
<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-01-30-state-of-the-offspring-address-january-2015/16403782105_79308c3c95_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image post-thumb" title="Kitty Nora">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-01-30-state-of-the-offspring-address-january-2015/16403782105_6e23272261_t.jpg" alt="Kitty Nora"/>
</a>

Early January saw the passing of "Second Christmas", Kings Day, in which Nora wrote a letter to the three wisemen welcoming them into our home and offering some snacks that were laid out for them. Nora got a toy microphone, some clothes, some other toys, and several pairs of earmuffs, which no one wears (and therefore are nearly impossible to buy), but apparently they were talking about them in school. Ian got the big present: a pedal-less bicycle. Unfortunately he's not quite big enough to use it even at the lowest setting, and Nora is just too big to use it at the highest setting (more on that below). Nora got up first, of course, and then she got so frustrated that she couldn't "help" Ian open his presents that she actually started crying at the injustice of it all. When we got Ian up, he really didn't seem to have any understanding of what was going on, barely paying attention to Nora ripping open his presents.  <a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-01-30-state-of-the-offspring-address-january-2015/16401546781_355b7d8a41_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Shoes for Kings Day">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-01-30-state-of-the-offspring-address-january-2015/16401546781_4046f655a6.jpg" alt="Shoes for Kings Day"/>
</a>

I still don't understand fully why shoes are involved, but it seems to be Spanish equivalent of stockings, which I also don't really understand. Best not to ask too many questions about stuff like that.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-01-30-state-of-the-offspring-address-january-2015/15780830014_1a39e0c841_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Kings Day Eve">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-01-30-state-of-the-offspring-address-january-2015/15780830014_39044d2ef4.jpg" alt="Kings Day Eve"/>
</a>

In their pajamas the night before.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-01-30-state-of-the-offspring-address-january-2015/16217391777_3d5bb49296_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Christmas Tree 2014">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-01-30-state-of-the-offspring-address-january-2015/16217391777_3faab0409d.jpg" alt="Christmas Tree 2014"/>
</a>

After the kings came.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-01-30-state-of-the-offspring-address-january-2015/16402387762_832f01ae0c_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Kings Day 2015">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-01-30-state-of-the-offspring-address-january-2015/16402387762_0889cce1ca.jpg" alt="Kings Day 2015"/>
</a>

Nora left out some cookies, milk, and pistachios for the kings and their flying (?) camels to eat, as well as a letter.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-01-30-state-of-the-offspring-address-january-2015/16217076019_d325ec1845_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Kings Day 2015 Letter">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-01-30-state-of-the-offspring-address-january-2015/16217076019_972d16ed30.jpg" alt="Kings Day 2015 Letter"/>
</a>

> _Queridos Reyes Magos,
> 
> Bienvenidos a esta casa. Esperamos que os guste la comida que os hemos dejado. Ya hemos oído en la tele que venís muy cargados.
> 
> Adios, muchos besos y abrazos y que tengas una Feliz Navidad!
> 
> \-Grandpa, Grandma, Erik, Marga, Abuelo, Abuela, IAN, NORA_

> Dear Magi Kings,
> 
> Welcome to this home. We hope that you all like the food we have left. We heard on TV that you are carrying a lot.
> 
> Goodbye, many kisses and hugs and may you have a merry Christmas!
> 
> \-Grandpa, Grandma, Erik, Marga, Abuelo, Abuela, IAN, NORA

I thought it might be a clever touch to put some camel prints on the letter, so I found some clipart online.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-01-30-state-of-the-offspring-address-january-2015/15783264063_23d12e5b0c_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Kings Cake">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-01-30-state-of-the-offspring-address-january-2015/15783264063_77e38ae382.jpg" alt="Kings Cake"/>
</a>

The [Roscón de Reyes](/2008/01/06/roscon-de-reyes/), which one of my Facebook friends observed looks a lot like a giant cream cheese bagel.

I saved the present opening on video for posterity. Pardon all the coughing; it sounds like Christmas at a tuberculosis hospital.

<iframe width="505" height="284" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/W_KWwR6os7w" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

The worst present was the little digital camera. But it was only 15€. First of all, let's all marvel at the fact that you can get a digital camera with a postage-stamp-sized LCD preview screen and USB cable for 15€. I would think the screen would cost at least 10€, and the USB cable and port and circuits would cost at least 5€, and then there's a flash and lens and memory...amazing. It's pretty close in quality to my first digital camera back in 1999, which I think was just over $700.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-01-30-state-of-the-offspring-address-january-2015/15783262393_1b7bdabb89_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Nora playing with Simon">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-01-30-state-of-the-offspring-address-january-2015/15783262393_79dd72e62a.jpg" alt="Nora playing with Simon"/>
</a>

My gift was the one most played with that morning, a semi-vintage Simon™ memory game. The newer models involve swiping, too, which I didn't like the sound of. It's a lot of fun.

### Doorjamb Head Bang

On the evening of January 7th, Ian and his sister were careening around the house as they do most days, and Ian fell while making the sharp turn into the kitchen and hit his head on the doorjamb. I scooped him up as I usually do when these things happen, and he was trying to cry so hard that he wasn't actually making noise, just gasping for breath to cry harder. When I saw his head, the look on my face made my wife drop what she was doing and rush over to examine him. His forehead swelled up to the size of about half a golf ball. I'd only ever seen head swelling like that on cartoons after a character is hit by a falling anvil.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-01-30-state-of-the-offspring-address-january-2015/16215938818_42650a694e_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Noggin Bump">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-01-30-state-of-the-offspring-address-january-2015/16215938818_e6916b01a3.jpg" alt="Noggin Bump"/>
</a>

It was nearly impossible to get a non-blurry photograph of the swelling, as he was squirming around so much. This photo is from a few hours later.

I quickly threw on some clothes and my wife and I took him to the local doctor's office, which has a little 24-hour emergency section. We felt a little silly when we got there, because the five minute car ride holding ice to Ian's forehead was all that he really needed. The swelling had gone down considerably. Amazingly, the skin didn't break. It's pretty incredible, also, that Ian made it a full month longer [than Nora did](/2010/11/06/noras-first-visit-to-the-emergency-room/) before going to the emergency room.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-01-30-state-of-the-offspring-address-january-2015/16217351659_db41e93527_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Ian Forehead Bump">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-01-30-state-of-the-offspring-address-january-2015/16217351659_453b702c50.jpg" alt="Ian Forehead Bump"/>
</a>

The next day he was fine.

### Mop Rider

As anyone with small children will tell you, they are nothing but help when it comes to cleaning the house. One day this month, I did a double take as I saw, through a doorway, Ian gliding effortlessly across the floor. We then tried to recreate the activity on video.

<iframe width="505" height="284" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FipiKXEHvHE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

### Bicycle Practice

We're really trying to push Nora on learning to ride her bicycle. We had heard from a cyclist friend that a good way to learn is to take off the training wheels, and also the pedals, to just work on the balance. I'd never heard of taking off the pedals, but he told us that it was possible on most bicycles. Nora's, however, is a fairly cheap bike from a department store, not a bicycle shop, and her pedals are actually welded to the frame in a way that it would be impossible to remove them. However, they get in the way for pure balance practice. So we got out Ian's new pedal-less bike and cranked the seat all the way up, and had Nora practice going down some small inclines to maintain her balance. She got pretty good at it and we showered her with all the praise we could muster, but it just doesn't seem like she gets any intrinsic joy out of it. From our parental point of view, we _know_ that not only is riding a bicycle something that every child pretty much _must_ learn, and failure to learn it will result in peer ridicule very shortly, but also that she _will_ enjoy the freedom and independence a bicycle provides a child in a small town once she gets the hang of it. It's very reminiscent of the dance class problems we had [a few months ago](/2014/10/31/state-of-the-offspring-address-october-2014/). It's incredibly frustrating to be putting so much effort into helping her learn and having her show not one drop of interest.

