the triforce.

our brush with fame

2009-06-06T11:06:00.003-04:00

ok so i meant to post this earlier but totally forgot! here's a picture of me, Arwyn and yes, that's Julianne Moore. we went to see her read her new children's book at a local bookstore two weeks ago. i can't remember if i posted this already but Arwyn interrupted the reading when she asked Julianne to help her put the book jacket back on her book as it fell off! it was very cute and as a mother of two, Julianne Moore clearly knew how to handle a three year old in that situation. in all it was a lot of fun despite the wait for the book autograph and picture!

pals

2009-06-04T18:04:00.001-04:00

pals
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

Arwyn and her favorite chicken, Ming-Ming

Arwyn + the Liberty Bell

2009-05-31T11:58:00.002-04:00

cp1_0531091153.jpg
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

Arwyn is not impressed

2009-05-30T15:10:00.001-04:00

Arwyn is not impressed
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

with the Rocky Balboa statue.

hotel pool = great success

2009-05-30T09:16:00.001-04:00

hotel pool = great success
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

always a fan of the water, Arwyn is enjoying a morning swim at the hotel.

it's all about the ensemble

2009-05-29T13:31:00.001-04:00

it's all about the ensemble
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

i.e. the headband, gymnastics medal, and the snow globe :) we're on our way to Philly for the weekend!

must have been a rough day

2009-05-21T18:36:00.001-04:00

must have been a rough day
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

at preschool!

happy mother's day

2009-05-10T14:47:00.001-04:00

happy mother's day
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

out for lunch and then we're heading over to lorri's parents' house. thanks to all the moms for everything you do!

all aboard!

2009-05-03T14:58:00.001-04:00

all aboard!
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

this weekend the Essex Steam Train is free for area residents. much like last year, we're happy to take advantage of that offer!

the chicken whisperer

2009-05-02T11:29:00.001-04:00

the chicken whisperer
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

with one of the Golden Laced Wyandottes

the latest batch

2009-05-02T11:18:00.001-04:00

the latest batch
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

they sure are getting big! we've had these 4 for about 2 months and they recently moved outside with the 3 adult hens. these are from 2 different breeds for a total of 4 breeds in our little flock. cute, eh?

at a seriously awesome playground

2009-04-25T16:29:00.001-04:00

at a seriously awesome playground
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

in West Hartford. can't believe how huge this place is.

basket / art studio

2009-04-19T13:56:00.001-04:00

basket / art studio
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

happy Easter!

2009-04-12T09:07:00.002-04:00

cp1_0412090842.jpg
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

an eggcellent job

2009-04-11T09:34:00.002-04:00

an eggcellet job
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

here is this year's Easter eggtravaganza (minus one casualty that has since been consumed. Arwyn was really into it this year as evidenced by the fact that she colored all but 4 of the dozen :)

self portrait

2009-04-10T18:51:00.001-04:00

self portrait
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

here's a picture arwyn drew of herself. it's part of a triptych of sorts that she made for lorri's dad's birthday card. you gotta love the hair!

still a climber...

2009-03-23T05:58:00.001-04:00

still a climber...
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

this is where you find her if you turn your heads for 30 seconds! picture is from a nice walk in the woods that we took yesterday.

sorry about the gap in posts. we've been traveling for work and (gasp) vacation out west. pics to come!

a snack among the remains of ungulates

2009-02-22T15:19:00.001-05:00

a snack among the remains of ungulates
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

a rainy Sunday afternoon visit to the Peabody Museum. later on i'll post some pics from yesterday's 3rd birthday mini-extravaganza.

it's winter carnival!

