Testing Dad's tie

For the love of waffles

The waffles diners all across America call "Belgian" really bear no resemblance to the sheer perfection of a genuine Belgian waffle. Chewy and carmel-ly on the outside, served with the most magical of whipped cream... And conveniently available just about anywhere, with the help of several mobile assistance units. I could have skipped the chocolate, but Zach insisted.

Dusseldorf, Cologne

Onward from Rome via $20 easyjet flights to Dusseldorf, where Lowensenf's mustard store featured a bottle as big as Zach.



And Cologne, where we found more stairs...both outside and inside the cathedral.

Sidenote: do not attempt to climb the tower with a toddler. I repeat, do not attempt to climb the tower with a toddler. There are 509 of steps (Josh counted), not a lot of wiggle room for passers in the other direction, and the toddler will get very heavy after about 40 of said steps.



Here we briefly attempted reverence of the largest church in Germany:



And our fantastic hosts/tour guides, my uncle/aunt, Hans and Ute, over beer/coffee (with Justin).

Zach and Ryan do Rome

What do toddlers do when in Rome?

Check out the sites, sample the cappuccino (hold the espresso, please), same silly toddler games they'd play at home, plus trying on sunglasses, and practicing climbing stairs.

Missing fall

2nd birthday

With a little and a big cake (and a few others not pictured below).

Jeni and Zach on a bagel outing

Handyman in training

Josh enlisting Zach's help, for the first time, in a home repair project - fixing the lock on the doorknob. Surprisingly, no screws were eaten or wedged into the the ball popper toy in the process.

Foggy Morning

Going back through some older pictures, since it's just too cold and depressing to use the camera much this time of year. From Thanksgiving, in Annapolis, walking with the boys on a damp morning to check out the boats.

Post-holiday afternoon in Fredericksburg

While visiting my mother, wandering Fredericksburg (VA), where the weather was warm enough to shed the snow coat, but still a bit of snow remained on the ground from the recent nor'easter (which Jeni demonstrates below). Zach was glued to the various train displays in the windows for Christmas, and excited to see white dogs, but not so eager to pose with Jeni in front of a flat snowman.