For our Russian-speaking readers

"Dietrich, say moon."

"Moon!"

"Now say moon na Russkom."

"Moo-na!"

(For our English-speaking readers: It's actually pronounced loona.)

Dietrich's guide to American icons

Dietrich, upon seeing the cover of the very fat IRS instruction guide for ex-pats:

"What's that?"

"That's the Statue of Liberty."

"It's got ice cream!"

"Actually, that's a torch."

"No, it's ice cream."

The alpha-bret song

Last weekend, we drove to Henderson, Nevada, to visit South Hills Church Community. We stayed with Pastor Bret, who was Eric's youth pastor back when Eric was a youth, and his lovely wife, Sallie.

Dietrich was, and remains, smitten with Bret. It's the first time he's been so instantly attached to a grownup who didn't, you know, give birth to him.

Need proof?

Here's Dietrich's current version of the ABC song:

A B C
BRET!
E F G
BRET!
H I
BRET!
M N O
BRET!

... and so on, all the way to, "Now I BRET my ABCs. Next time won't you BRET! with me?"

The people have spoken ...

Photo number 2 it is. And thanks to all who noticed the missing "p" in equipping. It shall be properly spelled in the final version.

Please vote

We're cranking out a new brochure about our work in Ukraine, and we can't choose a cover. The size is 3.75 by 5 inches. Which one would you pick?

Descriptive

Dietrich, halfway through his first-ever Jamba Juice:

"I no like it."

"Why not?"

"Iz too swippery! Iz too hot!"

Favorite Christmas moments

We've moved down to Southern California, and I'm re-living Christmas as I (finally) download pictures.


The quality of this photo isn't great, but I love the way all the grown-ups are standing expectantly in the back, waiting to see if the slide will be a hit.


Wouldn't go to sleep without his new baseball book. Still won't, actually.


Aunt Jit Fong and Uncle Sam introduce Dietrich to "Yo Gabba Gabba."


Yep, it was a hit. Thanks, Craig's list!