2009-02-15T13:58:00.001-05:00

it's winter carnival!
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

more tractors from the town tractor parade. it goes right by our street which is handy.

visiting grandpa on the Cape

2009-01-24T15:49:00.001-05:00

visiting grandpa on the Cape
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

visiting grandpa on the Cape

submarine commander

2009-01-04T12:16:00.003-05:00

submarine commander
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

this morning we visited the Submarine Force Museum, home of the USS Nautilus (SSN-571). this is a great FREE museum in Groton, CT and one we've visited before. as you may know, this Nautilus (there have been others) was the first nuclear submarine and it has been stationed here for more than 20 years since its decommissioning. Arwyn really seemed to enjoy the tour of the submarine but of course playing with the navigation equipment, weapons systems, and periscopes in the museum itself were equally a big hit.

arwyn's first trip to the dentist

2008-12-20T21:25:00.002-05:00

i'm a little late posting this but arwyn took her first trip to the dentist a few weeks ago. she did awesome! usually the first trip is just an introduction to all the instruments, etc. but they ended up doing a full cleaning since arwyn was so into it. she was very excited to wear the sunglasses!

the tree: it's becoming an annual tradition

2008-12-14T21:27:00.002-05:00

ok, so the picture is a little blurry but it's still a good family shot (courtesy of another tourist who offered to take it). as you've gleaned from my earlier posts today we visited NYC and of course that trip included a stop to Rockefeller Center to see THE (so i'm an ethnocentric New Yorker) Christmas tree there. it wasn't nearly as cold as last year which was great. it was however completely chaotic and jam packed full of holiday revelers, as is expected two weeks before Christmas.

it should be mentioned once again that Arwyn is an amazing traveler. she was really well behaved all day despite having no nap (it's not required these days but it's helpful). we are lucky.

ipods are amazing.

2008-12-14T19:41:00.001-05:00

ipods are amazing.
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

i mean, we've had them for years so we're well aware of their utility as adjunct car stereo devices, for use while working out, etc. but when you combine TiVo + PC + ipod with video you can readily provide a little mobile entertainment for your child who has been going strong all day. it's a long train ride from NYC to New Haven!

on our way to NYC via train

2008-12-14T10:01:00.001-05:00

on our way to NYC via train
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

we're on Metro North with Grandpa and Patty en route to a nice day in the city. we plan to visit the always popular Rose Center at the American Museum of Natural History as well as Rockefeller Center. Arwyn loved the tree and the lights last year and i'm sure this time will be no different.

no more binky? meet Jingle Bells

2008-11-23T07:46:00.003-05:00

who of course is Arwyn's new toy horse. three days ago the Binky Fairy came and picked up all of Arwyn's remaining pacifiers - to give them to needy babies everywhere, naturally! when she woke in the morning Arwyn found the horse along with her favorite Germany candy, a Kinder Egg, in the place where the bag of pacifiers was the night before. needless to say Jingle Bells has become her new favorite toy.

she immediately took to dragging the horse around the house by the reins, which is cute, but the sound of screeching plastic is highly non-desirable. Lorri had the bright idea of sticking some felt slides to the feet which made it easier for Arwyn to pull around and also eliminated the noise. great success! anyhow, for your viewing pleasure, a cute little clip of Arwyn pulling the horse around.

note: Jingle Bells' hair was much prettier with the braids that Lorri had originally put in. the frizzy look is now in given all of that dragging around, static electricity goodness :)

switzerland ahoy!

2008-11-22T15:28:00.005-05:00

here are some pics from our trip to switzerland (sorry it took so long!). my mom, arwyn and i had a great time and enjoyed lots of cheese and chocolate. arwyn enjoyed lots of kinder eggs (these chocolate eggs they sell in europe that have a toy inside). she was a really good girl for the trip - we only had a couple of toddler tantrums :)

visiting the aquarium

2008-11-22T13:17:00.001-05:00

visiting the aquarium
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

the aquarium comes in handy on blustery days like today! we really get a lot out of our membership. here, Arwyn is checking out the beluga whales.

back home and on familiar turf

2008-11-09T12:14:00.001-05:00

back home and on familiar turf
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

as many of you know, Lorri, her mom, and Arwyn just returned from 2 weeks of gallavanting in La Suisse. (nice, eh?) it sounds like they had a great time and there are hundreds of pictures of their many adventures. i'm sure someone will post them soon (hint, hint) :) it's great to have them home. Arwyn and i are enjoying a nice visit to the playground right now.

