5xu3sWfO92iHrhvY6yEap8SqnQcQVIg5xAR9VEGVZ-fdwh7fOwsupwXCepEWzeypEOxW8A7KyAbIlyGttzjkeXToX6_vK38/s1600/IMG_20150107_155150_192.jpg" height="640" width="358" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baby GQ: Rugged Tot Edition</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg36_SDM6LBgStPhXV6cpmE3gOJAptaqWdi2BQvkwLCWtxS0CEf5vuWWCoVeD6iZAjSLheVJ0G8xDOrUB6I8uGt3ZYWI4liqKxlZZVkhyphenhyphenGskNAqznMRns8VrV6G9tNQX3BuD6dYWwUfJeI/s1600/IMG_20150107_163330_812.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg36_SDM6LBgStPhXV6cpmE3gOJAptaqWdi2BQvkwLCWtxS0CEf5vuWWCoVeD6iZAjSLheVJ0G8xDOrUB6I8uGt3ZYWI4liqKxlZZVkhyphenhyphenGskNAqznMRns8VrV6G9tNQX3BuD6dYWwUfJeI/s1600/IMG_20150107_163330_812.jpg" height="640" width="356" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"WOOOOOOO"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgciOMfIc1XHa8mILLPZxef3EQ29r_LcBcnht_2Q7cJSXwiER56u0gjTQU_s4-d3zV9H5cpKzgs8IdrIBCBZ5LO6l9L8rF6Jr4CLFnvplqJ-vgxUrzFT5dJK0KJPLZqVaAaofAZwnWqPVk/s1600/2015-01-03+10.12.39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgciOMfIc1XHa8mILLPZxef3EQ29r_LcBcnht_2Q7cJSXwiER56u0gjTQU_s4-d3zV9H5cpKzgs8IdrIBCBZ5LO6l9L8rF6Jr4CLFnvplqJ-vgxUrzFT5dJK0KJPLZqVaAaofAZwnWqPVk/s1600/2015-01-03+10.12.39.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Different day, same pose</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1zA7ina5wipYtwYpEDhm4BtGAx2Rb9-tyikO1N7DoyqOAPy1zaxTgY6Ab0KBw2hJG6UoWtp_iZObLJNfwcLspbeCGVWavVGyafQQ7wEwdwfuuR08wy8RW2iCmp7mYDoLQRJTAyzTYTWA/s1600/IMG_20150108_105915_484.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1zA7ina5wipYtwYpEDhm4BtGAx2Rb9-tyikO1N7DoyqOAPy1zaxTgY6Ab0KBw2hJG6UoWtp_iZObLJNfwcLspbeCGVWavVGyafQQ7wEwdwfuuR08wy8RW2iCmp7mYDoLQRJTAyzTYTWA/s1600/IMG_20150108_105915_484.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stopping for Ahbee cuddles before running off again</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0D0E8ZjuLr0ZCEa05tKvnJ8gYiUlPJhy8dLmuURtnacY7UfdIP8Ox1saclyi4qGFguPiiqP2vyHUAO132FepjKPCoiNhQdjGctaezgbXzQd2DzKm7nYx6DdAU5cywm91NBjiMoBKu81U/s1600/IMG_20150108_112632_492.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0D0E8ZjuLr0ZCEa05tKvnJ8gYiUlPJhy8dLmuURtnacY7UfdIP8Ox1saclyi4qGFguPiiqP2vyHUAO132FepjKPCoiNhQdjGctaezgbXzQd2DzKm7nYx6DdAU5cywm91NBjiMoBKu81U/s1600/IMG_20150108_112632_492.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Speak softly . . ."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZoDk4mxCC5ld1zTr6U93GE-18tlzOa83m6bNX9d1Nr5h0hVNq0zVMc9I3CNzecA-iofRE8bKqqRaH2pDKlRUJn1BohZ4cKjBONmQWCENlXBWohA06dZW28bbPFi_uKoFxUGyEZzlmiQs/s1600/IMG_20150108_113138_695.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZoDk4mxCC5ld1zTr6U93GE-18tlzOa83m6bNX9d1Nr5h0hVNq0zVMc9I3CNzecA-iofRE8bKqqRaH2pDKlRUJn1BohZ4cKjBONmQWCENlXBWohA06dZW28bbPFi_uKoFxUGyEZzlmiQs/s1600/IMG_20150108_113138_695.jpg" height="640" width="358" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"This will be my bed and the leaves can be my blanket"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibscHMSzNda6CpCd75ltjc8Qpyf4ZGHGatjJafHAKHEI9mF_YTQceTujVkD__4giHSpRRkmBMMyHgLfzlMPzF7RUejGurBQ_HY1tjHRnzpLG6__QdrwUM2JrgK6Vv3wPxDoaBkfKzWZN4/s1600/IMG_20150108_134230_359.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibscHMSzNda6CpCd75ltjc8Qpyf4ZGHGatjJafHAKHEI9mF_YTQceTujVkD__4giHSpRRkmBMMyHgLfzlMPzF7RUejGurBQ_HY1tjHRnzpLG6__QdrwUM2JrgK6Vv3wPxDoaBkfKzWZN4/s1600/IMG_20150108_134230_359.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdCpGgKaWIkQC7H53Ql2lpu8xGGh6-vnQ6gHgOU4Y_p4GBbZoD-UWp8z3ys9Pstw37f8wyRdxbx1Ib_SCb7bWgMF5dEWo0YJruEp7ZFxZuaOmdm5ZyMYI9Heq0r4q0QSlj0r_LG1NEwBw/s1600/IMG_20150108_134232_182-SMILE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdCpGgKaWIkQC7H53Ql2lpu8xGGh6-vnQ6gHgOU4Y_p4GBbZoD-UWp8z3ys9Pstw37f8wyRdxbx1Ib_SCb7bWgMF5dEWo0YJruEp7ZFxZuaOmdm5ZyMYI9Heq0r4q0QSlj0r_LG1NEwBw/s1600/IMG_20150108_134232_182-SMILE.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two haircuts, not alike in dignity, in fair Genoa where we lay our scene</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQgxnesETYA6ET6iWSBa_TjdoJd81VyCecbY_u8jWFrO47D0zwFeI96-efNa3ayucp1Cbj_qYk8_tkYUXlU3_QhKBBLxid4flMDlaS_uHQyuBrIKK_QXm5NfGcWRMe5BK6yJgb5RNtz3Y/s1600/2015-01-05+11.02.49.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQgxnesETYA6ET6iWSBa_TjdoJd81VyCecbY_u8jWFrO47D0zwFeI96-efNa3ayucp1Cbj_qYk8_tkYUXlU3_QhKBBLxid4flMDlaS_uHQyuBrIKK_QXm5NfGcWRMe5BK6yJgb5RNtz3Y/s1600/2015-01-05+11.02.49.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Peekaboo!"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_RcYvCoqFhxV39GHiKGhEZiRAx55OpN5m7QVMoWi3EGOPiFLrRGmqg3yYWv23kpTZedXSxAcDnCl_awtnQtKhtgGLYBFuJWhqSYX5UKr5su1kqQCwDp-gRdHBEeLsILNn0I7KaHKJHuc/s1600/IMG_20150108_201416_015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_RcYvCoqFhxV39GHiKGhEZiRAx55OpN5m7QVMoWi3EGOPiFLrRGmqg3yYWv23kpTZedXSxAcDnCl_awtnQtKhtgGLYBFuJWhqSYX5UKr5su1kqQCwDp-gRdHBEeLsILNn0I7KaHKJHuc/s1600/IMG_20150108_201416_015.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aunt Sunny spoiled the kids (and us--with dim sum!)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM4SSdRVi8DXb_VkNBFCbha4vXX-2wra2M18XSzaeMDuKSKPg2FheDub4ttq8GC2AKR8Reqb-ZVTLnqt5ebd-1afPgW9j3nxDeJhDQN_ZFkgWEX5njsgcR-stXV97WKlXArmto5iK_lrU/s1600/2015-01-09+15.12.28-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM4SSdRVi8DXb_VkNBFCbha4vXX-2wra2M18XSzaeMDuKSKPg2FheDub4ttq8GC2AKR8Reqb-ZVTLnqt5ebd-1afPgW9j3nxDeJhDQN_ZFkgWEX5njsgcR-stXV97WKlXArmto5iK_lrU/s1600/2015-01-09+15.12.28-1.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adventure playground near SFO: getting the wiggles out</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghxBacKFePIm2aAUGq3TlFXnQEFiWCT12RDvnZtwW6LlCB2aief1EHbL7dpYRM9B64WwUSZGkGBId4kEmbO88JZMswU4vURftH9PR0A1ILdaX5g_4d7FjWH-5B3ZKGo7q3TbS0G8SrFaY/s1600/2015-01-09+15.55.41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghxBacKFePIm2aAUGq3TlFXnQEFiWCT12RDvnZtwW6LlCB2aief1EHbL7dpYRM9B64WwUSZGkGBId4kEmbO88JZMswU4vURftH9PR0A1ILdaX5g_4d7FjWH-5B3ZKGo7q3TbS0G8SrFaY/s1600/2015-01-09+15.55.41.