The Fairfields from Yuba City

There are 3 Fairfield boys in my immediate family. My brother Pete (above) is the oldest. He's a physical therapist, drives a motorcycle, listens to nu-metal on occasion, and has graduated into the realm of facial hair. I tried in vain to dress like him growing up, but since he was firstborn, he got all the new clothes. I got his clothes when he was bored with them. So though i did eventually get to dress like him, by that point it was years out of fashion.

Pete is not himself a dad. This is puzzling to many, because he's amazingly natural with kids. He was an uncle even before Soren came along, but this is his first Fairfield Nephew. And if you know my family, this is a special thing. My family is very close, and very loving. We know a little too much about each other, and we have a lot of variation in my family. We don't always agree or see eye to eye, but we love each other and always work to understand each other. Sometimes i think of how different Pete and i are; on paper, we should be extremely awkward around each other. He loves to ride ATV's, and i love contemporary art. But i love my big brother, and i get so giddy to be around him.

I don't think that Pete's ever really worked with kids. I don't even think he ever really babysat. As far as i know, he's never wanted to have kids really strongly. But you should see Soren with him-- he gets so goofy and funny. Soren can't stop laughing, and maybe he feels some sort of solidarity because of their haircuts...? I haven't quite figured it out.

My brother Pete is married to another Lisa. And like Pete, she is in-cred-ible with Soren; he couldn't get enough of his Aunt Lisa. She makes this hilarious chicka-chicka sound and gets this crazy look on her face that made him squeak so loudly that it startled us. He loved it. I don't know if i had ever heard him laugh so much before.

My sister-in-law #1 is the only female fire chief that i've ever met in my life. She's kind of a big deal. And, she's the most calm, down-to-earth, easy going person i've ever met, without any hint of an ego. She's great, and great for Pete.



Pete and Lisa flew into TN to check up on their property that they hope to move to someday in the future. Pete was scheduled to go to a conference in my old stomping grounds Knoxville. But the propspect of meeting a new Fairfield wooed him, and he nobly ditched the meeting. I didn't even ask him to. He's that great of a brother.

We got to sample the best of local Cincinnati cuisine (Hey, c'mon. Stop laughing, please) :

1) Brunch at the Parkside Cafe,
2) lunch and Curb Your Enthusiasm at our house,
3) "Burger Madness" at Arthur's,
4) Ethiopian lamb and vegetables at Emanu, and
5) Incredible vegetarian Indian food at Udipi.






































(Though honestly, how could you say no to this guy here? He's so special, i can barely stand it. I love this kid.)