Thanksgiving: Food, Family and Fun!
We had a superb Thanksgiving holiday with a fantastic visit from Ouma, Leo, Auntie Sam and Uncle Emy.
Originally uploaded by nathaniel s.
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Cupcake, Spider Woman and Tinks
Halloween!!!
Yes, yes, yes, Mummy has been remiss — time, software updates (that ensure the camera is no longer compatible with iPhoto) and all sorts of things have meant few posts for the nerdtobe fan club. So, here are a heap.
Nonie was a stunning Tinkerbell, and she went trick or treating with Azalea (Spider Woman) and Eva (Cupcake). Enjoy the pics.
Originally uploaded by nathaniel s.
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Laughs Before Pancakes, Always Good.
Nonie catches up with Popop and Babba on a flying visit to NYC with Daddy (no Mummy for the first time — getting so growed up).
Some Sidisms from the last few weeks:
“Bless yous are guy germs with swords.”
“I caught my hustle bum from you.”
“You got me a baby?”
“Are those my only options?” (In response to being told bath or no movie!)
“Look, look my nibbles have grown bigger” (pointing at her chest).
On tripping, “Don’t worry I am quite resilient.”
To Mummy laughing at the hair she refuses to brush: “I am bored of being teased.”
To Daddy who said no, “You have upsetted me, a lot.”
On discovering that she cannot fly to fairyland on paper wings, “I am very disappointed in my imagination.”
“Somebody, should get me a treat” or “Somebody should not be mean to me” (often, to Mummy and Daddy).
“I want E-I-E M-O-M” (spelling ice cream).
To Mommy: “I don’t like it when you say ‘interesting’– it sounds like a bad thing.”
“You have to jump over oxtables or you will fall!”
To the punk one line over at the supermarket, “Hey, you girl, I like your sparkles.”
“Odd is a mean word, its not pretty, we should not use it anymore.”
“I am going to have two babies (with Miss Erica) I am going to call them … Halloween and Valentines, no puddle and sunflower, no tree climber boy and big schoolgirl …” (hence the odd comment to Mummy’s use of “those are odd names”).
Hugs to all,
from Nonie (“that’s my real name”) “nickname Sidonie Ridgway” (“but I think you should call me sweetie pie”) Stern
Originally uploaded by nathaniel s.
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Summer’s Last Gasp
In the dying days of summer Nonie got to go to a lot of birthday parties, managed a last swim in the now chilly lake, and started her career as queen of the toddler soccer pitch. Watch here for more sporting pics and the changing of the seasons, and (of course) the ever changing girl.
Originally uploaded by nathaniel s.
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Sid’s Summer Holiday
So, thanks to Babba and Popop, Sidonie (real name Nonie, as she insists) and Nat and Nicole, and some friends had a glorious vacation. It started with polka and fish fry and friends (Sarah, Aaron, Little Isaac and Naomi; Jeff, Big Isaac, Jessica, her Mom and Brother and Sister-in-law) where much freestyle dancing and jollification was done; we then all headed off to the Paradise cabin at Birchlake just outside of Tomah in the midwest (sic) of Wisconsin. It was crazy beautiful! 
We swam; ate local fruit and veges, jams and pies; swam some more; made friends; went to see Amish country and learnt a lot about cranberries; swam again; had a lot of braais/barbeques; played board and card games; swam; hung out with the ‘rents (Popop was sadly sick); hung out with Jessica and Isaac, and Yev and Jim; swam and hot tubbed; and, generally had a fantastic time with spectacular company. Before heading home we went further west to La Crosse and had a magnificent tour on the Mississippi, ate Cajun style food in the old part of the town in what used to be the port, and had ice cream in an 80 year-old “malt shoppe”. Once home we extended our holiday for a day and went to the Wisconsin State Fair. Saw lots of animals, did lots of rides at the carnival, and rode a camel. Amazing time (even tho’ madam was a little tired and cranky). So, having run out of superlatives, that is our summer vacation in a nutshell. Hope yours was as good/will be as good (for those in the other hemisphere). Greetings from Birchlake indeed!
Originally uploaded by nathaniel s.
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Intimations of a Summer, Thus Far
As Mummy lost the pics for most of June and July, here are a few intimations of my summer of fun and my new skill (hee!) with my new camera! More soon!
Originally uploaded by nathaniel s.
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Nonie Turns Four!!!
Bowling and presents and cake (twice). What more could a girl ask for? Happy Birthday to me!!!
Originally uploaded by nathaniel s.
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A Grrreat Time Was Had By All
Here are some fab pics of our visit with Auntie Dani and Uncle James in NYC in May.
Originally uploaded by nathaniel s.
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I pet a lion and feed a giraffe and played with penguins!
A few belated photos from our SA trip earlier this year. The highlights are Nonie and various wildlife: penguins, giraffes and lions.
Originally uploaded by nathaniel s.
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Some Belated Entries and An Apology
A few belated entries now that photos have come in; and a huge apology, as Mummy and the computer and the camera had a run in, and most of the summer of Sidonie 2010 (including her recent visit to NYC, her friend Isaac’s birthday and many, many fun summer activities) have vanished into the place where data goes to die when someone (like Mummy) is a silly goose!
So sorry folks, but we do have some catch up photos and news, most importantly the recent FOURTH birthday celebrations.
So, firstly, congratulations to Monique and Mark!!! All the very best for your new life together and welcome to the family Uncle Mark!
Originally uploaded by nathaniel s.
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Sarasota Visit
So, another way to survive winter is to go to warmer climes and hang out with your family (Babba and Popop, Ouma, Uncle Eme and Aunt Samantha, and Cousin Leo were all in town for a few days) and swim and play and make new friends (James and Victoria and Alissa and William) and see distant cousins (Rhoda and Sree) and swim and learn to bungy jump and swim and … well you get the gist. Four days of jam-packed love and fun and stuff!
Originally uploaded by nathaniel s.
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Princess Nonie Manages to Survive Wisconsin Winter
Between winning a tiara at the “squishy park” and “pretend” driving with Isaac, between swimming at home in the kitchen and at the indoor water park downtown, between ice skating and birthday parties and playing with the cats, and so, so, so many more adventures, “winter has been bearable,” says her Highness Nonie. “I might make it to four,” she announced yesterday.
Originally uploaded by nathaniel s.
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Meeting Jack and Lucy
Now that is a laugh! Enjoy me enjoying Jack and Lucy on or very first encounter.
Winter Days: Short but Full
My winter days are filled with Lifeways and friends and ‘rents and cats. That’s right, CATS!!! I named them — Jack and Lucy — and I like to pretend to be a cat with them. My meow rocks and my purr is coming along nicely.
Ballet has started again, I got to go sledding with little Isaac and to make Valentine’s sundaes with big Isaac, I’ve been to a new squishy (inflatable) park and hang out at my old regulars (the butterfly museum and the children’s museum), and had a bunch of play-dates. Mostly tho’ I’ve liked helping dig out the alley/garage and eating fresh snow is a must.
Originally uploaded by nathaniel s.
see more of my latest pix here.