November 17, 2008
Impossible!
Emma has joined The Brownies this year at school and, unlike her experience with blah, she seems to be enjoying herself. There are no protest signs this time around and she looks forward to each meeting.
She continues to love school, including both reading and math. Just last week they had a short math quiz where they had to finish as many problems as possible in two minutes. She'd completed 24 out of 40 questions in 2 minutes. I was impressed but apparently the teacher was not.
When I asked how many she should have done the response was simple:
"Impossible!" she said, complete with index finger pointing straight up. "Can't be done!"
I had to work hard to maintain a straight face as she repeated how it was inconceivable that all 40 questions could be answered in so short a time. We'll have to practice a bit more to see if we can get that time down.
Speaking of time, it seems to fly faster and faster. It really feels like just yesterday that I was posting news about our impending 3rd child... and here we are already near Thanksgiving! There are some shots in this short set from a month ago, where Cora is first starting to "play." Henry is a loving, if rough, big brother and is always eager to play.
I'll have pictures up later in the week with Cora's first smiles and - hopefully - some video clips of her first giggles!
November 12, 2008
Sing Us A Song, You're The Piano Girl
Emma has been taking piano lessons for two months now and I wanted to snap a quick video to remember the progress. The first few weeks were spent learning notes (quarter, half, whole, etc.), learning the "musical alphabet" and finger positions. Last week's lesson was the first time she had played notes from both bass and treble clef at the same time.
I've been a little surprised at how quickly all the new concepts keep coming. I certainly can't keep up! Emma, however, seems to soak it in and remember everything.
"No, Daddy. That's a G, not an E."
"No, Daddy. It's 'whole-note-hold-it' for four beats."
Her first "recital" is in December. We can't wait!
October 25, 2008
I Don't Want The Polar Bears To Die
Late the other night, after I'd gotten the kids down to sleep and the house was still, Emma came creeping down the stairs. In her hands she held the two nightlights she and Henry have in their room.
"Daddy, I want you to take these away right now."
I asked why she wanted them gone, because they love swapping the "daytime" light for the "nighttime" light just before bed.
"Because I love penguins and polar bears and don't want them to die."
Now, I have to admit that at first I was a little taken aback. Next I wanted to laugh. How on earth did she get the idea in her head that animals far, far away were being killed by her nightlights?
"Daddy, I promised Mrs. Renz (Emma's first grade teacher) that I would do whatever I can to stop global warming. I really love penguins and polar bears so I must stop global warming!"
Again, I wanted to laugh, but she was genuinely upset so I resisted the urge.
"We have to save energy. Because if we don't, they will DIE!"
I consented to taking the nightlights and walked upstairs with her to get her back in bed. I found Marla sitting at the foot of Henry's bed in the dark, consoling him as he whimpered. Apparently he didn't want to kill polar bears but neither did he want to sleep in the dark.
The next morning I had a talk with Emma about energy efficiency and the nightlights were allowed to return.
October 8, 2008
First Day of First Grade
Just after Labor Day Emma embarked on her latest adventure: first grade. She was very excited about it, having talked all summer long about all of the wonderful things she was destined to learn.
With Cora being brand new the task of back-to-school shopping fell on my shoulders. Emma, Henry and I went to the mall on weekend and searched for some suitable outfits. Somehow, we came back home with fancy pink plaid dresses and matching boots. What a shocker!
The first day arrived and we decided on a more tame outfit, the swirly blue and purple dress you see here. The boots would make their debut later.
We're lucky enough to live within walking distance of the school so we make the short trek to school each morning. Emma and Henry stayed close by and chatted excitedly on the way up. Once we arrived we stood in line with her classmates until the bell rang and the teacher called us in.
While some children clung to their parents in fear, others broke down in tears, sobbing uncontrollably. Emma, on the other hand, barely glanced back and waved.
"You can go now Daddy!"
And with that, our little girl was off.
August 23, 2008
Kindergarten Ends
In early June Emma wrapped up her Kindergarten career with a few exciting events. First was an "art show" where the kids showed off all of the artwork they'd created throughout the year.