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Right before the security guard made Tor get down</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_2HtigwKKco_3JIiJk6j9_f6dP8BVJmk4wb7D4-gdZDqSQsAmNxO6D_e55rzPv7vFQnn1A9x4HYGLiOfFZYwnUWGBm30koS0tcG07IST0QdxMXLsxVBWVrzHw7QxkvyGjQx5xUZkVDo4/s1600/2015-01-09+18.19.03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_2HtigwKKco_3JIiJk6j9_f6dP8BVJmk4wb7D4-gdZDqSQsAmNxO6D_e55rzPv7vFQnn1A9x4HYGLiOfFZYwnUWGBm30koS0tcG07IST0QdxMXLsxVBWVrzHw7QxkvyGjQx5xUZkVDo4/s1600/2015-01-09+18.19.03.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"This is our tent": winning friends all over the airport</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq_z3klchy2tQqmfxRiSIzK92i95j0ZpIqsqazX35IPkYud6C_kxPxmHc52mo2ZrRYV7RFgg3CjzECcW63EBuGByQMTETSQTlgRf6qFddtuoh9leMdwHVC4wgJyMxqqnX9l-QL40ovUL4/s1600/IMG_20150124_140111_748.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq_z3klchy2tQqmfxRiSIzK92i95j0ZpIqsqazX35IPkYud6C_kxPxmHc52mo2ZrRYV7RFgg3CjzECcW63EBuGByQMTETSQTlgRf6qFddtuoh9leMdwHVC4wgJyMxqqnX9l-QL40ovUL4/s1600/IMG_20150124_140111_748.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back in Oxford, our first visit to DaDa's lab</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb5PKN3gafezIXCj5wV4DbaVFJOb5OVIYY6vmSDzUhDFM5BtawTIdxpZZUrk-VZO78JIrWNkTyl2NsnYacr80FBukiqrDUP6X0F3Q-R4-_YupRqmpdOlYcCo_1CS8RJ_wA1kUJYecQ1vI/s1600/IMG_20150124_140133_692.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb5PKN3gafezIXCj5wV4DbaVFJOb5OVIYY6vmSDzUhDFM5BtawTIdxpZZUrk-VZO78JIrWNkTyl2NsnYacr80FBukiqrDUP6X0F3Q-R4-_YupRqmpdOlYcCo_1CS8RJ_wA1kUJYecQ1vI/s1600/IMG_20150124_140133_692.jpg" height="640" width="358" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The verdict: needs more toys</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0gvS8kmCQc2v82Yo4Q9NFPMfoDirZqa2rI3usB5SuINuZiQAreOluXogcxhXfBEYvmfZMahb_MhRnWFCVidV4Xii5r6Qt6i-G-H5rx-JsZkOIjNYALejQcfLcQ-ThkCQiPr4KSGSgIrU/s1600/2015-01-30+18.00.44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0gvS8kmCQc2v82Yo4Q9NFPMfoDirZqa2rI3usB5SuINuZiQAreOluXogcxhXfBEYvmfZMahb_MhRnWFCVidV4Xii5r6Qt6i-G-H5rx-JsZkOIjNYALejQcfLcQ-ThkCQiPr4KSGSgIrU/s1600/2015-01-30+18.00.44.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Catching flies</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd4k7AqYmbb3QrSo48y8N8WMZqTklQVj2DOSvcH11SxCGPwyf1_dtkNWhbsRBcQWmm-mclvzI4jKuDsBfEggYbr37t_KxKDdE47ctRduLriBygRIRe_cfmaRL182Rkr9RQTJnKjdRd0O0/s1600/2015-02-03+07.51.48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd4k7AqYmbb3QrSo48y8N8WMZqTklQVj2DOSvcH11SxCGPwyf1_dtkNWhbsRBcQWmm-mclvzI4jKuDsBfEggYbr37t_KxKDdE47ctRduLriBygRIRe_cfmaRL182Rkr9RQTJnKjdRd0O0/s1600/2015-02-03+07.51.48.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">First Oxford snow!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGuKM6TYrlYwD5R4ekyo2T8pBpaq_-ij09FobgldntDTYDyLGVz_IYlHoV_h6fpFeL0SDfvlkjA47OAIInbzFmdJAVfvKSCLTu8hXDTsy5deosv_HuASJPwLbli8JFS4IxQ5VUD2zCiBo/s1600/IMG_20150203_074941_465.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGuKM6TYrlYwD5R4ekyo2T8pBpaq_-ij09FobgldntDTYDyLGVz_IYlHoV_h6fpFeL0SDfvlkjA47OAIInbzFmdJAVfvKSCLTu8hXDTsy5deosv_HuASJPwLbli8JFS4IxQ5VUD2zCiBo/s1600/IMG_20150203_074941_465.jpg" height="640" width="358" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Release me! I must play in this stuff NOW"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0m_a-HeFlNuieOOeghniju9MKLwuRrQnHfDet6kiafXYiqpr-LuwmGjf0o9556tYGMBQkB0as0uPBUwF9KlVDrFgAHkTES9IGazc_CQVfcRfRYPja8v9mW2QmLRw9PSKZQaGrEKfGOAM/s1600/IMG_20150203_084737_964.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0m_a-HeFlNuieOOeghniju9MKLwuRrQnHfDet6kiafXYiqpr-LuwmGjf0o9556tYGMBQkB0as0uPBUwF9KlVDrFgAHkTES9IGazc_CQVfcRfRYPja8v9mW2QmLRw9PSKZQaGrEKfGOAM/s1600/IMG_20150203_084737_964.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ah, work. So peaceful with fresh snow . . . and no children.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYPElcP7kC6zBdRb0J_5XQmX1t6CWQQ8QYp60Kl8QxSIeprHLxnBAw0VDLVWqUDcToJbetV-aOXBOzbhUy10BFUrp4dpY4MHAMbEdN1EqPoGU0ZnyCRae1ToxdyvltqAHx3dDbm0IIgdc/s1600/IMG_20150206_192805_507.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYPElcP7kC6zBdRb0J_5XQmX1t6CWQQ8QYp60Kl8QxSIeprHLxnBAw0VDLVWqUDcToJbetV-aOXBOzbhUy10BFUrp4dpY4MHAMbEdN1EqPoGU0ZnyCRae1ToxdyvltqAHx3dDbm0IIgdc/s1600/IMG_20150206_192805_507.jpg" height="640" width="358" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Anything you can do, I can do"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTxmx0C3JDcGjnvHx3ajoF7Ycs4S3jygRsmq30rmjYH72eewJj9gOGEISlGNhm3ntjT3JoW7t3t88gSbSypJ7brlIsLOnITja8ZHmRjl54Q5Z4X0dD5X6FaJHAHiynlvi8I6KvZvLzn9s/s1600/IMG_20150208_175651_521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTxmx0C3JDcGjnvHx3ajoF7Ycs4S3jygRsmq30rmjYH72eewJj9gOGEISlGNhm3ntjT3JoW7t3t88gSbSypJ7brlIsLOnITja8ZHmRjl54Q5Z4X0dD5X6FaJHAHiynlvi8I6KvZvLzn9s/s1600/IMG_20150208_175651_521.jpg" height="640" width="358" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The suit remained miraculously untouched by<br />peanut butter, Gak, or snot . . . this time.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI8-zVPQVXonlrYk9yG6AWs8VU2qm7wZ-NncDS8p_tEwI9Dl5ik-P6JJH6wCOLzdKpPFhozs7qo3Cm_RV1nCkkws4q22FNjnVPU9BUJKL-I1eu1cIvcKbNp2Z1mfp6bi1nA2T30Q9-doE/s1600/2015-02-07+11.23.51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI8-zVPQVXonlrYk9yG6AWs8VU2qm7wZ-NncDS8p_tEwI9Dl5ik-P6JJH6wCOLzdKpPFhozs7qo3Cm_RV1nCkkws4q22FNjnVPU9BUJKL-I1eu1cIvcKbNp2Z1mfp6bi1nA2T30Q9-doE/s1600/2015-02-07+11.23.51.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unkempt hair runs strong in the Hansen bloodline</td></tr>
