The O'Hara Family: November 2008

Happy Family, November 2008

Photo snapped by Pops.

Thanksgiving Portraits

Rory, Mommy, and Daddy. Perhaps a candidate for our official holiday card?

Rory, Max, and Sierra. Snack time.

Rory and her bench.

Rory and her Nonna.

Rory, Nonna, and Pops. A wonderful Thanksgiving.

Breadsticks with Daddy

"Rory here. I insist on eating foods whole. When my Mommy and Daddy try to cut my food, I let them know my mind."

"So, when Aunt Sydney took us to Cafe Delfina and introduced us to the long breadsticks, I insisted on tackling these bad boys myself."

"Okay, they were a little long. I wasn't quote sure how to eat them, until ..."

"Daddy showed me how we could eat the breadsticks together, each of us taking one end!"

Post-Turkey Exercise

The day after Thanksgiving, Rory took her family to San Francisco for some post-turkey play.

Nonna was the recipient of much of Rory's energetic focus!

Rory did, on occasion, take in the view.

Rory also found a new friend in California ... Stephanie (originally a friend of Sydney's).

There's Sydney!... Enjoying a little quiet time with Pops.

Thanksgiving 2008

On Thanksgiving morning, Rory excitedly wakened her Nonna. She had work to do in the kitchen!

First, Rory tackled the cranberry sauce, busily washing the fresh cranberries.

Rory gave her Pops a small task, allowing him to select the wine for the event. (He did well.)

Rory surveyed the fruits of her labor (okay, Nonna and Mommy helped a little with the meal).

Soon, though, Rory dove right into her Thanksgiving meal.

An action shot of Rory and Mommy.

Emma & Rory

During her trip to Palo Alto, Rory got to spend a late night with her friend, Emma.

Rory was enamored by Emma, watching her every move and taking lessons from her older friend.

Emma also taught Rory how to stay up long past her bedtime. (So that her parents could catch up with their friends, Mark and Elaine.)

At the end of the night, Rory gave Emma a big hug good bye.

Photo Shoot with Pops

"Rory here. I've been in front of ther camera quite a bit lately."

"Yes, I know how to charm my many fans with the turn of a head and a full-face smile."

"But my Pops let me take a turn behind the camera, which I enjoyed."

"Soon, I was teaching Pops how to achieve a heightened midtone contrast in the low-level light of the kitchen. Yeah, I'm that good."

Learning New Skills

While visiting Palo Alto this week, Rory learned many new skills. Pops taught her how to use the slinky.

Daddy taught Rory how to roll coins down a green funnel ... a skill that will surely come in handy (never).

And Rory taught herself how to pull her baby doll around the house ... perhaps a skill that she'll use as a big sister in a few months!

Rory & The Birds

While visiting Nonna & Pops for Thanksgiving, Rory ventured to the Duck Pond to commune with the wildlife there.

She wooed the fowl by calling forth her special power ... bread crumbs.

"Bow down to me ducks, I am your master, Rory Bread Maker O'Hara."

Later, Rory used her special powers to turn Aunt Sydney into a bird!

Cuteness

Rory and her cold-weather hat.

Rory and her friend Dahlia.

Family Brunch, November 2008

Recently, Rory and her parents enjoyed a lovely brunch with Sarah's Aunt Candy and Uncle Buddy. Aunt Candy snapped this shot, perhaps the cutest of Rory's smiles that have ever been captured on film.

Beauty is in the eye ...

Daddy was driving Rory over Memorial Bridge recently, and he was admiring the beautiful sunset. "Look Rory," he pointed, "look at the beautiful colors in the sky!". Daddy turned to the back of the car to ensure that Rory had understood his instructions, and Rory dutifully gazed out the window. Daddy spent the next few moments making several additional poetic comments about the sky, when he heard Rory exclaim from the back seat, "Daddy, look it! Look it! Look it!" Daddy slowly turned his head, expecting Rory to be pointing at one of the many images that her father had just described. Instead, Rory was holding her finger out towards Daddy, motioning as if she wanted him to take something from her finger. "Look, Daddy, a booger. Rory found a booger!"