Daddy's new job

Miri's pretty excited about her daddy's new job at the only public college in our nation's capital: the University of the District of Columbia. UDC has a new president and a new vision, and Daddy was hired to help launch a brand-new Center for Urban Education. He still will do his Public Service Academy on the side, but UDC is where he goes on his bike each morning. Not only will Daddy not have to raise his own salary anymore (and the family actually gets health care!), he also gets a chance to build something new and enduring in his hometown. Miri's proud to wear the red & gold of UDC around town.

This is how we roll

Hapkido may be in her future...

Just swinging...

Miriam doesn't really fit into this swing, but she loves bouncing around in it anyway. Check her out:

Might as well JUMP!

In the spirit of the old Van Halen song, Miriam and her cousin Damon take advantage of a squishy couch:

Worcester Time

We had a great visit with Mike, Ann, Matthew and Damon over the weekend. The boys were wonderful with Miri...Damon showed her how to play with play-doh and shared his dolls and trucks with her. Matthew showed her how to play the drums and read bedtime stories to her. Some of the best moments? Watching #49 Matthew score 5 goals, get 2 assists, and play some good D in two games with the mighty Sharks; watching Damon show Miri how to make play-doh sharks; walking Maggie in full Sharks regalia while Miri and the boys played street hockey; watching Miri play with fire trucks while sporting her Sharks gear. Did we mention that Uncle Mike works for the Worcester Sharks? Thanks for a great visit, Myers clan!!

Partying with Grandma

Well, folks, as of tomorrow it's official: Grandma Margery is retiring from a long career in medicine. To celebrate her amazing work, the Myers boys (Daddy, Uncle Mike, and Uncle Rob) threw a retirement party last weekend. Family traveled from near and far. Miri was delighted to see Mimi (Bob's sister, Michelle) and her Massachusetts family. Cousin Matthew and Cousin Dado (Damon) were big hits in Miri's book. She had a hard time keeping up with them, but liked to try. Cousin Pearce joined the party as well, making it a total family reunion. Grandma had a great time, and deserved all the praise she got for being such a wonderful doctor! Oh, did we mention there were balloons at the party? What could be more fun?

5 Things Miri Learned in Israel

We just got back from a great family trip to Israel to celebrate Cousin Gabe's wedding to Tamara. (They live in DC and we are lucky enough to see them often!) Here are five things Miri learned from her ten days in perhaps the most historically, religiously, and politically significant region in the world:

1. Israel is full of rocks.
Miri loves to pick up rocks, carry rocks, throw rocks...and Israel did not disappoint. Boring historic archaeological site? No...it's simply a great place to find more rocks. Here she sits in Jerusalem's Old City practicing her rock throwing form. What fun!


2. Israel has great (and dangerous) playgrounds.
There are monster slides and lots of kids playing on stuff that would be outlawed in the States.


3. "Ice" is gooooooooood.
That stands for ice cream, one of the many new words Miri learned on the trip. Below, Miri and Daddy tangle over a chocolate ice cream cone at Gabe and Tamara's wedding.


4. Natural swimming pools rock!
We visited several rivers, streams, pools, and the beach and Miri loved them all. Below, she swims with Uncle Ben, Aunt Megan and Cousin Chase at the Ein Gedi Nature Preserve.


5. Water bottles are lots of fun.
Miri was obsessed with the large water bottles that we carried around Israel. She'd carry them, squeeze them, and chug from them -- often with disastrously wet results.


We should mention that this girl is a super great traveler. No jet lag, no naps, and still a (mostly) sunny disposition. What a trouper!