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<br />TorTaleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11724873416713388826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6809182701398511861.post-58452352314031524282015-01-14T14:59:00.004-08:002015-01-14T14:59:30.781-08:00Fifteen Months OldHoliday travel post to follow soon! Watch this space . . .<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-HHJ8JjSGAeRS9HiA5hn6vUyAnKASui3lgxY3B-ISz-ivjTmWBdJcuEEHRJsRlJEaLkPUIbgY5JmOyURZoYL4-Z44DIzAz4o_IwGvhWaoF6GzKRLubCiwhsCAI8H-igVx5jbY16LWyDQ/w324-h575-no/IMG_20150107_155450_582.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="359" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And climbing like a boss!<br /><br /></td></tr>
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TorTaleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11724873416713388826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6809182701398511861.post-63632364400515652412014-12-29T16:25:00.000-08:002014-12-29T16:25:15.621-08:00Dear TorHappy fourth birthday, big guy!!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJwY9CZl6_IBRj9UdU2rDibRT1iNt7le6a3ANHSz4ogtZbTKtyNcZyNSZQZtc-ibMHvjM_DzcTLMCl3tnK6e0lgtUGE4rT1vN_OXzVIHsi1W1b8N6MIARkCcCiA6A_KMUaemMm3G4QtBc/s1600/IMG_3845.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJwY9CZl6_IBRj9UdU2rDibRT1iNt7le6a3ANHSz4ogtZbTKtyNcZyNSZQZtc-ibMHvjM_DzcTLMCl3tnK6e0lgtUGE4rT1vN_OXzVIHsi1W1b8N6MIARkCcCiA6A_KMUaemMm3G4QtBc/s1600/IMG_3845.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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This year you will have four parties: yesterday (with Tim and Caitlin) and again today we celebrated at Oma and Opa's house; we'll fete you again at Ahbee and Pakka's when we get there next week; and we'll tie one on with your preschool friends after we're back in Oxford. Although we didn't intend to match the number of occasions to your years on Earth, it does have a nice symmetry.<br />
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Right now you are SO into superheroes of all kinds, especially Ironman, so you were pretty easy to buy for and your preschool party will be a no-brainer to theme. Your birthday cake yesterday reflected this and I'm sure it won't be the last one to do so. You have a reasonable amount of clothes but basically wear the same five shirts over and over again because they feature your favorite characters: Spiderman, Ironman, and the Ninja Turtles.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9CSRVQtrG8n8U1BvMVRaAzWmF8iPb-W_Rj6mcL3I1b6B9mJ60uFRbDUTyTd62W4VA7AaR-YoQ6Do9bkVdN_YusQzF1cRp9vdVQbQeLHj-H_ughwEjb6c_5jiSIVY1oosRUtZTRgruEgE/s1600/IMG_3612.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9CSRVQtrG8n8U1BvMVRaAzWmF8iPb-W_Rj6mcL3I1b6B9mJ60uFRbDUTyTd62W4VA7AaR-YoQ6Do9bkVdN_YusQzF1cRp9vdVQbQeLHj-H_ughwEjb6c_5jiSIVY1oosRUtZTRgruEgE/s1600/IMG_3612.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Feeding the monkey</td></tr>
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You are still an amazing big brother, though Col definitely presents different challenges than he did a year ago. You help Col walk by holding his hand and slowing to his pace, and you hardly ever bowl him over anymore. You clown for Col when he's unhappy and it cheers him up at least half of the time. You do get devastated by Col's penchant for wanton destruction when you're carefully crafting towers or pizzas or sticker pictures, but you cheerfully take responsibility for having taught him the bad habits of throwing toys and squawking to get his way. This does not mean you repent of having taught these habits nor of the habits themselves.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfNhvXnIWBPEg50nbN7oxuUT76NWVeLdNowD34F38Db-Qf79KlgySqU2sCS0jafExxL9kBlbuL5oTqRbRR9JcKYwixJmf_PmQr3RXrvix9p-Lb0WbRyFdbQr1mlpq8dvXB8Cu11o9C9sg/s1600/IMG_3853.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfNhvXnIWBPEg50nbN7oxuUT76NWVeLdNowD34F38Db-Qf79KlgySqU2sCS0jafExxL9kBlbuL5oTqRbRR9JcKYwixJmf_PmQr3RXrvix9p-Lb0WbRyFdbQr1mlpq8dvXB8Cu11o9C9sg/s1600/IMG_3853.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Get a haircut, you hippies</td></tr>
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You definitely have a British accent, as heard here in "There Was a Chubby Snowman":<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhythfySMWX3NNBLgd9Vq6LnkLC_NtjBzQg_EEHt5tsmwbF-R3K9eLDVtGoYti7pJHShGDrISf1LnQB-2yV4R8lwW8QvIJQPUToEC7UWksLTBjEpHIhRSHkoRuMHaNJxlYs8jduZ_v6r0s/s1600/IMG_3799.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwf3UURKjj-5r88hXPB9w4pv_f3uPHiBs8o6yvwOLtq6NCBKI-oQAZX72fdwo6gSTSssgBnDh4OWaygX0Pu5A' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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You're now thriving at your new preschool and we can tell you're learning. You can draw honest-to-goodness people, with heads, bodies, arms, legs, and hair, though drawing isn't your favorite pastime. You can sound out short words but need to rely more on your first impressions. (When reading Col's name at Christmas, for instance, you sounded out every letter correctly: "K! O! Llllll." But when we asked you to string it together, you said, "Caleb?" Then, "Caitlin"? Before getting to "Col!") You largely enjoy the same level of story that you enjoyed last year, but you're much better at remembering what happened in the narrative and telling us why a character did something. In addition to superhero stories, albeit to a far lesser extent, you're interested in "Jesus stories" and enjoy going to Sunday school.<br />
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You have "best friends" at school who fall in and out of favor, mostly depending on whether they want to play superheroes with you on a given day. The meanest thing you can think of to tell us is, "I'm not going to be your best friend anymore today!" Or if you're feeling really naughty, you might even call us "stupid." That one lands you in time out.<br />
