Todd -n- Odd: December 2007

Our Getaway To South Ameri-cay
The last two weeks in November, The DiFrancos, Pfeiffers, Fields and a de Ocampo flew down to sunny, warm Argentina. My cousin Iván was getting married so that was the excuse we needed to get motivated and go.

We all met in Miami for the long flight down to Buenos Aires.

And we made it! Here's us plus my Argentinean relatives. It was 11pm so the American children were fast asleep. The Argentinean baby pictured, my cousin's little son Valentino, was just getting ready for supper and wondering where all the other kids were.

Loretta and Cora: JC Penney catalog models.

We rented a big house for all of us in the same country club community where my Aunt and Uncle live. Basically we just played and ate and hung out. There was swimming, a playground for the kids, lots of mate time (that's a kind of a tea), card playing, horsing around, bike-riding, bocce, sunbathing and napping. Did I mention the 5 square meals a day?

Above are some intense table tennis championships.

Intense paddle tennis championships

Nonna in factura heaven.

Nonno catching some rays in the capital. Some tango breaks out in the streets of Buenos Aires.

Our chariot.

Enjoying Quilmes, the national beer.

Ditto.

My mom and her brother Nino.

Forget polo and soccer...BBQ is Argentina's national pasttime.

Even the many vegetarians in our family renounced it during the trip. The meat is that good.

Write your own caption for this one. ;)

Iván and his new bride Natalia.

Me and my sibs at the reception.

Gauchos galloped triumphantly through the beautiful estancia where the reception was held.

And our very own gauchos.

Ditto.

Loretta airborne......and liking it.

I celebrated my birthday in Argentina. Being there with all my loved ones around me made it the bestest birthday I ever, ever had.

My sister Tricia took some beautiful Argentina photos and posted them here http://denison.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2027016&l=8aff4&id=28500663

Tricka Treat!

Just like he does every Halloween, my talented husband channels his inner Martha Stewart and makes the kiddie costumes. Thank god somebody in this family has some practical skills.

Sewing the perfect dorsal fin.

Halloween started off like any good morning should: with a parade led by a tuba band. This is Henry's pre-school. We paraded around the block in costume led by a fantabulous New Orleans Dixieland Band.

Some of the other moppets.

And here's Henry the man-eating shark. He was a little wigged out that everyone (including adults) were in costume.

That night, at our house the wonderful Orvettis came over to trick and treat in our 'hood.

That's Super Miles. Porter (at the window) was a very adorable Robot. And that's pretty much how Peter looks on a normal day.

The front of our house. As always, our street was the scene for THOUSANDS of people to gather and celebrate. My landlord and friend Athena gets a permit and blocks off the street for an enormous street party.

On the prowl for some candy.

The crowd scene. This was the costume contest. Man, there were a lot of creative costumes.

Little Miss Loretta's First Halloween.

I think she got the hang of it.

Our Own Marathon Man!

This year, my brother Richie decided to train for and run the Marine Corps Marathon. (?) (!)

It made no sense to our family, "Why you gotta' run so far?" But still my whole family including out-of-town cousins came to DC to support Rich in his ambitious goal. This is the night before when we all gathered to make signs.

And more signs.

This was the big carbo-load courtesy of my parents the night before the race.

There were seemingly 90 bazillion people running and viewing this race. It was a spectacle the likes of which I'd never seen. In the clip above, you can see Richie run by right at the end. He's wearing a black, longsleeve Gabriella-made shirt that said his name on the front (so strangers could cheer him on) and "Italian Stallion" on the back (cuz he is one).

That's me in the backpack shrieking.

He did it!!