Babies, Babies Everywhere!

I just got back from a lovely two weeks in the US. I had to attend leadership training in Washington, which was probably the best State Dept training course I've been to thus far. And I also pushed hard to get to spend both weekends (before and after) in the US. It was well worth the push!

The first weekend, I stopped in Minnesota and got to see my new nephew Simon! Oh, and his mom and dad were there too. I was so excited to see him I got all choked up when I spotted him in the airport in his daddy's arms. Here's the newest member of the Pleuss family:

Simon and Andy

Simon and Jess

I know that people only see the cute photos of kids, and Simon seems to be a pretty good-natured kid most of the time, but here's proof that Jess and Andy are earning their parenting stripes just like the rest of us!

Wail

From freezing Minnesota to ice storm Washington, I went to class, worked on the computer at all hours due to jet lag (hmm...sort of like now...) and caught up with Scott and Michelle. They were the only DC friends I even told I was coming to town, because with just a few nights in town and a crazy schedule of training and State Dept meetings I just didn't have time to see many people. Hope you two feel special! Oddly, I found out later that my sister Liz and I had both been in DC at the same time but hadn't realized it as neither expected the other to be there. She was visiting her boyfriend, and the only night we overlapped was Valentine's Day, so maybe that wouldn't have been the best night to get together anyway!

After training, I stopped in California on the way back and caught up with some old grad school friends. I hadn't seen Gene in four years, but here he is, now doing the urban dad thing with Max:

Gene and Max

And here's the whole family, Max (celebrating his first birthday), Gwen, and Gene

Then it was off to see more grad school friends--Erin and Bryan and their not-so-new addition, Liam. Liam will be two in a few months, but I haven't seen Erin and Bryan in six years (wow!) so we hadn't met before.

Smiley Liam out for a walk

The whole family enjoying ice cream