Mt Elbert

Nathan had business in Colorado and decided to stay for the weekend to complete a hike up Mt Elbert, 14,201 feet. Little did we know that he was fighting a very odd infection and coupled with the altitude, we're lucky he made it up and down in one piece. He was proud of the accomplishment, as well he should be!

In the Kitchen with Maddie and Daddy

Maddie wanted to cook a meal for the family. You can imagine Nathan's reaction! They planned out the menu, did the shopping and prepared a feast. Everyone who knows Nathan will appreciate that he told Maddie that if she can make pasta with an olive oil and garlic sauce, she'd be on her way to the basics of cooking. We had the pasta, a fennel/apple salad, and lemonade. Delish.

What a pair. Maybe a future food network show for the two of them?

You can have fun with food too!

Up Up in the Air

Dad's Christmas present was a flight above Boston in a small plane piloted by a dad from Angier. Nathan and Dad took to the sky and had an amazing flight at dusk.

It was definitely a puddle jumper!

They loved flying over Boston and watching the city get ready for night. My Dad even got to pilot the plane for a bit.

The Welcome Home

We were very excited to welcome Nathan home. We had an Indian feast the night before. Which, I must say, was a complete flop. The kids did like the naan slathered with butter! And then some very artistic welcome home signs were created.

Theo's reads: To Daddy - You are coming back today and you are really coming back today. And I love you. To Daddy. This picture is for you. It's a crocbanger. Crocbangers bang people because it's a crocbanger. Maddie is drawing something for you. We're drawing right now in case you want to go to India again. Love, Theo

Needless to say, we love these steam of consciousness notes from Theo.

Nathan in India

What an adventure! Nathan was very excited to get called to a project taking place in India. It was a great company working in microfinance. India did not disappoint.

He spent some time in a village and was able to see the women gather Monday morning to pay back their debt.

Yes, there are cows in the street.

Poor Nathan mainly worked and worked and worked. But, he did get to spend part of a day touring Mumbai. One of his favorite stops was in a slum where workers were washing laundry. He said that the emotional energy and spirit of the Indians was captivating.

A beautiful museum.

He was moved at Gandi's home.

He ate the best Indian food of his life and though he didn't have a lot of time to enjoy the culture, what he saw, he really appreciated. That said, there's no worry of us moving to India. And the jet lag was a beast.