Chulmleigh walk

Yesterday we went for a walk around Chulmleigh, the tiny town a few miles away from Ah Mah and Granddad. Here's the proof.

In the churchyard cemetery:

Chasing Chickens

We had visitors at South Beara today: Ah Mah and Granddad's friends Cindy and James with their son Ryken (20 months) and dog Tanuki (not sure about the spelling on that). We had a lovely lunch and then wandered outside to let the boys chase chickens.

James going double-baby:

Cindy keeping Tanuki out of the chicken coop:

Chasing chickens:

Checking the coop for eggs:

Ryken showing off his catch:

I won't complain that they aren't looking at the camera, because they're actually sitting still:

Exmoor

Sorry about the last post (it not having any pictures); the Blogger app on my new iPad (merry Christmas to me!) doesn't work, apparently. It shows me the pictures when I preview the post, but somehow doesn't post them. Alas.

But I don't think you really care about that.

You get a real post today because it's the first time I've turned on my computer since leaving New Jersey, thus the first time we're having a look at the pictures we're taking. More tomorrow, I hope, working in backwards chronological order.

Today we took Augie on a little adventure. Our first attempt at a hike was muddy, uphill, viewless, and resulted in nothing but tears for wee Augie. So we got back in the car and continued on and found an absolutely gorgeous little walk on Exmoor (walk began approximately here) with views back over the hills and out to the sea. Augie was much happier with this one, until the end.

1 year - Bouncing, bouncing bouncing

There's no end to the fun around here. (Email subscribers click here to view the video).

Sink bath

1 year - Watching Augie play

(Email subscribers, click here to view the video).

Note - not much happens. Don't expect any excitement - just watching Mr. Happy play by himself. (And forgive how messy the room is! It's not normally this bad, I swear!) 

1 year - Spiky bath baby

Couldn't resist.

1 year - Snow baby

I won't be posting much over the next few weeks; between getting ready for Christmas and getting ready to move, there's too much going on for me to post daily. I'll post anytime I have fun pictures - or energy - at the end of the day. We leave for England on December 23rd, and will go on to Stockholm sometime in January. I hope to post regularly from England, and again in Stockholm, so please keep checking back.

James took Augie to play in the snow today while I went for my annual lady-parts check-up. I'm not sure how Augie feels about the snow, though.

 

1 year - Augie's third 1st birthday, continued

Sunday morning we had one last birthday party for Augie here in Princeton - we wanted to celebrate with the friends who helped us all survive the first year. We had brunch and cake (spice cake with pumpkin cream cheese frosting, which in all honesty I found disappointing, but Augie loved), opened a couple presents, and all the babies played so well together. Sad that we'll be leaving this wonderful group of folks so soon, but so glad that we've been able to share the triumphs and travails of the first year with them all.

I had a hard time narrowing down which pictures to post, as you can tell.

Esther is about two months older than Augie - she was the first in our little group of friends to meet the outside world:

 Linden, about a month older than Augie, sporting (and sharing!) the birthday crown:

Rina, who lives in our apartment community. She was the youngest baby in attendance and was just meeting the other babies for the first time, but she did so well:

 

 One last go at the birthday song and blowing out the candle:

 

This is how Augie eats cake:

Linden's approach is much more civilized:

Dinesh, Deepa and baby Rina:

Getting ready to pose the babies for a picture. Rina loves this stuff:

Babies posing for a picture. I don't know why there's a soccer ball in there:

Augie's relaxing end-of-day spa treatment, assisted by Uncle Robert: