Flea Market Saturday

Fun times last Spring when I set up a spot with a friend at a local flea market at the Ring Garden, so we decided to do it again this Fall and invite two more friends to do it with us – we split the cost of two spaces between the 4 of us and had a great time talking, helping each other sell their stuff and sharing hot cider and cookies! The weather was perfect and the other goods were so enticing to me that I found I could easily shop and sell at the same time! Therfore, I came away with $11 and lots of new great junk – clothes mostly for the babes. Great fun (such a nerd!)

Heidi, the cool Simkins, came to the city to hang with the babes while I was gone all day -- they stopped by for a visit and as usual showed them a good time. We love her!!


SEE MORE PICS

Excursion to the East Side

Back in September Nate had a Saturday free so we took the babes through Central Park over the the East Side to this wonderful playground north of the Metropolitan Museum. Took some footage of the babes and the playground and a bit of the neighborhood.

Baby Contemplations

To have a little baby, who will be
A daughter. A girl. An echo of
Where I was once.

We belong to each other --
You remind me, I remind you
Of traveling -- of journeying.

You take the nuances of your heritage -- hand picked
Or undetected. And I now wonder
Will that blue vein sit plumply
Across your left index finger
Keeping pulse with my Mother and I?

Desi Candor VI

Desi and I were in the kitchen: I was fixing dinner, he was avoiding picking up toys in the living room. He said finally, “I’m gonna go see how my mess is doing.” He left and returned in 3seconds saying, “Its fine.” I wasn’t sure I heard him correctly and I asked him, “What did you say?” He looked at me sheepishly, “My mess is not fine.”

Sorry, maybe next time, bye-bye!

Mommy? I LOVE Daddy!!

I’m a marching band boy.

Mr. Jones drawed in my book!

Des was eating lunch and squishing it through his fingers and said at one point, “Really cool dude, crashin’ dudey!”

We were eating baked ziti the other night at home and remembering the last time we had it, a month ago, at our friends Kendra&Lexi’s apartment. Desi was remembering particular details like: eating it on a plate (that night we were eating it in a bowl) and playing with a couple of cows there on the table. Then he offers up this memory, “She has a wonderful sink!”

I’m a beautiful neighbor.

While taking the train home one evening Des shouts, “Mom! You’re a superhero!”

After finishing a joint effort of picking up toys in the living room and kitchen Des brushes his hands together and says, “Mommy, that was hard work to do.”

After placing a pretend crown on my head and his head, DPJ declares, “I’m gonna marry you!”

While digging through a box Desi finds a random toy and exclaims, “Oh! I’ve been looking all over for this toy!” He then promptly drops it and forgets about it.

Zoe Turns 8 Months!

MyZoeMyZoeMyZoe... still besotted. :) She turned 8-months on Sunday (along with Auntie Holly who turned... shhhh... it's a secret -- Happy Birthday!;))

Zoe's now pulling herself to standing. In fact, this a.m. after waking up and happily laying there for a bit, talking and making sweet sounds, she decided to pull herself up for the first time and take a look! I've been draping a blanket over one side of the pack-n-play so that when she wakes she wouldn't be able to see us from her reclining position. Well, now she can simply stand up and look over. She laughed her raspy little laugh when she saw us over on the bed and I couldn't resist her. It was 5:45a.m. :::sigh:::

We've discovered her ticklish spot -- the ribs. Her laughter is still a bit rusty, not a lot of practice yet so we hope to tickle some hardcore guffaws out of her soon. :) She certainly squeals with delight though. Love that.

A couple of weeks ago I introduced *cheerios* to her! A big hit. She takes it very seriously and focuses and works quite hard to control her little fingers to get the small round 'o' to the small round mouth. I love watching her long delicate fingers make their maneuvers.

Her hair is continuing to grow and I continue to massage (a-la-grandpajones-style) it along. It's a light brown, golden in the sunshine. She's startled us by losing all her darks locks and replacing them with a lighter shade. Her brows are still quite dark as well as her eyes. It's a nice contrast.

She has said "mamamamamma" a couple of times which is sooner than Des ever said it -- I think he was 10 or 11mos.

In the Bedroom

Zoe was about 7mos in this footage. I thought I'd include it here on the blog because I'm often asked how we all fit in our 1-bedroom apartment. Take a tour!

Three thousand flags fly in tribute to those lost in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks at the NYC 9/11 Memorial Field, which opened to visitors this weekend in Inwood Hill Park, on the upper tip of Manhattan. The Flag of Honor exhibit will remain open through today as part of New York's commemoration of the fifth anniversary of the attacks.

We've been taking the babes to the Memorial everyday since it was errected (Friday afternoon). The lovely Inwood Hill Park is in our neighborhood -- about a 10-minute walk from our apartment -- if you've been to visit we've taken you down there. Nathan took Des&Zoe on Friday afternoon and they walked into the middle of the feild of flags sat down and Nate began to tell the story to them. Des was fascinated and Nate said that he was asked to tell it three more times. When I took them Saturday and Sunday Desi wanted to repeat what he did with Nathan, he lead me into the flags picked a spot and invited me to sit down and "tell the sad story".

Howdy Partner!

At high noon we gathered at the church on Labor Day for a Opening Social Ho-Down. We all (well, some of us) dressed as western as we could. There were varying degrees of cowboy gear, flannels and jeans and redneck attire. Professional Callers were located somewhere in CT and brought into the city to lead us all in square dancing, line dancing, and hoolahoops!

