Tomorrow is my Last Day of Work

This morning began as a beautiful day. We woke up with Nina knocking on her door to get out and we went on a walk around New Ulm. We did the longer walk down to Center street, up the hill to Martin Luther College and back south to 10th street. Along the way, Nina saw her first real caterpilar. She knew what it was from her Signing Time vol 8: The Great Outdoors: The Caterpillar Dreams Song and had signed it in the past. Today she said it for the first time: "taterpilar" and that set the tone for the day.

We got back and we each looked forward to our fresh juice. Yum!

For lunch it was the Kaiserhoff's Essig Kraut special so we caught a ride with Erin's sister: Shannon or as Nina affectionately says "Ana" instead of Auntie Shannon. John met us there again. You might recall that he met us there two weeks ago also.

Spice Girl!

In addition, Nina has been obsessed with our spice drawer. She takes the spices out of the drawer and stacks them on the kitchen floor. She's able to stack them 4 containers high before she goes "WOW" then knocks it over while saying "boom!" And of course repeats the process.

When I tickle Nina or do something else she does not like, she signs "Stop Daddy!" while saying "Top Daddy!"

In addition, Nina likes to take her stuffed animal friends and put them by the cloths basket. She puts them to sleep, then one by one, signs "Awake" and moves them to the basket, then repeats the process :D

Dad's Birthday

We celebrated Dad's 60th Birthday by dining at the Harvard Club of New York.

 

Aunty Marga & Uncle Sowkioon

Bert had arranged to receive the dessert menus when the staff brought out a surprise birthday cake! What a wonderful gesture.

Video of Dad's birthday cake (9 sec)

 

Dad, Mom, Auntie Marga, & Uncle Sowkioon

 

Greg, Dad, Mom, Nicolas, Auntie Marga, Uncle Sowkioon, & Bert

Two Sisters

 

Mom & her sister Margaret the night of Greg's graduation

More Pics from Graduation

My parents, siblings, & Aunt & Uncle said that the Columbia College guest speaker (Matt Fox - alum & star from TV Show Lost) had an excellent speech (41 minutes into the clip). (real player)

Click here for a link to the entire University Commencement.


The Graduate


Bert, Nicole, Greg, Maurice


Eating at the Reception

Columbia University Graduation!

Greg graduated from the college at Columbia University today! He and 12,000 other students closed a chapter in their lives by completing their Columbia education. Here are some snippets from the morning!

Congratulations Greg!
Uncle Sowkioon, Auntie Marga, Greg, Mom, Dad, & Nicolas.

Greg and I!

Greg at the Columbia College ceremony on Tuesday.



National Anthem for 253rd Columbia University Graduation Ceremony (2:06 sec)


253rd Columbia University Graduation Ceremony - 360 Pan (17 sec)

Photos of Nina

Watermelon dress!




















Playing with Grandma's magazine's.
In my PJ's.












Eating my first fresh tomato!

Mommy & me!




Nina Eating Little Chocolate Cake (23 sec)


Nina Signing "Bus."
Erin and I learned ASL signs from
Signing Time DVDs, then we taught Nina!