The last fews days; Lots of Excitement

Zara has enjoyed the recent fun with lots of friends- despite discovering she has been fighting a dual ear infection! We finally saw her Dr. since she seemed to have a cough for the past two weeks & now a runny nose... who knew it was the second ear infection of the
























season! She seems so good natured most of the time- it's hard for me to tell if something is really wrong. Bad mothering yet again! The good news is that she gained almost 2 pounds over the last 3+ months- so that was somewhat uplifting news.
Sunday we went to Great Falls and saw the roaring Potomac River. Uncle Mel from Maine was in town- unfortunately Aunt Gail could not make it- but we hope we managed to show Uncle Mel a good time. Zara tried very hard to say Uncle Mel several times- it was so funny b/c apparently all she hears are the "L's" and basically says lalalala.
































































Here are Cathy's kiddies Isabelle and Charlotte up near Baltimore! They were so sweet with Zara and even gave her more super nice clothes to wear! Thank you Cathy! We love the purple outfit with fluffy cuffs pictured here!
Tomorrow we are off to New Jersey for the BIG wedding! So see you all soon!

THE Bachelor Party! Zara works the crowd!

Zara partaking in some of Dada's ribs!

Suddenly seeing all the NEW JERSEY contingient descend upon DC made

Greg and Renee's wedding feel that much closer!

The energy was great; except Zara wanted more ribs! In the picture you can see Matt and his four brothers- Greg- soon to be married, Jimmy, Tommy, and Jay! Tommy Falk was there- Eileen's-(Matt's sister) husband... and so was Steve Falk, HIS brother! Greg had some cop buddies Ben & Mike. In fact, Mike was Matt's old cop partner who introduced me to Matt. John F and the Patriarch- Matt's Dad, John too!

As one can imagine, it was an unruly bunch- glad i didnt ride the metro with them!

Matt made his famous Brisket and then the crew went to the Verizon Center to

enjoy another CAPS win-- sorry Ranger fans!

Can't believe we leave for Jersey on Tuesday already!

I was up all night!

Amazing day and night- and had hoped not to get into any political detail on this blog- but i am so intrigued with the global response. Strange being in DC as well-Matt said we could hear fireworks and people cheering in our neighborhood at midnight!

I was so happily stunned-i have to admit i had my favorite candidate

yet highly doubted a win.

I found myself talking to Victoria, Anthony and in the UK at 4am as well as Aisha in Holland- the global ramifications are only just beginning to emerge. A friend i knew in Egypt who now lives in Dubai texted me,"a massive redemption".

I am in awe that so many people from around the world were watching this election and cared to the extent that they did (and do)!

We should all be proud no matter our party alliances!

Anthony told me that an Irish co-worker of his had taken a vacation day off from work so he could stay up all night to witness first hand democracy at work in the US! That story alone should make us all feel good no matter who you are and who you voted for!

I admit- I am now thrilled I have our little mini video from our historic voting experience preserved for Zara in her future!

Whatever your opinion, one can not deny the thrill of this amazing race and that we are alive to see it occur... It was just over 150 years ago we had 4 million enslaved in this country- and the first african slave was brought to Virginia in 1619.

OKAY, okay! New topic-
just check this video out if you have small kids!! amazing if we could teach our babies this!
http://www.childdrowningprevention.com/index.html

Halloween vid from our local Park's party!!

Our voting experience was very relaxed, walked up the hill to the school; shared a muffin we bought from school's bakesale and even sat on a bench for a while to watch others come and go!

Friendship Park, a 5 block walk from our house, hosts a Halloween Parade Party every year. It was a scene- packed of kiddies & no two costumes identical! They gave away free cider and cupcakes, and had a banjo player too. Granny Zarr made a suprise appearance and we saw Max and Karina there too!

Sunday Soccer day!

Somehow we made it for an 8am soccer game! (probably due to the time change in our favor- otherwise I highly doubt that you would see this pic now!)

We started the game with four men down .. but beat the odds, and won 4-0!!!! Lauren- our weekly MVP- loaned her lucky soccer cleats to our

newest player- Zara.

For those of you reading Missy's blog- she has really hit a tough hurdle- but with all of us pulling for her- i know things will come through soon...thinking of you

and baby "S", Missy!

Happy Halloweeen from our Flower Child

Here we are at Frienship Park with Max and his Dad Mark- who i have known since '69!

Back to the Future in the twilight zone!

Above my class room in Ghana- you can see me near the window on the upper picture- we were taking my mom's history test!!! serious business!

This was my 7th grade class in Ghana- i'm in the bottom row, near my friend Almut! ( who i recently saw in Spain!) Mr Teacher was Mrs. Abedi and you cna see her showing me and Alessia(an italian girl) some crafts!

Here's my mom- the meanie history teacher!!! My form 1 class is the top pic- i'm looking sideways- as usual never paying any attention! LOL

Hey!!! can anyone find Aisha!?

5th grade in Tunisia!!!!!!

Amazing to think we just were in jamaica after all these years!

1978!

Not to mention, i am in touch with Lars and Helena who are in the class photo too!

Here's the mind blowing Snapshot of a lifetime!!!!

I was flipping through my mom's album's and i see this shot:

me with Zara--

only i suddenly say to myself- "hey-- why am i only 10 years old?

and how is Zara in that shot with me???"

Well.. of course its not her.. but how weird...i knew her somehow

in the distant past.....

(this little girl was the daughter of an English friend of my mother's who had married a Tunisian. My mom taught with her mom at school!)