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Unsurprisingly, your tastes are sensitive to peer pressure. I recently told you the story of Pinocchio and you begged for another one; when I gave you the choice of Thumbelina, Rapunzel, or Sleeping Beauty, you told me scornfully, "Alex Cabala and me don't like <i>girl </i>stories." When I pointed out that there are no girl or boy stories, but that boys can like stories about girls just like I'm a girl and can like stories about boys, like Pinocchio, you said, "You know, Mom, I love <i>girl</i> stories." I'm sure the pendulum will swing back once you and Alex get together again.<br />
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Your favorite toys are mostly toys you can imagine with, like action figures or Legos. We've recently discovered that you go nuts for charades, so you must actually be my kid. You enjoy music and dancing, and impromptu dance parties have staved off several tantrums.<br />
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Yet you can be intractably grumpy, especially when awoken while still tired. It's tough to see you sad and not know how to help you, and it seems like even you don't know what you want at those times. You still wake up in the middle of the night and want one of us to sleep with you, which is invariably Dad.<br />
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You use the bathroom completely on your own, but you can't yet do up trousers with buttons. You correct us when we say "pants" instead of "trousers".<br />
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You love doing things for people (although, sadly, not always the things we want you to do for us). You were more excited this year by giving Christmas presents than by getting them, and you worked hard with Ahbee's patient help to make us all candles. At Oma and Opa's we write clues for all our presents, and when it came time for Tim and Caitlin to open your gift, you said, "This one's for you, and the clue is...IT'S A CANDLE!"<br />
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You have a clear sense of your place in the family and think of family members in their absence. I think this is especially important in light of where you live. You also seem comfortable with your place in the world, while constantly testing boundaries.<br />
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We are blessed to be your parents, grateful for the four years we've had together, and excited to experience the future with you. Thanks for all that you bring to our family, Mr. T.TorTaleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11724873416713388826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6809182701398511861.post-14440424197343902832014-12-15T13:28:00.002-08:002014-12-15T13:28:59.307-08:00Fourteen Months!It's lucky that we're still counting Col's age in months, because without those reminders, I could go blithely on about life without ever remembering to post. Apologies to the boys' die-hard fans!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The fourteener, captured this very morning<br />
as he selected wine for the table</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg03Snb3vQIckUQ55kgAio_t1dA8FWIT0pJsDNEBxKljfy2OurNcUm8RvEVmIZ4gEHLsvLaYA_DwCpzdta0LlJ5ovcQavKYm13B1B4xfyhINvVVxjaCggmXn-N9Oz3CV7QPmm_R63KejUo/s1600/IMG_8932.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg03Snb3vQIckUQ55kgAio_t1dA8FWIT0pJsDNEBxKljfy2OurNcUm8RvEVmIZ4gEHLsvLaYA_DwCpzdta0LlJ5ovcQavKYm13B1B4xfyhINvVVxjaCggmXn-N9Oz3CV7QPmm_R63KejUo/s1600/IMG_8932.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Fireplace bumpers brought to you direct from our Newark house</td></tr>
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Col now demands to do several kinds of self-care autonomously, most notably brushing his hair and teeth and feeding himself. He also likes to clean his tummy with a wipe during a diaper change.</div>
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The feeding is the most high stakes of these. It's highly gratifying to watch him learn to do it himself. For instance, yesterday I gave him a mini yogurt and a spoon, and I watched him grasp the spoon right above its bowl and poise it over the yogurt, ready for the plunge. But then he paused, looked into the yogurt, put the spoon down, moved his hand a little higher on the spoon handle, about the height of the yogurt container, and proceeded to take a bite without getting his hand all yogurty. You could practically see the gears turning.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi23cZClvonHI_uPD1mH6eGWoisY2cD9Dm6RDvrZxZ7ztJ_0LpUFPg-tVDm96kzIT35bxzhagWrgwx9uLI6z4T4XNwzwXzn6z3k67lvird-pj-fT7JtRdbQvcog8G06VGjSdx97ntWyj5w/s1600/IMG_8939.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi23cZClvonHI_uPD1mH6eGWoisY2cD9Dm6RDvrZxZ7ztJ_0LpUFPg-tVDm96kzIT35bxzhagWrgwx9uLI6z4T4XNwzwXzn6z3k67lvird-pj-fT7JtRdbQvcog8G06VGjSdx97ntWyj5w/s1600/IMG_8939.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Of course, there's always the hand if he needs backup</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG1qKhiQ8itd_I9ZrEFe6uvSS_jczJhbB8cIw6odjMVKj_2koJMq-IrZ19E684YVXYCeUl7AkNHGoWNuPCjGlz6kt408Qs21M4YtPuzXVwZGOlJilEFdKuIsoQfYZSrklgpqY5YplhVak/s1600/IMG_8958.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG1qKhiQ8itd_I9ZrEFe6uvSS_jczJhbB8cIw6odjMVKj_2koJMq-IrZ19E684YVXYCeUl7AkNHGoWNuPCjGlz6kt408Qs21M4YtPuzXVwZGOlJilEFdKuIsoQfYZSrklgpqY5YplhVak/s1600/IMG_8958.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">A less successful yogurt experience</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Baby's First Hairbrush should come two-sided</td></tr>