a little serenade from the wee one

2008-10-18T20:12:00.003-04:00

i was cleaning up a little in the living room tonight when i realized a certain someone was singing in the front room. she's still going to Music Together and seems to be getting more out of it that ever. anyhow, i thought this was cute and i've been trying to take more video lately like i used to. sorry it's a little dark but hopefully you enjoy the clip!

hanging out at the park

2008-10-18T17:37:00.001-04:00

hanging out at the park
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

Arwyn washing her car with Poppy

2008-10-11T13:27:00.002-04:00

FWD:Arwyn.washing.her.car.with.poppy
Originally uploaded by thesalmonofdoubt.

Arwyn washing her "car" with poppy. she's having a little sleepover with Nora at Gigi and Poppy's to give Mommy and Daddy a much needed break! what are we doing? so far we've had a nice dinner out, had a relaxing morning, and kegged some beer. still working on what to do next...

required camping gear

2008-10-05T12:21:00.001-04:00

required camping gear
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

one of Lorri's best ideas was to bring the snowsuit for Arwyn. she slept really well despite the cold thanks to this. isn't this a great "first thing in the morning shot"?

camping = happy kids

2008-10-05T10:31:00.002-04:00

camping = happy kids
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

here's a pic from last night. we spent the weekend camping with friends in NH. yes, it was cold, but we all had a great time. yes, the kids are eating apples but NO, that is not their beer. hey...one bottle is missing! i know who i'd blame of that group.

the spoils of the fair

2008-09-28T18:32:00.001-04:00

the spoils of the fair
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

after picking our pumpkins we headed over to an area fair. Arwyn homed in on this inflatable bat from the get go so of course we ended up buying it. why couldn't they have Mets bats??? oh well, at least she didn't ask for the Sox. that wouldn't have ended well.

hugging a pumpkin

2008-09-28T16:07:00.001-04:00

hugging a pumpkin
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

not sure why but it's what she said she was doing...

she still loves the ladybug coat

2008-09-27T16:58:00.001-04:00

she still loves the ladybug coat
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

taking a walk into town between bouts of rain. i think she'll tire of wearing those boots at some point on the journey...

making friends at the fair

2008-09-20T12:47:00.001-04:00

making friends at the fair
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

of course :)

at the Chester Eco Arts fair

2008-09-20T12:42:00.001-04:00

at the Chester Eco Arts fair
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

complete with alpacas and the requisite high school Hendrix-esque cover band :) it's a beautiful day after a cold night!

everyone needs a fire pit

2008-09-14T12:32:00.001-04:00

everyone needs a fire pit
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

i forgot to send this pic 2 weekends ago. this is Lorri (and Arwyn of course)'s latest project. it has been field tested once and performed admirably in the s'mores arena.

hot cider + warm donuts = perfect

2008-09-07T11:18:00.001-04:00

hot cider + warm donuts = perfect
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

'nuff said. anyone who has been to the cooperstown winter carnival will surely agree.

everyone loves Tractorland

2008-09-07T11:16:00.001-04:00

everyone loves Tractorland
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

well, at least Arwyn does. if i didn't mention it earlier, we're back home for Nana's birthday. the weather having picked up after a rainy saturday, a trip to Fly Creek was in order!

still the best

2008-09-07T11:12:00.001-04:00

still the best
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

there are many apple ciders. none compare to what you get here. period. yeah, they have hard cider too. it's great as well.

nana's new roof looks good!