Victoria's new website!

Here is Zara trying on part of her Halloween costume- our little flower child!
Playing on Granny's piano- one of her favourite past-times... and she can stand up on her own now- she also loves the well-known climbing the stairs activity.

At the mall with Amanda- who used to work with me at the Palm- now she's back in DC (where she should be), and with Smith & Wolensky's Steakhouse instead! Congrats Amanda on your AGM position!


Here's another introduction!!!!

http://iamozbod.com/information/

Vix just sent me her new web address for her cottage industry! Check it out- you'll be so impressed with her commissioned items so far!

Beth's new blog!

HOW amazing is the classic blue sweater in the middle picture...? Eileen, Matt's sister knitted it for Zara and she still can fit into it! We love it! thank you Eileen.

Soon we will all see each other at Greg & Renee wedding in NJ! Yipee!

http://cruisingalonglifeshighway.wordpress.com/ check it out!

this is Beth's new blog page. Beth, Matt's other sister, is brilliant and has finally begun her own blog; which, every time I read it, marvel at her creative writing-- and to top it off--am amazed she even has time to write anything at all!

She has seven beautiful and unique children- the youngest is Caleb- very close to Zara's age.

Swimming videos in Jamaica

The Rasta Chef named "Specialist" made us an all vegetarian meal after our full day of swimming in the mineral laden waters of the roaring river and fresh spring pools! His rosemary and lime tree leaves tea was the best I've ever tasted!

Aisha made it back to Holland, she had a tough journey, but she is home and starting treatment on Monday already! Her blog is listed on my favs to watch!

Here is "Fearless Zara" swimming. She even learned how to blow bubbles; which is great b/c now she can soon learn to put her face underwater!

three videos from Jamaica with Aisha and Kiara

my little rasta baby drumming with Kiara "soldier girl!"

downtown action in Montego Bay!

As a rare treat Aisha took us to a Rasta Spiritual healing center to swim in a roaring river and cool spring pools. We even walked into a deep cave and swam in the water flowing underground. It was wild! Afterwards, we had a special meal prepared by "specialist" a rasta chef in his "restaurant". Not exactly the Palm since there is no meat allowed! LOL

Sad to go, but nice to be home with the Daddy...

Montego Bay memories!

Zara Discovering Jamaica

This amazing view is from a nearby home, you can see the home is still under construction- and we were graciously allowed in to take pictures-

Kiara and Aisha looked so healthy- it is hard to believe that Aisha is fighting cancer. She was full of energy and took us on great jaunts around the city and to a rasta healing center in the savannah lands. Aisha & her budding professional photograher- her daughter Kiara-took a ton of gorgeous shots- i took these with my cell phone, so sadly not great quality- but hope you get the feel of the place!

Jamaica! NO PROBLEM MON!

Zara in Montego Bay! What a perfect visit with Aisha and Kiara!

We did so much in such a short while.

where we stayed. I loved the controlled chaos of it all!

I really loved seeing Kiara and Aisha and meeting their friend Anna and Keriss.

I loved the warm breezy nights under the mosquito net - see pic of our room! Zara slept very well in the humid air- even with numerous dogs barking, music blaring from several homes and one night we even had a crazy "preacher" man with a megaphone shouting from 1-4am!

Poca- Aisha's sister- home is painted in my favorite colors- purple being one of them! Her pool is lovely & Zara loved swimming in such warm water- doubt any of pics do it all justice!

Happy Halloween- but first Jamaica!

Zara enjoying 85 degree weather with all her friends!!! What a perfect October!

Greg and Matt after a hockey game --- Greg & Renee are getting married in

only ONE MONTH's time! WOW

Max and Zara played amongst the pumpkins the other evening- it was amazingly warm out--

Liam- the boy across the street is so excited for Zara to begin walking-

as evidence in shot above!

Lia is Zara best little girlfriend- only a few months younger! She is precious and has the cutest expressions and squeals of delight! Her mother Kara & I hang out alot since we both quit work- we started our club called MWM (moms without money) and spend alot of time

doing free things and looking for cool coupons!

5 days til we see Aisha and Kiara in Montego Bay!

Sunday Super busy day!

Here is a smattering of pics from today...Zara and Karina in Turtle park; then off to a party to see Laney!!! We haven't seen Laney since she was about 5 months old i think??? It was great to see them all! Also Ruth had come down from NYC for the Jewish holidays and we went out for Thai food at the new place just down the street!

The Munch on the road again, Historic Williamsburg and Norfolk, VA

Zara, Granny Zarr and I opted to take an overnight jaunt down to Norfolk, VA. The trip was prompted by the fact that Chrissy- our birthmother- had been on leave from GITMO, Cuba and was sent to Norfolk for 5 days.

We decided we could walk around Williamsburg, which i havent done since i was in High School, and meet up with Chrissie for a dinner and a lunch. It was actually really nice; i say "actually" because it was alot of driving for one night roundtrip and also Chrissy was so appreciative that we made the effort so it felt well worth it.

We decided to take a great tour of USS Wisconsin Battleship and i hope my mom enjoyed it! Chrissy was very attentive and was in a great mood. Funnily enough, we stayed in the identical hotel room that I had stayed in while in Kansas just over a year ago. Then to top it off, we ended up eating a Hooters (like we did one night in Kansas) -- both times under extreme duress and due to the lack of ANY other places open! Thankfully- Zara is too young to have been tainted by the experience!!! Although not so sure about my poor Mom!( her first experience)!!LOL