<iframe width="505" height="284" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7ZxzuNimEFE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

After mastering the small ramp at the local church, we went to a bigger hill.

<iframe width="505" height="284" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LlC7yTcgWnw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

On about the tenth time she went down, I told my wife, "I'm amazed she hasn't crashed yet." Less than a second later, she lost control and collided with the stone wall you see to the left. We scooped her up and dusted her off. She didn't even properly skin her knee, just a little scrape. At the time, she looked like she was dying, but when I asked her how her leg felt that night at bedtime, she couldn't remember which leg it had been.

Both Nora, literally, and we, figuratively, are going to need to get back on the bicycle and keep trying until we get this licked.

### Winter Colds

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-01-30-state-of-the-offspring-address-january-2015/15783796633_21c27db3c4_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Sleeping Ian">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-01-30-state-of-the-offspring-address-january-2015/15783796633_9816791b84_m.jpg" alt="Sleeping Ian"/>
</a>

It feels like Ian has had a cold for months, with on-and-off fevers and weird sleeping patterns for most of December and January. Nora had a stretch right around Christmas where she had a fever every afternoon for a fortnight. In retrospect, I think we can attribute it to a growth spurt, as she's noticeably taller than she was in November. There have been some nights when Ian, having taken sickness-induced naps during the day (he never naps when he's well), would need to stay up very late with me reading books or watching cartoons. Whenever I take him downstairs, he says triumphantly, "Good night, Nora!" as I carry him down the stairs. Cheeky lad!

Here he is exhibiting some new behaviors. One is saying "Good night", with some pretty good pronunciation, especially on the final T. The other is that his Aunt Belén has tried to teach him to give the "V" gesture with his hand like Japanese people do when they pose for photographs, except that Ian just crosses his fingers, and says, "Photo!" whenever he sees me filming him.

<iframe width="505" height="284" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SksTUHUXNZg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

### Fun with Unai at the Mall

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-01-30-state-of-the-offspring-address-january-2015/15781406594_249638a00a_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Unai, Ian and Belén">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-01-30-state-of-the-offspring-address-january-2015/15781406594_9d8d4038dc_m.jpg" alt="Unai, Ian and Belén"/>
</a>

Last weekend, we really, really needed to get some shopping done at the local mall, various articles of clothing were needed for various members of the family. In the first store we entered, we were incapable of looking at anything because Ian was screaming and tugging on us to go somewhere he had in mind for all of us to go, and Nora was doing her best teenager, "OMG! I'm sooooo bored!" whine. Luckily, we were soon met by my sister-in-law, Belén, and her boyfriend, Unai.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-01-30-state-of-the-offspring-address-january-2015/16216468530_8878a26b6c_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Eating with Unai">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-01-30-state-of-the-offspring-address-january-2015/16216468530_1a0e61af0c_m.jpg" alt="Eating with Unai"/>
</a>

The kids got to know Unai a little last summer, and more in December. Nora likes him a lot, but Ian is absolutely head-over-heels in avuncular love with Unai. They get along extremely well. We got a lot of very important shopping done because we were able to leave the kids with Belén and Unai for an hour. Towards the end of our visit to the mall, the kids talked us into buying a few tokens for these awesome little animal rides. They would be more fun if there were fewer people, but I was envious of them getting to zip around riding a tiger.

