Magic!

Home safe (and late!) last night.  Busy week of work now in the real world, so the photos will take some time.  Here are the first of approx. a bajillion.  From our last moments in the Magic Kingdom yesterday...

Beginning the return journey

We had a fantastic time. The kids are WIPED.

Last day at Disney

And finally the warmth!

Raaarar!

Lion Queen!

Syl is very good about holding still for the face painter.  I'm wondering how to get her to do the same for other things.

Yeah. We're having fun.

Disney World, here we come!

Happy Birthday Grandpa Steve!

Today we celebrated Grandpa Steve's birthday with a FANTASTIC brunch at Cousin Aya's house.  She is quite the cook.

Sylvie has decided that being with her little cousin is about the best thing in the world... in the abstract.  In practice she's still working on her sharing skills.  Aya, for her part, was glad to share her super-cool kitchen set with Sylvie.

The group has started to disperse - Emily and Zach headed back to VT yesterday, Aunt Amy got on a plane today, and the rest of the crew heads back to Ohio tomorrow.  Sylvie is sorry to see them go.  As she woke from her (much needed) nap this afternoon, the first thing she asked was, "Daddy, Thanksgiving over?"  When I confirmed, she answered, "Oh.  I like Thanksgiving."

Happy Birthday Grandpa Steve!

Thanksgiving

Phew.  So that was quite a Thanksgiving!

First thing's first: here's the bird.  Brined over night in a mixture of OJ, apple juice, salt, brown sugar, nutmeg and cloves, and then grilled for about four hours, this baby might look a little charred, but it was muy delicioso and garnered rave reviews.  Dad is thinking this recipe might be a keeper.

Syl enjoyed a third straight day of non-stop play with her aunts and uncles and with cousin Aya (she's napping as I type this now - finally - the day after).  Not-so-careful observers will notice that Sylvie's favorite thing to do with any number of relations is to demand inversion, swinging, and all manner of rough-housing.  She's a wild one.

After a huge dinner, the group witnessed (and participated in) the debut of Melissa's new karaoke machine (birthday present from her loving husband).  Performances varied in subjective quality, but nobody lacked for effort.

More in the November 2010 Gallery...

Have to admit, this set freaks me out a little bit...

A bridal gown came as part of the Emily/Naomi dress up box spectacular.  Sylvie seemed to understand exactly which poses to strike in order to achieve maximum freak-out effect for her dad.