2008-09-06T11:09:00.001-04:00

nana's new roof looks good!
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

we're in NY visiting with nana. weather could be better but it's great to see everyone!

the end of an era

2008-08-31T12:10:00.006-04:00

is how i described it in another forum. my first big non-car purchase (outside of my portion of my college education) was this television. it is huge and super heavy, but awesome. back before no one was talking much about HD - certainly not 1080p, this bear was top of the line. of course sony had to one up me with a 40" within a year of my purchase, but that sucker would never have worked out where i've lived. but i digress. a few weeks ago we made the plunge into the present generation of HDTVs and purchased a Samsung LCD, which we love. however, having no "free space" available for the big guy, he had to go. knowing that Dad and Patty were in the market for a new TV and being in possession of a room that could manage this 238 lb. behemoth, it was great timing. they borrowed a truck and came up to visit this weekend. thankfully our friend Paul (who has helped move this TV at least four of the six times it has been relocated) was available and willing to come over today to help get it in the truck. that operation was a great success so right now it's en route to its new home. safe travels, old friend. over the years you provided much entertainment for movie and video game nights we hosted in CT and ME. i apologize in advance that you'll have to endure Red Sox and Patriots games in your new home. you always were a New Yorker at heart :)

a nice visit

2008-08-31T12:06:00.001-04:00

a nice visit
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

from Grandpa and Patty was on the agenda for the weekend. while the weather on saturday didn't cooperate until afternoon, we had a nice time. here is an impromptu hug that i was lucky enough to capture.

things to do on rainy days

2008-08-30T13:12:00.001-04:00

things to do on rainy days
Originally uploaded by thesalmonofdoubt.

having some fun an an expensive Ikea chair at a local indoor playground kinda place. gotta get a good pic with her and Grandpa & Patty!

the child and...yeah my boat

2008-08-24T16:12:00.001-04:00

the child and...yeah my boat
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

it's a sweet ride, no?

visiting the old digs

2008-08-24T16:11:00.001-04:00

visiting the old digs
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

taking in the summit path on Cadillac Mountain. it's not too busy today though a breeze would be welome given the full sun.

soup is good food

2008-08-24T16:08:00.001-04:00

soup is good food
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

a little cabbage and kale soup at our favorite/only vegetarian restaurant in Bar Harbor, Eden.

road trips

2008-08-20T14:01:00.001-04:00

road trips
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

resting up is a good idea and helps pass the time, right? we're off to the wilds of Maine for some work-related reasons but more importantly to visit our good friends. more reports on the trip are forthcoming!

future guitar hero

2008-08-17T19:46:00.001-04:00

future guitar hero
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

at least if i get any say in it. i'm so proud of her... :)

lousy pictures, phenomenal show

2008-08-14T07:12:00.001-04:00

P8132918sm
Originally uploaded by sdowen

ok, this is not my picture (thank you flickr) as my cellphone + darkness + distance = poor shots. i have better shots on my "real" camera but i'm far too lazy to grab those right now. wrapping up our summer of great live music was the Radiohead show at the Comcast Center / formerly Tweeter Center / Great Woods. needless to say the guys put on a phenomenal show. not enough OK Computer for my taste but i suppose 3 songs is entirely fair :)

the mushroom hunter with her quarry

2008-08-10T11:20:00.001-04:00

the mushroom hunter with her quarry
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

the hunt for the perfect fungus continues! fortunately there is no shortage of ideal environments around our property.

checking out her great grandmother's yard

2008-08-09T12:28:00.001-04:00

checking out her great grandmother's yard
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

a new trick from my grandmother: "put your hands behind your back when you smell the flowers". this (somewhat) reduces undesired bloom/bud picking

lounging on the ferry

2008-08-09T10:02:00.001-04:00

lounging on the ferry
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

sometimes you just want to relax, right?

Long Island-bound!

2008-08-09T09:41:00.001-04:00

Long Island-bound!
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

headed over to LI on the ferry to visit Grandma Anna and Poppy Gio. Happy Birthday, Poppy!

day one: success.

