Tuesday, April 28, 2009

2nd Birthday

bearcub
Yes, my little bear cub turned two yesterday.

We celebrated first this weekend with a trip to the zoo (Gramma in tow) on the hottest day of the year so far. Miles of gleaming white Canadian flesh were on the roam, and it all seemed to be at the zoo. We had a great time anyway, although, as always seems to be the case, the adults were more excited than the kiddlins.

vala and turtle

Vala certainly enjoyed this turtle, however.

gavin and wall-e

Gavin preferred the machinery, as always. He followed one little boy who had a camera around for like ten minutes, pretending to be interested in whatever the boy was pointing at and talking about, while really just trying to get a closer look at his equipment.

Meanwhile, Vala communed with some wildlife.
hands

And the wildlife communed right back. But the idyllic time was soon at an end, and he waved goodbye...
monkey says bye

...and traipsed off into the sunset.
come back, monkey

Poor heartbroken little monkey. Mine, not the furry one.

On her actual birthday, I baked a cake from scratch (!) and we had a little teeny birthday celebration, just the four of us. Here is a short photo essay about our day.

"Look! Mama made a cake! Yay!"
hooray  for birthdays!

"The cake! Mama! Give us some cake!! It's right there!!!"
woohoo birthdays!!!

"We get it. We're cute. CUT THE CAKE."
Yeah, birthdays. Can we eat cake now?

Ahhh, the joys of photographing children. Ready for another photo essay? I thought you were.

"Oh my gosh. What is he doing?"
cake trauma 1

"Does he know he's setting my cake on fire?"
cake trauma2

"Should I tell him? Nooo, he'll figure it out."
cake trauma 4

"I hope...."
funnnny

Well, happy birthday, little monkey.
birthday girl

blown out

astounding

I still can't believe it.

(as always, click on over to flickr for more zoo and bday fun)

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Visiting

I always find that, when I have guests, I actually see the city I claim to live in. Xan and Chris came this weekend (and still are "here", i.e. downtown) for a comic convention, and stayed with us Thursday night. And check it out! Stone-'enge is downtown!
Skyline

It's about ten feet tall, and yes, the little children were dancing around it. I don't have any decent pictures of this, however, so you will have to wait for Xan and Chris to give me some.

And look, the kids were as astonished as I was...

vala and gavin amazed

(okay, they were actually watching a plane land on the island, but hey.)

Vala, Chris, and Xan

I don't have a witty caption for this photo. Aren't they cute?

Before this, we went to the Fickle Pickle for lunch. And look, isn't that a famous comic book artist?

drawing

Vala is such a big fan. I totally should have kept that menu. Might be worth a mint one day.

And of course, Gavin monopolized Xan's computer as soon as she got it out.

computer time 2

Well, that's all for now. See ya!
Auntie Xan and the kiddlins

(as always, click on a picture to get to my photos in flickr. Just click on "Scifimama's photostream" to see a few more!)

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Obligatory Easter Post

easter-chewed bunnies

It appears I have become a C and E blogger. Well, C, B, and E (Christmas, birthdays, and Easter). But I am truly intending to blog at least once a week from now on, as I am beginning to miss it. Facebook just doesn't feel as personal. Anyway, here's a few pics from our bunny-filled weekend.

easter baskets

Aaaaah, the baskets before the kidstorm.

easter-aftermath

easter-Vala and Hase direct

Yep, that's more like it. She had that Kinder egg unwrapped and eaten before the boy had even come downstairs.

easter-boy and basket

easter-boy vs. bunny

He started out fairly slow, just nibbling on his bunny and gazing over his pastel riches.

easter-hopping bunny and chickie

The girl and the hopping bunny and chickie.

easter-lego candy

Candy lego bricks. Let me repeat that. CANDY LEGO BRICKS, PEOPLE.

easter-egg dyeing

Egg dyeing, of course. Vala was interested for about, oh, ten seconds tops.

easter-dye droplets 2

Fun with macro. I love easter!

easter eggs