Vacation - noun. va-ca-tion, a period of suspension of work, study, or other activity, usually used for rest, recreation, or travel.

So...X-man and I are in Texas this week hanging with Misha and new baby Keaton...we'll post when we get home on Saturday. In the mean time, Caleb has been on the West Side working and staying busy. Check his blog: E2F for his weekly goings-on.

Shibboleth - noun. shib-bo-leth, Peculiarity of pronunciation, behavior, mode of dress, etc., that distinguishes a particular class or set of person.

Personality traits associated with various blood types, according to Japanese superstition:

Type A:

• Best traits: Conservative, reserved, patient, punctual, perfectionist, and good with plants.
• Worst traits: Introverted, obsessive, stubborn, and self-conscious. Anal retentive.
• Famous examples: George H.W. Bush, O.J. Simpson, Britney Spears

Type B:

• Best traits: Creative and passionate. Animal-loving. Optimistic and flexible.
• Worst traits: Forgetful, irresponsible, individualistic.
• Famous examples: Akira Kurosawa, Jack Nicholson, Luciano Pavarotti

Type AB:

• Best traits: Cool, controlled, rational. Sociable and popular. Empathic.
• Worst traits: Aloof, critical, indecisive, and unforgiving.
• Famous examples: John F. Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe, Mick Jagger

Type O:

• Best traits: Ambitious, athletic, robust, and self-confident. Natural leaders.
• Worst traits: Arrogant, vain, and insensitive. Ruthless.
• Famous examples: Ronald Reagan, Queen Elizabeth, John Lennon

Interestingly, Type A blood is the most common in Japan, while Type O is most common in the United States — and among Japanese prime ministers.

Excessive - adj. ex-ces-sive, going beyond the usual, necessary, or proper limit or degree; characterized by excess: excessive charges.

I found this here. It's pretty amazing.
Bangkok's full name is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Ayuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit.

It means "the city of angels, the great city, the eternal jewel city, the impregnable city of God Indra, the grand capital of the world endowed with nine precious gems, the happy city, abounding in an enormous royal palace that resembles the heavenly abode where reigns the reincarnated god, a city given by Indra and built by Vishnukarn."

Perseverance - noun. per-se-ver-ance, Steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., esp. in spite of difficulties, obstacles.

Love - noun. A profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person.

Happy Valentine's Day!!! What a great week it's been, the weather has been sunny and almost 70 every day! Today it's gotten a little chilly again, which doesn't make us happy, we're very ready for Spring to come. In honor of Caleb boycotting Valentine's Day we had an awesome date night on Friday. It was our first time with a babysitter and it made us all a little nervous. Poor little X just didn't like us leaving him so we got a call from the babysitter an hour before we were supposed to be back, which was fine for us, we missed him so much and we were already headed home. We'll have to work on that, us and him. Caleb brought me to a great placed called the Custom Shop (www.customshopfood.com), the food was so good! On Saturday we met some friends for lunch at a place called Lupie's, a Charlotte staple. After lunch we had tickets to Bugs Bunny on Broadway, where the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra played the music from classic Bugs Bunny cartoons, it was SO much fun and X clapped and screamed then fell asleep. Here are some shots of our weekend.
The manager gave us champagne in honor of our first night out, Caleb doesn't drink so I got two glasses. Yay!
Kobe beef carpaccio and raw tuna with blood orange and jalapenos, oh goodness!
Hmmmm what to get...what to get....DUCK...always duck!
We met Rob and Amanda at Lupie's. They love entertaining X, I think we'll ask them to babysit next time! Caleb bought X-man that little hat and it's so adorable.
Happy Valentine's Day my precious boys!
Xander loving the cartoons and music.
Walking to the car after the concert, I can't stand how cute they both are!

Snippit - noun. snip-pit, a small piece snipped off; a small bit, scrap, or fragment: an anthology of snippets.

A couple new Polaroid shots from our busy but lovely weekend. The weather is windy and it seems to be getting darker, I hear rain is coming. As long as it stays warm I don't mind the rain, I actually kind of like it. The rain is good for potato soup....mmmmm. Xander and I are both fighting off a little cold that I can't imagine where we picked up, or who had it first. I hear him coughing during his nap and it breaks my heart, if only I could protect him from everything! But it doesn't dampen his spirits, he's still wonderful and happy.

Socialize - verb. so-cial-ize, to associate or mingle sociably with others: to socialize with one's fellow workers.

Busy last couple weeks, of course, always busy! The Superbowl came and went and we were invited over to some friends house to watch it. We also went to dinner with a group of friends as well, and took some pictures. Xander is getting so busy it's nice to have bigger kids for X to play with and release all that energy.
Steve is a goof!
Jens and Laura hanging out watching football while X makes a mess of Laura's living room.
Samia showing X how big kids play while Max stays hidden inside an upright green tube.
Once Ikea opens we're definitely getting little man a bunch of these!
The kids playing in their fort.
A group of friends eating out at Cabo Fish Taco, the table was worth the wait.
Goodness, he's so cute, here he is in mama's hat.

Renew - verb. re-new, To restore or replenish: to revive; reestablish: to restore to a former state; make new or as if new again.

What a beautiful weekend we had!!! Finally the temperature gets above 50 (and actually into the 70's, if you can believe it!) It's like the neighborhood came alive, everyone was walking there dog and sitting on their porches, it was so rejuvenating, especially after my week last week, I needed some spring air. Hopefully the weather will stay this way, at least for a while. I heard rain was coming but it should stay warm, which sounds good. We had a chance to spend some time outside on Saturday at the park and Sunday in the backyard with Flooper, our dog. A good time was had by all!
Here are some shots of little man in the backyard, he was loving running around with Flooper and playing with dirty sticks.
Happy boy.


In the front yard with papa, he's so good at sitting down to go down the stairs.
My men.
At the park with Xander.
End of the day, time for some reading and relaxing with papa. They are both so precious to me.

Goofy - adj. goof-y, Ridiculous; silly; wacky; nutty: a goofy little hat.

My friend Mary came to visit for a night on her way to Atlanta then Ethiopia last week. We got to eat at one of my favorite local places called Pho Hoa (previous posts) and had some great food. A couple people came by after dinner and hung out which ended up taking a late night visit to another one of my favorite places (Amelie's - previous posts). All in all a great time, looking at old photos and having a little dance party with X-man.
It would be amazing if some day Caleb and I could take a normal picture.
Right before we leave to Amelie's. Caleb stayed behind with a sleeping baby.
Jacob (jacobchills.com), entertaining the little one, he's so good at it.
He takes his dancing very serious.
Xander loving all the attention.
Mary, take a normal picture!
Here's trouble.
This was my face for Mary, I tried to take so many pictures and this was the only one that didn't have her hand in the way!