There was a Chili Tasting Contest judged by Bishop Billy and the gang (yes, aka nate jones -- HA!) My award for the chili I threw together that morning was, "Chili Most Likely to be Eaten by a Real Cowboy". Others given out were, "Chili Most Likely to Wake You Up at 1:00AM" and "Best Roadkill Chili". My favorite was the award given for the, "Most Chilean Chili" to a new move-in from Chili. Ha!

Click on the above images for a reel good time!! yeeeehaaaa!

PattyCakePattyCake

More updates on little Zoe -- trying to keep up with her -- last week she began clapping her cutelittlehands!!! So sweet! She claps when she's happy, she claps when she's upset, it's her emotional conduit. In fact, I'm playing basketball with Des right now and she just clapped for me when I made a basket!! When she claps she's usually saying something that may translate to, "yeahyeahyeahyeah!"

Other news -- ZoeDKJones has her top two teeth arriving, one ahead of the other. Her Daddy affectionately calls her snaggletooth. She's grinning so much more. Whenever Nathan or I or Des, in fact, enter a room she recognizes us and gives a happy little smile usually accompanied by a squeal.

Desi Candor V

Desi’s new friend Thomas was over playing. Thomas held up his batman and said to Des, “I save bad people.” Des held up his Buzz Lightyear and replied, “I save happy people!”

I’m thirsty for my arm.

I wear my basketball jammajamma’s. I can play basketball with the guys!

“Johnny’s little babysister is a boy?” Des likes to engage in these conversations every once and awhile; going through family and friends and identifying gender and roles. I thought this little mix-up particularly cute.

“And here is the best shirt I’ve ever met!” Presenting his new superman action figure wearing a white poncho made from a wipe.

“Babyzoe want to live on the floor!” In protest to Vanessa picking Zoe up.

“What are you doing?” Desi asked Vanessa, she replied, “popping a zit.” Desi giggled, “that’s funny!”

“Hi Zoes! We’re family together!” I’d just told him he could hold her – it was the first thing he wanted to do when he woke up this morning.

Yes Mother.

Upon entering our building a young woman holds the door open for us to get babes and stroller through. I thank her and when she’d left I remarked to Desi how nice that girl was to help us. He replyed, “That’s a spicy girl”. I couldn’t get him to explain what he meant.

Super Zoe to the rescue!

In the park late one afternoon, Des held up a stick to me and said, "it's wood, our favorite breakfast"

Visitors are Required to bring Cameras!

Last Saturday Heidi came for a long over due visit. DesmondJones gets so excited when he knows AuntieHeidi is coming -- his jaw drops and he makes an audible gasp and then it all turns into a big smile! He loves her!! This time he actually greeted her with a big hug which made her so happy -- he usually plays shy for awhile. She brought her camera (hooray!) and we took lots of pics -- see how goofy we are!

Click here

Zoe at 7-months

Zoe is now 7-months old and had a recent doctors visit. She weighed in at 18.5 lbs and 26 inches!! She received 2 shots which rattled her world but for a moment. Ugh! Those crys!

She's begun creeping across the floor. This morning she crept with real vigor trying to reach my rain boots with Desi shouting, "No! Zoe! Not mom's rain boots!!" I've begun placing her in a standing position in her pack-n-play and she'll hold onto the sides and stand quite independently for several minutes. She hasn't pulled herself to standing yet, or gotten up onto her feet while creeping, nor has she figured out how to get into a sitting position by herself. Which is to say… she’s still very much an infant! :):):)

She loves to eat!!! She figured out the open mouth routine: i open it and mom sticks the yummy spoon in. Sometimes she just sits there in the highchair with her hands clasped together opening and closing her mouth prettily. I love it.

Zoe has also discovered her lower registers. Every once and awhile a deep, raspy growl will build in octave levels till it's quite astoundingly loud -- esp. for such a doey-eyed little babe! When those sounds are transformed into a more emotionally charged cry or yelp, Nate calls her a little wildcat! eeeeks!! The sound is a bit scary!

Here are more pics taken when Ini and Vanessa were visiting.

Click Here

Weekend with Ini and Vanessa

Bathtime Blunders

I've had this rather funny footage of what Miss Zoe D.K. Jones has to endure with her rough-n-tumble brother and mother who loves seeing them together!! Both these videos were taken within the last couple of months.

Disclaimer: Not to worry, no injurues were sustained!!

August in New York

Zoe's enjoying playing with her friends. This is little Ava Turley who is a month younger. She's a sweet baby!

We met them in the park last Friday and Zoe&Ava both enjoyed the swings together. Fun times! It's so thrilling to see them squeal such happy squeals.

I'm beginning my second week off work. It's been soooo lovely to be with mylittlefamily fulltime. We've been alternating days with Dadda and days with friends. We've had many play dates with friends and many trips to museums with Dad. We particularly love those suggested donations venues in the city!! Des has seen a lot of modern art, sculpture, African artifacts, and animals behind glass-- he loves the Natural History Museum.

Zoe has begun to wake during the night again so my latest strategy, I've had a string of them, starting this week is to move out fulltime to the livingroom. We'll keep this up for at least two months and then slowly move back in. It worked with Desi, though he was much older, but I'm hopeful!!!