The teacher, Mrs. Gustufson, had assembled a giant book of their assignments. It was pretty amazing to see what changes had taken place in the kids over the short span of the nine month school year. Handwriting and art skills improved, stories became more complex and vocabularies expanded.
The final event of the school year was the kids' very first field trip. Emma was so excited. Not only did she get to leave school and go on an adventure without Mommy and Daddy, but she got to do so on the big yellow school bus! You can see from the photos that she was nearly beside herself with glee.
June was also a month for babies. First was Emma, Marla and Henry meeting Ethan Vonderhaar for the first time. Emma looked at this as a warm-up for when her own new baby would arrive. She was delighted to hold Ethan.
Lastly we had a family of baby hummingbirds that grew up right outside our door. They're long gone but the nest remains. I'd love to take it down but I'm hoping it might be reused next year and I'll start the photo history earlier!
July 26, 2008
You Say It's Your Birthday?
In mid-May the house was mobbed by cute girls and the air was thick with giggles and dancing. The occasion? Emma's 6th birthday party! This year she opted for a princess party, a departure from past non-girlie themes which have included NASCAR and ducks.
We had intended the affair to be a fairly small crowd but many more people than expected RSVP'd yes and most of her friends have multiple siblings. No matter, though. The more the merrier when princesses are involved. Activities included make-your-own-princess-dress for the girls and a stab-your-friends-with-swords game for the boys.
Shortly before the tiara-shaped cake was served a messenger (one of the fellow dads) arrived and invited all of the girls to a "ball." None of the girls like the classical music I selected for them to dance to so instead of an authentic waltz they spun and swayed to the final anthem from Star Wars.
After much dancing Emma blew out her candles, surrounded by a dozen friends, and embarked on Year Six of her Emmaness's Benevolent Reign.
June 30, 2008
Nanny Goats Gruff
Nanny goats; One, two and there.
Nanny goats; brave as can be.
There's Annie and Fannie and Big Bertha Lee; Oh!
Nanny goats; One, two and three.
Emma's first school play was held a few weeks ago. The kindergarten class had been practicing for weeks to bring us a spectacular production of The Nanny Goats Gruff.
The songs were surprisingly infectious. Emma was singing them nearly non-stop at home and I invariably found myself humming them at work or spontaneously breaking into song with the kids when at home. Take a look at the video and let me know if you're singing the song, too, later in the week!
June 29, 2008
One World
I'm finally getting around to converting video from some of Emma's various performances and recitals this year. (Thanks for making it easy, Mac!) First up is her gymnastics performance for earlier this year.
Can you tell which one is Emma?
May 7, 2008
Happy Birthday Emma Grace
Happy 6th Birthday, Emma Grace!
February 25, 2008
Emma's First Book
There's a long tradition of book-writing in the Northcutt household. I started it in first grade with The Adventures of Spiderman and Bubblegum Man, a lengthy tome of 5 or 6 pages. Many years later I penned the masterpiece Return of The Jedi Trivia, filled with 8 or so deep questions that only an elementary school Jedi could answer.
You can imagine my excitement, then, when Emma put pen marker to paper and Me and Henry was the result. Over three illustrated pages (that's four pages, for those who might not have encountered such marketing-speak before) she told the story of a beautiful princess, Emma, and a happy prince, Henry.
I won't give away the ending but, suffice it to say that Queen Marla makes a surprise entrance and closes out the story in rousing fashion.
February 4, 2008
The Tooth Is Loose
We had a surprise visitor to the house a few days ago... the tooth fairy!
After a few weeks of wiggling, Emma has lost her first tooth. She went to bed on Friday and we were certain it would be coming out the next day. As it turned out she lay in bed and played with the tooth just after we turned the lights out until it finally came free.
She bounded down stairs moments later as excited as could be, holding the tooth in her hand and jumping around giggling. The tooth looked so tiny in her hands! After a little settling down she went back to bed.
