Beaches are great...

...because you can go for hikes on the beach...and even better, I'm allowed to throw all the stones I want! And, oh yeah, in Albania you get to see bunkers. I bet you don't know very many two-year-olds who know the word "bunker"!

This beach is just near Durres...about an hour from our house.

A,B,C's!!

A little more me!

More from my vacation!

I had lots and lots of fun playing with my Papa and Granny when I was in D.C. We played the piano, swam in the swimming pool, went for lots of walks, and threw rocks -- my favorite! And they brought great toys with them for me to play with. I know they had fun playing with me, too!

a little bit of politics

So, usually I just post about me and all of my adventures (I mean, that is the most important thing, right?), but every now and then I'm moved to post something else. Today is one of those days.

On September 18 the Maryland Supreme Court decided in a 4-3 decision that same-sex couples in Maryland were not entitled to all of the rights and responsibilities of marriage. This decision tells my mommies and me that the State of Maryland views us as less important and less deserving of equal protection under the law. Even living here in Albania, this news was deeply disappointing to us. We urge everyone to support Equality Maryland as they move this struggle to the State legislature.

But, today, we saw a beacon of hope in the September 20 press conference statement of Republican Mayor Jerry Sanders of San Diego. Our thanks and deep appreciation go out to him for his politically courageous stance in conservative San Diego. It's heartening to see that there are people whose conscience still compels them to stand up for equality even if it is not the path of least political resistance. Please watch...and please send him a note of thanks. I hope some of the of the presidential candidates are listening.

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Disneyland!

So, I got to go to Disneyland when we were in Los Angeles. The trip was especially fun because:

1. It was for my birthday so everybody was paying attention to me, me, me!
2. My Bubby went with me, who always pays attention to me, me, me!
3. My Tia TJ and Mimi went with me, and they always pay attention to me, me me!
4. My Uncle Arnie and Aunt Holly went with me, and I love them, and they know EVERYTHING about Disneyland and Mickey Mouse!
5. I got to go on lots of fun rides like Dumbo, and Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, and Autotopia, and It's a Small World, and Pirates of the Carribean (I fell asleep in that one), and Snow White, and Pinnochio, and the Circus Train, and, and, and......
6. I got to go to Mickey Mouse's House and meet Mickey Mouse!
7. Oh, yeah, my mommies were there too, and they took lots of pictures of me, me, me...

Happy Birthday...to me!

So much to tell you, so much to do, so little time. As some of you know, we just got back from a trip stateside. The State Department calls it R&R (rest and relaxation). It was anything but...! My mommies and ran ourselves into the ground with exhaustion going to doctors' appointments and visiting relatives and a few friends. For those of you who we saw, we were so glad to see you. For those of you we didn't get to see, we're so sorry that we missed you. But, we'll look forward to seeing all of you again when we get back home...sometime around October 2008!

I'll try to post lots of pictures soon, but right now I want to post the most important ones of all...and those are the pictures from my birthday. That's right, I'm two years old now! Can you believe it? The best thing about birthdays is balloons, bubbles, blowing out candles, singing 'happy birthday,' playing with my friends, and eating cake! Oh yeah, and it's all about me, me, me! What's not to love?

Me, mommies, and cake!!

Round, and round, and round, and...

Mattan, Segev, and me

Me and the twins...

Hi Mommy!

Birthday cake (after "I blow out candles!")

Clapping for my birthday

BALLOONS!

Bubby's visit (in June!)

Yeah, yeah, I know that I've been very behind on my postings. Like, my bubby came to visit me in May, and I'm just now putting up pictures of all of the fun stuff that we did. But, better late than never, right? And at least I'm posting them before I go see her again later this month!

While Bubby was here, she and Mommy and I visited Kotor, Montenegro for a few days.

I was glad to see that they also have many cows there.










And they also have rocks to throw into the water.








We went everywhere, and fortunately I got to ride when I was tired.





Then, Bubby had lots of fun having dinner with my Mommies and listening to live music.







We had lots of fun. I miss my Bubby and call her on the computer whenever I can!

POTUS

The President of the United States (POTUS) came to Albania on June 10. I spit raisins during his speech. Then I threw raisins in the path of the departing first couple. Really.

And, no, as far was we know (despite all the news reports), his watch was NOT stolen. He was wearing one at the event for the embassy staff at the airport just prior to getting on Air Force 1 to leave for Bulgaria. But, yes, Albania was very excited about the first visit of a sitting American president. Doesn't mean that everyone likes this president...but they do love America.

Signs all along the road from the airport to the city


Me with other embassy kids, looking cute, as usual


Mama Melissa and Alba helping prepare


Bruna and me!


Signs on the opera house



In case you didn't believe me about spitting raisins, check this out:


Sorry this post is so late, but better late than never! And a few more late ones are on their way...

Summer is here!!

I know that I have so, so, so much to post. But, hey, summer and summer holidays are here, and I'm busy having fun! And, going to the beach, picnics, and the pool with friends is the best way to beat the 40+ heat here in Tirana.








*In order: I'll share my cookie with you on the beach at Dhermi; 2 pics from a local pool in Tirana; a picnic with my friends Elham and Naim and, of course, my mommies; a picture from the beach at Durres where Naim buried my feet!; and 2 more pictures from Dhermi with Hedder (my mommies call her Heather).

Twinkle, twinkle

I just want everyone to know that, while I haven't been posting, I have been practicing my singing. Here's a video from the Archeological Museum in Naples, Italy to prove it.

Best buddies

I can't believe how much has happened since my last post -- some very important visits (my Bubby, Heather, and, oh yeah, POTUS, a.k.a. President George W. Bush), my first trip to Italy, and the last day of preschool before summer break. More postings soon, I promise. Until then, I'll leave you with a picture from the picnic we had on the last day of preschool. This is me (of course) with my best buddies Ollie (in the middle) and Aidan. I'll miss them every morning at preschool, but I'm sure I'll see them around our neighborhood, at the pool and other Tirana hot spots.