About two weeks ago Zoe's little personality suddenly seemed to emerge fulltime. We don't know if it had to do with having Vanessa around for 4-5 days as an adoring companion or that she simply had surveyed enough of her surroundings and was ready to join in. She's been markedly more smiley and vocal. She has this cute little squeally/squeaky laugh (will try and get it on video soon) where she will throw her hands up in the air then double over with delight and squeal into her belly. So cute. When she sees me she will usually welcome me with a large smile and laugh and reach out happily and when I come to her she grabs onto me desperately and pulls me too her laughing. I love to do this on the bed with her where we can bury our faces into each other and kiss and cuddle. I love her so much!!

Desi has been playing ring-around-the-rosies with her. We do it on the bed where I hold Zoe around the waist and Des takes her hands and they sway back and forth while DPJ&I sing the song. He usually lets go when he falls down but even when he doesn't she actually loves it!! She loves him so much and he, more often than Nate and I, is the one that produces such interest and laughter from her.

Zoe Eats!

This is video from one of her first sittings with rice cereal. She has now become quite the epicure. Her array has grown to include sweet potatoes, green beans, bananas and prunes. This week she will try peas, peaches and oat cereal!! I love this part of my job!

Bronx Zoo

We took a trip to Bronx Zoo while Vanessa was visiting at the end of last month. It was a great afternoon and we paused here on this green patch for a bit of a rest..

Storytime

Zoe's First Party

Saturday we went to Emilia Fugal's Welcoming Party. She was recently adopted by our friends Cori and Jayson. Emi is just a few weeks older than Zoe. Her older brother, Ayden, is one of Desi's little friends and they are also the same age (there are pictures of them on Desi's baby blog) It's perfect!

WELCOME EMI!!

Tour Guide

Drummer Boy!

Summertime Weekend

Finally got ourselves out of the city to Garrison, NY for a weekend in a very lovely house in the woods with tons of amenities!!

Bathtime Chat

Des Jones getting chatty in the bath.

Desi Candor IV

Still camera-less but Desmond P. Jones continues to provide vivid picture-substitutes with his colorful, amusing language.

“This like pillow. This is comfy.” After taking a bite of a homemade crouton.

Ever since Desi learned the “If you chance to meet a frown…” song in nursery he’s been much more conscientious of our faces. For instance, noticing on the day my parents were leaving, that my mom was not her usual self and finally saying, “Grammy? You’re not smiling! Grammy smile!” He told me the other day that I was supposed to smile. And our friend Lindsey, who was helping a couple days after mom&dad left, was cajoled into carrying Desi up a hill and all the way home after Lunch Bunch while she was also pushing Zoe (!) Once back to our apartment the last thing she was thinking about was smiling, but Des noticed and began singing, “No one likes a frowny face, change it for a smile!”

“Oh my goodness, I’m naked!”

“I look like a girl!!!” We’re not sure why he said this, he was not playing dress up, he was just having his lunch. We laughed and laughed…. “I look like a girl, Grandpa Gary!!” [shortly thereafter Grandpa presided over a very short haircut]

Desi was struggling to get his snow pants on (yes, in June) and I heard him say, “Where’s that cute foot? Where’s my cute foot?”

About 20minutes after my parents said goodbye (headed for the airport to return home), I found something that they’d left behind, which always devastates me. I began lamenting and saying how sad I was that they forgot something. Desi approached me, put his arms around my legs, gave them a kiss and said, “I’m here, I’m here.” Then he pulled away saying, “I know what will make you happy,” and began to play the kazoo.

“I smell something, I smell something… it’s babyzoe’s breath!” His proximity to her was not close – she was in the bassinet he was on the changing table “Kind of yucky stuff, kind of yucky stuff… Like potato salad.” I don’t remember the last time we had potato salad! I laughed for hours on this one!

A tremendous thunderstorm a few nights ago – I was lovin’ it but Des had different feelings, “I don’t like thunder, it’s thundery. I need to hide somewhere.”

While holding up to his mouth the new baseball bat Auntie Heidi got for him Desi declared, "toot! toot! toot! I have an announcement: I have an emergency! I lost an earring!"

I changed my mind -- my mind is something else.

Zoe and Desi -- Message to Grandma & Grandpa Jones

Desmond Tutu

I just shook Desmond Tutu's hand!!

One of my colleagues here at the United Nations who knows when all the VIP's are coming and going, tipped me off (per my long ago request) and I darted to the lounge where I was told Archbishop Tutu was sitting.

He was all alone on a white couch, dressed in black with the purple shirt underneath -- the Anglican dress. He had his head resting on his hand, looking world-weary. He saw me from afar off and watched me approach him. It was daunting but I was driven by adoration!

I began by saying, "Sir... may I shake your hand?" And he extended it. Overcome. The hand of a man who has worked so hard for peace and understanding. A hand that has been in the trenches of human injustices and lifted so many to find peace and reconciliation in their lives.

I rambled on a bit about waiting for him to visit the UN again so that I may meet him -- then said how much I admired the work he's done for our world... then got around to saying that because I was so grateful and inspired by him I named my son Desmond. He raised his brows ever so slightly. I wanted to tell him more about the reasons why but he stopped me mid-sentence and asked me if I lived in NYC (I suppose one can only take so much passionate outpourings from strangers!) I said yes but that I was originally from Utah. I hoped to get a response from that but didn't. He then said to say hello to his namesake for him. I warmed joyfully to this and said thank you. He pressed his hands together, smiled and bowed to me and I with my heart full returned the gesture and then left, nearly in tears.