The next night we put the tooth in a little jewelry box on a soft pillow and she anxiously awaited the tooth fairy's visit that night. Emma was pleasantly surprised the next morning with "a beautiful gold coin." (That's a Sacagawea dollar to you and I.)
On Monday she got to put her name on the "Lost A Tooth" board at school which, of course, she was especially proud of. Tooth number two, also on the bottom, is already starting to loosen so she may just get two entries this month.
PS - After typing in the title for this post, "The Tooth is Loose" I could not get that old Starburst commercial out of my head. "The juice, the juice, the juice is loose!" Gaaah! I hope to have now infected you, too.
August 17, 2007
Time for a Princess Party
Last year Emma had a race car party because, you know, every sweet four year-old girl loves cars, right? This year she opted for more traditional girly-fare and had a princess party.
So, on the day of the grand event, several dozen kids arrived fully decked out in various princess outfits. I was surprised that nearly every girl had an outfit for the occasion. (Nice work, Walt!) We had many Cinderella's, a few Belle's and the odd Snow White or two. Even the boys got in on the act, making themselves knight outfits and painting cardboard swords during the party.
She received too many presents, as usual. Our house overflowed with boxes and grand new toys. Her favorite, though, was still her new Hello Kitty bicycle. Can't beat the power of the Kitty!
The party ended with a piñata, as is the custom in Southern California. The kids took turns bashing happy Disney princesses with a stick until they gave up their hidden loot. Once the candy was out a mob of chiffon and lace descended on the candy. No injuries were reported.
August 9, 2007
I Want To Ride My Bicycle
I want to ride my bike. Bicycle, bicycle, bicycle! I want to ride it where I like!
You might have noticed from previous pictures that she was getting a little large for her first bike so for her 5th birthday Emma received a shiny new Hello Kitty bicycle. Have you ever seen a child more proud? She was absolutely beaming from ear to ear when she started riding around the neighborhood.
Moving from a too-small to a slightly-too-big bike was a bit of a challenge. There was some falling down when trying to get started, some kicking and wailing as well as threats of taking the thing away the same day she received it but all was soon forgotten once we found a suitable seat height.
To make life between siblings equitable Henry soon received a new two-wheeled scooter... but that's fodder for a different post...
July 17, 2007
Crash! in the Canyon
Emma's had a bicycle for quite some time now and is really quite good at riding. She spends at least 30 minutes every day riding up and down the street out in front of the house. I wanted to expand her range a bit so one afternoon while Marla was a yoga class we headed across the street into the canyon to let her ride on a wide open path.
Despite her initial reluctance (recall that we've seen tarantulas and rattlesnakes over there), Emma ended up having a great time. She rode about a mile or so all-told and couldn't wait to head back over the next day for more.
The next day arrived and Emma pushed for a change in plans. This time she wanted to ride her scooter instead of the bike. Against my better judgment I gave in and let her take the scooter.
Emma went tearing down the hill and onto the windy path, screaming with glee... which quickly morphed to screams of terror as she hit a sandy patch near the bottom of the hill and the scooter slid out from under her. She hit pretty hard and was in tears as I carried her and the scooter back across the street.
Despite the nasty scrape on her knee, ragged palms and the tears in her formerly-lovely Catch The Moon shirt she was no worse for wear in a few minutes and was happy to pose for me. Henry even go into the act and showed of his "scrape."
A warm bath and a little mac and cheese for supper that night and she was really no worse for wear. God bless children and their short memories!
July 7, 2007
Robin Preiss Glasser and Fancy Nancy
One of Emma's favorite books lately is Fancy Nancy. You may have noticed that she has a thing for high heels, frilly skirts and tiaras. Nancy does, too, and tries to teach her hum-drum family how to become fancy.
The illustrator, Robin Preiss Glasser, was at A Whale of A Tale recently to read from the new Nancy book, Fancy Nancy and The Posh Puppy. We couldn't pass this up! (Glasser is a Newport Beach resident, it seems. AWoAT is even featured on a bulletin board in the book.)
