New York!

Towards the end of June Mark had a conference to attend at Columbia in New York. Icha came along, Michele popped in for a few days... and we had a great time visiting Maria!

On Icha's first night we took a walk down on the Brooklyn Heights Promenade... only minutes from Maria's apartment!


What a cute couple.


No trip to New York is complete without a visit to Katz! World's greatest sandwich...? It could be... and at $17 it's one of the most expensive!


We managed to fit in some shopping time down in Soho.


A beautiful New York summer day... perfect weather for a boat tour around Manhattan.


Maria smiles in front of the Statue of Liberty


Mark and Icha smile only a few hundred yards from where at one time one in four Americans entered the country.


Grand Central Station!


On our last day Icha had lunch with an old friend from college while Mark & Maria went for a nice bike ride through Central Park.

First few weeks

During the first few weeks after we arrived in the USA we kept ourselves busy getting over our jet lag.


8 years of marital bliss.... celebrated with a fine meal, an IPad and some awesome flip flops!


Dad and Mark went to a great day game at AT&T Park.


Sunny skies and a Giants win!


Of course each morning we started of the day right.


The breakfast of champions.

Summer of 2011

This summer of 2011 is officially over... and it was a fantstic 7 weeks in the USA! Over the next few days we will review some of the fun we had on our latest visit to the homeland.


Our trip began at the Jakarta airport back in early June.


Jake settles in for the long flight.


Bella looks ready for a nap!


Jake and Bella enjoy playing around in the Taipei airport.


We made it to SFO! Jake and Bella walk towards immigration.


Welcome to America!


Bella and Ma reunited!


The next morning Bella was a bit jet lagged... but happy to be back at 1056.


Jake looked a bit fresher than his sister and enjoyed some quality time with Ma.

Gymnastics!

After six months of tireless practice and preparation Bella was ready for her first Gymnastics competition! Last weekend Bella performed along with 200 other Olympic hopefuls in the JIS Gym on the PIE campus for the Spring Prime Gymnastic Competition.

Jake checks out the action and thinks he might be the next Bart Conner.


Bella prepares to climb up on the balance beam.


Our little Mary Lou in action!


Bella went home with a few ribbons, medals, and a big smile. All in all a great morning.

Christmas in the USA #2

The fun continued for us in the USA.... the next morning we started things off the right way:

Ma and the boy smile... Jake was ready to head out for a quality breakfast!


So many choices... so little time....


A donut connoisseur at age 2.


Bella contenplates her choices....


No finer way to start the day.


CHRISTMAS EVE meant time to open some presents with Ma, Pa and Auntie Ria!


Forty family pictues taken... this is the best we could do.


Pa and Bella gear up for the first round of presents.


Jake kicks things off!


Hmmmmm... Jake likes what he sees in Pa's hand....


BEER!


What book is that....?


Looks like the PERFECT book for Pa!


All ready to rock baby.


Clearly Bella and Maria have differing opinions about this gift.


Bella snuggles up to her Aunite Ria --- Bella would later ask Maria on this trip: "Aunite Ria can I live with you in New York?"


A Jakarta mug! Now Maria can think of us each time she has her mornng cup of Joe.


Bella smiles with the newest addition to the Murnane family: Rebecca Rubin.


Uh oh... Jake is on the loose... where is going... what is he going to do...


That's our boy!

Christmas in the USA #1

On Saturday, December 18th we made the 'big trip home' for the holidays. We flew from Jakarta to Taipei and then onto San Francisco. A mere 28 hours from door to door... but all good fun.

For the first time of thirty (or more!) Bella listens to "Baby Baby" by Justin Bieber while waiting for our flight in Jakarta.


Icha smiles while the kids amuse themselves in the Taipei airport.


Jake shows off his Niner Pride!


San Francisco! After the long haul Jake was a little worn out.


After a couple days it was time for the Annual Murnane Family Dinner! Below Maria, Monica and Michele smile.


Icha shows off the boy in his Sunday Best.


Dinner time! Bella, Lauren, Ryan, Monica, Jordan and Brooke all get ready to dig in.


Maria and Pa contenplate what to have for dinner.


Thank you Ma and Pa for another great family dinner!