Collective Picnic Photo

Here is Finlay at a picnic recently. He's looking closely at Timothy, who is just over a month old and very cute (and well-behaved!). Maybe Timothy and Finlay will grow up to serve in the same collective work unit. This, in any event, is a recent collective family photo of Finlay and parents, with friends.

From the June 8 edition of the (North) Korean News Service:

"Pyongyang, June 8 (KCNA) -- One day in January, Supreme Commander Kim Jong Il inspected a unit of the Korean People's Army. He made a stop in front of the billboard with pictures of exemplary soldiers.

After looking at the pictures, he told commanding officers of the unit that the pictures were fine but it would be better to take collective pictures of soldiers than individual ones.

With the officers hardly understanding what he meant, the supreme commander said that if they had many collective pictures, they would recollect their comrades-in-arms and worthwhile service after many years, seeing photo albums."

We will recollect the picnic!

Thanks to P&J for the photo!

Weekend in Wandlitz

Grandma Wright was with us in Wandlitz. More photos of her to follow. Here are two shots from today.

Compare and contrast...

Finlay, about 6 months ago.

Dimples!

A shot from today taken by Cathy, the good witch from the north...

Finlay has dimples! Apparently he helped make a pizza today. Strange, for a child who can't yet eat solid foods. Early exposure to international foods is good. The day he makes a "Döner" (donair, for Canadians) is the day we'll be really impressed.

Look! Koreans!

No names will be used here, but congratulations to our friend on his betrothal, and on their manufacture of a new little friend for Finlay!

More Grandma Wright!

Finlay this afternoon with Grandma Wright.

Finlay this morning

Grandma from Canada is here!

Along with bringing much-needed navy clothes, Aunt Jemima syrup and Pierre Berton books (for Finlay's later edification as to what it means to be Canadian - apparently one eats chickens stuffed with oysters, followed by pumpkin pie), Grandma Wright also brought along time and energy to spend with Finlay. An immediate hit!

Size comparison

That monkey "Gee" has turned up in all sorts of photos. Here's a size comparison from this week.

(And Finlay wearing World Cup fan gear - wait a minute...)

(We tried very hard to find baby-size North Korean team outfits for him. Always cheer for the underdog...)

A new Finlay-Fan Photo

One of the better shots from the past week or so. This would be suitable for thank-you notes for the multitude we still have to write...

Thank you to Shirley B, David R, Karen F, David and Sointula P (and Charlotte!), Wolf and Ulrike, Dorothea and Fred, Margie, Bettie M, Jack and Polina, Linda May C.!

Finlay's Godmother!

This is Annette, who is Finlay's godmother. Annette is supremely qualified to be a godmother, living next door, teaching German to demanding foreigners, and having three delightful children of her own. She's also a wondeful friend and eminently reliabe (thanks for the keys on Friday!) Annette has been fantastic with Finlay, most recently giving him his very first cutlery and dish set for use when he starts to eat semi-solid food. It resembles "Mensa" (German university cafeteria) dishes. We think that this is a vote of confidence from Annette that Finlay will soon enroll at either the Humboldt University or some very prestigious pre-K daycare. Thank you Annette!