Happy Halloween! (a mere quarter late)

A week or so before Halloween, Leo donned his Bob the Builder plaid jacket, and built himself...


...a Monster Truck!


On the bright day in question, Cousin Simon stepped out in style, clad in pumpkin.


He was joined by Tonton Vlado, a crypto-samurai, and Cousin (Danny) Buzz Lightyear, ready to explore the farthest reaches of their neighborhood in a quest for candy.


Leo wore a builder's cap.

Noemi was decked out in orange and black.


As the evening wound on, Leo got more interested in shaking up leaves than shaking down neighbors for candy.

Danny got in on the act too!

Cousin Corner

Cousin Simon is getting bigger.


And cousin Danny is getting older!


Happy birthday, Danny!

I helped make you a cake:


And we all had a good time at your birthday party.


We went a little wild!












Thanks to Paul for taking all the photos, and to Natasha for preparing the lovely lunch... You never get to see the people working behind the scenes!

Another kumquat cameth!

The ides of July saw the appearance of the newest member of the Giszpenc clan, not-so-little Simon Gregory Giszpenc, 8 lbs. 6 oz. and 23 inches. Congratulations to Vladimir, Natasha, and Daniel!

Since we were spending time with big cousin Daniel, Leo once again made a developmental leap ahead. Besides playing with Daniel on the exer-saucer, he started climbing stairs all by himself. He doesn't know how to come down yet, except by stepping out into thin air and waiting for the trust anti-gravity magic to kick in. So far it hasn't failed him.