Zara loves birthday parties!

When she heard everyone start singing Happy Birthday to max, she came a-running from the tango room, (see above) with a little yelp! 

 I really think she understood it was time to eat that amazing Choo choo cake 

Jill made for Max's 2nd Birthday!

The tango room used to be Max's grandma's tango dance room but since been converted to the Play area.  If you look closely you see me taking the picture, BUT far more exciting is the fact that you can see Helena sitting on the stairs near me!  

Helena and I went to school together in 5th and 6th grade in Tunis, North Africa.  She happened to be in NYC for business and seflessly took the bus to Tenley Town  to be with us for the entire weekend before returning home to her fours children in Sweden.  

Funnily enough, I actually mentioned Helena a few posts earlier b/c she was with Aisha in Holland too.  The three of us back in school were the closest of friends.  

Helena brought perfect gifts for Zara .. you can see 

her necklace that she hasn't taken off yet!

The Munch loved the pretty Helena!

Max with his Choo choo cake face!

Zara with her new accessory- the swedish necklace.

A Special Note for Aisha; who is laying in a hospital bed in Holland as i write this.  "We are all thinking of you and so relieved the surgery went so smoothly.  Our love to Kiara!"

Aisha is doing great after a major surgery and the doctors hope this will improve her mobility and relieve her pain so she can get out of that wheelchair! 

 Her positive attitude is paramount to her super fast recovery.  

We have spoken several times and she even got to speak to Helena and me at the same time from my DC!  How cool is that!?

The Red Bud tree Blooms

Zara & Daddy on our porch!  

Apparently this picture was taken before the arrival of Daddy's new Monstrous metallic blue 4x4 truck... otherwise one would not be able to even see any part of the house!

Zara thinks she can clip toenails all by herself!  you go girl!

Jeanette took this picture just above, She and her family drove down from NY and 

we spent alot of time with them visiting the museums; really great days!  

It was our Zara's first visit to the Smithsonian of American History.

the Gallic Stopover

The arrival was late so we all had pizza and a huge slumber party!

just before departure, slightly delayed to a flat tire...a quick snapshot! 

Caleb missed our photo op... asleep in his car seat.   Matt's sister, Beth and her family were returning from their spring break in South Carolina;which has been a 19 hour drive there, yet luckily for us, broke the trip in half on their return!  What a treat to see them all! 

 pretty sure Zara was in heaven with 7 cousins!

Maddie the oldest girl, but third oldest overall!

Little Caleb a few  months older than Zara, he is the youngest Gallic- well so far!

and here is mr. Jacob!

Shawnie the oldest- man of the house and serious athlete

Laurie- the youngest girl-- so far!  She organized all Zara's toy bins, what a sweetheart!

Nate- the wild thing!

Laurie again!

Stevie- all the girls like him!

Birthday parties and family time!

with Aunt 'Ne-at Karina's birthday party on Saturday morning- it was almost 80 degrees!

With Grandma in the laundry basket... in Granny Zarr's Kitchen!

Greg smiling after the Rangers win over the DC Caps- and Steve Falk as well- after all he drove all the way from NJ to go the play off game!  Since the boyz were at the hockey match, the girlz ( renee and zara) lounged in the sun, attended parties and ate bons bons... 

Zara's latest loves

Zara loves to play with dolls and look at real live babies now!  Lucy, from down the street, 

comes for visits and so does Cooper- as seen above!  It was almost 70 and pure sun today; so the front porch was a busy place!

 She is also infatuated with basketball & soccer and the razor skateboard thing that the pre-teen boys play on next door.  I tell her over and over she is not old enough to play with the big boys; its heartbreaking because she seems so excited by their every move- whether it be pogo- sticking jumping or skateboarding.

This year... Last year.. same red tulip!

Zara's visit from the Easter Bunny...

....in the form of a cookie

What a Beautiful trip because Daddy made it too!

Here we are with my Clark University roomie- Jenn Leone and her daughter Sammy!  We met them for one day in Naples- on a beach called Clam Pass- where we had to take a "tram" over the everglades to get to the water.  Zara loved it- she thought she was on a train- choo choo!  Beth, Jan and Mulligan were so welcoming to us; what a great time- i have literally hundreds of pics!

Cel phone shots from Florida

Here are two cutie shots from today!  Zara before Tan, after tan!  In both pictures getting her "cheese on".  She is really into posing for the camera... gee....who's fault is that!!!!! go figure!

Daddy arrived today too... so many more pics to come