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It's been a full, full month. The highlight was a visit from our amazing newlywed friends Josh and April, who trekked all the way from Texas to spend our first UK Thanksgiving with us. Due to a week of Col being off sick, I had to work that day, and I came home to a feast the likes of which has never been seen--well, at least in England. The piece de resistance? A succulent smoked turkey (since our trusty Weber is twice the size of our oven, it was the only way to go). We ate leftovers for a week with gusto.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9EBEW2l2fkYF_WXhSTyQbcQJsWVqP7bNwz6c8gwfB2VkLPypBqpzzC7K8uE1ORuDltO_qE_wtDptwv694UhUw3PCh39PPSEcQcIfXxMrhDovZv-CbXOYtVqKi21GaU444aOTWuLqaq8Y/s1600/IMG_8936.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9EBEW2l2fkYF_WXhSTyQbcQJsWVqP7bNwz6c8gwfB2VkLPypBqpzzC7K8uE1ORuDltO_qE_wtDptwv694UhUw3PCh39PPSEcQcIfXxMrhDovZv-CbXOYtVqKi21GaU444aOTWuLqaq8Y/s1600/IMG_8936.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Off the plane and into Col's heart</td></tr>
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On the quotidian front, our daily routine has been somewhat marred by Tor's propensity to fall asleep on the way home, and then to be grumpy for the rest of the evening once he's awoken. Col tends to fall asleep too, but he's usually willing to rally when offered food.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsEO1WUwhjhmdyiHz9bYy8BPk8iITSp2-Fw_sTfzeOgEFppY8a8AWua6267N0_7JTUyxZ2Ug16GmwXuTebnDitwdsYkoJ-PHx8McrbLaF53_SCyaiM5fkjeG2I-iSTuJJtXxLf_-lI03c/s1600/IMG_20141103_181512_360.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsEO1WUwhjhmdyiHz9bYy8BPk8iITSp2-Fw_sTfzeOgEFppY8a8AWua6267N0_7JTUyxZ2Ug16GmwXuTebnDitwdsYkoJ-PHx8McrbLaF53_SCyaiM5fkjeG2I-iSTuJJtXxLf_-lI03c/s1600/IMG_20141103_181512_360.jpg" height="640" width="358" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just another 6 p.m. back at the homestead</td></tr>
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So our weeknights tend to wind up with Tor draped over the couch like this and demanding the only dinner he generally eats:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWQKaSbiz2PQCuk8zYBDJSQfLoG9_WxzZ_pHCJP4eAOl3gYMUiZc7ceC1zguoZYtACD4wIab5vAleAkOZDNqXdn0WYMMEzR8XZdgwjJeyTAvIeuDYyBS9ywRrZzUj77zj8QNKm7ZfJKm0/s1600/IMG_8968.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWQKaSbiz2PQCuk8zYBDJSQfLoG9_WxzZ_pHCJP4eAOl3gYMUiZc7ceC1zguoZYtACD4wIab5vAleAkOZDNqXdn0WYMMEzR8XZdgwjJeyTAvIeuDYyBS9ywRrZzUj77zj8QNKm7ZfJKm0/s1600/IMG_8968.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"I need cheese sticks, peanuts, and bread with butter and no crusts"</td></tr>
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whereas Col usually ends up more like this:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4uKRiXiXAhI53QUweWNN6RW4GhRNE6oUqACHsKdMhECwmzwpDL-mQsa3glMiTuRqw2j6gJXL2m7ogkRjisU1Z940z0yaXxO_CQmkxeflRjFnEvtnHwDgTJi1kGcnHDHCmv0-2E56sZFY/s1600/IMG_8967.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4uKRiXiXAhI53QUweWNN6RW4GhRNE6oUqACHsKdMhECwmzwpDL-mQsa3glMiTuRqw2j6gJXL2m7ogkRjisU1Z940z0yaXxO_CQmkxeflRjFnEvtnHwDgTJi1kGcnHDHCmv0-2E56sZFY/s1600/IMG_8967.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"I STOLE A CHEESE STICK!!"</td></tr>
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Sometimes we can bring Tor back around with an activity that interests him, like a game, a movie, or, recently, Christmas stuff.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">This quickly devolved into pip-counting</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Busting out the tree: who is most excited?</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picking up a few tricks from <i>The American Boy's Handy Book</i></td></tr>
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Mornings are my favorite, because Tor is so much happier. Although he does sometimes border on the manic. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's sometimes a toss-up which kid is the messiest eater</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">"You know, Spiderman is my favorite superhero</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">because he has red on him, and red is my favorite color.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">And Ironman is also my favorite superhero because he's red."</span></td></tr>
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I also enjoy chatting with Tor while I bike the kids to day care. Tor throws out a daily gem or two.</div>
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<i>Scene: Biking behind a garbage truck</i><br />
Tor: Ewww. It smells like the farmers' market.<br />
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<i>Scene: Tor repeatedly clearing his throat</i><br />
Me: Need some water?<br />
Tor: I just have a frog in my throat.<br />
Me: Water can help wash it out.<br />
Tor: No, I'm going to use some dandelions, rubber bands, and a starfish to catch the frog. I'll mix them all up with some salt and that will make a net. Then I will put some oil on the starfish to make it into a hard pink bowl for the frog to sit in.<br />
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What do you even say to that?</div>
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TorTaleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11724873416713388826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6809182701398511861.post-26357925649007167602014-11-15T13:34:00.001-08:002014-11-15T13:34:06.392-08:0013 Months Old: Toddlerhood<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Ladies and gentlemen, we've got a walker!</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/4TjAp-O6iuU?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />TorTaleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11724873416713388826noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6809182701398511861.post-12573250737032020582014-11-01T12:40:00.000-07:002014-11-01T12:40:07.598-07:00Happy Halloween (on All Saints' Day)<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjt4TmaktvX7XBreYg_Ursrr3k0GFG5tnwhOGGDWd_ALRcXetBIoP-Qry0cJ4IXHZ9SSTbCbYHhSliRzb-kokJj7RO9q1pdQapzrCNo0QCmPF8gQKl3RcPdoyb2bkEuBRQHi57UifDX7Q/s1600/IMG_8903.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjt4TmaktvX7XBreYg_Ursrr3k0GFG5tnwhOGGDWd_ALRcXetBIoP-Qry0cJ4IXHZ9SSTbCbYHhSliRzb-kokJj7RO9q1pdQapzrCNo0QCmPF8gQKl3RcPdoyb2bkEuBRQHi57UifDX7Q/s1600/IMG_8903.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A rare Amazon.co.uk success</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reprising <a href="http://tortales.blogspot.co.uk/2011/10/skeletor.html">Tor's costume circa 2011</a>--you can look forward to seeing<br />Ironman again in about two years</td></tr>
