We Had a Party and Everyone Came!

 

 

 Dear Luca,

This Wednesday, October 5, was pretty extraordinary, and you were really ready for it: a spaghetti party with your mom, you dad, your brother Legend, your Aunt Catherine, your Aunt Julie, your Grandpa Doug, your Grandpa Richard, and me, of course, your Grandma Kay.  We mustn't forget the dogs: Rio, KiTuM, and Shelby Poodle, who also had a grand time.

 

Grandpa Doug, Grandpa Richard, Papa, You 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The occasion was a visit from your Aunties Catherine, who lives in Connecticut, and Julie, who lives in Texas. They are your dad's sisters and my daughters.  They were so excited to meet you , so we planned the party at your house. We brought up all the makings for a big spaghetti dinner plus desserts of a Napoleon cake, made by a young Ukrainian woman and a cherry pie from Whole Foods. The spaghetti is a tradition in our family, and I learned to make it when I lived in Holyoke, Massachusetts in 1960-62, over sixty years ago. I'll share the recipe soon.

    What a day we had with you! First, we just sat around and everyone had a turn entertaining you with the green frog and your favorite toy of the day, an inverted stainless steel bowl that you and Aunt Catherine banged out rhythms on, much to your delight. We have videos are too large to post here, so I need to get to work to edit them.  Your music making was just too good for a still picture only.

    When you got a little fussy, we decided to do a short walk. The aspen are at their peak and you live in a beautiful spot of Colorado. As I said, it was just a short walk, but everyone came, the young and old and all the dogs. 

  

Aunt Catherine and Grandpa Doug

Your dad with you in the backpack; Grandpa Doug

 

I see I need to find better pictures. I really did try to capture the aspen.  But it was a splendid walk, and you can see the blue sky in between this aspen.

    You really do not like to nap, Luca. Maybe sometime soon, but not now. So after a few attempts to put you down for a nap, your dad buckled you into your stroller, and Aunt Catherine and I pushed you along, singing as we went. You were really mad for maybe 10 minutes and then in an instant, you were sound asleep. And we walked along among the aspen and the blue sky, and the sunny day, and wheeled you back home and into the bedroom for a nap.

    Here are some more of our dinner pictures:

Your mom, Aunt Julie, Aunt Catherine

Your brother Legend, your mom, Aunt Julie

    When it got dark, we headed back down the canyon to Boulder. We had been at your house for about six hours.  Our hearts we so full, and especially mine, because you smiled at me as we were leaving.