Awaiting Fireworks ... Again

We saw fireworks in Texas on the 4th, but when we got back to Oklahoma, we learned that Ada's show had been rescheduled do to lightning, so we got a double dose this year.

Notice the strobelight toe ring?

Back on the Wintersmith Express

I think what excites Emilio the most about these train trips is the bag of popcorn.

Spotting Swine in Southern Sweden

Grandmother Meets the Beatles

Grandmother and Paul McCartney are the same age, by the way.

How to Celebrate Your Dad's 42nd

Ride a white pig and a blue dolphin (see below), throw yourself down a tunnel slide, take a nap with Granddaddy, don your floaties and wear out Uncle John Dan at Aunt Carolyn's pool. Eat some pizza and lots of cherry tomatoes, sing Dad "Happy Birthday" and give him all the hugs and kisses he wants. Well done, son.

Dad's Day: 2009

We've just seen Up! in 3-D. (Emi and I saw it in 2-dimensions earlier this year: Emi's first in-theater movie experience).

Photos by Lisa.

Emi's First Cut

Maybe it was the frequent swimming in heavily chlorinated water or maybe Emi's long locks had simply reached their limit, but for whatever reason, the tips of those locks recently began to get very dry and tangled. Once we'd observed this phenomenon, it didn't take long for us to decide that after more than three years and seven months of uninterrupted growth, it was time to for those locks to begin a new journey (destination: "Locks of Love"). In the end, the decision was a spontaneous one. While Mari gave Emi a bath Friday night, I set up my living room barber shop. After a thorough combing, we pulled the hair on the back of Emi's head into a ponytail and sawed it off (the hair was thick, the scissors were dull; Emi was unphased). While Emi watched Curious George, I snipped away at the edges. Then he and I took a shower together (another first) and after giving it another look, I performed another comb job and went to work on layering as Emi watched Winnie the Pooh. We are pleased to report that Emi has had no trouble whatsoever transitioning to his new look, and I feel satisfied with my first major barbering assignment (though I also see some room for improvement.)