Maybe if I climb into the toy bucket, Mom and Dad won't notice I'm up past my bedtime!
Slightly Sad
Mom? Are you hogging my picture?
Don't hate me because I'm beautiful. Hate me 'cause I've got a cookie, and you don't!
Now I'm tempted to have this picture put on a shirt, just because recursion is funny.
Happy Baby!
Penny quickly stuffs the cookie in her mouth before Daddy gets it!
Stacey Bosley, whom I see far too rarely.
I forgot my glasses. Funny how I look a little weird without them, now.
Geeks don't dance.
Managers and sysadmins do, though.
Heather and Joe. (Joe looks a little stunned. Forgive him; this was their first child-free night together in almost a year.)
Sylvia decides Christine's outfit needs some sparkle.
Geeks don't dance, reprise: Ted pretends not to notice his wife dancing by herself.
Both dancing couples saw me aiming the camera and tried to get out of my frame. HAHAHA!
You got to hand it to Sylvia: She knows how to get down.
(Sylvia might have started drinking before the party actually started.)
Jason and Amy are dancing. Guess which one is more enthusiastic about it!
A pretty good picture of Heather and I.
I think it'll be a few more years before Penny can borrow my sweaters.
The Littlest Tech Support.
Penny mugs for the camera while Matt turns all his equipment back on.
Hickseses at rest.
Mila and John
Watching babies play is tiring.
Mila and her mom
Snack break!
We applaud your dedication to flossing, Jess, but...
KT and Jess
Oh, right, this was a moon-cookie-making party!
Let's make some cookies!
Matt slips some dough to Penny under the table.
KT . o O (Put the camera down, Liz, and make some darn cookies!)
Mila . o O (I'd better get more than two cookies out of this, too.)
Dad tends the cooling racks, and ensures 'accidently' broken cookies are
Mom fiercely guards the oven.
Yes, I did finally make some cookies, myself.
Mila's mom was practically my second mother when we were in high school.
Penny: I just know there's some cookies around here.
Jess: There's none in this tin!
Mom, pleeeeeeeease can't I have a cookie???
WHEE! The jumping game!
Penny learns a new use for her stool.
Grandma and Grandad's couch is slippery and fun!
Bounce me again, Grandad!
This tree represents 98% of my decoration efforts so far this year.
But I think it's very pretty!
Look close - you can see me, Matt, and Penny in the reflection!
Penny with some fall flowers.
Penny is fascinated with walking up and down the little 'hill' at the end of our driveway.
Hey, can we eat these berries on the neighbor's tree?
Abandoned bird's nest in the neighbor's tree.
The changing of seasons.
The Dad/Daughter March
An early Christmas present!
Well, this could have been worded better...
Amy's last day at the office.
She's a little emotional.
Penny loves Matt's Captain Nemo action figure set!
Got my bag, and I'm going shopping!
Talk to the hand, Mom!
It snowed. Before Christmas!
That never happens here!
I'm dreaming / of a white Christmas...
Your juice looks tastier than mine. Give it to me.
Whoo! Free orange bits! Get 'em while they last!
Don't worry, Jess. There's enough for everyone.
Jess: That's my chair! Get out!
Penny: Make me.
Penny is queen of all she surveys.
(But as soon as Penny gets bored, Jess reclaims her chair.)
In inclement weather, Dad doubles as a slide!
KT teaches Penny the fine art of the Dubious Look.
Silly Jess!
No, you can't play on Auntie KT's computer.
It's important for all babies and toddlers to have a regular plastic supplement.
You're not going to let Penny take my balloon back, are you, Auntie Liz?
But one balloon isn't enough, Mom!
'She doesn't need any more toys,' I told my parents...
My cookie! Keep off!
Vrrrrrooom!
Uncle John is very impressed by Penny's ball.
Um... Mom? Is this lady okay?
Hey, she knows some cool songs!
YAY, Mom-Mom!
Penny shows Mom-Mom where her nose is.
Back off, Grandad! My ball!
Outta my way, Dad, or I'll run you over!
I'll run you over, too, Mom! BEEP BEEP!
Penny and Cousin David share a laugh.
Penny learned where her belly-button is!
Penny and Mom-Mom.
Peeking around the corner...
Hey, it's Uncle John!
Grandmom has all these neat magnets just for me!
Sorry, Sharon... Looks like Meghan really is a wee bit taller...
My dad trying to sing Penny to sleep. If things are quiet, it sometimes even works.
Meghan and Grandmom
...and David.
Go on, take a look at my dad and his brother and say, 'Wow, they do look alike!'
BUH-BOH! (See movie link at bottom of page.)
Is that one for me? How about that one?
Penny's all ready for Christmas!
Sharon wearing her 'floozy' scarf. (That's what she called it. I don't make these things up.)
YAY for Grandmom!
It's not much of a tree, but it's mostly baby-proof...
Almost like she knew what was going on, Penny beelined for her new presents.
Penny and Daddy have a cookie for Christmas breakfast.
...Maybe two cookies.
Penny didn't care much for unwrapping presents, but she sure did enjoy playing with ribbons!
Matt checks the scent of the gift, hoping for a clue.
Penny enjoys some of her presents.
C'mon, Mom! You open it, and I'll play with it! What do I care about the paper for?
Dad can have his dumb cookies. I've got the good stuff for breakfast now!
Whaddya mean, we're not opening presents yet?
Dad, Sharon, and Grandmom.
Craig and David. Craig's the one with the blink.
Wow, he looks almost respectable.
John distracts Penny so Grandmom and Bill can get a picture.
Meghan, her boyfriend Eric, Craig, and David - my cousins. Yep, Craig's blinking again.
Boy, do Chet and Bill look alike!
By family tradition, we take turns opening presents.
Except for little kids. Penny sure does love this new blanket from Sam's mom!
That little nut-thing to the left, in warm water, opens up to that beautiful leafy-flowery thing in the glass. And the tea it makes is pretty tasty, to boot!
My mom had out all her least-breakable decorations this year. I wonder why?
Look up? Why?
Hey, look! Craig does have eyeballs!
Come to think of it, Bill and David look a lot alike, too. All this family resemblance, and Penny's got none of it.
No, Mom, I don't wanna go home! Grandmom's letting me play with the mop!
I made two pies for Christmas - peppermint and coconut custard. I'll let you figure out which is which.
Grandad's slippery floors are great for spinning!
Grandad's favorite dessert! Baby tummy!
Penny helps decorate (shortly after 'helping' to undecorate).
C'mon, Mom, lemme take this out of the box!
There's only about a dozen pieces! We won't lose any!
Penny 'helps' Grandmom wash up.
The pretty Noah's Ark cookies KT made, though a few animals seem to have been eaten.
It's pretty rare for Penny to look at a book on her own. I had to take a picture.
Do you mind, Mom? Trying to read, here!
It snowed again on the 26th. Not quite a white Christmas, but it'll do.
My folks, 20 miles away, got six inches. We barely got one. Weather is weird.
It was just enough snow to be pretty.
Our neighbors and their tacky decorations. (It's even gaudier at night.)
Daycare claims Penny made this, but we suspect she had a significant amount of help.
More presents, Mom?
I'm not sure they're meant to be banged together like that, Penny...
One of my cooler gifts - my own Chinese chop seal. My new Chinese name is Xi Mai, which means Beautiful Brook.