Big

Do you know why you were such a good boy last night?
Yeah.
Why?
I don't know.
Well, because you're a good boy. But also because you're getting big. You're outgrowing a lot of your tantrums and stuff. You're acting more like a big 3-year-old.
No.
Yeah, you're going to be 3 next month.
No.
No? You don't want to be 3?
No.
You don't want to have your birthday?
No.
Do you know what happens on your birthday?
Yeah.
What?
I don't know.
You get presents [Buster steals a glance at the Christmas tree]. You get birthday cake. You get to have a party, and your friends come over.
No.
You don't want all that?
No.
What do you want to do? You want to just sit in the dark?
Yeah.
You want to sit in the dark and look all gloomy and listen to really sad music?
Yeah. No! I want to listen to "Supercalifragalistic" in the living room, and dance in the dark.
(Picture 12/9. Conversation 12/23)

You're a mean one

Hey, I think tomorrow the Grinch is going to come here and mess up our Christmas tree, and I'm going to go in there and I'm going to say, "Hey, Grinch, why are you messing up our Christmas tree, why?" (12/21)

The frame-up

(12/19)

We interrupt

this Halloween to bring you Christmas. (12/16)

What

are you doing?
I'm cuddling up Daisy. (12/15)

Why

is this oaf my dad?

And also why is he trying to eat me? (12/12)

Because you're delish

Teething

(12/9)

Turned

over (12/5)

Jet-Puff

girl (12/3)

Psst! Yo. Hey, bro!

Little help over here? (12/3)

First

snow (12/1)

Really?

He can whisper whisper very soft, very high? What else can Mr. Brown do? (11/27)

A.J. & Buster

Through the back door, with Sir Patrick's sweat shirt in the background and Dad's silver sequined shirt reflected. This is, without rival, the photographer's favorite picture he's ever taken. (11/26)

She's tickling me!

Moi? (11/26)

Grandma and Grandpa

are tired, you know. What on earth might have laid them low? What force of nature could wipe them out so?

Oh. (11/25)

Red

(11/25)

Buster watches Daddy shave

Do I look funny with this white stuff on my face?
Yeah.
It's called shaving cream.
Uh-huh.
I used to watch my dad shave too when I was a little boy. Can you imagine me as a little boy?
Yeah.
You can? What do you think I looked like?
Mustache.

Action photo

(11/25)

Funny

(11/25)

First

turkey. (11/24)

That look

is so you. (11/24)

Grampa!

(11/23)

New toy

From Grandma and Grandpa. It's a tool kit. Do you like it?

Good.

Time to get to work (11/23)

A lot

going on here (11/20)

Oakdaisyland

(11/20)

Hee!

(11/19)

OK, right

Now tell me where Daisy really came from. (11/18)

Out

(11/12)

13 weeks

She's a hit. (11/12)

Identity

I saw two Jetta cars!
Yes, you sure did.
Hey, I was talking to Daisy.
I know. I was just kinda backing you up.
Well don't back me up because I'm not a car.

My baby

is hungry too. (11/10)

Daisy

The daisy (11./6)

Dance party

(11/5)

So big

So strong

So tired (11/5)

Jailbreak!

(11/5)

Rehearsal

of the Half-Naked Drill Team. (11/5)

Candy

The aftermath. (11/2)

Just sitting here

Why do you ask? (11/2)

The Dark Knight

lives.


(10/31)

This was Halloween. There was trick-or-treating shortly after, but it was raining out, so no photos. Buster took a tumble down a set of two or three concrete steps, scraping his knuckles but impressively not dropping a single piece of candy. After a minute or two of crying he was OK and ready to move on. As we started toward the next house, he said, "Daddy, I had an accident." I said, "I know, son, you fell down those -- oh." Kind of a rough trip around the neighborhood, but well worth it. The candy's still holding out.

Bookends

You know how your best friends are. You get together, you kick it. It doesn't change all that much, but somehow it never gets old. Daisy and her friend Cameron Hickert seem to have hit on an activity they both enjoy.
Mid-August
Oct. 30

Making muffins

(10/30)

Halloween

Pebbles and Bam-Bam, all grown up. And their punk(in) kid too.

Also, their cow.

Also, A.J., their basketball playing neighbor dog. (10/30)

Oh, right. Like you don't have a basketball playing neighbor dog.