a life of organic love: February 2008

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Barb orchestrated a perfect surprise birthday party for Stephen's 40th.
there were over 50 people at the Rhizome restaurant and one of Stephen's favorite musicians C.R. Avery was there to help celebrate. There was a great slide show of all the great moments in Stephen's life up to date. it was a great night. Happy Birthday.

Me and Neomie

the birthday cupcake cake - Barb, Lily, Stephen and Sarah

C.R. Avery and his band

Rick, Neomie, Gigi, Lily, Barb and Sarah

Fun in the Big City

While we were in Vancouver we visited the Vancouver Aquarium, Stanley Park, Victoria Park and Granville Island. we had vegetarian chinese dim sum twice (Giselle and I were thrilled!) and visited with friends old and new. the weather was gorgeous!!!

Giselle and her friend Sophia

Neomie moving it around

Gigi and Lily give away the balloons from Stephen's party

Carrie Warner and Neomie

Hanging at the park on a beautiful sunny February day

Rick and Neomie at the Vancouver Aquarium

I LOVE this picture of Neomie checking out the Jelly Fish

THE Boy Beluga at the Vancouver Aquarium - i forget his name. His friend Kaila is pregnant and due to have a baby ( after a 14 month gestation ) in July or August.

felt like i was in Hawaii swimming with the turtles.

forget what these cuties are called but they hide in the sand

Stephen, Richard and Neomie at Granville Island

Neomie and Helene at Granville Island

giggling girls - Gigi and Lily

China town Shopping

on the bus at Barb and Stephen's

Welcome Ibi

Congratulations Emily and Michael on the birth of your little Ibi Margaret Ziff.
Ibi was born at 12:35am thursday february 7th on the first day of the new chinese new year of the rat.

the gang of girl Ziff's (sorry Bernie!)

loving the little Ibi

at the baby naming ceremony

Talula, Helene & Neomie

Whister - a visit with Bernie and Diane

Whistler is a bustling little town with so much mountain beauty. At certain vantage points I felt like I was in Nepal looking up at the Himalayas.

Giselle has now skied from the SUMMIT of both Whistler and Blackcomb. this girl rages.

Bernie and Diane where the perfect hosts and their house was warm and welcoming.
thank you. Rick got 3 good days on the mountain . Bernie was shooshing along side Giselle as he got the green light to get back on the mountain post surgery.

Roadtrip to Canada

Valentine's day after a beautiful lunch at our new favorite restaurant we hit the road and headed for the border. the Canadian border that is. We drove straight through to Vancouver. Road Warriors!

the long shadows of late afternoon

Giselle's view of Neomi and I

My view of Neomi and Gigi

Pick me Mrs. Snowberry

Every year in Bend there is a Winterfest held down town. Every year we go to see the Mrs. Snowberry and Frosty's birthday show. This year for the first time Giselle REALLY wanted to get chosen to go up on stage to help with the magic tricks....

Sunrise

Richard took this beautiful picture of the sunrise the other morning.

Giselle and her braid

So on Giselle's 5 th birthday she had her hair braided into a very cool spiral braid. it was so cool we had to go back to Dara for more....

Jump Rope

Sunday, February 3, 2008

The Piano

Here it is... our new Piano.
well it is really an old new piano.
circa 1920's or 30's.
It is funky and it has it's original ivory keys.
The piano was hand built in New York before it traveled to Alaska where it lived for quite some time. It then moved to Bend, Oregon where it was stored in a garage for 2 years before we found it on Craigslist. It needed a new home and what a loving one it has found. The piano has been tuned and is played every day.

Neomi 7 months

a picture says a thousand words but I will try to add a few...

Neomi weighs 20 pounds.
she is 30 inches.
she eats solid foods - sweet potatoes, yams, squash, pear, rice cereal.
her love for Giselle grows every day.
we feel so blessed she is in our lives.

the laugh

big sister reading me a book

what a sweet heart

the serenade

loving every bite

musically inclined... what do you think Marielle?

SNOW and then MORE SNOW!!!

and this is just the tip of the iceberg so to speak...

The Summit

When was Giselle was officially still 4 years old she took the chair up and skied from the Summit of Mt. Bachelor... here are the pictures to prove it.
She said it was pretty steep and that the harness was pulling on her but she would do it again when she was five.

self portrait

original ski bunny

the view from the top

turning the big "5"

On the 19th of January we all helped Giselle celebrate her 5th birthday.
We had a heart shaped chocolate and vanilla cake, Silly Lilly came to perform and we invited over 10 children over to share in the festivities.
hummm the only thing I think we forgot was a pinyata. there is always next year.
We love you Giselle. Happy Birthday.