December 2002 -  What a crazy busy month. We got back to visit my side of the family for Christmas for the first time in a long time.  Three days after Christmas Amalia celebrated her first birthday.  We are still in recovery.

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Thanksgiving 2002 -  Steve and Ann and Keri's Aunt Janet and Uncle Steve spent the holiday with us in Portland.  Steve just got his new digital camera and took the wonderful pictures you see below!

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November 2002 -   Amalia is walking (with assistance), and has discovered the piano (looks like Cyndi Lauper in the below picture) and her cuddly stuffed dog.  We made it up to Steve and Ann's place for Nan's birthday, and after the cake eating Steve brought out Keri's old rocking horse which Amalia really enjoyed.  She remains thankfully a very happy baby.  Other news this month - I took on a new job working for Corillian as a Systems Analyst.

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October 2002 - Amalia is crawling around like crazy and has begun pulling herself up on anything and everything.  She hasn't actually stood up yet, but it looks like it won't be long.  We met the Stice's on Sauvie's Island at the Pumpkin Patch and got some nice pictures.  Finally, Amalia had on her Illini gear during a striking sunny day.

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September 2002 - We were so busy this month we forgot the camera on all our outings!  That was pretty lame of us, but things are getting busier every day it seems.  Our big trip for the month was a weekend in Bend, full of hiking along the Deshutes River and in the Cascade Mountains.  I escaped for an afternoon to Sunriver and got a round of golf in on the spectacular Meadows course with our old buddy Brent Elliot.  The below pictures are of Amalia, Alison, and Aiden on Aiden's first birthday, Amalia in a basket helping daddy with laundry, Tristan, Cirrus, and Amalia clowning around, a group shot from Bend, shots of the band from September's gig at the Bitter End Pub, and finally Amalia pictures from the end of the month that she learned to crawl.

August 2002 - It was a very good month with lots of fun things happening.  In addition to all the things you expect from us (Monday golf, band gigs, trips to the coast, etc) I got a chance to catch up with an old bass player friend of mine, Greg Garrison, who now plays in Leftover Salmon. The month ended on a high note as Uncle's Randy and Dan made it out and finally met Amalia (and won their softball tourney in their spare time).  Oh, by the way, check out the new and improved Lonesome's page updated to reflect the release of our new effort, "Summer Friend".  Enjoy.

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Mid-July 2002 - Here are some random shots from the past month.  Alison is helping out here, Amalia has played with Max, watched the Home Run Derby, finally won over Cirrus our cat, and played in the water then slept at the park.

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Mid-June 2002 - Grandma and Grandpa Hercey came out for another visit and what a difference 3 months make in the development of a child!  Amalia and Tristan got in some quality playtime.  Finally, Great Great Aunt Barbara got to see Amalia, then the next day we celebrated Steve's 60th birthday.  Amalia got a great present, though, and that was a new swing for the Carkeek yard.  She loved it. 

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Early June 2002 - We headed up to Safeco Field for the Cubs-Mariner's game Saturday June 8.  Co-organizer Phil Favorite and his entourage didn't make it.  They had a good excuse - three hours before game time Anne Favorite gave birth to their second child, 7 lbs. 7 oz healthy Dylan Edward.  M's win, 4-1 behind Freddy "The Chief" Garcia.  Tip - take the bus to the game and avoid the parking cost/hassle.  Steve flew me over to Elma in his plane and we saw a spectacular sunset over the Olympics.  Sunday Ann and Steve had Robert and Nan Grimm over for brunch, they adored Amalia again.  What a fun weekend!

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Keri went hiking Silver Falls trail with Monica and Tristan in June 2002.  Enjoy these pictures.

Amalia steals the scene again on a beautiful day in Portland May 18th 2002

Robyn and Amalia at the driving range May 2002...

Amalia's starting solid foods in May 2002, what a mess...

Three shots from Mother's Day 2002, Keri and Amalia

Amalia and Robyn playing the sit up game late April 2002

Baby on the beautiful quilt given to her from Red late April 2002

Little Miss Amalia looking cute in early April 2002

Amalia and Robyn hiking at Flaming Geyser Park Easter Day 2002

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Amalia's first photographed smile, her amazing talking bear, and her friend Tristan Stice... 

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VISITORS FROM THE EAST

Valentine's Day Grandma and Grandpa Hercey, and Great Uncle Dennis and Great Aunt Kathe trekked out to Portland from Illinois to see Amalia for themselves.  They found amazing February weather (60 degrees and sunny in the valley), perfect for a trip around the Mt. Hood loop!  Dennis was in awe of the 200 inches of snow at Timberline, Kathe and Grandma loved the waterfalls in the Gorge, and the Hercey's were treated to a rare windless warm day at Cannon Beach. Finally, the dry weather continued as they wrapped up their trip with a walk up and down the Willamette River then finally finished with pizza in Old Town. 

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In January Amalia got her first visit up towards Seattle where Keri's lineage reigns, and here are some pictures for you to enjoy.  Click to enlarge any image in a new browser window!

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Here are more pictures from our first couple of weeks at home acclimating to life with a baby in the house.  Could I look more tired?  Fortunately, I feel a lot better than I look.  Keri and Amalia look great and feel even better!