Emma fancied up with a lovely scarf, her pink puppy purse, tassels and a matching tiara and wand. Oh, so posh! (That's a fancy word for fancy.) Emma wasn't alone in dressing up. The crowd of young girls in their outfits was simply amazing. Everyone was decked out, just like Nancy in the book.
Following the book reading we waited around to get Posh Puppy signed. Emma and Henry were decidedly un-posh while we were waiting and spent most of their time climbing trees and getting sweaty. How utterly common of them!
I took my big, honkin' zoom lens (Canon 70-200L) and got quite a few people asking if I was taking pictures for the newspaper. I should have said, "Why yes! And we'd love to put your daughter on the front page of the local section tomorrow!" I was honest, however, and said no that I was, in fact, just a nerd.
Marla snuck in a special treat for me for father's day and had Glasser sign Daddy's Girl, which she'd also illustrated. I suspect that this was intended as a Father's Day gift but the fact that I was there taking of a picture of Glasser signing it kind of ruined the surprise.
May 7, 2007
Happy Birthday, Emma!
Emma turned 5 today but the celebration began yesterday. While I was in the air, journeying back from Jolly Olde England (more on that later) Marla and the kids packed up for a pre-birthday celebration at Disneyland.
While at Disneyland they attended the Princess Fantasy Faire. Here Emma got to meet real princesses and had her face painted. She was, as you can see, overjoyed by the event!
Today, her real birthday, she announced that she didn't feel 5 yet. That didn't stop her from enjoying her new bicycle, though. She proudly rode her new, pink Hello Kitty bicycle all around the lake and put the bell too good use.
"You do the bell and the horn when you want people to get out of your way."
Not sure how the "slow" people in front of her felt about the chirping bell but Emma put it to good use.
We ended the day with a birthday dinner at Claim Jumper. Emma's friend Alicia joined us. Though the dinner was nothing special (Emma ordered pizza... again) they did bring an ice cream cake for the kids to share. Sticky fingers and faces soon followed.
April 18, 2007
Swimming with Granpa
Emma's been taking swimming lessons for almost two years now. Whenever she misses a lesson (30 minutes w/ the instructor) her "make up" is an hour-long free swim on the weekend with Daddy.
I made it home from Japan just in time to drive to California Elite and see Emma swimming with Granpa Northcutt on his last visit.
They didn't notice I had snuck in so I was able to watch for the first few minutes without them even knowing I was there. It was a treat to see the two of them together. It's not too often I get to observe Emma when she's not putting on a show for me.
I think the last photo in the set sums up the whole hour. The two of them were laughing and entertaining each other without a care in the world.
March 5, 2007
Showing Off is Fun
Emma, Henry and I went to the library this weekend to pick up a book for Marla while she was off at yoga class. (Love Walked In, if you must know.)
While I was at the check-out counter Emma grabbed a book from the featured kids shelf near the front of the library and started reading to herself. Henry. meanwhile, was taking books off of the featured shelf and throwing them into the return bin.
The library staff were not amused by Henry but they thought Emma was quite cute. One of the ladies asked her, "What are you reading, sweetheart?"
Emma turned the book over to look at the cover and said, "The Magic School Bus Lost in The Solar System."
The librarian paused for a second, perhaps a bit taken aback by Emma's answer.
"Wow, 'solar system' is a big word," she said to me.
I nodded and responded, "Oh, is it?"
I didn't point out that "solar system" is actually two words.
"Emma, what does that say?" I asked and pointed to another book on the featured shelf.
She looked at the book for a second, squinted and then casually said, "Telescopes and Observatories," before returning to the Magic School Bus.
February 1, 2007
Dear Mom and Dad
As Emma has become a more adept reader she's also improving her writing skills. Watching her progress from tracing dotted outlines to scrawling her name on her own to copying words from her books all the way to writing her own notes has been really exciting and rewarding.
We haven't pushed her too hard to recently to improve, so watching her practice writing at her own pace has been an extra treat. She definitely has a real fire for learning. Hopefully "No Child Left Behind" won't beat it out of her once she starts school.