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<br />TorTaleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11724873416713388826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6809182701398511861.post-67786656556429597912014-10-25T15:02:00.002-07:002014-10-25T15:06:14.970-07:00Unsettled<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
As I alluded to in Col's birthday post, we hit a bit of a rough patch the last couple of weeks. Settle in, because--rant alert!--it's going to take a while to relate all our woes.</div>
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Said patch was precipitated by a 9:30 a.m. phone call on Monday, 6 October, that the kids' nursery had to close for the day and one of us had to go pick up the kids. Turned out the nursery had been doing some bathroom remodeling, and a surprise inspection by the local childcare regulatory authority led to them being sanctioned for letting kids be there while strong paint fumes were pervading the nursery.</div>
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It happened to be less inconvenient for me to take the day off than for Lars, who had just returned home the day before from two weeks working in Greece. I got the kids and let one of the head teachers know that this surprise closure was unacceptable--they should have planned to do the construction outside of school hours if it were at all likely to pose a safety issue, and I'd certainly rather have them do a planned shutdown if necessary to complete it so that we could arrange alternative care. She in turn let me know that the nursery would not likely be open on Tuesday. Terrible news.</div>
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The kids and I bummed around town on my bike, going to the library, feeding ducks, and eating lunch, then heading home for naps and for me to triage my weekend/Monday morning emails. I also started getting in touch with babysitters to see whether anyone could watch the kids the next day. Finally, around bedtime, we conscripted a friend of a sitter to take the job.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Portrait in front of a fishcake factory run by a shark<br />
(yes, the chainsaw is for the fish)</td></tr>
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The next day we all met the new sitter at 8:30, and Lars and I gave her detailed instructions on managing the kids. We headed to work. At 11:30, Tor's teacher texted to say the nursery had had its funding withdrawn. I called her and the nursery; no response. Thinking this meant the nursery would be closed indefinitely, I started calling every daycare I could reach to see whether they had spots. Of course, because it's Oxford, no one had spots.</div>
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I finally got in touch with Col's teacher and she let me know that the childcare authorities had withdrawn funding from the school because of the paint fumes--they effectively didn't want to endorse the school, which meant that it wouldn't close, but that it wouldn't be able to receive childcare subsidies. Since Tor (like every 3- and 4-year-old in England) gets 15 hours a week of free care, this affected us. I let her know I was sorry, but we'd probably be shopping around now, though the kids would continue to go there and pay full price for the time being.</div>
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I called Lars. We thought this was bad news, obviously, but at 1:30, Col's teacher called back with the REAL bad news. Hold on to your hats:</div>
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The construction had unearthed a nest of rats, and the nursery wouldn't be able to open again until the authorities were sure the rats were gone. In practice, this meant the nursery would likely be closed for several weeks, if not longer.</div>
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Now it was urgent to find the kids a new daycare. I spent the next few hours (at work) calling more places and finally found one, considerably out of our way, that had spots for both kids. We arranged a tour for the next day. </div>
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Blessedly, everything had gone fine with the new sitter, and that evening we tried to figure out how to handle the next few days. We finally sorted out an emergency nanny (not cheap--job hunters take note) for Thursday and Friday, but we had to cover Wednesday ourselves. We arranged a trade-off midday so both of us could kind of work.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This guys was stoked to spend the day at home and help unpack some remaining boxes</td></tr>
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At this point I let my manager know what was happening--I just started a new job at OUP on 30 September, so this was particularly devastating timing from a getting-things-done-at-work standpoint. Fortunately she has a 3-year-old son too and had great sympathy for the situation--I could take as much time as I needed to sort out the care, as long as I made up the time later.</div>
