The Sweater and the Dress

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yesterday I took a lot of pictures

We went to the condo pool on Saturday afternoon to cool off (it's hot here, but not so hot we're burning our butts on port-a-potty seats!)


Aaron did not feel comfortable in the water.


But Evan did.


Aaron had three shots on Thursday after the movie and probably wasn't feeling great.


big baby browns




finally, a tiny smile


look at that long hair


Even the hot pool felt good


cold kickin' it live


exhausted, but refreshed


sunshine on my shoulder


show me your muscles


demonic dog


afterbath


pokes rule


ready for bed


what're you lookin' at?


torture

first movie

We took Aaron to his first movie-theater movie on Thursday, after discovering that the cheap theater at Swan and Grant has a summer movie club at 10:00 am. Kids are free and adults only $2 each. The movies were Surf's Up or 101 Dalamatians. By the time we got there our #1 choice was sold out, so we opted for 101 Dalmatians, which turned out to be the newer, live-action Disney release rather than the classic animated feature we were expecting to see. We all enjoyed the first half hour or so, laughing at the dogs' antics and at Brazey pointing to the screen and saying, "MmmmmMMMM?" (rise in inflection at the end) to indicate, "Look! Look at those big spotted dogs up there! See?" But soon the spotted dogs grew tiresome to the baby and Mandy took him to Mrs. TiggyWinkles while The Big Boys and I finished the movie. Towards the end, when Horace and Jasper were getting their just desserts, Evan said, "At the beginning I thought it would get sadder and sadder, but it just keeps getting funnier and funnier!" And he didn't even want to go...

Afterwards we had lunch at La Salsa. I wish I'd got a picture of Brazey at his first movie, but at least I got some photos of us dining al fresco.


New shirt, from St. Vinnie's. 50 cents.


love


Notice the Ace bandage? I wonder if I'll ever know the story...


freckles


feaster


bye-bye

kahrahtay

On Monday nights Jack and Evan are participating in the Young Champions of America karate classes held at Cottonwood and taught by Sensei Michael. I like him. He's good with the kids but very firm, tolerating no BS. Can you spot Evan and Jack? They're not allowed to get karate outfits until they commit. I've already heard too much, "You don't like karate really much, but I like it a little bit, right Evan?" Even if they do commit I'm not sure I'll pay $30 for a cheap polyester gi, but I will be keeping my eyes peeled at my various thrift stores. This particular uniform is shiny and stiff, and the fabric makes a lot of noise when it rubs together. It's also entirely too big on most kids; I've seen two of them slip on their too-long hems and fall flat on their little polyester-clad keesters.


Sensei Michael has taught them a number of moves in rapid succession. I'm not sure they get it.


Sensei Michael also teaches them self-defense, which consists mostly of getting away from a stranger should you happen to be grabbed by one. First of all, you yell, "Stranger!" then execute a hold-breaking move and run away.


They practice with each other, joking all the time, but I hope some of it sinks in.


Mandy, Brazey, and Bishop went for a walk outside because Sensei Michael had requested respectfully that no babies or toddlers come to practice as it can be distracting to the participants. Brazey didn't seem to mind. He had a snack.


half smile


full smile


Afterwards, we played at the school. "OK Jack. Pretend we're walking along the ledge outside the building." They played that for awhile.


But we finally made it to the play, where Brazey mastered the slide. He is the Slide Master. This slide was short enough and wide enough to set him at the top, where he figured out how to scooch his little self over the edge into the waiting arms of Mommy or Aunt Becky. He never grew tired of it. Wanted to do it again and again.


"OK Evan. Let's pretend we're brothers and we got a package. Inside the package there's a map." We finally had to drag them home, but I think they played that pretend all the way.


They played that pretend in the bathtub, then continued it on Evan's new whiteboard after dinner.


Brazey got to pretend, too.


Just like a big boy.


Goodbye hugs, until next time.

Saturday recap: 08 June 2008

The Brandi Fenton Memorial Park Splash Pad. Can you spot either one of our kids?


Inside the greenhouse at Green Things, Evan and Jack devised a complicated game involving a green plastic plant marker and two shreds of paper that became a key and a map, respectively. The game lasted a long time, into the car and on the way home. Often you'll here Jack or Evan say, "Let's pretend..." I remember when I was younger, playing "let's pretend" myself. Imagination can sometimes seem so real.


Let's pretend I'm mommy to this perfect baby... OK, I'll settle for Favorite Auntie. See my new glasses? Stars and half-moons adorn the arms. Thanks, Mom.


Chico came over.


Brazey liked him, too.

The Zoo: Thursday, 5 June 2008

Thursday morning Mandy called and asked if we'd like to go to the zoo. You bet we would! We agreed to meet at 9:30 but Mandy had a hard time getting out of the house, which happens when you have to dose your medicine-hating baby with amoxicillin before you leave. Apparently the attempt ended with Brazey in the bathtub and Mandy changing her entire outfit. No matter, the weather was unexpectedly cool for early June. The animals were active.


waiting


excited about the piranhas, which no longer live at the zoo. There's pacu, though. Not as exciting. No teeth.


"See, Aunt Becky? See the big fish?" I'm getting to know Brazey Speak.


The Face, I (photo by Jack)


The Face, II (photo by Jack)


The Face, III (photo by Jack; I didn't participate well in this project, as you can see. My mouth posture doesn't capture the feel Jack was hoping to find.)


monkey


hatched


Jack dropped a little yoyo ball in the aviary's stream. At first he thought it was funny, then as the ball floated out of his reach he got a little panicky. They hatched a plan to get it, though. Evan stood on the far shore; Jack knelt on the "dock" and splashed the yoyo over to Evan. In the end, it was Mom that got it out because my arms were the only arms long enough.


"Did you get the camel in the picture, Mom?"
"It's a llama."
"Oh. But did you get the camel in the picture?"
"Yes. And it's a llama."


In ten years they'll be assuming the same postures and expressions at some high school party.


Those three zookeepers in the background are dealing with a juvenile King Vulture, who will soon put on a show for lucky observers. The big central enclosure that used to belong to the rhinos has been converted into something the zoo calls The Entertainment Glade. We were definitely entertained.


Kip the King Vulture swooped across the Entertainment Glade from one keeper to the next. Mom, you would have loved it.



Then, with much encouragement from his three keepers, Kip maneuvered an agility course, just like a dog would! Dad, you would have loved it!


As we were walking away, Kip performed another of his tricks. "Target circle!" said the zookeeper, and Kip trundled over from a few yards away and pecked at the circle. Smart birdie.


After we'd sat in the sun for so long Jack and Evan decided to cool off in the Kenya Get Wet? splash pad. Jack exercised a bit more independence than Evan. Jack wouldn't come with us despite repeated warnings of "We're leaving now!" We walked toward the giraffes without Jack and Evan nearly lost his mind. We didn't lose Jack. He eventually rejoined us and got a lecture from me.


Snack break.



Pokes everywhere.


Fab pic of my fave star.


Jack spent the afternoon with the Tuckers while I went to work at camp. Afterwards we met at a park and grilled some dogs. Not that black one, though.

Perfect day. Summer agrees with me.