ANYWAY, we got an unexpected display of her writing skills recently when she was sent to her room. She cried and pleaded, begging not to be sent to her room but eventually accepted her punishment like a big girl. When her time was up she rejoined society and had a pair of presents for Mommy and Daddy.
She had addressed an envelope and written a letter to each of us using a little note set from The Ledfords. (I love the fact that she "stamped" each one with a little sticker in the upper right.)
Marla's note says, "I dot like bie myself." Translated that is, "I don't like to be by myself." She obviously wanted to make sure that Mommy knew she didn't enjoy her punishment. Notice how she ran out of room at the bottom for "self" in "myself" and just continued right on at the top.
I was still at work when this all took place so my note is a plea for support. "Todd come home sone" or "Todd, come home soon!" Clearly she was looking to me for some support.
Am I such a softie that my 4-year old daughter already knows that she can bat her big blue eyes at me and get a lighter sentence?
November 9, 2006
Model and Musician
I swear, some days Emma is just as cute as a button. She was in rare form the day these pictures were taken. Early in the day she wanted to dress up and pose for the camera. The white straw hat put it over the top.
Later in the day she and Henry took turns making sweet music (sort of) with my guitar. I love the shot where she's so earnestly "reading" the music while strumming. I think the song was "Life is A Highway."
August 27, 2006
you are my sunshine
There's nothing quite so sweet as a pre-school performance, is there? Need proof? witness the photos and bonus video! What could make the day more special? When grandparents (Mandel, in this case) are in town to see it, too.
Emma and her pre-school practiced for many weeks to bring us the fine show you see captured here. They sand, they strutted, they blew the doors off!
Check out the photos and be sure to watch the video, too.
August 6, 2006
emma in hollywood
If you've spoken to Emma in the last month or so you know that her latest obsession is Cars, the new movie from the geniuses at Pixar. We were lucky enough to get tickets to see the movie at The El Capitan Theater in Hollywood the day after it opened.
The theater was magnificent - a true "movie palace" from a time when a trip to the theater was an event. I thought it was fitting given that this was Emma's first big feature film. It was an event! (We saw March of the Penguins last summer.)
She was as excited as could be, of course. I think the sense of wonder comes across in the pictures from before the show. The pipe organ played, the audience sang along and when the curtains finally rose (real curtains!) Emma was practically beside herself.
We had some moments, of course, where she was terrified and ready to leave. It seemed that at any suspenseful moment she suddenly became "tired" and needed to go home "to take a nap." We perservered, though, and given the cheering and clapping at the end I think she was glad she stayed.
July 15, 2006
daddy-daughter dance 2006
The Daddy-Daughter Dance put on by the RSM Mom's Club finally took place after two years of false starts. (See pictures from the first attempt here.)
Emma had been anticipating it for weeks. She and Marla went out and bought a special dress just for the occassion.
"This is my Daddy-Daughter Dance dress!" she squealed with excitement.
The day finally came and the two of us posed for Mommy in our finest clothes. We spent the next few hours dancing the night away with a dozen other little girls and their fathers.
As I watched them dance and play it struck me that one of the only real difference between boys and girls, at this age anyway, is that the girls, draped in pink, were running around screaming a high-pitched "Wheeee!" while the boys would be clad in blue and running around screaming a guttural, "Oooohh!"
Life is grand!
June 6, 2006
bubblefest 2006
Several weeks ago Emma and I took a special Daddy/Daughterfield trip to the Discovery Science Center in Santa Ana for the Gazillion Bubble Show.
(Did you know that Santa Ana has the highest population density of any city in America over 50,000? Nearly twice as dense as New York City!)
The amazing Fan Yang puts on an hour-long show with the most amazing bubbles ever blown. Who knew that bubbles could delight and entertain a crowded auditorium for so long? Emma was rapt with attention for the entire hour!
May 7, 2006
Happy Birthday, Emma!
Emma turned four today and what a fine four year-old she is, if I don't say so myself.
For months now she's been growing more and more excited at the thought of her birthday party. When queried about the theme she had only one answer.