2008-08-06T19:05:00.001-04:00

day one: success.
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

today was Arwyn's first at her new daycare. as many of you know, Lorri started working part time at the same place as me a few months ago. Arwyn has been watched by a friend (with a 2 yr old son) until now, so this was a big change. of course our child is a social butterfly so she had a lot of fun. she didn't nap though, so she passed out in the car on the way home. is it unreasonably optimistic to hope she won't come down with any of those freaky daycare diseases? :)

in awe of her first campfire

2008-08-03T19:26:00.001-04:00

in awe of her first campfire
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

see? daddy knows a few useful tricks!

dinner at the camp

2008-08-03T18:08:00.001-04:00

dinner at the camp
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

here we are having a little dinner (Subway to the rescue!) at the campground where we are staying tonight. we're only 20 min from home, a handy distance should things fall apart later on - which i'm sure they won't. after some s'mores i am sure she'll be ready to pass out in our ridiculously large tent. ah, air mattresses . why didn't we have those in Boy Scouts???

what are you saying about my child?

2008-07-26T12:11:00.001-04:00

what are you saying about my child?
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

seriously, she picked this to ride. hanging out with TEP alumni mit kinder. rides = great success!

phase II: swimming!

2008-07-19T11:33:00.001-04:00

phase II: swimming!
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

she really, really loves swimming and she's not at all afraid of deep water. as long as she's got her (ugh) Dora vest she's ready for action!

canoes and Capes

2008-07-19T10:32:00.001-04:00

canoes and Capes
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

well, just one canoe and one Cape - Cod, to be exact. we are having a nice visit with Grandpa and Patty this weekend. here's a picture of Grandpa, Lorri, and Arwyn canoeing on the pond. fun!

happy

2008-07-17T19:28:00.001-04:00

at least that's what she said after a bite of her chocolate chip ice cream, unsurprisingly.

100 posts!

2008-07-08T06:36:00.002-04:00

somehow i stuck with it this time. i've started blogs before (well before someone coined the unfortunate term with which we're now stuck) but have always given up as i'm sure most do. i suppose having a focal point like the wee one certainly helps you keep things going. her love of the camera + penchant for being cute doesn't hurt for sure either. our families and friends may not all live in the same neighborhood as us but we will continue to try and make it seem as if we do by sharing these snapshots & stories from our days with you.

anyhow, here's to another 100 posts! don't hesitate to leave us feedback or suggest/complain if we're not covering what you want to see!

amazing seats

2008-07-06T19:41:00.004-04:00

amazing seats
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

view of the stage from our seat at Ives Park where we'll see moe. in a few. thanks to Julie and Ryan for dinner, putting the wee one to bed and letting us crash!

yes, it was a great show. two good sets with a short encore (after someone ignored the admonitions about swimming in the moat that separated the stage from the masses) that included lots of great tunes. i should mention the concessions at this place are impressive. i mean, the draft beer prices are on the "low" side of typical for venues at $7, but you can get a whole bottle of wine for $18. talk about a deal :)

the mushroom hunter with her trophy

2008-07-05T19:07:00.007-04:00

the mushroom hunter with her trophy
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

taking five on the snack rock

2008-07-05T18:34:00.001-04:00

taking five on the snack rock
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

out for a nice evening hike with the ladies

2008-07-05T18:20:00.001-04:00

out for a nice evening hike with the ladies
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

the car makes shopping bearable

2008-07-04T17:06:00.001-04:00

the car makes shopping bearable
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

just a shot from yesterday's shopping trip. between the car and a box of animal crackers we handled things nicely.

she spots the blazes

2008-06-29T18:18:00.001-04:00

she spots the blazes
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

a nice walk in the woods

2008-06-29T18:08:00.001-04:00

a nice walk in the woods
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

looks like rain. maybe we will luck out?