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On our Wednesday tour. the new nursery was fine, though much bigger than the kids were used to: 24 preschoolers in Tor's room, 18 toddlers in Col's. But beggars can't be choosers, so we signed up the kids. They could settle in for an hour on Thursday and two hours on Friday and then start full time on Monday, 13 October, an unusually fast period for a nursery here, so we felt extremely grateful.</div>
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Wednesday afternoon, Col's teacher called to let me know the whole staff was at the nursery, cleaning, along with the owner, who had not contacted us during this whole time. I got the owner on the phone and spoke with her about her expectations surrounding the closure, which corroborated the picture we'd gotten: the rats were the issue forcing shutdown, and she had no clear expectation of when that would be resolved. Even when the nursery opened again, she said, the funding still wouldn't be available. I let her know we were highly unlikely to return, and asked if we could come say goodbye to the staff, which was fine with her.</div>
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So the kids and I biked down to the nursery to see the teachers that they'd been with for ten hours a day, five days a week for the last eight months. We collected the scrapbooks their teachers had made for them, with notes on all the milestones they'd achieved there and pictures of them with the friends they'd made there. We had ten minutes to say goodbye to these teachers before they had to go keep cleaning, out on the sidewalk because kids weren't allowed in the nursery.</div>
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Thursday and Friday, the kids had their visits at the new nursery and hung out with the emergency nanny the rest of the work day. The next week, they started full time. Everything seemed to be going all right, and I started to relax a tiny bit, until Wednesday--Col's birthday--when I picked him up. His teacher informed me that he'd just thrown up and would need to stay home for 48 hours. That is, we needed emergency care for Thursday and Friday. Again.</div>
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I biked the kids home and there we met two of Col's teachers, the ones who had spent the most time with him and who we'd invited to celebrate his birthday since he wouldn't get to see them as planned. The upside: one of them was available to watch Col for the next two days! The downside: Col was a basket case during the rest of the evening. He ate a little dinner, but he barfed right before bed. We still hoped it was just because of too much cake and excitement at school and put him down for the night.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the face of Norovirus</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The one smile of the evening--maybe we'll have forgotten about the context<br />
10 years from now when we look through our photos with him</td></tr>
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Col was fine the whole next day, and Friday too. Lars and I got work done, and Tor went to the new nursery. Then Friday, after coming home from a work dinner, Lars spent the entire night in the bathroom with Col's stomach bug. Saturday, which he'd planned as a catch-up day for work, was shot for him. I took the kids to the library, the grocery store, and the park, mainly just keeping them out of the house.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"UNDERDOOOOOG!!"</td></tr>
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When we got home for their rest, Tor said that his stomach hurt. I got him a bowl just in time and he spent the next 12 hours sick, with three sets of sheets as casualties. (Now, this is bad if you've got a good washer-dryer, but it's worse when you've got a micro washer and zero dryer. We had sheets hanging everywhere for the next four days.)</div>
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It must be a miracle that I didn't catch whatever the guys had, for which I'm sincerely, sincerely grateful. But I simultaneously contracted the office cold that's been felling team members one by one. Monday, I went to work in the morning but had to head home after lunch to sleep it off. I stayed home Tuesday morning too, while Lars graciously biked the kids in (even further out of his way than mine). When I made it back into the office that afternoon, I brought Lysol and hand sanitizer for my desk--should've come standard with it.</div>
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Whew! So! We're figuring out this new routine and everyone's largely back to health. But the kids will take some time to settle in. Col still cries when I drop him off and again when he sees me coming in the afternoon, which he never did at the old nursery. Tor still talks about going back to the old school to play with his friends and teachers, and it's heartbreaking to have to explain that we don't know when he'll see those people again. Tor's also started wetting the bed at a higher frequency than at any time since he was first potty-trained, which we'll hope he gets control of over the next few weeks.</div>
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But today was good: we went to carve pumpkins with our friends, which was the first really normal time with friends we'd had since Lars left for Greece. Tor and I made Halloween cookies this morning and frosted them, and he wore his Ironman costume. Guess which pumpkin is ours?</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hint: it's the American-sized pumpkin</td></tr>
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TorTaleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11724873416713388826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6809182701398511861.post-66371084584299228652014-10-15T12:34:00.001-07:002014-10-15T12:34:32.665-07:00Dear Col<br />