What an honor. A blessed man. I wish now I would have sat down on the couch next to him and talked with him about what is concerning him these days.

The first time I heard Desmond Tutu was during our Philadelphia days. I was at home listening to NPR (I'm a junkie for good reason!) and heard the following interview with Alex Chadwick. I cried, I laughed, I wrestled with his ideas -- there was something about him and what he was saying that made him unforgettable to me. Here is a link to that interview: Morning Edition, October 7, 1999


Nobel Site on: Desmond Mpilo Tutu

A good synopsis of his work and views: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desmond_Tutu

The Desmond Tutu Peace Center -- a non-profit group for nurturing visionary leadership


A perfect time to share one of my favorites passages from his book, "No Future without Forgiveness" (1999)

We are bound together in what the Bible calls "the bundle of life." Our humanity is caught up in that of all others. We are human because we belong. We are made for community, for togetherness, for family, to exist in a delicate network of interdependence. Truly, "it is not good for man to be alone," for no one can be
human alone.

I think the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ exemplifies this thought so beautifully in the principles it teaches about our family relationships being ETERNAL. Archbishop Tutu is driven by the Spirit of God, to be sure. I can't tell you how happy this makes me. To have an individual like him in our world leading us all to love and forgive one another. In my mind there are two very great men in our world, who lead us so lovingly: the Prophet Gordon B. Hinkley and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. I wonder if they have met each other? What did they talk about? I suppose it would likely be about us, Gods will for us.

Many times in the Scriptures the prophets talk about how important we should be to one another:

1 Peter 8:8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous

Mosiah 2:17 And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the
service of your God.

Individuals who give and believe so much really influence me and direct me toward more openness with humanity. I want it to be said of me that I loved humans, that I was good on humanity. The more I experience things the more I feel that a part of the meaning of life is not what happens to us, but what happens between us.

BLESS ALL OF YOU!

Desmond P. and Zoe D.K. Jones

would like to wish their wonderful

GRANDFATHERS

a

HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY

FATHERS DAY!!!

Experimentation

Back up (same video)

Video Blogging

Click the screen then the play button at the bottom.

You may have to download the Micromedia Flash plug-in to get it to work, then restart your computer.

Please let me know if this doesn't work fo you. I've been wanting to upload video for sometime and Vanessa (Miss MySpace Queen) helped me figure out this option.

or CLICK HERE

Letters from Central Asia

We are missing Nathan like crazy!!! For two weeks we were fine in the care of Grammy&Grampy but all this week Des&I both are constantly invoking Dadda's speedy return!!

6/9/06

Well, as indicated above, I had quite an adventure a couple of days ago. On Wednesday, I still hadn't been able to track down Professor Mathis and I was wondering what to do -- should I stay and see if I can find him or should I just leave? I had called him at his home and office several times, spoke with his secretary, and even went by the university, and I was getting tired of it -- I also felt a pressing need to get back to Kazakhstan -- so I tried to spend all of the rubles i had left on snacks and drinks and hopped on the next bus to Semipalatinsk.

About an hour into the trip I began to doze and was later woken by a "pop" sound followed by the bus coming to stop. The driver got out and looked around and eventually climbed back in and told us that the bus had broken down. He tried to drive us to the next "bus stop" but the bus was only moving at about 1 mile per hour -- at this rate we would reach civilization by August. I was gradually becoming quite concerned -- we were in the middle of nowhere and I didn't have any rubles! Suddenly the bus stopped again and the driver quickly jumped out. When he came back he said there was a bus behind us going to a town called Rubzovsk and we should all get on it. We all climbed on this small dirty bus, and I started to panic -- where is Rubzovsk? How big is it? How long will it take us to get there? How far is it from the Kazakh border? How will I get to Semipalatinsk from there? What am I going to do for money -- I spent all my rubles?

I finally saw a mileage marker and ascertained that it would take a couple of hours to travel to this town Rubzovsk and I kept my fingers crossed that it would be large enough to have a bank with an atm, a good bus station, and a hotel if necessary. As I mentioned, the bus was pretty small and old and slowly puttered along like the "train-that-could" -- every time we approached a hill, I began reciting "I think we can, I think we can."

After about four hours of that, we reached Rubzovsk, and I breathed a sigh of relief as I saw a bank with an atm on the way to the bus station. I checked at the station and saw that there was a bus to Semipalatinsk the next day in the afternoon, so I was going to have to spend the night here. I saw one of the guys who was on the bus that broke down and struck up a conversation with him -- he was pretty shocked to meet an American and was happy to chat with me for about an hour. It turned out that he lives in a village nearby and was able to point me in the direction of a cheap hotel. I thanked him and headed to the town square where the hotel was supposed to be.

I soon found the hotel, walked in and told the lady at the desk that I needed a room. She looked at me suspiciously and said "you can get a room if you have the proper documents!" I assured her I did and gave her my passport. She looked through it very surprised and said she didn't think that she could legally provide me with a room since I am a US citizen (this town obviously does not get to many international visitors). I explained to her that I was on my way to Semipalatinsk, but the bus broke down and I was stuck in Rubzovsk until tomorrow. She sympathized with my predicament and decided to call the local migration police to see if would be okay for me to stay. The officer said it would be fine if I supplied a photocopy of my passport, visa, and Russian migration card. I said I would do it and had to run out and find somewhere to get my passport photocopied. When I returned I was given a small room in this rather large, but very old and run down hotel. The place was huge but there wasn't to many guests staying there, so it had the feel of a haunted house. To get to my room on the third floor, I had to venture up an old grand staircase (complete with cobwebs!) and walk down a dark hallway with dozens of chairs, tables, and beds stacked along the walls. My room looked liked it hadn't been occupied in a decade and the bed had one of those noisy coil-spring mattresses. As uncomfortable as the place sounds however, I was happy to be there and was able to relax after my scare with the bus breaking down.

