Maximilian James Patrick Kearns Second Birthday

I don't get to see the Georgia Kearns' as much as I'd like but it was great to be at Max's second birthday (and Sophie Lindsey's) and see the whole gang, too. Of course, Jasper is papered in RED for David Lindsey's campaign so time was taken out for strategizing. We went to Target (3 times) and Karolina's soccer game - she scored 4 goals and they won, then birthday party time.

Let's see...I take a left at Tokyo, a right at Paris...

Big Max at the BBQ with the mountains as scenic backdrop

My dad's my best Bud

Hey look at all this good stuff I get to eat on my birthday :-)

Max's cake courtesy grandma Mimi. Sophie wanted Elmo!

Big sister gave Max his favorite present!

The dynamic duo and pizza

Lil Maxie climbs the playset Karolina got from the grandparents six years ago - it's reassembled and ready to rock.

Monday breakfast - the party's over. Back to work:-(

Max stalls by taking a final spin before preschool

and walks Ben. Bye Bye. See you soon.

Laszlo Visits Falls Church

Great Sunday visit from Laszlo. We headed to the park where he was disturbed to see the two giant tractors were no longer there.

then home for lunch, a little of Uncle Neil's keyboard action, a nap and afterwards:

Laszlo heads down the road to his favorite gazebo for a little "spin."

Laszlo, just like his grandma Rose, loves his hot chocolate - or at least the marshmallow part! After a hard day of play, nothing like a cuppa cocoa.

This gazebo thing of his, he loves to get dizzy running around, now riding around. Once again I can only hope this video works.

But then, it's off to the golf course. I tried to put together a makeshift "hole" for him to putt in but that wouldn't do at all. So we dug a cup. He's telling his dad "no, dad, I'll show you how to do it." He also insisted we have a flag at the hole so I took a curtain rod and hung a potholder on it. That seemed to satisfy him. Then he and dad headed home to see Mom. A good time was had by all.

Visitors from Conncticut

Had a short but sweet visit from lil bro Mark, Jackie and Katie while they took Katie to American U for her audition. Great time was had by all. Laszlo was his usual coy self around young ladies. Played outside, had bagels, strawberries, blueberry pancakes and corn muffins (all at once in his mouth...). Jojo came over later to say hi before she headed for the Peter Frampton concert. Neil surprised laz by actually being awake! He set up his keyboard for laz to play with.

Obviously, every artist has to display his work at a juryed show. Jackie, Katie and Mark were the judges.

Katie gave Laszlo a hand at painting. Later that day Katie went to American University for her audition and knocked em dead. We didn't tell her to break a leg, however, since two of her cast members at home in Wolcott became true "cast" members, breaking various limbs. So we just told her to break wind.

Neil's Hole In One

Had to post this. Weekend was relaxing, Laszlo and family were over for brunch, Jojo was in Miami, and NEIL got a hole in one on Sunday!

Well, ended the year with a trip North to entertain Maman but unfortunately she was under the weather so our plans were somewhat curtailed. All in all it was relaxing, as it always is when you gaze out at the water. thought we'd do the polar plunge New Years Day but Ian wasn't up for it this year. They were heading to the ski slopes instead after New Years Day at Beeg's.

I've added a few fun pics from earlier this year that I wanted to post. Sort of my yearend retrospective.

Branford River inlet on New Year's Eve - tranquil - most of the boats were bubble wrapped in anticipation of Hurricane Irene in midsummer. The rest gave it up with the October snow! However, NYear's Monday was cold and windy.

Bro Mark Alanby, Sis Gale Alanby, sis-in-law Jackie and moi dining at Foe New Year's Eve. We got the early bird special lol.

Laszlo at the helm!

Cousins Laszlo and Max chat while Dad's Josh and Max, sister Karolina and Mom Joanna look amused at the Twin Pines dinner in Staven. The huge rotating dessert display captured K's interest. Then on to Ian's wedding.

Artemis the Orchid Lady of Mount Vernon, also in warmer times.

Earlier, warmer times. Neil mans the Pi Pizza truck at Farragut Sq near mom's office.

Well, it's back to work and on to 2012. What? January is almost over? Uh-oh. Here we go again.

No resolutions - just survival. As they say, keep it simple stupid.