Thanksgiving 2007/The Strydoms Invade

This year, for Karina's (and Matthew's) first Thanksgiving, the Strydoms converged onto Seattle. Dan and Rina arrived first to meet Karina and help with the preparations. Hannes/Fritz, Debbie, Johnathan, Matthew and then Rinus, Daniel and Emilija arrived the next day. Unlike last summer when the Strydoms and the Ericsons came to visit, the weather was perfect, and there were many opportunities to take walks and see the Puget Sound, the Olympic Mountains, and Mt. Rainier.


Rina/Ouma feeds Karina for the first time.


Dan/Oupa helps Karina fall asleep.


Oom Hannes/Fritz feeds Karina.


And now it's Aunt Debbie's turn to feed Karina.


The grandkids pose for a photo. Clock-wise from the left are Emilija (2 1/2), Johnathan (4), Daniel (5 1/2), Matthew (6 months), and Karina (5 weeks).


Oom Rinus, Emilija, Marie and a bundled and polka-dotted Karina pose for a photo after a walk to Sunset Park.


Marie and Karina. Karina is wearing one of her stylish outfits.


Karina showing off her cute hoodie sweater.


The "big kids" pitch in to help make sure Karina is warm and comfy.


Karina loves bathtime!



Johnathan holds Karina for the first time.



The kids pose for a photo.

4 weeks old and a visit from Ya Ya and Far Far

Karina is 4 weeks old!!! She had a very exciting week. Dave/Far Far and Karin/Ya Ya Ericson arrived on 10/8/07 to meet their new granddaughter. They were immediately smitten and couldn't get enough of her. Their trip came and went, and they were sad, but have their next trip in January to look forward to.


Karina "laughs" at the TV while sitting in Tim's lap.


Karina breakdancing.


Karina amongst her elephants, or "fatitis" as Marie called them as a child. And in case you're wondering, that is not the Afrikaans word for elephant...


Far Far holds Karina for the first time. As usual, she's asleep.


Ya Ya's ear to ear grin shows just how happy she is to be a grandmother. And Karina's asleep.


Karin and Marie pose at the start of Karina's first walk in the stroller.


Karina shows off her Red Sox pride. She will however never know the pain that the rest of us endured before 2004.


Marie and Tim pose for a photo in Sunset Park as Karina ponders life.


Dave and Jimi.


Proof that Karina does spend some of her day awake...


...and unfortunately the night as well :)

Halloween Fun :)

Karina's third week of life was eventful. Tim went back to work and it was her first Halloween. Although she missed her Dad, she and Marie had a good week trying to settle in to a routine. She was not a big fan of Halloween though....


Tim carved a "pumpkin diaper" for Karina. Her costume only lasted for 3 minutes before Marie couldn't take the crying anymore :)


A more relaxed "pumpkin" hanging out in her swing.


Karina relaxing some more in her bouncer.


Karina hanging out with Dad and staring at the lights. She loves lights and she loves her Daddy :)


Our first family photo! Marie, Tim and Karina hanging out at Adriane, Jay and Alice's. Also our first dinner outside the house :)


Karina trying to be just like her Daddy...


Karina (a.k.a "The pigeon")