So its Friday now and I am in Semipalatinsk -- the trip from Rubzovsk to Kazakhstan went smoothly thank heavens. I am leaving for Almaty in a couple of hours on a train and I will arrive tomorrow afternoon. I will check back with you when I get to Almaty.

I can't wait to get home -- I am beat! Love you guys!

MEGA Pictures

Just before leaving on Monday, my Dad uploaded all the photos we'd taken over the last two weeks to his Ofoto/Kodak Gallery site.

300+ count!!


Click here!
This is for serious veiwers!

Letters from Central Asia

We went for nearly a week without hearing from Nathan -- finally he emailed! Whew!

6/6/06

I made it back to the civilization yesterday after spending a week in various villages in Kazakhstan and Siberia -- I am now in Barnaul in Siberia, and will travel back to Kazakhstan tomorrow -- to a town called Semipalatinsk. I have done so much over the past week, it will be impossible to give you a thorough account so I will summarize. My first stop was a village in Kazakhstan called Uspenka. I just wanted to visit the village because I knew there were many Germans left living there. I received a pretty warm welcome from the locals, and got a quick tour of the town and was fed lunch. Later, I was taken to a meeting for people who were subjected to repression during WWII -- which means that they were deported to Siberia and Kazakhstan and forced to labor in what was called the "service army" -- in which many people died during and after the war. Most of the participants were Germans, but there were other groups represented as well. During the event I managed to meet and cozy up with the mayor of the village and the president of the county, as well as a member of the local senate. I stayed with a family affiliated with the local German center -- who were very nice. When I arrived at their home, we spent the evening chatting. I left the next morning for Sharbakti -- another Kazakhstan village which dislocated just a few kilometers from the Siberian border. I have chosen this town as my eventual research site in Kazakhstan (after checking out Uspenka, I made that decision). The reasons are its size (it’s much larger than the other villages and has more resources), my contacts there (I am well acquainted with the assistant to the Akim/major which helps), its proximity to my Siberian research site Podsosnovo, and finally because of the presence of the Catholic church. The father here is an American, and there are some other Americans priests here as well as some European nuns (the head nun is a very nice lady from Austria). I think that it will be good for you and the kids to have some people around who seem much more familiar and speak your language. The church runs a center for abandoned and neglected children, so there are always a bunch of little kids running around the church. After I arrived to Sharbakti, I met with Gulnara who is the assistant to the Akim, and explained to her that I wanted her to help me find a place to live when I move there next year. We discussed a few options and she suggested that I go and speak with the Catholic father, because the church has purchased a number of houses. I spoke with him the next day; however his only suggestion was for us to buy a house (we can get a nice big one for $5000 -- haha). Gulnara indicated that there are other options -- we can probably find someone to rent to us -- and I should check back with her when I arrive to Siberia next year. I feel pretty good about the situation because it appears that my contacts there are totally prepared to help us.

After Sharbakti, I crossed the border and traveled to the Siberian city Slavgorod and then later to the village Podsosnovo. This time I didn't want any help from the German org. here but instead I wanted to make my way around the region myself (in the past, the German org. has provided me with transporation). Unfortunately, there is no bus service to Podsosnovo from Slavgorod, so I had to take a bus to the closest road to the village. When I climbed out of the bus, I was disappointed to see a distance marker indicating 15 kilometeres to Podsosnovo (I think about 8 or 9 miles). I began walking and stuck my thumb out every time a car passed, but no one would pick me up. After about 40 minutes an older guy and his wife stopped and let me climb in their car. The couple quickly realized that I was not Russian, and after telling the driver that I am from the US, he almost drove his car into the ditch along the side of the road. He said (what is an American doing wandering around in the middle of Siberia!). Anyway, I finally got to Podsosnovo, got set up in the local hotel, and got Alexei (my buddy the mayor) on the phone. I met with him and his family later at his house, and we went back over my plans -- which are totally all set. He said that there are several houses that have been kept by Germans who have moved to Germany, and they would be glad to rent them. Fortunately, all of the houses here have central, electrical heating and indoor toilets (as opposed to Sharbakti which uses coal, meaning we will have to pay for coal deliveries and figure out how to use a coal burning stove, and outhouses -- meaning a small wooden enclosure with a hole in the floor). The only concern is furniture, which he says we can buy in Podsosnovo or Slavgorod. Of course, I told him that us moving there is totally conditional, however if it works out, I will write him and he will spring into action providing the necessary paperwork. The rest of my time in Podsosnovo, I spent visiting some acquaintances, and going to the local German church (I went to 4 hours of church on Sunday!).