No hemming and hawing. No indecision about this theme or that. She's been committed to it since day one: a NASCAR party!
(?)
Ask and ye shall recieve! Emma wanted a NASCAR party and a NASCAR party she got!
She and twenty (yes, that's 2 - 0) of her friends from playground and pre-school gathered a the park today to celebrate her fourth birthday. There was cake, there was car painting, there was license-plate-making and there was car racing! Could it get more exciting?
Yes, it could! There was a NASCAR piñata and, for the grand finale, a NASCAR cake complete with a vintage Richard Petty STP along with the current Cheerios 43 car driven by Emma's hero Bobby Labonte.
Though Emma made out like a bandit the first two presents of the day stole the show. First up was her first bicycle, a pink beauty. She was ecstatic and couldn't wait to ride it - even if it was just in the house.
Uncle Scot and Aunt Danyelle win the grand prize, though, with the Disney Slipper Closet. Afterall, what could make a four year-old happier than five new pairs of high heels?
Happy birthday, sweet pea!
January 26, 2006
girls' night out
We went down to San Diego last weekend for Samantha's 2nd birthday party at the Madigan's place. We hadn't physically seen Sam in quite some time, but since we read about her each week it didn't really seem like it had been such a long time.
At any rate, a good time was had by all.
We left right around supper time and decided we'd have a bite to eat before heading back home. The Madigan's recommended a local place called the Bonita Store Restaurant. It was very similar to the Rockin' Baja, which we love. Who can argue with buckets - literally! - of fried seafood for dinner?
All during dinner Emma kept peering into the bar where a loud, but not too rowdy, group of women were having a girls' night out. They were singing, dancing, playing pool and generally having a good time. All things that Emma loves, of course. While I stayed at the table to take care of the bill Emma wandered into the bar to see what all the fuss was about. (Don't worry, grandparents. Marla and Henry were right behind her.)
Being the sociable ham that she is, Emma just had to join right in - and, boy, did she lay it on thick!
December 30, 2005
emma and the celebrity chefs
Emma has finally met all of her favorite celebrity chefs from the Food Network. Frequent readers will recall that Marla is big fan of Giada De Laurentiis and Rachael Ray. I'm a huge Alton Brown fan. (Just ask me to show you my 8' high stack of Good Eats DVDs some time!)
This, of course, has turned Emma into the ultimate foodie, melding the quick-and-easy style of Rachael Ray with the Old World style of Giada and the scientific know-how of Alton Brown into one cute, three-year-old package.
Emma met Alton last year when he visted The Shops at Mission Viejo and has been able to cross Rachael and Giada off of her list in the past few months. (Yes, we're on a first name basis with them all.
Giada was at the Sur La Table in Newport Beach back in June, signing copies of her new book, Everyday Italian. She was delighted to meet a young fan.
In mid-December Rachael Ray was in Pasadena signing her new book, 365: No Repeats and, naturally, Emma had to go. Grandma Northcutt arrived from Atlanta for her visit and promptly hopped in the car with Emma, Marla and Henry for a two hour jaunt to Pasadena. Be sure and bring a baby along with you to book signings, by the way. Nice authors will let you skip to the head of the line!
After a bit of a wait it was Emma's turn to meet Rachael. Emma sat in her lap and recited the intro to her show. Rachael was most impressed. "I think she does it better than me!" she said. (I agree!)
What, you don't know it? Don't all kids learn it when they are three?
"Hi, I'm Rachael Ray and I make 30 minute meals. In the time it takes you to watch this program I'll have made a delicious and healthy meal from start to finish."
After Emma's performance the two of them chit-chatted for a few minutes and then it was time to bid Rachael farewell.
Now that we've crossed all of the chefs from our list it's time to start working on Emma's latest fascination: NASCAR drivers. Her two favorites? Bobby Labonte and Jeff Gordon. Don't ask...
November 25, 2005
mister turkey
We've entered a new stage in parenting: attending a class performance at school.
