NYE 2012

Last few pictures of 2012. Elsa 4 years, Milo 15 months. Love these little people and looking forward to more smiles, and sleep, in 2013!

Manty Christmas

A few left over shots from Christmas at the Manty's. Elsa helping Liz make carrots and Milo helping Dale drink beer (not really, we promise).

Maine Visitors

We were lucky enough to score a visit from Doug and Michelle while they were on a drive down to Virginia. It was the first time for Elsa and Milo to meet them, and within minutes made instant friends.

Milo was beyond enamored with Doug's beard, Elsa was smitten with Michelle in general and Errol and I had a fantastic time catching up after what had been way too many years.

Christmas 2012

 Decorating the tree.

 Elsa putting the star on the tree.

 You have no idea how hard we worked for this crummy picture. Note to self for next year...get kid picture in front of tree prior to the minutes before opening presents.

 A camera!

Milo gave Elsa her first doll house...and she won't let him touch it with a ten foot pole. Such love.

Nana made Elsa and Dolly matching nightgowns! Elsa loves is, she thinks its the coolest thing she gets to sleep in a dress.

Elsa is Four!

 Sheepishly looking at her peddle bike. Surprisingly underwhelmed - or maybe just overwhelmed?

 What she woke up to on her birthday morning.

 Milo gave her a cash register, just like her favorite toy at school.

 Presents from Nana!!!

 Birthday blueberry pancakes.

Homemade tutu from Nana.

Six Degrees of Seperation

 Cookie decorating

 Jeremy and Elijah

 Elsa and Madeleine

Rebecca, Jon, Liz, Jeremy, Ira, Avery, Elijah, Libby, Benj, Maddie, Eleanor and us. Rebecca and I work together, and her sister happens to be Jeremy's best friend. Jeremy did Peace Corps with Errol and I. Talk about a small world!

Elsa's Birthday Party

In a bold parenting move, we planned and executed an outdoor birthday party for 12 kids in the middle of December. It was sunny and 50...phew!

 Elsa and Evan...her best buddy and what she was "thankful" for at Thanksgiving.

 Milo and his pack horse.

 Elsa leading the first group of people into the woods on our scavenger hunt.

 Most of the crew in the middle of the woods.

Mid November

 Fun with friends Eleanor and Maddy

Earning his keep helping rake leaves.

The future

I sat up late last night, watching the results roll in. I couldn't help but be nervous. Our country, in my mind, had a very clear choice for our next President, but I wasn't taking anything for granted.

Maryland, our adopted state, had big issues on the table, including ones giving some of our friends the right to marry, and some an easier path to gain an education.

I couldn't help but wonder, if the polls didn't go our way, what would happen in the next four years that would make it more difficult for our friends, and in the long run our kids.

Thankfully, we have another four years! I am as emotional as I was four years ago and I am looking forward to being able to take my kids to the Mall on Inauguration Day so they can be a part of history.

Photo by Doug Mills for the New York Times

Catch up

 I was finally able to get pictures off of my phone, so this is some older photos but ones that I wanted to make sure we captured in the blog. This is Elsa in her dance class final "performance".

 Milo and his little buddy, Madeleine.

 We met friends in Baltimore for brunch on a Saturday so Elsa stopped by my office to make sure things were going ok.

 Such a happy girl.

 Milo becomes mobile and finds his favorite spot in the house.

 Elsa introduces Milo to the fascinating washing machine.

Elsa's first carnival game.