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We knew it was coming, but it's still almost impossible to believe that in just one year we've gone from this ...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ5VyQkQ6nbKvr_6mlf_jpHfwo8iECjWx7YQox2fLrlQMRY16wclE1UmmZHdGIr-PR1ZxuRCYwRdc2WFe742M8aOcZngJrpc4laIbUII2hlAcJVysOMcp-nRWG0oE8Kka533uQB27uDQQ/s1600/IMG_1259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ5VyQkQ6nbKvr_6mlf_jpHfwo8iECjWx7YQox2fLrlQMRY16wclE1UmmZHdGIr-PR1ZxuRCYwRdc2WFe742M8aOcZngJrpc4laIbUII2hlAcJVysOMcp-nRWG0oE8Kka533uQB27uDQQ/s1600/IMG_1259.JPG" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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... to THIS:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkiyir0kWLdraMwa9UJJhZqA0as9vrPruE0LBeyI86pUw9l4VLprgYPbLHfeNgAsmezrkctN_P_seQ6_8iUF-ZPQK2cqE-OguFVPfphbyQg9j2wz08sV415qKHcT0eh18tdS6caiQipoM/s1600/2014-10-12+15.46.00-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkiyir0kWLdraMwa9UJJhZqA0as9vrPruE0LBeyI86pUw9l4VLprgYPbLHfeNgAsmezrkctN_P_seQ6_8iUF-ZPQK2cqE-OguFVPfphbyQg9j2wz08sV415qKHcT0eh18tdS6caiQipoM/s1600/2014-10-12+15.46.00-1.jpg" height="640" width="518" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Insert eyebrows of choice</td></tr>
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Today of all days, you have a tummy bug, but we still celebrate YOU! Here's a snapshot of a few things you're up to right now...<br />
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When you're excited about something--a person, a toy, food, or nursing--you rapid-fire kick both your legs in and out, in and out. You've done this since you were tiny and I suspect you'll quit once you start talking, but I sure enjoy it for now.<br />
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You love to dance, especially when Dad plays music:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/f9DPxiKX6hw?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />
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You hold toys out to people as if you want to share with them, but really you just want to SHOW them. And keep the toy. You particularly like playing with anything that Big Brother plays with, right when he's playing with it. If he gives it to you and moves on, you lose interest and move on with him.<br />
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Corollary: You wholly worship your Big Brother except when he tries to wrestle with you. Then you squawk in no uncertain terms. He particularly loves grabbing your head and you particularly hate that.<br />
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We are looking forward to dressing you up properly for your second Halloween and to giving Big Brother all your candy (minus the candy tax, natch).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgEjuDcDYxPQgxSZ_DFyNR2PRRLbl9PuBs0JzHqjw3mcA4G8vyeiLQrQ1k7fsp7iht1C0_kNnEBa20h9mybgwVWt5LjpZ4RugROzkUwEChi9KpQT_bHFuX8lWa0xjwBuYzW_cPXLIVqDA/s1600/IMG_8856.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgEjuDcDYxPQgxSZ_DFyNR2PRRLbl9PuBs0JzHqjw3mcA4G8vyeiLQrQ1k7fsp7iht1C0_kNnEBa20h9mybgwVWt5LjpZ4RugROzkUwEChi9KpQT_bHFuX8lWa0xjwBuYzW_cPXLIVqDA/s1600/IMG_8856.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">"Keep smiling ... make eye contact ... inch toward the berries"</td></tr>
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For the most part, you go to bed around 7:45 and wake up around 4 a.m. to nurse, then you're down again until 6:30. However, some nights you're also up around 1 a.m., just to break up our sleep more evenly.<br />
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In terms of child care, you've stopped acting relatively low key when we (and especially I) leave. Instead you pitch a fit at the signs of imminent departure. I'm told you settle down pretty quickly, but it's never while I'm in earshot. I'm sure your security quotient is not helped by this week's day care drama: you have been unceremoniously uprooted from your cozy spot in the baby room at Stepping Stones and transplanted into a much larger toddler room at your new nursery, Kids Unlimited--Oxford Waterways. (More about the sudden and terrible nursery shutdown in a subsequent post--this is Col's day!)<br />
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You're in the 50th percentile for height, weight, and head size, but you look enormous to us because Tor was so bitty. Very few of his winter clothes fit you because he was a full size smaller than you at one year old. You've still got some epic thigh folds but I'm sure you'll lose these when you begin walking in earnest.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Livin' large</td></tr>
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You think baths are THE. GREATEST. We have not had a bad one yet--you can be tired and angry or even hungry, but once you get in the bath, it's all good, and it's better than good if Big Brother's in there with you. Of course, it's a different story once you get out: the rage begins once you hit the towel and usually doesn't stop until there's food in your mouth.<br />
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You resemble baby pictures of both your dad and me. Which really means the two of us kind of looked like each other as children. I also think you look a lot like my mom's dad, which is fitting since we used his name for one of your middle names--Harry.<br />
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My dear Col, you have delighted us with your cheeriness from sunny California to drizzly Oxford. We are so grateful to have you in our family and I am honored to be your mom. May your year ahead be one filled with joy, growth, discovery, and love.<br />
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TorTaleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11724873416713388826noreply@blogger.com3