More DB

I need to get caught up on my posts, and I wanted to continue with my Dillon Beach Spread.

So here goes.

This is Sam's first encounter with sand, which is always a big first in any child's life. He was pleased, but evidently not too hungry, because not too much ended up in his mouth. Sad to say, that hat wasn't long for his head. It soon came to be shade for a grateful patch of sand.

I'm not sure how to explain this next photo. Brian got his hands on a Fox hat and started flashing gang signs. His fingers are twisted into some distorted mockery of a W for West Side, and the Vulcan sign for peace. When I pointed this out to him, he pulled a 9mm on me, shot me in the shoulder, and took my wallet. He's a lot more hard core than I thought. Christine thought the whole thing was cute. Ah, gangsta love.

























This next one was too sweet. I actually got a small cavity just from seeing it. Genna's in pink, Julia's in blue. The ocean's also in blue. Mornings at the beach house can be idyllic (once the shrieking has abated).

















Sam soon turned to eating sand, as all red-blooded children must. In fact, he was so enamored with the sand that when we plucked him from its gritty surface, he grimaced and flopped to express his displeasure. But that only made his hat become skewed at a jaunty angle, so the camera was once again summoned to duty.

















We didn't take the kids to the park for the late night Petaluma fireworks. It's not a lack of patriotic zeal that kept us away: we just didn't feel like dealing with four youngins late at night in huge crowds. But we did celebrate, if a bit less...climactic. We gave the kids their own set of glowsticks, brought them into the walk-in pantry, and turned off the lights. It turned into a photo op for me. And guess what? I think they were just as happy with the glowsticks and a decent bedtime as they would have been with fireworks and grumpiness.

Twins at the Beach

Yowsers, it's been a while since my last post. So, I thought I'd make it up to you with some quality photos of the twins. These shots were taken during our annual trip to Dillon Beach.

Genna and Kate began kindergarten a couple of weeks ago. They're growing up so quick. Anybody have any means of stunting a kid's growth?

Follow Up Cheez-It Post

And now, the much anticipated follow up to the uber-Cheez-It post.

Carter was very proud of his Cheez-It
So proud, he wanted to eat it

I was going to start a poem there, but I'm not clever enough.

Anyway, here he is taking his first bite. Look at the glee on his face. Such joy! And can you blame him? This is a five-banger Cheez-It, people! Who wouldn't be happy? Such an honor...

















But by the time he has made it through half of the cracker log, something isn't sitting quite right. The glee melts off his face as he considers what might be wrong.

















Oh no! His stomach is rejecting the cracker! Is it too much cheese? Too much joy? Has the cracker seen too much of the world, and won't stand for being eaten now? Who knows? But look at the agony on Carter's face! Have you ever seen such pain, such an urgent need to empty one's stomach?
















Poor Carter spins to the nearest potted tree (poor Ficus tree) and is forced to his knees as the Cheez-It tries to come back up.

And I was there to capture it all on film (wel, SD card).

The Amazing Cheez-It

Cheez-Its are one of my favorite crackers. I can eat them all day long. Every so often I find two that are stuck together. Once or twice I think I've found 3 that didn't get caught by quality control and remained fused.

But how many of you can claim, like my nephew Carter, to have found five, count them FIVE, crackers stuck together in a plank of cheesy goodness. None of you, that's how many. Carter was so pleased with his discovery that he sent it along to me so that I might post on its splendor. I was in awe when I first saw it, and I determined that it deserved a whirlwind tour of the house.

Come, follow the Cheez-It.

First we have it in the oven, alone on the rack in a position of honor. Of course, this is a manufactured scene -- like any of us are capable of crafting such a delicious snack ourselves.











And here we have Carter himself, the proud discoverer of the phenomenon. He's like Christopher Columbus, or Benjamin Franklin, or Thomas Edison. Three little diminutive princesses came out to present the snack. How nice of them.














Cinderella is a jealous princess and wanted some time alone with the Cheez-It. I found her in the corner, standing by a blown-glass flower, gazing lovingly at the cracker that is nearly as tall as she is. I took it away and gave Cinderella a time out for not sharing.

















Next, I presented the Cheez-It to Auntie Kelli and Auntie Karri. If the tabletop looks a bit like a shrine, what with the candles and the pride of place by the front door, that's because it is a shrine. And the Cheez-It is a worthy offering. Bye bye, twins.

















Next, I took the Cheez-It outside to get some sun. Here it is soaking up the rays.

But when the turtle started showing interest in it, it was time to take it back inside. Naughty turtle.

Julia got her hands on it next. Or rather, her head. I thought she had outgrown wearing her food. But I was wrong.

I tried to draw the Cheez-It with a Magna-Doodle. But my drawing didn't look nearly as delicious.

I left the Cheez-It for just a moment, and wouldn't you know it. Cinderella stole it again. She was even trying to flee with it inside her carriage. This time, after I took the cracker away, I took Cinderella's head off and fed it to Sam. That'll show Cinderella.

But Cinderella eventually apologized and decided to share. Here she is, along with Snow White and Sleeping Beauty. Such a lovely group. I'm sure Carter would be very proud.

And last but not least, here's a picture of a metallic ballerina holding the Cheez-It as she dances. Such a beautiful, precious moment.

Sam in Things

Sam in a clothes hamper = happy Sam































Sam in a swing = contemplative Sam

Tiger Shots

I close my round of Discovery Kingdom photos with these. They're of one of the resident tigers diving into the water after a chunk of meat.

Julia

I took this picture at Discovery Kingdom, and it is one of my favorite of Julia. It capture both the impish and the sweet sides of her.

Flying Helicopters

The girls and I had never flown helicopters before, so we all enjoyed our first time (we were quite reckless, with our hands off the controls). Click on the first image and look at Julia in the second aircraft. Her face is aglow with the joy that only a pilot can know.