Yesterday (Monday), Alexei drove me to Halbstadt (the county seat), so I could register my visa and where I could catch a bus for Barnaul, to where I arrived last night. I spent today trying to track down people. My main concern is to find Professor Matis at the University of Barnaul. I need to talk to him about getting academic affiliation with the university for my research period in Russia. Unfortunately, I have not been successful -- I have been to his office and have called his office and home phone several times today, but have not been able to track him down. I am
leaving tomorrow and don't think I will be able to get him. Darn! I did pay a visit to the local German House and checked with my contacts there about getting ourselves officially registered when we arrive in Russia. After calling the local migration authorities, I was told that the procedure had totally changed from what I was told last year; and they explained how I need to do it (hopefully it does not change again next year when we get here!) Anyway, it is evening here and I am little disappointed about not finding professor Matis. Oh well - I am going to call him at home tonight, and maybe go by the University tomorrow before I leave. My plan is to leave for Kazakhstan tomorrow morning -- unless I can arrange a meeting with Matis tomorrow afternoon -- and if so will take an overnight bus tomorrow night (ughh!!). This trip (which has been quite fruitful) is winding down -- really meeting with Matis was the last thing I needed to do -- other than getting to Almaty for the flight home.

Letters from Central Asia

5/30/06

I am in Pavlodar and am leaving for the country villages tomorrow morning -- and will probably not have email access until I get to Barnaul next week.

I was really blessed yesterday. I arrived to Pavlodar and quickly found a place to stay. Then I went looking for food and accidently took the wrong bus. I got lost for a few moments and then recognized the street I was on and began walking in the direction of the restaraunt I wanted.
Suddenly I heard someone calling my name, I turned around and it was my friend Oxana who works for Rebirth. It turns out that the organization moved their office to the other side of town last year, and I just happen to be walking by the office, and Oxana just happened to be there late teaching a German class, and just happened to open the door for an instant for some air as I just happened to be walking by!!!! Had that not happened, I would have had a bear of a time finding them!

Anyway, they have me all set up to visit two villages tomorrow and the next day -- and after I visit them on Friday, I will make for Russia. The last village (Sharbakti) that I will visit, I really like (I was there last year). I am going to visit with the mayor's assistant and see about living accomodations for us if we come next year.

Faces

Desi said tonight -- "I miss Dadda so much!"




We love you!!

Outtings with Grammy

Hooray! We've had grammy here for a week (with one more to go with Grampy!) She's taken them to the park each day, including Lunch Bunch on Wednesday, they've been feeding ducks, Zoe's taken her fist swing in the big swings at the park, and Desi's taking naps!!

Here are some snapshots of their activities last week.

Letters from Central Asia

Nathan's been in Kazakhstan for a week now (two more to go!) and I thought I'd snip a bit of what he's writing me about:

Well I am beat. I ust got off a 24 hour bus from Shymkent and am now in a town called Karaganda, to rest. Tomorrow I take another 9 hour bus to Pavlodar, where hopefully I can get some work done. Turkistan was interesting. The masoleum was beautiful. It was built by Tamerlane in the 15th century to honor a religious leader who established a Sufi order in the region. The town itself is pretty small and made up primarily of houses. The old city that was around the masoleum a few hundred years ago was allowed to fall apart -- hence the area directly around the masoleum is barren (except for a few camels grazing), and the current town does not begin until the border of the old town. Therefore the masoleum is surrounded by a few kilometers of dirt and grass. The masoleum itself is giant and topped by three mushroom shaped dome-towers. Tamerlane died before it was finished therefore the front entrace-way has a funny shape, as if the masoleum comes to an abrupt halt. This is a pilgramige site for the regions Turkic muslims - therefore there was much praying inside the masoleum, especially near the actual tomb. It was interesting to watch the Kazakhs worship, especially the women. Many of whom were walking around the building touching the sides and praying as they walked. Unfortuantely, the interior is not as spectacular as the outside, with little in terms of aesthetics (just white walls). I guess art demands money, of which the Kazakhs have little. Directly surrounding the masoleum, were a few smaller masoleums, a bathhouse, as well as the chamber where early residents of the town studied and prayed. Also flanking the main entrance was a giant rose garden, which heightened the religious atmosphere of the site.

So that's my report of Turkistan - other than the masoleum, there was nothing else to do in the small city. So I just got some dinner, wandered around the local bazaar, came back to the masoleum at dusk and wathced from a park bench as the sun set on and the evening lights were turned on to illuminate it during the night. As I sat on the bench, one of those begging ladies (you know the one's that hang out at Russian churches) came up to me to get some money. I waved her off, but she decided to sit down next to me and chat. While we talked, she would stop people to ask for money for bread and milk. I asked her if the state gives her a pension. She said she gets 10,000 Tenge a month (which is about $60), and her family is already dead or moved away. She said that after rent and gas, she has no more left for food, therefore she has to beg. As she was refused money time and time again, she would make wisecracks about the people who wouldn't give her anything: ("look at that fat guy get into his expensive car, and he can't sprare 10 Tenge!"). Eventually a lady came by and gave her 3 loaves of bread, and I chipped in some so she could buy some milk. She was pretty happy. She added an interesting perspective to the life of a begging woman in the former Soviet Union (of which I have probably seen hundreds).

Anyway, after that I went back to my hotel and went to bed; got up the next morning and caught a bus to Shymkent, and quickly after arriving, found a bus to Karaganda (which is in north Kazakhstan). I have been on buses for almost 30 hours of the last 48. You can imagine how sore my knees are! Alright, when I get to Pavlodar tomorrow, I will probably be able to write again.

