Just a taste

Aunt Willow took a ton of awesome photos of Syl during her visit.  We're off to Seattle in the morning, with no time for me to get them all up.  Here are just a few - more when we get back.  Guess which is my favorite...

Another TV gig

I picked the wrong day to dress casual and even skip a shave at the gym this morning.  Part way through the day I got an email inviting me back to the Broadside show on NECN, this time to talk about the presidential race.  Of course I said yes, then hustled back to the gym to grab that shave.  No tie, but I have it on good authority that this is okay so long as it is still officially "summer."  I enjoyed this time even more than last - for one thing, I like the regular host of the show and think he does a good job steering the conversation.  For another, my co-panelist (a poli-sci prof from UMass) was less bombastic than my friend Warren, with whom I appeared the last time.  Let me know what you think!

Powerless

So we lost power this afternoon, just exactly where that last sentence in the prior post was abruptly truncated.  I decided to leave it as-is.  It was supposed to read "Willow has already read Sylvie at least half a dozen books today."  Add in an afternoon and evening without electricity, and it's now, "... at least two dozen."  Maybe more.  She's been great.

As the night brought deeper than usual darkness to the Haley household, Sylvie really enjoyed the "adventure" of dinner by candlelight (Melissa made eggplant parm sandwiches, which I grilled to pretty good result).  Syl also LOVED discovering the wonders of flashlights.

After dinner and an episode of Dinosaur Train on my iPad, we brought Syl upstairs for some candle-lit teeth brushing.  No sooner did her head hit the pillow than our power came back on in a blinding flash of miraculous light.  Great stuff.

So I know that Irene did some serious damage down south, when it was actually a Hurricane.  But here in MA?  Not so much.  I caught some clips of some of the local newscasters trying to fill time with what a friend of mine aptly referred to as stormporn.  Hilarious.

Having a great time

Despite the fact that they have both come down with colds, Sylvie and her Aunt Willow are having a fantastic time together.  Willow is looking to set a new record for play-endurance, and Syl is taking full advantage of her Aunt's willingness to spend hours playing, reading to her, and acting goofy.

These are all iphone photos, so excuse the quality.

We're all riding out non-Hurricane Irene together in the house today.  Willow has alr

Guest in town?

C and L Frosty!  We all got grilled cheese and fries.

Aunt Willow!

Syl stayed up late to greet Aunt Willow, who is here until Tuesday. Very excited!

Happy Birthday Grampy!!

They're Home!

My girls rolled in around 1:30 today, pooped from two days on the road and a week of fun.  It is very good to have them back.

Speaking of that week of fun, Aunt Emily had a phone full of photos and video for me to download!  Here are a few of the shots (the rest are in the August 2011 Gallery).  Thanks Aunt Emily!

"I think I saw this guy on Dinosaur Train.  He's lost weight."

No wonder they were at the museum five hours...

"This garden rocks."

Half Way Home!

Talked to my girls tonight as they prepared to bed down at the hotel in Syracuse, a little more than half way home.  I ought to see them by mid-day tomorrow, and cannot wait.

A few more emailed photos from their last day of fun in Ohio.

And then a couple from the road home.  Aunt Emily claims this first one was taken when Syl was talking to me on the phone, telling me she'll see me tomorrow.  The second is her CLEEEEAN plate at her favorite traveling way station: Ruby Tuesdays.

And finally, a little impromptu dinner performance.  Sylvie's rendition of "Some Day My Fish Will Come," sung in the tune of "Some Day My Prince Will Come," from one of those Disney princess movies she loves so well.  Maybe Snow White...  I like Sylvie's version better.

Lots of Fun in Ohio

Based on the photos the girls are sending me as they go about their fun-filled days, they are having a great time in Ohio.

Yesterday they made the trip from North Ridgeville to Columbus to see Aunts Naomi and Amy and to spend FIVE whopping hours at the science museum.  Melissa tells me that by the end of the day Syl was whipped - but not too whipped to thoroughly enjoy a frozen yogurt bar with her choice of toppings.

Today they took it slightly easier - "play and play and play" around the yard, visiting with her great grandparents, and a computer chat with a dad who is really, really missing his girls.  

Sylvie learned how to use the camera on Mom's phone today - she took two of the shots below herself (I'm so proud)!

A Sylvie shot!

And another!