Grandma and Mara

Old stomping grounds in Bronxville.

First flight

Pia on a plane to New York.

Airplane fun

The buckle was better than anything dad brought to entertain Mara.

Good night Kansas

So I was thinking ...

Mara's first joke, as told to Kateri, who taught her this one by repeated example.

M: "Knock, knock, Teewee."

K: "Who's there?"

M: "Banana."

K: "Banana who?"

M: "Glad say banana!"

Sleepy Sunday

Yawn

Displaced

Is this Mara's way of protesting the loss of her position as baby of the family? Or is she just, as her dad would say, "sleeping like a Friedrichs"?

Good night

Toes

We have a new...

Mara climbed up onto the porch swing to sit with Pia and me. Then, pointing at each of us in turn, she said, "Dat's Mama. And dat's da puppy."

The eldest and former youngest comment on the new baby.

Isaiah: "Aw, I think I'm beginning to like her. She's making little bubbles inside her mouth."

Mara: "Ah wanna pet it."

Summer style

B

Earlier today

A peek inside the heart of Kateri

"Mama, you're beautiful. And I'm beautiful. And Pia is beautiful, and Mara is beautiful, and Bernadette is beautiful, and Daddy is beautiful and Isaiah is beautiful. Everyone is beautiful!"

"Thank you for this wonderful house and this wonderful baby."

"Can I hold the baby?"

Looking

Good morning

Ready for the pool

Look at Pia's reaction

Jim

Cooking lasagna at Christmas

Isaiah's Trail Life awards

Matt and kids

About 15 minutes after this photo, two kids had to change their pants after they stained them in mulberries that spilled from the fridge.

For Matt

Parenthood

Kateri: my nose hurts
Me (knowing she put something in it last week) what's in there?
Kateri: noncommittal nondenial
Me: did you put something in there?
Kateri: evasive
Me: maybe you scratched it ...
Kateri: I think there's something in there.
Bernadette: maybe you can blow it out when we get home.
Kateri after we walk into the house: here it is. Hands me a slimy round little bit of flower.

This is what Marian deals with every day. Enjoying my time off and intensive time with the kids in the wake of Pia's birth, but this has never happened to me at work.

Fingers, toes

At rest. 36 hours old

This morning

Yes, Mara is hiding in there.

More sisters?

Pia: Let me see if I can sleep more and this is just a dream.

Pia Therese says hi

Pia Therese Friedrichs

3:43 p.m. at home

6 pounds, 11 ounces

19 inches

Planning ahead

Bernadette wanted to know why Daddy was freezing a batch of chili. I explained that I won't be able to cook for a while after the baby is born, and Daddy will be busy taking care of the four of them. At this, Isaiah observed, "Yes, and that will give us more privacy with only one person to deal with, because as we know, Dad can't be everywhere."

Jammin'

Sunday nap

"Bootiful"

That was the word of the day yesterday. Mara put on the veil from Bernadette's dance costume and came running into the kitchen to tell me, "I look bootiful, Mama!" We all looked at a family picture taken before she was born, and when she got a turn to hold it, she beamed and said, "Oh, bootiful!" I gave her a check to deliver to Aunt Marilyn; she examined it and exclaimed, "It's bootiful, Mama!" Well, here she is later that evening, looking bootiful in her nightgown after adding some necessary bedtime accessories, including her church shoes:

Overheard

Girl at playground, to Kateri: "You're Bernadette's sister, aren't you?"

K: "No."

G: "Yes, you are. You're Bernadette's sister."

K: "Don't call me that!"

Q: "What are you doing, Mara?"

A: "I'm getting scissors!"

Dancers

"Monkey swings"

Mara netted herself