Summery Weekend

I don't think the temperature should reach the high 80s in April in the Northeast, but I still did have fun on the summery weekend.

Highlights included:

Spotting the first lilacs of the season.



Taking the History Club to see the Amsterdam/New Amsterdam exhibit at the Museum of the City of New York.

Walking through Central Park and seeing two dads help their kids build this awesome fort . . .



And seeing this great band.


Going to a goodbye party at a Sri Lankan restaurant for one of Neilson's best friends from graduate school.


Playing with Otis in the park between the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges.



And now I am eagerly anticipating the return to seasonally appropriate weather.

More KLC

More Kristoffer !







We had a great time today visiting Kristoffer, Eric, and Kjersti. He sure is a cute little guy. We saw his eyes a little more today and look forward to spending more time with our newest cousin. The family is doing great and the new parents don't even look tired. How can that be?

Scott Pilgrim reviewed by Mark Siegel

Mark Siegel, cartoonist and editorial director of First Second Books, reviewed Brian Lee O'Malley's Scott Pilgrim in comic strip form.

These books are great, and so is the review. Movie is scheduled for 2010 release!

All Babies, All the Time

Here are some more pictures of Jack's first week.

Tweeting Recipes

The times has an article about a new use for Twitter- a link to the Twitter Cookbook.

What Jack and Kristoffer will be doing in 6 months

Sonja was very interested in non-baby food when I was in Denver. I had to work hard to keep my clementine out of her hands. Here she eats some bread.

Little Baby Kristoffer

Hello everyone,

I know I haven't blogged in about two years but I feel that the birth of my first nephew is grounds for my re-immersion into the bloggersphere. That an the fact that Eric might never forgive me if I didn't post some pictures of little baby Kristoffer on the blog of Culkin women.

Welcome Kristoffer

Welcome Kristoffer Leif Culkin

Born April17, 2009

6 lbs 3 ounces

19 1/2 inches

Baby Boy Culkin

Hot on the heels of Jack Bagley, Kristoffer Culkin has arrived. Making the total number of Culkin Aries 6!

Baby Boy Bagley!

Message from Paul on Friday:

Hi Everyone,

Erin and I are happy to announce the arrival of John "Jack" Robert Bagley. Jack arrived at 3:00 am this morning at 7.0 lbs and 20 inches.

Jack and Mom are both doing great. More pictures to follow (we promise).

Talk to you soon!

Sonja is Strong

Anders Skis!

Bunny Hill.

Easter in Colorado

My Easter weekend in Colorado was action-packed. Activities included hanging out Anders (making lasagna, icing an Easter cake and dying Easter eggs), petting Ezra, skiing at Loveland and Vail (in an Easter snowstorm), witnessing Ander's debut on the bunny hill, and watching Sonja's valiant attempts to crawl (not quite there yet, but soon).

Clinton the Dog

My friend Ilona's beloved Clinton died recently. I will miss him. Kate took this picture of Ilona and Clinton at Elvis' wake- it's been a tough year.

Easter in DC

I spent this weekend in DC with Calvin and him mom. It is warmer there! We didn't see the president or the puppy, but I liked being in the same town.

Happy Birthday Eric

IMG_1146
Originally uploaded by Jody C.

I have stolen this picture for Jody's Flickr account--hopefully she doesn't mind. You have some exciting event ahead!

Happy Birthday Molly

IMG_2062
Originally uploaded by neilsonabeel

28 was a big year for you! What does this one hold?

"Pace your Rage"

The wing nuts are still out there, but John Stewart's keeping an eye on them.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	M - Th 11p / 10c
Baracknophobia - Obey
thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Economic Crisis Political Humor

Mrs. O - Fashion Site

My accountant pointed out the absurdity of the obsession with the clothes of incredibly accomplished Michelle Obama, as we talked about her J. Crew cardigans. Here is a site devoted to her outfits.

Literal Video of White Wedding

Hungry Toddler

IMG_4397
Originally uploaded by neilsonabeel

Otis likes to eat!

Pictures of Beloved Pets Request

I am learning how to use iMovie and want to make a video of pictures of beloved pets and their people. Would anyone mind if I use pictures published here or on Facebook of various family pets? Or, do any of you have any especially cute pictures of your animals and you and your animals that you might want to send me? If so, you all know my e-mail.

Earth Hour/Lights Out

Last week, Neilson and I participated in the "Earth Hour/Lights Out" event, in which people across the globe turned out their lights between 8:30 and 9:30 PM. We did, however, continue to watch Dollhouse on Hulu during the hour, which I think violated the spirit if not the letter of the event. But it was still nice, especially looking out the window and seeing lights being turned off across the city, including on the bridges.



This looks like a picture of lights on, but it is fact a picture of the lights of the Williamsburg bridge off.

Josephine didn't mind the darkness. (Neilson's camera seems good at picking up ambient light. The apartment was much darker than this.)

Candle lighting the stove. The pot is full of chicken with lemongrass and ginger, which I finished cooking just before 8:30 arrived.

Friday Sappiness

Is the feeling of inaugural day optimism fading? This video, filmed during the inaugural week, may help bring it back. It's creator, Emily Troutman, explains, " For this photo essay, I asked people in DC to pick words to represent how they feel this week, at the dawn of a new beginning for the United States. Participants chose from 26 words:

Alive, Angry, Anxious, Awed, Believe, Curious, Dancer, Excited, Grateful, Happy, Hopeful, Human, Humble, Jealous, Joyful, Love, Obama, Patient, Proud, Ready, Scared, Skeptical, Tired, Together, Wonder, Worried

Children tended to choose the words Love and Obama because they are easy. But happy was a close third. For the other participants, Hopeful and Proud won the day. People with family or friends chose Together to represent the importance of experiencing the inauguration with the ones they love."

Also, I just realized the song in this video is by the same band behind the "I got soul" Nike commercial, The Killers. I am kind of disconnected from the music scene these days, but I am a sucker for these kind of ridiculously emotional but catchy songs.

Shades of Molly Kiley

I can't believe how tiny the Queen is. At first I thought it was the Queen Mother, but no, of course she died years ago. I then weirdly thought of Molly Kiley and all those pictures from the late 60's when she looked so tiny next to the looming grandchildren. (Notice she does have her purse close by, so maybe this isn't so far fetched.) I had to look really hard before it dawned on me that it is a much tinier Queen Elizabeth than I had seen recently. As Kate says in another blog -- "such a tiny little pink queen"