Tuesday, April 26, 2011

What the?????


April 2011003, originally uploaded by Chiara and James Hemsley.

I was preparing Luca's lunch yesterday, and my back was turned for a few minutes. I turned around to find that he had somehow removed his arm from his shirt! He was quite impressed with himself!

I just started laughing when I saw him, and then he started laughing, too!

Luca and Grandpa


April 2011051, originally uploaded by Chiara and James Hemsley.

Grandpa is probably telling us how to do something or fix something--he looks pretty serious. Luke is just soaking it all in (I guess he only needed a catnap!)

All of us (minus sleeping Luke)


April 2011045, originally uploaded by Chiara and James Hemsley.

Here we are all together! We didn't dare remove Luke from Oma's arms for this photo--better to let sleeping dragons lie.

A great brunch


April 2011038, originally uploaded by Chiara and James Hemsley.

My dad and Maria had us over for Easter Brunch, and it was a fun time. James' grandparent had a good time talking with Maria's parents, who are visiting from Atlanta.

Oma has the magic touch


April 2011030, originally uploaded by Chiara and James Hemsley.

Luke had been fighting sleep all day--until he was held by magical Oma! Can you move in with us, Oma?

Luke joins in, too!


April 2011013, originally uploaded by Chiara and James Hemsley.

Luke was going on a rough night of sleep and no nap, so it was difficult to get him to be happy in photos. But, here they are all together!

Norah and her Great-Grandparents


April 2011009, originally uploaded by Chiara and James Hemsley.

It was so nice to see them; we wish it was more often.

Easter Eggs


April 2011089, originally uploaded by Chiara and James Hemsley.

It's difficult to get a decent picture of 3-year-olds. Breeana cooperated, but she is 5! Regardless, the kids had fun dyeing their Easter eggs.

Luca and Great-Grandma Hemsley


April 2011076, originally uploaded by Chiara and James Hemsley.

Luca loved playing the piano with Grandma. This was the first time they met, and I think they got on just fine!

Welcome, Ivana!


April 2011065, originally uploaded by Chiara and James Hemsley.

Isn't she cute?

A new niece!


April 2011055, originally uploaded by Chiara and James Hemsley.

Chiara's brother Nicholas and his wife Sunny welcomed their first born to the world on April 22, 2011!

Here are Sunny and Nick with little Ivana Piper. Ivana was born so quickly that she didn't have a conehead or puffiness or anything. She is just beautiful!

The Happy Couple


April 2011111, originally uploaded by Chiara and James Hemsley.

It was a "theme" wedding--a Robin Hood theme. It could have been cheesy, but it actually was quite fun, and it matched to location of the reception beautifully!

A beautiful wedding


April 2011104, originally uploaded by Chiara and James Hemsley.

We attended James' cousin John's wedding to a wonderful girl named Gracie, and we got to see some long-lost family members, like James' grandparents, Bill and Joan! How nice it was to spend some time together.

A beautiful day


April 2011128, originally uploaded by Chiara and James Hemsley.

We had some really nice weather a couple of weeks ago, so we took a walk to the local park. Luca is not sure of park playground equipment; he definitely doesn't love swings as much as Norah, but he is getting used to them.

He also noticed airplanes for the first time, and was quite intrigued/terrified by them!

Little Gardener


April 2011123, originally uploaded by Chiara and James Hemsley.

We love our membership to the Brookfield Zoo. We can go and find new things each time, and not feel like we have to see the whole (huge!) place when we go.
This last time, we found the "Family Pavilion" which had lots of kid-friendly activities. Norah loved the greenhouse where kids get to water the plants with spray bottles. We could barely get her to leave!