Back to Naps

In another post I wrung my fingers at the antics Des has been up to in place of sleeping in the afternoon. After many suggetions from others, I finally decided to try a crib tent. I tracked one down on Craigslist.org for half of what they sell for new (new: $60 used:$30) I wasn't sure whether it would work, he's so strong and can break into many things -- for instance we've had the Gerber 'safety handles' on all door knobs and he's recently figured out how to remove those so he can open doors (ugh!) So when considering the crib tent I didn't want to spend $60 for what was essentially a deperate attempt to control the uncontrolable -- a most exuberant 2 1/2 year old.

The pictures show the results -- Mr. Sceptic (NPJ!) I have trumped you again!!

Zoe Pages

Some sweet pics of Zoe as she’s changing so rapidly!! She’s recently turned 4-months old. She began rolling over this week and while on her belly resting on her arms at a 90 degree angle. She is getting ever closer to finding her thumb, which I’m a bit nervous about (!) She continues to smile frequently and has discovered a special place in her heart for Grandpa Gary. She loves talking to her toys – it’s so thrilling to listen to her. She’s taking Desi’s love in better stride and responding in different ways rather than just crying when she’s had enough – for instance, she’s occasionally gives a baby’s version of an exasperated little shriek!!

Desi Pages

We look forward every week to Lunch Bunch which has now moved out to the playground in Inwood Hills Park. We bring our lunch and toys to share and spend almost 2hours every Wednesday playing. Des is such a social little person and he very much enjoys the time he gets to spend with his friends from church.

Boys are so the same. On this particular day, 3 out of the 4 boys ( from left: Ayden, Daniel, Desmond and Roscoe) brought Woody figures to play with and it so happened that Desi and Roscoe also each brought a dinosaur for their Woody guys to ride on!! Funny coincidence!! BOYS!

Yes, he leaves the apartment like this!! (hehehehe... snow boots, fireman hat, and Strawberry Shortcake bag) This pic was taken on our way to Lunch Bunch – Desmond was pretty happy because a nice woman in our building (Desi actually refers to her as the “nice woman”) stopped us before leaving and invited us up to her apartment indicating that she had something to give us. The woman, Anna, began rummaging through all these bags, ultimately bound to her family in the Dominican Republic, pulling out baby products – lotion, bubble bath, soap, wipes, etc. Then she gets into her fridge and places in Desi’s Strawberry Shortcake bag (!) 5 Capri Sun juices – thus the happy smile.

Over the last 2-months Desi has expertly figured out how to climb out of his crib. Therefore naptime, which includes sleep, has become a rare event. We still continue with the ritual but sleep is infrequent to say the least as once he vaults himself out of the crib he spends a very busy hour rummaging and making fantastic messes all over the bedroom. Its quite distressing to open the door and find the room completely and horrifically altered.

On this particular day he’d gotten out of the crib and set up a cozy little area for himself underneath the bedroom window on the floor, notice the pillow and blanket and books he'd been looking at, then he actually fell asleep! [stay tuned to new developments on this story – we have discovered crib tents!!]

Desmond P. Jones & Zoe D.K. Jones

want to wish their wonderful grandmothers a

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!!

We love you Grandma Kathy -- thank you for loving us so much! We love to talk to you on the phone and Desi loves singing with you. Thanks for dressing us so cute and for all your many prayers.

We love you Grammy Simkins -- thank you for being so loving. We look forward to your phone calls and telling you about our days. Thanks for all the thoughtful things you do!!

Desi and Zoe are so blessed to have Grandmothers like you!!

Desi Candor III

More verbal play with Desmond P. Jones

“Open, Open, I want to see everything!” Desi gives a breathy exhale, “Wowwwww!” with building crescendo, “Amazing! Wow! Amazing! You're Amazing Mamma!” (Upon opening up the freezer and looking inside)

“She’s thinking about something…” After listening to babyZoe coooo….

“Is that Spiderman?” After pulling out some red peppers I’d been roasting in the oven. They were all a lovely bright red color with black char marks here and there. He thought they resembled a melted version of spiderman, I guess. Hehehe…

"I lick babyZoe. She's like a lollipop!"

“Not for baby’s, it’s for mammas – babies not like it. mamma’s like it. Here you have it." Upon giving him some V8 juice. He drank it all the while and gave me back an empty cup.

“I need a time-out” (self-discipline!)

While getting DPJ ready for bed one night he instructs me, “I want superman jamma’s, I want superman!” Zoe interrupts him with her cries for inclusion. “It’s ok babyZoe! I rescue her! I want my big cape – I save her day – I big cape fly on her! I rescue babyZoe!”

“I need some gloves your majesty”

We were excited to watch a new video from the library one night, but it wasn’t working. So I took it out and started to blow on it. Desi watched curiously and asked, “You blow it? It’s like cake?”

"Mamma? you're the best mamma ever in the world!" (ahhh... said that, today, Mother's day. What a treat!)

Our Graduate!

So proud of my sister that I had to make it public!! Holly graduated Magna Cum Laude last Friday. We are so proud of her loveliness of mind and spirit.

Big LOVES and CONGRATS my sister and Desi&Zoe's Auntie!!

Firefighter Guy

Ahhh... DesmondPJones... He has always loved accessories: gloves, hats, shoes, capes, boxes, toliet paper rolls, etc. :) His latest has been dressing like a firefighter. Putting at least one glove on, a small box on his head, a rolling pin for his hose and he must wear shoes -- which has become a point of dispute between us as I don't like outside shoes worn inside. I recently participated in my first fleamarket (!!) and a neighboring booth had a firefighter hat which I snatched up for $2!! Best $2 ever spent -- what a smile I got!!!

pics here

desi&zoe

This picture was actually taken by Nate (!!) he said that Des was playing so perfectly with Zoe he had to take it. Desi brought all his soft plush toys and handed them to Zoe one-by-one with his sweet little voice introducing them and letting her hold them. Nate said they played like this for some 20minutes!