<iframe width="505" height="284" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uhPLNr_4jTo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

### Cute Photos

I'll leave you with some cute photos and miscellaneous videos.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-01-30-state-of-the-offspring-address-january-2015/15783727573_30d10ea6fa_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Street Urchin">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-01-30-state-of-the-offspring-address-january-2015/15783727573_a761a8145f.jpg" alt="Street Urchin"/>
</a>

Ian has begun hiding from us. Not for any particular reason, I don't think, but sometimes we call him and call him and then go to investigate and find him under a table or crouched in a corner.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-01-30-state-of-the-offspring-address-january-2015/15781307334_e66b4e0162_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Nora Tree">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-01-30-state-of-the-offspring-address-january-2015/15781307334_ae46d1d9a9.jpg" alt="Nora Tree"/>
</a>

Nora tree.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-01-30-state-of-the-offspring-address-january-2015/16402024001_f160420c9c_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Ian with new shirt">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-01-30-state-of-the-offspring-address-january-2015/16402024001_4137e6cf7b.jpg" alt="Ian with new shirt"/>
</a>

Looking spiffy in a new shirt.

[

<script async defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script>

Slow motion grooving.

](https://instagram.com/p/x4KDpXL9IM/)<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-01-30-state-of-the-offspring-address-january-2015/16402926102_31eb1c6235_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Morning Orange Juice Drinkers">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-01-30-state-of-the-offspring-address-january-2015/16402926102_a4b570f25a.jpg" alt="Morning Orange Juice Drinkers"/>
</a>

Freshly squeezed orange juice is a morning ritual.

<iframe src="https://vine.co/v/OjDamvaxeEW/embed/simple" width="505" height="505" frameborder="0"></iframe>

<script src="https://platform.vine.co/static/scripts/embed.js"></script>

Feeding pigeons.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-01-30-state-of-the-offspring-address-january-2015/16403782105_79308c3c95_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Kitty Nora">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-01-30-state-of-the-offspring-address-january-2015/16403782105_6e23272261.jpg" alt="Kitty Nora"/>
</a>

Some face paint at school. Meow!

<iframe width="505" height="284" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4i5BlmqD9qw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Up late, playing with each other.

One weekend morning, my wife and I were too busy with household tasks to give Ian his morning bottle of milk the way he likes it, sitting on someone's lap, so Nora offered to help her little brother out.

The state of the offspring is strong!

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-01-30-state-of-the-offspring-address-january-2015/15783797343_993136eda3_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Nora and Ian">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-01-30-state-of-the-offspring-address-january-2015/15783797343_d8620dfab8_z.jpg" alt="Nora and Ian"/>
</a>


State of the Offspring Address - January 2015


<img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-01-21-the-turbo-roundabout-just-what-spain-needs/16333189782_5b2ae7d185_t.jpg" alt="Turbo Roundabout" class="post-thumb"/>Today I saw [this article](http://www.eldiariomontanes.es/santander/201501/21/turbo-rotondas-reduciran-accidentes-20150121075420.html) in the local newspaper, which informed me of this Dutch invention of what is called the "turbo roundabout". This is followup post from my previous rant about how [Spaniards Don't Understand Roundabouts](/2011/08/05/roundabouts/). The turbo roundabout is pure genius, as it eliminates most of the problems that Spaniards have in roundabout situations, forcing the correct behavior. The way the turbo roundabout works is how I think all roundabouts should be used (see previous rant for details on my views).  As you can see from the diagram below, if you enter on the right lane, you must stay in the outer lane of the roundabout, and once you are there in the outside lane, when a two-lane exit approaches, **_you must exit the roundabout_**. This Dutch genius has placed a solid line there to make the point. ![](https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-01-21-the-turbo-roundabout-just-what-spain-needs/585px-Turborotonde.svg.png)

This video demonstrates the system perfectly. If only I'd had the time and animation skills to illustrate my point so well in my previous post.

Oh, sweet vindication. May this technology spread to the furthest corners of Iberia!

![Turbo Roundabout](https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-01-21-the-turbo-roundabout-just-what-spain-needs/16333189782_5b2ae7d185.jpg "Turbo Roundabout")


The Turbo Roundabout – Just What Spain Needs


<img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-01-16-the-rasmussen-harmonica-trio/16292502662_0c145f6535_t.jpg" alt="Rasmussen Harmonica Trio" class="post-thumb"/>During our visit to the States in October 2014, Nora and Ian had a lot of fun playing the harmonica with their Grandpa Paul. Nora is about as good as I am, just blowing and sucking, but little 17-month-old Ian was even better, bending notes and moving the harmonica around to change notes. Their performance was quite impressive, although they need a smidge more practice before they sign a record deal. Still, it was exciting to see them before they become famous.  Enjoy!

