Holidays: 1) Longwood

In the Meek family, the holiday season is not complete without a trip to Longwood Gardens. Longwood is an incredible botanical garden that is near to our families house, and we have been members for more than twenty years. Any season at Longwood is special, but the December holidays in particular are magical.





Of course the place is gorgeous and is covered in lights, but what I always find most interesting is the incredibly artistic landscaping arrangements that the gardeners design.


A giant wreath made up of various ferns and other colorful plants



The room with trees decorated by local schoolchildren




My perennial favorite: carnivorous plants! (They are red and green so I guess they count as festive)



 

Longwood never ceases to amaze or surprise; there's always something new and innovative around the corner. If you're ever in the Philadelphia/D.C/Baltimore area make the trip over, you'll be glad you did!

Re-Entry and Reconnecting: 4) DC

Our interest in reconnecting and introducing Annie to family in friends was greatly facilitated by "Bubby" Rita, who organized two gatherings in the D.C. area the weekend after we came home.


The first get together was at Aunt Jean and Unce George's house. We have a lot of extended family in the D.C. area, and it was really special for us that essentially all 20 of them in a hundred mile radius made the voyage down to meet us and welcome Annie into the family.

 
It was particularly special for me to see some of my younger cousins holding Annie,  cousins who I easily remember holding when they were that age.




The next stop on the family tour was to visit a mainstay in our family: the Christmas tree stand which my Uncle Burt and family run. I've worked there many a Christmas season, and it was really nice to introduce Annie to that familiar space (unfortunately I don't have the pictures with me, but will post them later). After that, it was on to a really nice brunch that Bubby Meek had organized at a local hotel for other extended family and friends.

To say Annie was the star of the party would be a serious understatement!

Truly a memorable weekend of fun times with family and friends; we, and Annie, are so lucky to have you in our lives!

Re-Entry and Reconnecting: 3) Brunch

The thing we were most excited about in terms of returning home from India was introducing Annie to all of our family and friends. This was greatly facilitated by Rita, who organized brunch at the house on the Strand, and two gatherings in the D.C. area the weekend after we came home.

First, the gathering on the Strand.

We had over to the house our long time family friends, David and his mother Judy, David's wife Joanne, and lovely daughter V. We were also lucky enough to be able to get Kevin, Jordan, and their son Q. to come down from PA. It was a lovely lovely gathering. Wonderful food and wonderful friends.



Who has the best smile...it's a tie


Ok, on second thought, Annie wins


Babies are not toys


Relishing being home among good friends


How far we've come in 25 years

Re-entry and re-connecting: 2) All Smiles

Our first few days at home were spent largely in and around the house, watching Annie:


Exploring her first books



Beginning our extensive exercise regime


And just a lot of general snuggly times


Close lookings

In addition to getting over the time zone change, we began to equilibrate to the colder weather with some nice walks along the water.








And a number of really nice meals with our newest family member. As the next series of photos show, it was a beautifully smiley time for all.
.

All Smiles: 1
 


All Smiles: 2


All Smiles: 3


All Smiles: 4



All Smiles: 5 


All Smiles: 6
 

Re-entry and reconnecting: 1) Landing

Over the last several months before we returned from India, I had imagined again and again what it would be like to leave our apartment in New Delhi for the last time, what it would be like to take a taxi to the airport, what it would be like to sit on the airplane as it took off and so forth. Well, at the end of a fifteen hour flight, they were the images we had all been waiting for:


Jim and Rita Meek earned a gold star for driving 3 hours to meet us at the Newark airport at 4:30 a.m. For their magnanimous efforts, they got their first chance to hold their new grand daughter. 







Here, Grandpa Jim is beginning his new tradition of addressing Annie with the phrase "Annie, this is your grandfather speaking. Hello Annie!" (you have to here it for yourself to get the flavor)


After seeing my parents, the next thing I was most excited about was  seeing Boris, our dog who has been staying with Jim and Rita. 



There had been questions among some about how Boris would react to Annie.






Well, his Papa new that Boris would be a star and shower Annie with love, and that he did! He joined us on the couch and bathed Annie (literally!) with kisses.



After he made sure her hands were nice and clean he just nuzzled his head down onto her lap.




It was clearly a happy  return for all!

In Review: A Year in India

It's so hard to believe that a year in India has come and gone as I write this. It seems like just yesterday that we were carrying our luggage up the steps to Tannie and Murad's bed and breakfast in the cold, foggy night. Looking back on this experience is quite surreal: I remember walking onto the airplane in Newark, walking past the bulkhead area with the bassinet, and thinking that in a year that would be us, leaving with 2 but coming home with 3. Although most of these moments have been captured in one form or another in previous posts, I thought a whirlwind year-in-review post would be fitting for the end to this particular adventure. Please pardon me if either your favorite picture, or the crazy adventure we had together, isn't on here. Just know each of you made this an unforgettable year in India.



DECEMBER: Arrival


Good news that would define our trip




Underwhelmed with our furnished apartment





Beautiful scenery from a trip to New Year's Orcha with Tannie and Murad




JANUARY: Getting Settled


Working with the plant walllah




Dave hard at work





Who could forget Mumfli, the adopted street dog?


Dave travels to the Northeast




Root bridges




FEBRUARY: Ellora and Ajanta


Ajanta and Ellora with Sarah


APRIL: The Weavers visit


 The Taj



 Benares
 


Waiting on/for/in a train


 Jaipur


MAY: The Meeks Arrive


Back to Nanda Devi: Reconnecting with People and Places




After five years, screening the Nanda Devi documentary I helped produce in Lata village




Soaking in the scenery in Kurseong



Toy train to Darjeeling




 Relaxing in Kalimpong



Darjeeling and a special anniversary


 Playing in Kashmir


JUNE: To Ladakh

Learning about Ladakhi agriculture






Bluegrass in the backwoods




and the three M's, not Meek men, well, them too, but:


1. Mountains



2. Mustaches


3. Monasteries 


JULY:


Benares with Jon: As the Monsoon Arrives



Benares with Jon: Sitar Lessons


Benares: Ear cleaning


AUGUST:


On Day 1



Starting the life-long process of learning to be parents


Wonderful times with wonderful friends




SEPTEMBER



Grandma Gail arrives!!!



Getting legit


OCTOBER:


Birthday Bash at the Spa


Jantar Mantar


Surprise birthday party!!!


A Diwali to Remember


NOVEMBER:


Kerala Adventures




Good friends


Great times

Life-long relationships





DECEMBER: Liftoff!!!



Weighing in one last time