Christmas in Bainbridge

Liora Skywalker prepares to defend her family with the Force.


I can't get enough of Liora in a box. Too cute!


Even better - two cuties in a box!


Cars and trucks and things that go... in a puzzle! With realistic sounds. Really.


Wicked witch of the west? Longing for a traditional woman's role? No. Just loves to sweep. Really.


Sack of organic potatoes = $6.00.
Cast iron skillet = $20.00
Grandma cooking her home cooked potato pancakes = priceless

December Photos

Always was a cream cheese girl. Never hung with the tofutti girls.

Both tree and Liora were lit up by the Christmas lights.

Forget gifts, boxes are for playing.

Grandmas are for playing, too.

Channuka 2007

This year, we could not celebrate the festival of lights in our home. Emergency winter repairs to our home to prevent flooding resulted in intense fumes pervading the house, making it uninhabitable. We relied on the generosity of a friend, Kasey, who offered her parent's house to stay at. Between work, trips back and forth to get things and airing out the house, we squeezed in our candle lighting where and when we could. This was the second to last night, when we finally came back home. Through this difficult, stormy and cold time, our festival was the little light we carried with us, no matter where we rested for the night.

Liora's Sense of Snow

A child's first time sensing snow.

I saw it, but I can't imagine what it must be like for Liora. She fell asleep for an afternoon nap before it began to snow - and woke up to a white world. Did she think it had changed for good? That it would always be white? Did she worry that it would always be cold? She understands that rain comes and go - given that snow was falling the same way, maybe it was no big deal to her.

Huh. Most likely, she wasn't worried about anything, and just felt it.

Meanwhile, I was worried about getting the perfect shot of her first time in the snow. Someone has to do the worrying. I eventually put the camera aside and acted silly. Really.


Liora is saying "snow" here. Only she can't quite make an "s" sound, so she purses her lips and says "nnnohh." I can't tell you how adorable that is to hear. Off the charts cute. Let's just say it's not for the feint of heart if cuteness is not your thing.


Tama and Liora share a bite of snow. Liora seems unimpressed. Tama is beside herself.


And here is a shot of our street. That tall tree is directly in front of our house. Apparently, this snow was rare for Seattle.