Ben in the Bath

Ah, time for Ben's semi-annual bath. It was amazing how dark the water got after all the sludge of six months of lying, rolling, sleeping, and finally sitting sloughed off him. Look how sparkly he got! Look how happy he is (or is that indignant rage?)! Look how he marvels at the washcloth! I just hope we didn't flush his soul down the drain along with the bath water...

What do you get when you have three girls with birthdays in the same month? You get early birthday parties -- both to ease up the stress on the calendar and to reduce carbon emissions.

With that in mind, Annie coordinated having the three girl cousins over to add to the mayhem of our three daughters. Riotous water games ensued, as did a raucous round of cake baking (which was actually six twinkies cleverly disguised as six girls lying under the covers). And what party would be complete without a slumber? (I have no idea how much slumbering actually occurred -- but it doesn't look like much).

Discovery Kingdom Miscellany

Just a few more photos from our May run to Discovery Kingdom (they should be paying me).

First you'll see me as an angry green beast with some cloven-hoofed, scantily-clad demons who happen to be my daughters. That's wrong all sorts of ways.

Then you'll see Annie on the carousel, once again incapacitated by her fear of spinning.

Then you have Kate and Genna being angelic in a caboose.

Last, and deservedly least (since my family comes before other mammals), you'll see the girls posed with Jako and then Odin the tiger going after man flesh. Or beef. I can't remember.

Ben Gets His Bounce On

Shouka Flies

I cropped this down, but hey, great shot of Shouka at Discovery Kingdom.

War Elephant Preparations

On a recent trip to Discovery Kingdom we had the good fortune of seeing an elephant being hosed down for her afternoon bath. Julia was thrilled to be so close to the action.





















Her sisters soon joined her, and the elephant's trainer, oblivious to our presence, began to outfit the elephant for war. See that howdah on its back? That sucker can hold a half dozen spearmen or archers, not including the mahout with his goad.





















Unfortunately, we were spotted immediately after this photo, and I wasn't able to take pictures as the 'trainer' draped armored plates across the elephant's head, chest, and flanks,. Neither was I able to get any footage of the Carthaginian soldiers climbing on to her back.

Sam Being a Booger

Lookee here! Video! The unveiling of Lindsay Films. This one stars a toddler named Sam. Strange that a 20-month-old should be so unwilling to comply.

Sammy Won't Say It from Justin Lindsay on Vimeo.