The Life and Times of James, Chiara, Norah, Luke and Susannah Hemsley
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Norah Before Bedtime
Monday, July 14, 2008
Circle of Death
Here is the infamous circle of death. Imagine two grown women running on this piece of playground equipment (it spins), and falling on top of one another in a heap in the middle when they lost their balance. Karen was pretty seriously injured. Her back is still bothering her. I took this photo for her so she can show her coworkers and family that the circle of death really does exist!
The company does not really state the dangers associated with this piece of equipment. Here is their description (they don't call it the Circle of Death, but rather the "Supernova"):
"Use your strength and hold your balance! This seems to be the best way to describe the kind of play that takes place on the Supernova. A single child can engage in exploring its possibilities, but together with a whole group of children, this play item expresses its real potential. The large, slanting ring is set in motion by the children. Turning, spinning, balancing or just enjoying the ride are among the countless play options of the Supernova."
Needless to say, it doesn't mention 30-something adults in its target audience....
In the swings
Norah still loves the swings at the park. Here she is pointing to the circle of death, a piece of playground equipment that our friend Karen was injured on at our Hemsley birthday party. Norah knows to avoid the circle of death.
In the pool
Here's our version of a swimming pool! Norah had fun in this little pool. I also tried the sprinkler, but she was having none of that! We did our best to look hot and our neighbors invited us over to swim in their REAL pool which was very nice. We had a great time!
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Back home again
Norah and I had a great time in Michigan, but it was very nice to be back home again, too. Here are Norah and James in one of their favorite spots, the piano. She is showing him how to do proper finger work for a particularly challenging piece!
Surprise for Sunny 4
A self-portrait of the set-up crew. We had a blast doing this for our wonderful brother Nicholas! We are so glad that Sunny actually said YES after all our hard work, too!
We look forward to having Sunny join the family!
Surprise for Sunny 3
Here's a small view of the room we set up for them. The window overlooked downtown Grand Rapids, and the fireworks were literally RIGHT outside this window. Pretty neat!
Surprise for Sunny!
On the 4th of July, Nicholas planned a big surprise proposal for his girlfriend Sunny--with balloons, daisies, a fancy dinner, and fireworks! Alessia, Francesca and I were in charge of set up. We got balloons and flowers and set them up for Nick. Then, he did the rest of the work. There were so many balloons that we were packed in the car with them. Here's Alessia, buried in balloons. We could hear Cecca talking but couldn't see her!
Nonna, Jeri, Ethan, and Norah
We had a great time in Michigan! Norah grew a lot while we were there. She really worked on her walking skills, and she learned that if she cries really loudly, we will pay attention to her (thanks, Ethan!!!).
Thanks, Nonna and Jeri!
In Nonna's play pen
They don't make play pens anymore, but Nonna managed to find one at a second-hand kids' stuff store. Norah had fun in there playing with her toys. She would last about 20 minutes before realizing she was a prisoner in there, and then she wouldn't be so content!
Lick that plate clean!
Norah loves peaches so much, she licks the plate after eating them to get all the wonderful peach juice!
La Norah mangia gli spaghetti!
Here's a photo for the Italian relatives, who wanted to see Norah eating spaghetti. They got their wish!
Cousins 3
Ethan is starting to tip....see the look on his face? He is saying, "Hey, don't you see I am starting to tip?"
Cousins
Norah loves to play with keys, real ones that is. None of those fake kids' keys. Here's her and Ethan playing with them on the sofa.
Hey baby!
As Alessia said so eloquently in her blog about this pose, "10 pounds of sausage in a 5 pound bag!"
You go, Ethan James!
Ethan the superstar
Ethan decided to grace us with his presence at the pool. Of course, he insisted on wearing his Italian Speedo bathing suit. It was super cute!
He loved the water, and seemed unaffected by the temperature.
Which way's up?
Norah and Chiara went to Michigan to stay with Nonna recently. Norah had a great time playing with "the baby", or Ethan! Ethan was enthralled by Norah and Norah amused herself by taking Ethan's pacifier away regularly.
Chiara also had a chance to see Krista and Anna from Chicago. More photos of that soon.