A Visit to the Van Smithstrand Archives

I just got this today from good friend Amelia: Lucy and Asher in Central Park- August, 2009

Look at Chicken take the initiative!

Flower Girl in Training

Chicken has the honor of being a flower girl in Tim & Willow's upcoming wedding. Today she tried on her dress!

San Francisco!

Thanks to Lucy's grandparents Davi and Dapa who stayed home with The Chicken, we took a three-day alone trip to San Francisco- it was filled with things we don't usually experience: like winter sun and good sleep!

Old friends reunion!

Evan (from Lexington!) and Kamila, Smitty, Jimmy, Rach (from GW!), Jess, Jamal (hiding- from Piscataway!) and Jessica.

Rach and J.

Kamila and Smitty

Every visit to SF must include a trip to 120 Pierce, where

Taryn and I lived for two crazy years...

And outside Taryn's old bedroom!

Showing the belly in Golden Gate Park

Another photo of our group... hope to see you guys again soon!

Fun at Grandpa Reever and Mema's House!

Reever and Chicken posing in front of the custom wooden gnome furniture he made- amazing!

The Grandpa/Chicken art studio was constantly in business!

Decorating Grandpa's birthday cake

The Fantastical Gymnastical!

Lucy's Birthday party was everything she wished for: lots of friends, lots of cake, and lots of gymnastics! Here she is showing some of her moves...

Kalina and Chicken

Resting after some rigorous jumping

Some of the gang: Kalina, Nate, Parker, Cash (in awesome flight suit), Kai and Isa

Blowing out the candles (and clapping for herself)

Everyone eating cake and popsicles

Frosting!

And some jumping...

Thanks to everyone who came to the party!!!

Family Snow Adventure!

Since Seattle has no snow, we found some a bit north at a place called Happy Trails, run by the wonderful and spritely Happy Jack. They drive you in a horse-drawn sleigh to a sledding hill, which is outfitted like ye olde pioneer campsite, so all we needed was some food and our hot chocolate mix!

Chicken makes a friend on the sleigh ride

This is one of the only moments that Chicken isn't cackling with laughter- she REALLY likes sledding- a lot more than she likes being in a family photo

And some videos!

Overheard at Vansmithstrand Manor

Lucy: Hi Papa, how you doin? How's your mother?

Papa: Three books, then bed.
Lucy: No, five books.
Papa: How bout four books.
Lucy: How bout THREE books.
Papa: Deal (sucker).
Lucy: Deal (sucker).