All fours

Struggling to crawl. Not yet, and not too happy about it. But here's the important thing: That outfit! (early Feb.)

First

Mallomar. Doesn't look like it, but he liked it. Dang. Shouldn't have given it to him. Now I have to share. (1/28)

Cheese

Why is it all in the bottom of the bag?
Because the bag's standing up, so everything goes to the bottom.
Why?
It's called gravity. The earth has gravity in it. It pulls everything toward it. That's why you're sitting in that chair instead of flying up in the air.
Where is it?
It's in the ground. You have a little bit of gravity in you too.
Where?
Inside your body.
It's like poop.

[End of science lesson.] (1/28)

The Pompadour

(~1/30)

Waiting

Happy birthday balloon outside? Check. Party hat? Check. Spatula for birthday cake? Check. So? Nu? Where are my guests? (1/29)

Note: It looks like Buster was Photoshopped into this photo, doesn't it? He wasn't.

Guitar

First lesson. (~1/20)

Blanket

(~1/15)

Ducklings

Hey, Daddy, the bird sits on his eggs and then they jump and they jump and then they break open and the baby ducks come out.
That's right. They're hatched.
Yeah.
There's Jack, Kack, Lack, Mack, Nack and Pack. And Quack.
And they're baby ducks.
Do you know what baby ducks are called?
Yeah.
What are they called?
I don't know.
They're called ... remember? Make way for ...
I don't know.
Ducklings.
Ducklings.
Right. Baby ducks are called ducklings. Do you know what baby dogs are called?
Puppies.
Hey, good. And what are baby cats called?
Kittens.
Right. And what are baby people called?
Sister.

Green bathwater

Sometimes it just takes a little extra persuasion, and yeah, Jan. 21 was a big day for pictures. (1/21)

First

Bites.

Hey Mikey! (1/21)

Vocabulary builder

Hey, look, they're starting to build the new building on the corner.
Why are they building?
There's going to be stores on the ground floor and then apartments upstairs. Do you know what an apartment is?
Yes.
What is it?
It's when there's a fire and you call on the phone and say hurry hurry drive the fire truck and they come and climb the ladder and squirt the water and put the fire out. That's the fire apartment.

Bed

(1/21)

Fire Dept.

Hi. How you doing? Can you go to the store and make sure there's no fire there? Can you come to our house and put the fire out? Can you climb the ladder and squirt the hose and then there won't be a fire? Can you do that? OK. Good. Thank you. Bye. (1/21)

Back in the saddle

This Web site is back up and fully functional. Now we'll be slowly dealing with a little backlog of photos, which is good because we no longer have a functioning digital camera. This is Daisy, new to sitting up with some support when this photo was taken, and now able to sit up on her own for a while before keeling over. (1/21)

Holding the back door open

I'm letting fresh air in.
You're letting cold air in.
Well, actually I'm letting fresh air in.
But the fresh air is cold, so you're making the house cold.
Well, it's good to let fresh air in.
Why is it good to let fresh air in?
I don't know. Hasenpfeffer.

Note: Hasenpfeffer is Dad's answer to the question "Why?" when it's asked too repetitively.

flesym desserd I

Every item of clothing in this photo is on backwards, except the shoes, which are on the wrong feet. (1/20)

Bald eagles

We went to see the bald eagles at the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge last month. It was cold, and Buster wasn't too excited. He didn't even want to have his picture taken with his face on the actual-sized body of a bald eagle. But if there's one thing that can fire up a kid on a cold day

it's hot chocolate.

Fired up might be overstating it a bit, but at least the whining stopped. Buster agreed to go inside the tent and listen to the lady tell us about the bald eagle. She even had one to show off, named Liberty.

Buster's considered opinion is that Liberty is pretty magnificent.

But hot chocolate is better. (1/15)

Goodnight, Mrs. Calabash

Actually, they're Groucho glasses. The mustache is obscured because of Mom's shirt in the background. But you know who he looks like? Paul from "The Wonder Years." (1/15)

Three!

The birthday boy.

Amy holds her cousin Daisy.

Jackson's already made his crown.

Julia takes the full measure of a bagel.

Meanwhile, unknown to most party-goers, there's a football game going on outside, which is to say that Patrick and Jack are holding a football while wrestling. Which is to say they're playing a Big Ten game, circa 1975. But never mind that, it's time for everyone to go outside for the piñata. First, King explains the rules.

The rules:
1. Everyone takes turns hitting the piñata with the baseball bat till it breaks open, then everyone dives in to pick up candy.
2. Don't hit King with the baseball bat.
3. Everybody gets three whacks.
4. Don't whack King.
5. Birthday boy first, then youngest to oldest, best as King can figure.
6. As Patrick points out, if King gets hit, candy doesn't come out. This is the best reason yet not to hit King.
7. Bigger kids, let the little kids get some candy when the piñata breaks open.
8. Nobody gets any candy if King gets hit with the baseball bat.

First up, Buster, who was given this piñata on the occasion of his birth by Steve Smith, who has since gone on to become a legend. The Crowned Clouter gives it a good try, but Godzilla survives.

A.J. takes a whack.

Van sneaks up.

Talia. And this is a good time to mention that the piñata is being held up by a hockey stick, making this a full-on NAFTA birthday party.

Good try, Jackson. Wearing the heck out of that crown, too.

Matthew's a real baseball player, so he taps home plate before swinging.

Look at that excellent form! It's hard to hold a hockey stick with a full piñata on the end of it. Nice swing too.

On Julia's turn, Godzilla's all "Gimme that bat." Did I mention the hockey stick is an autographed Keith Tkachuk model? Won accidentally in a raffle.

Corrine gets it back for her sister, and gives the lizard what for. But still no candy.

Aidan swings.

And misses!

Amy smiles, but smiles don't feed the sweet tooth. Well, not for the kids anyway.

Now for the big kids. Patrick aims where the sun don't shine, but still no luck.

There was ease in Jacob's manner as he stepped into his place;
There was pride in Jacob's bearing and a smile lit Jacob's face.

Oh! The Nuschler face!

Foul tip on a high one, but then one more swing and ...

BWAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!! Candy!!!

So. Anybody want lunch? Hey, kids? That's pizza in front of you. You want to eat it? Hello?

Or, you know, sure. The candy looks good on you too.

Ah, here's a happy customer. But not as happy as when it's time for ...

Cake!

But there comes a time at every party when it's all over. The music has stopped and the guests have gone home. You're dazed, exhausted, you have a permanent chocolate mustache and for some reason you're wearing your cousin's hat. But even at times like that, it's important to remember one thing, whether you're 3 or 103.

The big boys know how to dig down deep. And what they find when they do that is enough energy to accompany themselves on "Jingle Bells" multiple times with their new drum. And if you can't remember that, at least remember this. Throwing a third birthday party doesn't have to be a big deal. Just invite some friends, play some games, have some food, relax and have a good time. There's no reason to lose your head over the whole thing.

Unless you're this guy. (1/29)

Most photos by Uncle Rob