Strawberries

Desi and I were enjoying the first strawberries since last summer and I thought I'd add a little extra surprise to our celebration and melt some chocolate for dipping. He was speachless with enjoyment!

desi&zoe

I wanted to reprise the babes in diapers pics -- so this weekend I happened to bathe them together and then capture some cuddle moments in Desi's crib. He loves it when babyZoe joins him in the crib. He will read her a story, sing a lullaby, or brother-handle her with hugs&kisses. If she's well fed and rested (mornings are best) she'll take it all in stride and sometimes squeal with delight.

Faces

Over this past winter Des has curiously developed freckles!! A light, golden sprinkling across his nose, tapering off under each eye. Nate and I noticed this just last month and it’s such a cute addition to his already yummy little face. I don’t think you can see them in this pic -- but they're there!

Zoe’s eyebrows are getting quite full – which is a descriptive word that can also be used for her lips and cheeks too! She’s begun to take an interest in her little rattle and soft plush toys. She will reach for them, hold them, talk to them, and of course taste them. I love talking with her. I love that she can tell me how happy she is; when she wants to be held and cuddled; when she’s hungry, that look she gets in her eyes, the tone change in her voice. I really want to listen to her, understand her.

More photo's here

Taking the Edge Off

In the mighty winds of Desmond’s second (I suppose technically 3rd) year there are still frequent moments of delight and joy for us. He’s regularly entertaining with his speech, play, and physical activities. His imagination takes on new colors everyday.

This pic was taken after a particularly rough day (Sunday – they seem to be the hardest days for me) after finally getting him into bed for the night. I went in later to check on his progress and found him thus collapsed. My heart softened and the earlier tension caused by his boundary-free enthusiasm eclipsed into laughter. Again and again, I’ll take the whole DesmondPJones package! He is so precious to us.

Catching Up

When Heidi visited for Easter weekend she brought a borrowed camera and we've been trying to take as many pictures as we can -- she's left it with us for acoupla weeks. Nicenicenice!

Following are some highlights of the last two weeks.
Having some family time -- Easter Sunday. We went walking around Fort Tryon Park. Desi is taking pretty well to his new big boy position on the stroller.

desi&zoe

Desi and Zoe continue to get used to each other. Des seems to be a little more playful than Zoe is ready for. She now sizes him up quickly and sometimes before he even approaches her will signal her reluctance for a cuddle. Early mornings are the best times for her to weather Desi's big loves. He doesn't yet seem to understand the idea of gentle loves. :::sigh:::

Zoe is three months old now -- she is a love. I miss her quite a bit when I'm not with her. Those dimpled smiles! I can't bury my lips deep enough into her cheeks. Thankfully she can handle my loves! I often get gleeful squeals from her accompanied by these little happy jig movements she does with her whole body. Des enjoys helping Zoe hold her bottle when they are with their dadda. We praise him generously.

Click to see many pics here

Desi Candor II

I’ve gotten an overwhelming response from you regular familyjonesblog readers regarding this segment (perhaps the only good thing to come out of the loss of my camera) so I thought I’d make this a regular on the blog.

After giving DPJ one of those ‘yournamehere’ creditcards that come in the mail, he promptly bent it out-of-shape and came to me dramatically and said, “My card is ruined! Mamma hold me!”

We spent the day with some friends on 181st St. My friend Guadalupe and two toddlers, Kayden and Ruby. I like to go over the things we did and the people we spent time with at the end of the day -- so I was saying what a nice woman my friend Guadalupe was and Desi repeated, “Lupe nice woman.” Then he paused. “Mamma nice woman… mamma nice girl… mamma big woman!”

Desi came to me one afternoon and asked for a drink. I repeated the request as I usually do by saying, “I want a drink PLEASE mamma” to which he replied, “I want a drink NOW mamma.” ‘Now’ is his new favorite replacement for that old tired word ‘Please’.

During our morning routine of raising of the shades in the bedroom and greeting the city with a “good morning New York!” We noticed the weather was gray and rainy and Desi commented, “its snoring outside!” (As in the song, “it’s raining, it’s pouring, the old man is snoring”.)

Tonight I asked Des if he was ready for dinner and he responded, “I wanna be a robot first”.

We were watching a children’s program about a cat and his little boy owner and Des turns to me and says, “Sometimes I have a kitty in my house? When I grow up? Big & strong like mamma&dadda grown up?

“I have pizza last year?” He actually meant to say, I think, last week. He’s been trying out many phrases having to do with time.

Desi and I were under the covers creating a cave. He introduced a couple of hangers he’d found as edible presents – so there we were gnawing on hangers in the dark when I finally said mine was “almost gone”. He smacked his lips for a few seconds and said, “Mine’s almost more.”

“I was crying two weeks”

“BabyZoe is a baby? Soft baby? Lovely baby?” I agreed and he went cheering, both arms in the air, out of the bedroom saying, “Lovely baby!!”

I walked into the bedroom one afternoon to see Des silently looking outside the bedroom window. I asked him what he was doing and he replied, “I’m hanging up”. As opposed to I’m hanging out, I suppose.