Maternity Pictures - 13 Weeks

End-of-Year Wrap-Up

~Welcome 2009~

Just so no one is confused, this is not a New-Year's Resolution to keep up with a weekly blog! It's been ages (actually, 4 months) since the last post so we do hope to keep the pictures & storytelling a bit more up to date. Enough of the formalities, let's look at some pictures to see what we've been up to. Thanksgiving was spent in St. Louis with Alexandra's family. In order to take Bruno with us, the trusty Honda Accord, aka "Midnight Crusader", chaperoned us safely from San Antonio through 900-odd miles of middle-America. Here is how Bruno likes to travel: 1) Bruno loves to travel in the car.

Once in St. Louis, it is only fitting for Bruno to have a Great-Dane-sized castle...although it was roomy enough for two !


Part of the time in the Lou was spent at the lake house, where activities included eating, eating, eating...ping-pong...eating, eating, eating...fishing....and more eating. (For Alexandra & Susan, substitute the word "cooking" for "eating").



~Mandatory Bruno Glamour Shot~

Here's a picture of Claudia, Kevin & Alexandra over the Thanksgiving break enjoying, what else, food together :)


Seeing that Kevin was a bit under the weather in St. Louis, it was only fitting for Alexandra to come down with a cold upon our return to San Antonio. Here she is keeping the Kleenex industry afloat :)

What could make you feel better than some Bruno-love? Nothing, that's what! (Maybe homemade chicken soup!!).


Some more Bruno-healing:

~New Year's Eve 2008/2009~

New Year's Eve was a blast as we spent it with our neighbors the Fenton's. Don't be surprised but our evening involved lots of eating. A very intimate 10-course French feast at a 3-star Michelin restaurant, Le Reve, that I am told had a different wine with every course. I can't remember for sure because, every course had a different wine!


At Le Reve:

Finally, we entered the 2009 the same way we left 2008: with food! Alexandra found a great recipe for a deconstructed, inside-out eggplant parmesan.

It was delicious! Note Kevin's clean plate!!


A Happy New Year and may you find health, happiness & success in 2009!
Love from,
Alexandra, Kevin & Bruno

Omaha!

Shew! It's been ages since the last blog update but we hope it's been worth the wait. Below are a few pictures taken in Omaha to celebrate the Bris for Eliezer Binyamin, newest member of the Shyken family :) We had a blast and laughed all weekend long - nothing like being with family. A big thanks to Eliezer's grandmothers for planning/cooking/organizing, to Yael for bringing Meir A., to Dad for dropping us off at the airport before sunrise (sorry Dad!) to the Shyken's for providing this lovely simcha and to Alexandra for working her magic to get airline tickets!!! Right then, onto some pictures:

Picture 1: First introductions...welcome Eliezer Binyamin.


Picture 2: hmmm...still sleeping. I think I detect a theme here.


Picture 3: Ah yes, definitely a theme here!


Picture 4: Not everyone was as sleepy as EB...here is Aviva Chana in, *ahem* full swing ;)


Picture 5: Don't blink or you'll miss the quiet moments...


Picture 6: Batsheva Tova loves the camera...


Picture 7: More glamour shots...


Picture 8: Sisters!


Picture 9: Not to be outdone...some silly faces as Shmuel Aaron makes an appearance.


Picture 10: S.A. working hard in the garden...


Picture 11: Yael & Meir Avraham...he's so delicious!


Love to all...till next time,
Kevin, Alexandra & Bruno

Chicago 'n stuff: a 3-part blog update

So much activity and traveling in the last few weeks with loads to tell and pictures to show. Let's kick the updates off with pictures so you can see how the Greatest Great Dane that ever lived has been getting along :) Not that we're biased or anything...seriously though, everyone thinks he's the most handsome and well behaved dog they've ever seen. (Except when he's not...see the older post of him chewing Alexandra's shoe but hey, we all need to exercise our mischievous side once in a while). As you can see from the above picture, Bruno loves his momma!

Here is Bruno at a recent play date with another Dane seen in the right side of the photo. This poodle came running up to see Bruno & Biggio and when he arrived, I think this picture shows his surprise at how big these dogs were :)


PART II - Sweatin' It Out
In other recent news, we recently had to replace our entire Air Conditioning system. Of course it decided to die on us in the middle of the San Antonio summer (which, incidentally, lasts from February to November). Needless to say, with temperatures hitting triple digits we were in desperate need to have the issue addressed. During the first night of our ordeal, we went Olde-Skool and bought an industrial fan and a few bags of ice. In the next picture, you can see Bruno enjoying the slight breeze this afforded. Unfortunately, the temperature remained in the high-80's inside the house at night.

Given that none of us were going to survive much longer with this jerry-rigged setup, we returned the next night to WalMart and purchased a window AC unit....genius!!! We set it up in the guest room and enjoyed the immediate respite from the heat - I don't think Bruno left that room for 5 days! The AC was finally replaced...Nothing Stops A Trane (and if it does, we still have the window AC).


PART III - Chi Town Baby!
We also spent a great few days in Chicago celebrating the wedding of Alexandra's best friend from college. Here is a picture of Kevin, Alexandra, Jeff & Susan enjoying the waterfront of Chicago.


Nothing like a little break from all the walking...if I remember correctly, this is right after Susan mentioned she was going to buy me a bronze fountain, circa 1600 Tibet, from the store Primitive :) Thanks Susan!

In addition to making Susan promise the treasures from Primitive, the Lotus Blossom White Tea we had at the store had its effect on Jeff...


Mazal Tov to Sara & Evan...and while they were very happy, they weren't the only happy couple there :)



BONUS FEATURE!
...and a few recent photos from San Antonio:

Catch Ups...

While Alexandra spends the weekend freezing in St. Louis, Bruno & I are having a great time here at home where we're enjoying beautiful Spring weather & some tunes by Kate Nash, Rilo Kiley and others :) In between studying and letting Bruno chase squirrels I found four photos that I haven't shared yet.

Picture 1: Gila and Grandpa! Look at those little eyes sparkle with joy.





Picture 2: Here's one from 2005 on a picnic at the McNay Museum grounds during the Fall. Nice sunglasses miss :)




Picture 3: Bruno surveying the lake at Innsbruk during any icy-cold Winter morning sunrise. Look at all the ice on the far side of the lake...brrr!




Picture 4: Bruno enjoying a large field we found on the drive home from St. Louis in January. Our big boy weighs in at 133 lbs this week but is obedient and sweeter than ever.