a birthday in Berlin

2008-06-22T16:46:00.006-04:00

Guten Nacht! well, it's night for us, anyhow. if you didn't know, today is my (ugh) 35th birthday and i enjoyed celebrating it in Berlin with Lorri. we decided to rent bikes this morning even though we knew it was going to be very hot (which it certainly was). i'm glad we did as we were able to see so much of this very large city quite easily. of course there is much to see in Berlin given the 750+ year history of this city. as you would expect many of the tourist points of interest concern the years leading up to and including WWII. while such things are very far from light hearted typical vacation fare, one would certainly be remiss to avoid taking them in while in this area. one such site we visited is the recently opened Stiftung Denkmal für die ermordeten Juden Europa (The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe). While the field of concrete slabs does plenty to set you to thinking about the horrors of what the memorial represents, the underground museum exhibits are much more thought provoking. I can't readily go into more detail here but it was certainly a very moving experience.

anyone who knows me well is well aware that i like to document vacations through lots of pictures, and that generally includes shots of us taken at arm's length in front of "important things". there's lots in that category to choose from in Berlin but here's one example - the Brandenberg Gate, one of the most well known symbols of the city. ok, the gate is a little blurry but otherwise it isn't bad. in any case it should look ok at the shrunken picture size that i use to lessen the pain for those of you that are still on dialup!

of course we saw much during our day but i think i'll quit here for now. Auf Wiedersehen for now and we'll "talk" to you again soon!

PS - should you ever need one, Lorri does a nice job as a bike tour guide. i don't think you'll mistake her for Magellan but otherwise i wholeheartedly recommend her for the job. :)

on to Dresden...oh wait, Berlin!

2008-06-21T17:49:00.003-04:00

yep, it's been a busy few days since the last update. this one will be reasonably brief just like the last. we're exhausted and in need of something more than the 4 to 6 hrs sleep we've been getting of late. :)

anyhow, on with the story...yesterday afternoon I finished up my work at the Leipzig MPI and we took a train to Dresden. I have tons of great pictures from the walking tour that our friends Jarod and Anna narrated for us but you won't see any of those here. nor will you see any from the MPI Dresden summer part nor the pub crawl that ensued that night - but we have them, don't worry. however, i will mention that today we took a train ride to the town of Königstein, like Dresden and Leipzig, also in Saxony. there we took a short hike up to the Königstein Fortress. suffice it to say it was a great side trip. thanks again to Jarod and Anna for a great time and for being such gracious hosts!

this evening we took another train ride (it's how you roll in Europe) to the city of Berlin. now it's time to crash. our hotel is a few hundred feet from Checkpoint Charlie so as you can imagine, there's lots of interesting historical sites nearby. we look forward to the next two days of exploration before we head home on tuesday!

a quick post after a long day

2008-06-18T17:37:00.002-04:00

we'll surely write more later but how's this for now? we are both pretty tired and it's late.

this is a picture that Lorri took of the famous Thomaskirche (St. Thomas' Church) in Leipzig. today she was able to take in some of the Bachfest going on right now in town. this church is most famous for the fact that J.S. Bach was once the cantor here and was later interred at this site (after the original church where he was buried was destroyed).

after a long night/day, we're here

2008-06-17T16:56:00.003-04:00

hey all, just a quick update on our travels. we had a 90 minute delay yesterday evening at JFK (thunderstorms in the area) but otherwise our flight went off without a hitch. we arrived at Berlin-Tegel airport at around 11 AM (Germany) and took a local bus to the central train station in Berlin.

after a very pleasant ride on the high speed train we arrived in Leipzig, where I'll be working for a few days with my colleague from 454. after a brief meeting with our collaborators we all headed over to a local Biergarten to have a snack and a few beers. after that we watched half of the Italy-France soccer/football match in an outdoor "pub" of sorts and then decided to call it a night.

of course we have many more pictures and details to provide later but for now it's time to call it a night. we'll keep you posted!

we made it to the airport

2008-06-16T17:36:00.001-04:00

we made it to the airport
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

therefore it is time for a pint, right? one hour until boarding.

off to Deutschland!

