We had a fun little get together at our house for Finn's first Halloween and Cael's first Trick-or-Treat outing.

Ryan cooked enough appetizers to feed a small nation, but they were awesome, so I'm not complaining about all the leftovers.

Ele-Finn stayed home and helped man the door with Ryder and the rest of the gang while Ryan, Cael and I hit the pavement.

Cael quickly figured out that if he went up to a door he'd come away with candy, and he was pretty sure that was the best thing ever. As soon as the basket of candy was offered, he shoved his little fists in there and just started emptying everything into his bucket. He tried to clean out every house we came to.

He was so enthusiastic about the process that he couldn't even find the patience to wait for people to come to the door. Instead, Ryan would ring the bell and then Cael would reach for the handle and start trying to bust in on his own. When we told him that wasn't okay he resorted to shouting, "Open the door! Open the door!"

I'm assuming when he gets to be eleven or so that'll stop being cute. Hopefully, that habit will break.

And no, we're not sure if he's a dinosaur or a dragon, but both of them say, "GRRR!" so it worked out all right.

Read more »

After the tragic loss of Lizzie, we found a new partner for John. She's smaller, cuter and spunkier. Lizzie would hate her, but I bet John thinks it's an upgrade. Meet Winona:

When we got Winona we also got Bum and Bull, the bumblebee snails. They help Ryan clean the tank. This is Bum:

We've had those three for a few months now. Unintentionally, we've also been collecting really freaky looking worm parasites and little buggy things that scamper when the light turns on. They creep me out. In order for me to get within ten feet of the tank, these baddies must be removed. There are to be no worms in the house, omg!

Yesterday we returned to the fish store and made a few more friends whose purpose in life is to eat the skeevies while looking pretty.

Charlotte:

Pepe:

Bo:

It's been 24 hours and there's still some nasty stuff scurrying around. I'm giving these three 'til the end of the week and if they don't make a dent I'm buying someone with a bigger jaw. Die, worms!!

Read more »

It's hard work growing teeth. Sometimes a little break is required.

Read more »

Read more »

Read more »

Um... I don't think this is how it's supposed to work.

I've created a villain.

Cael's favorite television show is about a little girl and her best friend (a monkey). They travel around on adventures together, doing good, sharing, counting, speaking Spanish, and solving all the world's ills one hug at a time. This usually involves bringing or returning something to someone.

Occasionally, they are robbed of their precious items (a gift for a sick grandmother, a friendship bracelet, a lost toy) by Swiper the fox. Swiper, in his bad-guy mask and gloves, sneaks up behind poor, not-a-negative-bone-in-her-body Dora, takes whatever she was holding and tosses it away. He doesn't even take stuff because he likes it. He takes it because he likes to rip it from her little hands and make her go find it. When he chucks the prize into the volcano (or the nearest tree, or the raging river) he says (in his most evil fox voice), "Heh, heh, heh. You'll never get your precious teddy bear now!" and then slinks away with a satisfied grin.

Not only does Cael come up to Finn, yank whatever is in his chubby baby hands away, and discard it somewhere out of reach (never to look back), but now he's taken to taunting, "Heh, heh, heh. You'll never get your precious penguin now, Finn!"

Why doesn't he want to be Boots the monkey?

Read more »

10/11/10
7lbs 3oz, 20 in

Read more »

Read more »

Still need improvement: knock-knock jokes.

My best efforts resulted in him running around, knocking on doors and asking the room at large, "Why are you crying?"

Really loses the humor when you skip to the end like that, dude.

Read more »

When Cael is on the potty he likes to read. Since the newspaper is a bit beyond him at this point, we usually prefer Everyone Poops (Thanks, Uncle Chris!) since it is the most relevant to the subject at hand. Sometimes, though, he's in the mood for a little variety. The only variety we have on the back of the toilet is a collection of Vanity Fair magazines. We flip through it looking at the pictures and call it "reading about models."

I point out things and he points out things. "How many shoes do you see on this page?" And, "Doesn't she have crazy hair?" He likes it when there are horses or lions or bright red lips - things that jump out at him and that he can easily put a name too. Luckily, Vanity Fair models spend a lot of time lounging with wildlife.

We were "reading about models" this evening and we were on a watch counting spree. We were up to seven when I flipped the page and came across a lingerie ad. It was a two page black and white spread of a woman in a modest black bra. I thought I flipped past it fast enough, but apparently he still got a good look. I tried to show him the horse in the next ad but he was having none of it.

Cael: [Trying to flip the page back.] Boobs, Mama. See boobs.
Allie: This guy is an equestrian. An equestrian is someone who rides horses.
Cael: [Still trying.] Boobs, Mama! See boobs!
Allie: [Flips the page back quickly.] Yup. Boobs. Women have boobs. [Flips the page again.] And this is an equestrian!
Cael: Boobs!

It's possible I didn't fully think through the Vanity Fair thing before making that a habit. Whoops.

Read more »