The Adventures of
David
Elizabeth
and Leif

This week, our neighbors from the International Baptist Church a block away knocked on our door. I had a nice discussion with them. When they were satisfied with my spiritual state and the fact that I had a church home, Leif decided to crawl out of the door to our apartment, carrying his favorite toy … a can of beer.

Our baptist neighbors looked at each other with some concern and took their leave. Maybe they’ll pray for us. We can use it!

I’m sure all 3 readers of this blog think that Leif’s beer-carrying habit came from his father. I admit that I once let him take a sip of beer, and (unlike a former president) he did inhale, causing him to choke with watery eyes. Sadly, I don’t think he likes beer. He does like beer containers, though.

I scoured our photographic archives in search of the origin of Leif’s obsession with beer cans and bottles. What I found was shocking:

Yes, on the day of Leif’s baptism, his Grandpop and Uncle Markie were welcoming him into the church with one of God’s gifts to humanity — Beer.

Last night’s dinner scene — ravioli.

Yes, that’s all the way back to his ear. How’d it get there, you ask?

For some reason, Mommy decided it was bath time after dinner.

Leif liked that idea, although the flash from the camera started to annoy him…

So we’ve been incredibly lazy about blogging lately. Maybe it’s because of Leif (he’s walking), or RIBS (Elizabeth’s other baby!). A lot has happened in the 3 months since the last post. Instead of trying to catch up majorly all at once, I’m going to let Angie tell you about our awesome Christmas in Mexico. At least for now.

I’m going to tell you about a fun trip to visit Pop and Kevin in Townsend, TN in October. Yes, that’s a really long time ago, but it was a blogworthy trip, so here goes!

Pop and Kevin invited us to crash Kevin’s family reunion, so we hopped on a great, comfortable JetBlue flight from NYC to Nashville and drove about 4 hours to Townsend TN. Leif was fine for the flight, but didn’t really approve of the long car ride after that. We got in really late … the next morning, we woke to a beautiful scene …

and Pop and Kevin’s smiling faces!

After a brief period of adjustment to his new surroundings …

… Leif got a chance to warm up to Grandpop.

We spent a lot of time on the porch looking at Mount LaConte in the distance.

While there, Leif made a new friend — Dalton.

“What the heck? We’re surrounded by grownups! Do you have to go to these things all the time?”

“Hey, watch this. I just discovered the glass coffee table over there … ”

Now the grownups are looking!

What trip would be complete without a drive in Pop’s new high-tech car up to low-tech Cade’s Cove?

There was a dramatic sky up over the Smokeys.

Once back at the cabin, we discovered that Leif might be called to be a conductor:

I’ll leave you with a picture of Pop in one of his favorite pastimes — involving amazing displays of cunning and dexterity. And a few smeared flies.

Recently, we tried to take Leif’s passport photo at home…

“Hmmmm, I just woke up from a nap and Mommy and Daddy have funny looks on their faces. They keep talking to me in that weird tone of voice that means something uncomfortable is coming up…

Ok, this is pretty good. Mommy is fun to look at and I don’t think I’ve spit up on this part of the couch yet…

But I kinda want to get down.

No? Hm.

Ha ha, Daddy has that funny black nose sticking out of his face!!!

Ok, um, so I REALLY want to get down from here…

A new spot for the funny black nose man and that weird tone of voice…hmm.

I’m gonna GET IT!!!!!!!!!!!!

Umph, they keep putting me here!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! Oh yeah, that’s the one…”