2008-06-16T14:24:00.001-04:00

off to Deutschland!
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

Lorri and I are on the train on our way to the airport. I have some work in Germany and then we'll have a few extra days to relax. Arwyn is on vacation too - in CT with her very generous grandparents (thanks guys!). we will try to send updates as we can. see you all soon! Auf Wiedersehn!

sandy and eric's big day

2008-06-07T06:51:00.001-04:00

sandy and eric's big day
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

well, the morning of the big day, anyhow :) this is the view from the lobby of the Holiday Inn. it's pretty quiet here at 630 AM which is fine with me. time to catch up on email and read the paper.

a little uncertain

2008-05-25T12:29:00.001-04:00

a little uncertain
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

but i think she likes it. a bumpy ride initially through a graveyard of old train cars but now it's nicer. oops. spoke too soon as the pantograph came off. nevermind, we're off and running again!

all aboard!

2008-05-25T12:19:00.001-04:00

all aboard!
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

visiting the CT trolley museum. maybe this will help address someone's obsession with trains? i guess we'll see...

a big step! bed -> crib

2008-05-18T19:03:00.001-04:00

a big step! bed -> crib
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

sure it makes me nervous but it's time. Arwyn has done well napping in a bed at her grandparents' house so we know she can do it. therefore we figured it was time to convert the crib to big girl bed mode. wish us luck! mommy and daddy hope to get some sleep tonight. stay tuned...

National Academy of Science Museum

2008-05-11T14:10:00.001-04:00

National Academy of Science Museum
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

fun stuff!

making her way down

2008-05-11T11:27:00.001-04:00

making her way down
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

the steps of the Memorial.

view from the Lincoln Memorial.

2008-05-11T11:25:00.001-04:00

view from the Lincoln Memorial.
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

still overcast but not too busy which is nice.

at the WWII memorial

2008-05-11T10:39:00.001-04:00

at the WWII memorial
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

looks like rain this afternoon so we're out and about this morning.

a sea anemone obsession

2008-05-10T16:42:00.001-04:00

a sea anemone obsession
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

it started at the aquarium and shows no sign of slowing. she even calls them on the phone. really!

a little better weather

2008-05-10T14:24:00.001-04:00

a little better weather
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

so conditions were right for a visit to the National Zoo. here you see - thankfully not hear - the flamingos. they're pretty loud.

a pretzel before

2008-05-10T10:42:00.001-04:00

a pretzel before
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

take two at the air and space museum! it is clearly her favorite so daddy is happy.

out of the rain for now

2008-05-09T13:48:00.001-04:00

out of the rain for now
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

respite from the insanity of the crowded museums is found at the US Botanic Gardens.

okapi and bongo lessons

2008-05-09T11:10:00.001-04:00

okapi and bongo lessons
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

museum of natural history is super busy and crazy

fountains are fun.

2008-05-08T16:21:00.001-04:00

fountains are fun.
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

sculpture garden at the National Gallery

mmm...rockets

2008-05-08T12:02:00.001-04:00

mmm...rockets
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

air and space museum is always a big hit

checking out the sights

2008-05-07T19:20:00.001-04:00

checking out the sights
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

Arwyn at the washington monument. awesome weather!

road trips are tiring

2008-05-07T16:04:00.001-04:00

road trips are tiring
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

we're almost in Washington DC where we're headed on vacation. more updates soon!

planets are a favorite

2008-04-20T12:37:00.001-04:00

planets are a favorite
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

especially Jupiter

mmm...planetarium. i like.

2008-04-20T11:28:00.003-04:00

0420081127a.jpg
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

stamford, ho!

2008-04-20T08:11:00.002-04:00

0420080809.jpg
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

on our way to catch the train to new york! Nana's in town and we're off to the Rose Center for Earth and Space, one of mom & dad's favorite destinations. if you've not been there it's the rebuilt/new home of the former Hayden Planetarium which adjoins the American Museum of Natural History, one of my favorite (if dated, yes) museums. yes, we'll be visiting the minerals & gems room - always a big hit.

fun at the playground

2008-04-19T11:58:00.001-04:00

fun at the playground
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase

the chicken whisperer

2008-04-13T10:57:00.002-04:00

the chicken whisperer
Originally uploaded by topoisomerase