Grandad was Here

How can we tell? From the many "tools" and pieces of "equipment" that have appeared, like mushrooms, in the house. Grandad, we love you very much and you are a huge sucker. Meanwhile, I'm working on some stuff to get to my diss. advisor, so this will have to be just a teaser. This was some of our trip to the Museum of Flight. I think Sam is ready for flight school, oui?

"BYEEE"

Rare photographic evidence of Mama.

Playing with buttons in the Amelia Earhart exhibit.

"RUN AWAY!!"

One of the best features of the flight museum is its wide, open spaces. Key to exhausting a toddler.

Huh.

Wow. I sounded cranky and defensive in that last post. Again, I blame allergy meds. I'm better now, and I do care for you all, so I'll be a little peppier.
Promise.

Eat a Peep

Well, it's Easter. Or Bunny Day, as we like to call it. Charlie was the one who bothered to get the camera this time. I was whacked out on allergy medication and my sum total attitude was "whatever." These are in no particular order. I used to be able to rearrange images in Blogger on my computer, but I can't now. I don't know why and I've got better things to do, so hopefully you all will learn to live with the pain.

(I'm still taking the allergy meds, by the way.)

Rearranging Easter grass-- which sounds a lot like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic, but significantly less grim.

"DADDY! GIVE ME CANDY!!"
But what he really wants is animal crackers.

Seriously. He's only moderately into candy.

"What is this sight I behold...for ME?"

After emptying the basket, he became highly suspicious of the Easter grass.

Maybe if it was green rather than orange...

Yes, he's backing away from the grass.

Eating a Peep.

He bit the head off, kept looking at the rest of it and then handed the soggy mess to me.

This was after Charlie demonstrated that Peeps were, in fact, edible. Sam was doubtful.

A Spring Monday, So How's About Some Christmas!

See, it's Christmas. You can tell by the tree and the glazed (or demonic) expressions.

I'm going for volume over pithy commentary here-- which is not to pretend my commentary is frequently (or ever) pithy-- so I've just lumped in a bunch of late November/December 2009 shots. In no real order. With minimal explanation. Sorry.

Watching the construction next door. You'll see some more of this series later. It's before we cut his long, hippie hair.

At the annual Krauter Gingerbread House Decorating Extravaganza.

This is Ranaleigh and her gorgeous house.

Gareth investigates Sam.

Sam discovers candy and Froot Loops.

"Mother, where have you been keeping these delights?!"

So many kids. So. Much.Sugar.

Isn't this what you want to see when you open the bathroom door?

Helping with cookie making.

Bug cars!

Going to the park.

He actually likes the merry-go-round. Really.

(And when's the last time you saw an all steel merry-go-round in a public park? Insane and cool, right?)

Assisting Dad in making the fruitcake.

Grinding spices and doing the grinder dance.

Cooking is a popular activity.

But without pants, of course.

I swear, I do NOT put him in these places. He goes of his own accord.

And more watching construction.

Thank You, Han Solo

Thank you fictional character Han Solo for teaching my 19 month old the profoundly useful word, "cocky." Yes, cocky. There is nothing quite like hearing a blond, slightly cherubic toddler bounding around the house muttering "cockycockycockyCOCKY!" He picked this bit up from the recorded pieces of dialogue that playback on the Millenium Falcon toy that Sam and Charlie recieved for Christmas from Nana and Popop. Since Sam loves pushing buttons right now, we hear a lot of "Don't get cocky, kid!" and "R2, I suggest a new strategy...let the wookie win." Here are some pics of Nana and Sam investigating at Christmas.

"Sam, this is what you push to get the most noise..."

It's Been So Long...So Here's a Little Video

I've got no excuses, no rationale. Pure, unadulterated laziness as a blogger. But I have been taking pictures (for the last FOUR months...sheesh...) so I've got the goods. Hopefully, you'll enjoy.

Non-Denominational Cookie Party

Yesterday I attempted to initiate a tradition. Evidently my action was brave, but we had a helluva lot of fun. I invited the Mom's and Small People over for a cookie making party. The dough was Mary Kirby Sugar cookies (the awesomest cookie in the history of man), the cutters included elephants, tiaras and stars of David and the sprinkles were orange, yellow, pink and green. Really, I aimed as wild as I could get and I discovered that in my kitchen, it's just not that hard to get wild. So, we covered a folding table in trash bags, kept it on the floor as a work surface and let the monkeys go. There were some hairy moments with rolling pins, but they were all game. Cutters were flourished, noise was made, sugar sprinkled. Anyone who is curious: 18 month olds love, LOVE sprinkles. We had beverages, there was coffee cake, and Nana kept everything moving and grooving by cleaning up, pulling the wagon down the hall occasionally, and manning the ovens. I now see that I could not have done this without her presence!

Jen getting Zach and Rudy to work the camera.
All the children were stripped to diapers-- you'll see why this was a good plan.

(Clockwise from Left) Rudy, Sam and Zach

In progress

Elisabeth and Rudy
Can I just add, all these women are GORGEOUS. It's a little crazy and ever so slightly intimidating!

Sam loved to sprinkle. It is both "shakey-shakey" and a process of removing objects from one space into another.

Rudy tasting the results of his labor.

Sam is intrigued.

Rudy, Evil Genius

The Results.

And now we are off into the land of toddler parallel play...

Beata and Camila-- she needed to check out the dogs next door first.

Rudy's orange, glittery, sprinkled feet.

Elijah and Camila

Jen and Sam, Elijah's beautiful red head in the foreground.

Fierce, wonderful Camila.

Jen read to Sam and Zach. Jen and Zach did all the moves in "Head to Toe,"
and Sam was deeply confused why they kept moving and not reading.

Yeah, I'm certain this tradition is a keeper. Next time, we hope to see Katelyn, maybe Claire and whomever Kindra's baking. Happy Holidays to all.