Like herding cats

Poo-pah (Z's name for Grandpa Walt) sent some Carnegie Mellon gear to the kids a while ago, but the shirt was too big for Miss S. She's finally grown into it, so I wanted to take a photo of the two of them wearing their CMU shirts today. After I wrangled them onto the bench (the easiest way to get them together is to make them sit on something that forces proximity), I faced the challenge of photographing two young children who aren't very interested in being photographed. Afterward, as I was looking through the photos to pick out my favorites, I decided that it would be more fun to show you what a typical photo session with these two looks like.  And maybe you will appreciate why I have so few photos of them together.



So after all of that, here's what we ended up with!  (Although I have to admit that some of my favorites are the sillier photos that show their personalities.)

Quote of the Day

Me: Z, do you know what a windmill does?
Z: Yeah. (In the noncommittal tone he uses when he's ignoring you, doesn't understand the question, or doesn't know the answer.)
Me: What does it do?
Z: Yeah.
Me: Maybe I can help. What do you think this part that looks like a fan does?
Z: Oh, that's the part that spins around to generate electricity.

Quote of the Day

Z:

"Uh oh, the excavator is broken. Do you know what 'broken' means? It means 'tighty-whitey'. And when something is broken, you say 'okie-dokie' and then Mommy comes and fixes it. But I don't need to fix the excavator right now because now it's a crane."

Happy Easter!

This was the best I could do in my attempt to get a photo of the two of them "together" and "smiling".  You can see Miss S's adorable Easter dress, knitted by Gramma Hill!  We also realized today that Z only has one button-down shirt, and it's the same one he wore in his Santa photo last year.

At least they are both looking at the camera this time...

The only way to get a smile in a photo around here is to do it myself.

After the Egg Hunt, Daddy reads their new Easter book to them.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter weekend!

Firework

Z loves to sing Katy Perry's "Firework", so his teachers at preschool filmed him today. I think my favorite part is the end when he says, "I've been singing back and forth! I didn't know I could sing back and forth."

Wow. It’s been over 3 months since I’ve posted here.

And I’m not going to do much better with this post.  Just wanted to put up a couple photos in honor of St. Patrick’s Day!

This is my new favorite photo of Z and Miss S.  I call it “Irish American Gothic”.  They are quite a cheery pair, aren’t they?

Lest you think we have two grumpy leprechauns all the time, this was taken 2 minutes before the last photo:

And just for fun, here is a classic example of how things are around here lately (which might explain the general grumpiness when I force them to sit together for a picture):

Compare & Contrast: Santa Photos (2008, 2009, 2010)

The first one (from 2008) still makes me laugh.  Z was doing just fine until the lady “helping” the photographer started ringing that darn cowbell.

Our very own Zcrooge

Santa:  Are you hoping for anything special for Christmas?

Z (with his back to Santa): <silence>

Santa:  How about Legos?  Do you like to play with Legos?

Z: <silence>

Santa:  I bet you like toy cars.

Z (still with his back to Santa):  I.  LIKE.  TRAINS.

All in the family

Mommy’s hat (from the crazy “hat-a-day” knitting days…pre-children, of course)

+

Big brother’s snowsuit

=

Pure sweetness

  

Indoor wading pool

Subtitle:  “Why we pick up Cowboy’s water bowl when Mei-mei is on the loose”

 

 

Happy Birthday, Poopah!

A few seconds of sweetness

Yes, she has him wrapped around her little finger.

Breakfast conversation

Mommy:  What does a cow say?

Z:  Cows say MOO!

Mommy:  What does Cowboy say?

Z:  Cowboy says ARF ARF ARF!

Mommy:  What does Sophia say?

Z:  Sophia says BAH!

Mommy:  What does Daddy say?

Z:  Daddy says ARRRRRG!

Mommy:  What does Mommy say?

Z:  Mommy says RAAAAWR!

Mommy:  What does Zachary say?

Z:  Zachary says F*CK!

<Stunned silence, followed by a quick recovery>

Mommy:  Oh, Zachary says FORK?

Z:  Yeah.

Mommy:  Does Zachary say KNIFE too?

Z:  Yeah, Zachary says KNIFE!

Mommy:  OK, let’s say KNIFE.

Happy Birthday, Grandma Hill!

Happy Halloween!

From the cutest Strawberry, Cat in the Hat, and Skele-Cow around!

Z's business advice

Background:  We often frequent an area called Tangletown.  There are several businesses and restaurants in Tangletown, including Mighty O Donuts.  One of our favorite places to visit used to be a market called Meridian Market, but it closed last month.  Z often asks about Meridian Market when we walk or drive past, and I've tried to explain why we can't go anymore.  Here's his assessment:

"Meridian Market is very sad.  It is sad so it is closed.  When it's happy, it will be open!"
"Why is Meridian Market sad?"
"Meridian Market doesn't have any money.  If everybody gave Meridian Market some money, it will be happy again and it will open up so we can go see the telephone."
"I don't think Meridian Market will open up again, honey."
"No, Meridian Market will be closed.  Everybody gives money to Mighty O Donuts.  Nobody gives money to Meridian Market."
"Why don't people give money to Meridian Market?"
"Because Meridian Market doesn't have donuts."

 I think he's got it figured out.

Bugging the Cow

A certain little lady in our house has decided that her favorite place to hang out is on Cowboy's bed. And if Cowboy happens to be on the bed at the time? Even better! Although he generally doesn't stay there for long.

And yes, she's dressed like she's auditioning for a role in "Flashdance".  While carrying around a book of insect stickers.  Because that's how she rolls.

My favorite pumpkins

The fun-capacity of a sun tent should never be underestimated

Bipedal Preambulation