Emma's class has been dilligently practicing songs for a few weeks now and on Tuesday we were able to see the results of such dedication during a "Thankful Feast." All parents were invited to join in for music and delicious food (deli turkey and store-bought rolls).
It was a treat not only getting to see Her Emma-ness perform but also to meet all of the children that she talks about each and every day. I've been given daily briefings for months now on the activities of Devin, John, Alyssa S., and Malachai but this was my first opportunity to put faces to names. A few more pictures from the Thankful Feast here.
Note: the movies may not work in Firefox and are a little large so may take a while to load.
November 3, 2005
california international auto show
Early in October Granpa Northcutt paid a visit while on a business trip and took sweet Emma to the California International Auto Show in Anaheim.
Now, I know it may seem odd to take a 3 year old to a car show but if you know Emma - and I think you do - you'll realize that the only thing she would possibly love more is a duck exhibition.
You're heard the phrase "like a kid in a candy store," I'm sure. That needs to be updated to read, "like Emma at the car show." I've never seen a child more fascinated and thoroughly delighted with anything in my life. If everyone has their own version of heaven the auto show was surely hers!
She eagerly ran from car to car, sitting in nearly every single model and trying it on for size. As you can see, her tastes know no bounds. Whether economy or luxury, compact or king-cab, sporty or safe, Emma loved it.
October 31, 2005
halloween 2005
Halloween 2005 has been a much different experience than any other Halloween to date.
If you recall last year, Emma visitied four houses and then had reached her limit. This year Quackin' Duck couldn't get enough and we visited nearly every home in our neighborhood that had decorations inviting us to their door.
She was on fire and filled with purpose. Emma lead me around, choosing which house to visit next. She waddled down the sidewalk to each house's front door without even looking to see if I was following.
"Oh, they have a pumpkin. They're home, they have treats!"
"There's no car in their driveway... they must not be home."
"Trick or treat! Oh, you have a doggy! That's a silly doggy!"
"Thank you! Bye-bye! Have a good dinner!"
At last, once we'd comleted the circle and it was nearly time to come home I had to exert some Super Daddy Powers and convince her that she could trick-or-treat at our house and show Mommy all of her candy. The ruse worked and we made it home and hour and 22 houses later with a giant punkin' full of candy.
Once home, it was Henry's turn to enjoy Halloween. Truth be told, I think he's just as happy with the wrapper as with candy itself. Oh, to be 10 months old and completely satisfied by the simplest of things!
October 11, 2005
little tikes country kitchen
Thanks to persistence by Granma and Aunt Jessica (not to mention the wonders of the Internets), Emma Grace is now the proud owner of a Little Tikes Country Kitchen.
As loyal readers know, Emma is an avid cook. She pretends to be Giada and Rachael all the time. She knows the difference between fennel and anise and can recite the entire intro to 30 Minute Meals without breaking a sweat.
She's been putting her imagination to good use, pretending the the top of a speaker was her microwave that the oven was underneath the TV. She even had a very ghetto cooktop I'd drawn on a piece of cardboard. While on vacation she played with several different "kitchen sink and stoves" that Granma Northcutt picked up 2nd hand at yardsales and we knew that we'd have to find one ourselves.
The search is over and, as you can see, our little chef is as happy as can be.
July 30, 2005
i make the rules
A direct quote from her Emma-ness earlier today:
"When I'm 30 years old like Mommy, I'll get to make the rules. Emma will get to make the rules instead of Mommy and Daddy."
This was shortly followed by:
"Mommy makes sure we follow the rules."
