Monkey Business

Richie's 1st Birthday Party! He's still coming down off that banana cupcake sugar high!

Caught in the act

Literally while I was publishing the last post about what Richie did yesterday, this is what Richie was up to today.

Yes, he is now STANDING in the crib whilst throwing his pacifier out. Gee, I wonder what's next. (I know, don't say it...)

uh oh

Somebody forgot to raise the crib rail. And somebody else isn't letting his sleeping bag stop him from climbing all over after his nap.

Belated 4th of July Festivities

Obviously the 4th of July isn't a major holiday here, but we still had plenty of celebrating as Richie attended his first, 1st birthday party for his friend Chiara during the day. That night after dinner (remember it gets dark early here since it's winter) we bundled him up and took him outside to set off some sparklers and small fireworks that I bought months ago during the one time of the year that it is legal to buy them in NZ (Nov 5th for Guy Fawkes celebrations).

Richie loved them. We saved some of the sparklers for his birthday in a couple weeks.

But the reason I'm posting this now is that we finally received our first American flag from Paul's parents yesterday. They sent it long before the 4th of July for Richie to have, but the envelope appears to have been damaged en route and hence delayed. It arrived in a plastic bag with a note from the US Postal Service apologizing for the damage. Luckily the flag was unscathed and when I presented it to Richie today, he went nuts waving it around. Who know he was such a patriot?