Christmas

Zia has had a great Christmas!  She was really into Santa Claus, Christmas lights, trees and carols, and all of the festivities of the season.  We fed Santa's reindeer (apples), saw the teddy bear room and gingerbread houses downtown, and rode the carousel.  For Christmas, she was spoiled by all of her grandparents, friends and other relatives.  It's good to be Zia!!

Zia knows three Christmas carols:  Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, and Up on the Housetop.  Getting her to perform for the video camera, though, was tough.  Below is our best effort, as well as a few other photos.


IMG 3406 from Anne Ruybalid on Vimeo.

IMG 3529 from Anne Ruybalid on Vimeo.

IMG 3533 from Anne Ruybalid on Vimeo.

IMG 3542 from Anne Ruybalid on Vimeo.

A few family photos we had taken this year

Zia has been doing dictations with her preschool class.  This is her first one, about Fall.

The best Santa photo we got...

Santa's Sleigh!

With Mom

Caspar Babypants rockin' out at Easy Street Records

Doesn't it actually sort of look like a person?

Singing and Reading

We've had a busy couple of months!  Here are a few videos, including Zia's advice about what to do when you "feel so mad that you want to roar!"  Enjoy!



IMG 3350 from Anne Ruybalid on Vimeo.

IMG 3381 from Anne Ruybalid on Vimeo.

IMG 3383 from Anne Ruybalid on Vimeo.

 

Zia's friend Zane's mom Erin made this adorable kitty costume for Halloween...here she is trying it on.  I'm sure we will post more on Halloween proper!

Her favorite hoodie.

Someone is not sad about the rain; she loves splashing in puddles!  Here she is at Aunt Margaret's  Golf Club finding great puddles to splash in.

Zia's friends Stacey and Madeleine brought her to her first 3-D movie - watching the polar bears at the IMAX Theater!

Zia celebrated her birthday a second time with her toddler friends; here she is with Edan and Clara enjoying Mr Darby, the musical entertainment!

Mesmerized...

And cupcakes!

Yum...

Zia and Daddy at the party

End of Summer

Zia has had a great few months.  Here she is signing her name to some thank-you cards:




And here she is reading books at the local bookstore:

Zia left her polka-dot balloon on his bed; Poor Finny is making the most of the situation.

Zia is developing her own sense of style

Posing outside of the pet store, where we visit the kitties several times a week.

Zia likes to try all of the fruits and vegetables from her garden.  Here she is trying an onion.

Zia loves clams!

Having a swim in Lake Washington

Practicing her slack line routine with the hippies in Meridian Park.

Climbing trees

And picking some blueberries with her friends.

Summer Fun and Birthday Party #1

Zia has had a great summer so far.  Her Grandma Ruybalid ("Gamma") visited her and she had her first of two birthday parties (a second, shared birthday party, with her friends, is coming in September).  She spends almost all of her time outside.  She is taking gymnastics and has learned to do somersaults, tiptoe and walk on the balance beam.  Here are some highlights:

Great time with "Gamma" Ruybalid, who visited in late July and
attended her family birthday party.

Zia went down the big bouncy house slide three times at West Seattle Summerfest!

Gotta love birthday presents, thanks, Great Auntie Margaret!

Sharing with Gamma