In Goa

Some photos from Goa



This is our Australian friend, Nisha, who knows how to use an iPhone:


















Jemma loves Indian bread:


















Vishak, Isabel, Jemma, Linden and Nisha visit a church museum in Old Goa:

Elephant trip

On our first full day in Goa, we took a trip to a spice farm near Ponda

Walking from the road to the spice farm entrance:

Most of the kids (Daniel is missing) on the trip:

Jemma with Annette, after we received our customary red dots:

Elephant ride!

Elephant spray!

India for kids

India!

Just a few random photos from the first part of our trip to India for the sea turtle symposium in Goa. We landed in Mumbai and spent 36 hours there before making our way to Goa via an overnight train from Mumbai.....

Linden in front of taxicabs next to the Prince of Wales Museum in downtown Mumbai:

A lovely lunch in Cafe Samovar nearby the Prince of Wales Museum

While waiting for the train at CST in Mumbai, Jemma and I walked around, looking at different trains

Our first-class sleeper car on the Mumbai to Goa express train:

Karmali train station, where we got off the train on our way to Panjim, Goa:

Bicycle

Linden and Jemma have been riding bicycles with training wheels for a while. A few days ago, a friend dropped off a small bike with no training wheels, for Linden to try. For the first two days, she would ride but only if we held on to the seat or handlebars (preferably both), and only for 30 minutes or so (the limit of our bicycle-pushing stamina). She would go for a few feet on her own, but not much more than that. Saturday morning, she went outside again and tried, and within half an hour or so, she was going by herself. Soon after, she mastered stopping; later, starting by herself. We even went on a short bike ride around the neighborhood this morning....

Snow in Beaufort

Beaufort had a rare, once-every-ten-years, winter snowstorm a few weeks back. The snow was here for only a few days but the girls made the most of it.

Portraits

Here are some random portrait shots from the last month or so...

Jemma's first visit to the dentist

Jemma went to Dr. Swain's for her first dental checkup and teeth cleaning. She was great, even when Mr. Thirsty (suction) went into her mouth:



Her big sister, Linden, was rock-solid moral support throughout:


Of course, it helps to have Nick Jr. playing on the TV in the same room - so guess who else ended up in the chair?

Seven photos

For Christmas, we gave them each a used pink digital camera to satisfy their need to always point and shoot whenever someone else's camera is pulled out. Here are seven photos from their current portfolio.

Cold January

It's been in North Carolina so far this January, but we all wanted to get out last weekend. We went to Hoop Hole Creek nature preserve, on Bogue Banks. The girls were intrigued by the boardwalk, footpaths, massive live oak trees and remnant dunes:




Of course, it wouldn't be a proper outing without some tears (they soon vanished when we discovered the oyster shell midden):

Thanksgiving Run

A little out of order.....

For US Thanksgiving, we went to Rhode Island. On Thanksgiving morning, we joined the various aunts, uncles, cousins and dog for the 8k Newport Pie Run. The girls went in a stroller, and I gave them the camera to record what they saw:




At the end, the girls were cold and ready to sleep in the car:

Christmas dinner at Mystery Hill

For those of you dying for a look inside, here are a few shots from Christmas that show parts of Mystery Hill.

The great room dining table from the second floor loft.


The floors and wall of french doors in the great room (plus Linden)


The kitchen island, with one cook resting during prep.


Winding down in the den...