<iframe width="505" height="284" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/1MxHi6jgFVg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

The first attempt at this group, in 1980, was a bit of a flop.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-01-16-the-rasmussen-harmonica-trio/2617121310_1e3b0d72b4_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Harmonica With Dad">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-01-16-the-rasmussen-harmonica-trio/2617121310_7fce5abe65.jpg" alt="Harmonica With Dad"/>
</a>


The Rasmussen Harmonica Trio


<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-01-06-sam-the-westie/2242358541_7f965a5e34_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image post-thumb" title="Sam Face 1">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-01-06-sam-the-westie/2242358541_b2e749f5d9_t.jpg" alt="Sam Face 1"/>
</a>

My parents' west highland terrier, Sam, passed away this morning in his sleep at the vet's office. He's been blind and deaf for a couple years now. But he was very loved for fifteen long years.

I pulled Nora into my office today, which is more or less [the equivalent of Christmas Day](/2008/01/06/roscon-de-reyes/) here in Spain, and told her that I had some sad news. When I told her that Sam had died, she understood immediately, and the corners of her mouth fell like stones, nearly breaking my heart. Before she could think about it more, I hugged her and sent her back to watch cartoons. On our most recent visit to the States, Sam was very good with Ian, tolerating quite a lot of abuse and persecution. Whether he remembers or not (he won't), Sam helped give Ian his love of canines.

I'm pretty certain that I will never look upon another westie – and there are several in my town that I see each week – without thinking of Sam. He was a good dog.

After dinner today, which Nora didn't really eat, she went straight to the sofa, eyes filled with tears, picked up her LeapPad™ (like an iPad for kids), and drew these, damn near shattering my heart again.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-01-06-sam-the-westie/16191367736_a93afd8892_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Sam Drawing, by Nora">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-01-06-sam-the-westie/16191367736_4f45644daa.jpg" alt="Sam Drawing, by Nora"/>
</a>

I had no idea she could draw so well, especially on such a crude device.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-01-06-sam-the-westie/16191368586_2d3c22e41c_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Sam Drawing, by Nora">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-01-06-sam-the-westie/16191368586_876a5701ea.jpg" alt="Sam Drawing, by Nora"/>
</a>

The hearts and paws and flowers are obviously in-app stamps, but the likeness is her work.

And now for some actual photos...

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-01-06-sam-the-westie/1127195296_a9e0ebcab9_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Suitcase Sam">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-01-06-sam-the-westie/1127195296_046d347de5.jpg" alt="Suitcase Sam"/>
</a>

Always ready to travel.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-01-06-sam-the-westie/2242358541_7f965a5e34_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Sam Face 1">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-01-06-sam-the-westie/2242358541_b2e749f5d9.jpg" alt="Sam Face 1"/>
</a>

Or for a close up for a human brother with a new camera.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-01-06-sam-the-westie/153602662_49a60bb25f_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Erik, Sam, and Betsy">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-01-06-sam-the-westie/153602662_49a60bb25f.jpg" alt="Erik, Sam, and Betsy"/>
</a>

With my mother and me.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-01-06-sam-the-westie/5204336099_cf12d5d5f3_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Napping with Sam">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-01-06-sam-the-westie/5204336099_11930811ac.jpg" alt="Napping with Sam"/>
</a>

Napping with Nora

Video of said nap.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-01-06-sam-the-westie/16029764820_e22ab49888_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Erik and Sam, December 1999">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-01-06-sam-the-westie/16029764820_823f2e0f9f_c.jpg" alt="Erik and Sam, December 1999"/>
</a>

With a very young lad back in 1999. Good night, sweet Sam. R.I.P.


4 posts from January, 2015