July 3, 2005
mississippi girl
Well, it's a long way from Star, Mississippi
To the big stage I'm singing on tonight
And sometimes the butterflies still get me
When I'm in the spotlight
And some people seem to think that I've changed
That I'm different than I was back then
But in my soul, I know that I'm the same way
That I've really always been
'Cause a Mississippi girl don't change her ways
Just 'cause everybody knows her name
Ain't big-headed from a little bit of fame
I still like wearing my old ball cap
Ridin' my kids around piggy back
They may know me all around the world
But, y'all, I'm still a Mississippi girl
Well, I spent a few weeks in California
They put my face on the big movie screen
But that don't mean I've forgotten where I came from
That's just me chasing dreams
'Cause a Mississippi girl don't change her ways
Just 'cause everybody knows her name
Ain't big-headed from a little bit of fame
I still like wearing my old ball cap
Ridin' my kids around piggy back
They may know me all around the world
But, y'all, I'm still a Mississippi girl
May 10, 2005
emma grace at 3
Emma grace celebrated her 3rd birthday this past weekend with a big group of her friends and special guests Grandma and Grandpa Mandel. All told we had about a dozen people over for dinner and cake.
She and Marla looked at the calendar each day and Emma was absolutely shaking with excitement as Saturday approached.
This year, unlike the first or second birthday parties, Emma understood what was going on. She understood she was moving from two to three, there would be a party and, most importantly, that there would be cake!
(I expect that next year she'll understand that there will be presents. Not only that, but that she'll have expectations around what she'll get rather than joyfully accepting anything that comes her way.)
There was a noticable difference in the way that the kids interacted with one another when compared to the previous birthday party. Last year they played pretty independently, each focused on their own toy or activity. None of them paid much attention to the other children around them.
The kids interacted with one another muc more this year. They played Playdoh together, they crowded around the table together, they shared cars and other toys. It was pretty amazing to see the difference. (Marla, of course, gets to see this every week with Emma's playgroup but it was new to me.)
As Jamie noted, that many toddlers in a small space can certainly be overwhelming. After the presents were opened and the sugar had started to wear off there was a palpable change in the atmosphere of the room. The kids were spent - and the adults were, too!
We had an absolute blast putting the party together and hope that everyone who was able to come enjoyed themselves. We and, more importantly, Emma certainly did.
April 24, 2005
chasing painted ladies
In the last days of March we were innundated with Painted Lady butterflies. They migrate through the area each year but because of our amazing rainfall this winter, this year's migration was spectacular.
Literally hundreds of the Painted Ladies fluttered by each minute. It was an amazing sight! (For more on the migration, see this collection of newspaper articles. The bottom one from the LA Times is best.)
Emma and I went out to try our luch at chasing and catching a few. We used the nets from her Elefun game and had some success! Our final tally was 2 in hand and 4 more in the net that escaped before we could look at them up close. Emma was ecstatic, of course.
They're predicting another huge migration in another few weeks from the eggs laid along the way during March's migration. Our nets are ready!
March 23, 2005
the things emma says
Oh, hello. Are you still reading this?
Things have been slow on the site but busy, busy at home. We've had Grandma Northcutt visiting for the past two weeks and Daddy was out of town for a week at the Game Developers Conference.
I've got a gargantuan gallery of photos from the end of February to make up for it. (Yeah, I know March is almost up.)
You can also enjoy a few choice tidbits from Emma, who continues to impress us with her vocabulary. They don't quite have the same impact when you can't see her face or hear the tone of her voice, but hopefully some of it will come through.
"Daddy, I think somethings going on here.""Emma, you're so original!"
"That's not recycle, Daddy. Emma just wants to look and see some couches and chairs to buy." (as Daddy tried to toss out a Crate and Barrel catalog)
"Emma don't like Van Halen, Daddy."
"Those peas are too snappy for me!"
"Emma wants you to go back to Sweden and get me some car snacks."
"I can't go back to Sweden, darlin'"
<Emma pauses>
"Emma wants Vahn to go back to Sweden and get me some car snacks!""I want you to buy Emma one like that, Daddy." (with tears in her eyes, after being told she couldn't play with Daddy's iPaq.)
January 28, 2005
somewhere, a marketing manager is smiling
Children must be a marketer's dream come true. They soak knowledge up like sponges. That knowledge includes brand names and messages.
I've always been amused - and slightly disturbed - by the fact that Emma could recognize so many brands at such a young age. I remember, for example, driving down 405 one afternoon just before she turned two and she pointed at a truck passing by and said, "That's Ralph's, Daddy!"
We no longer get quesadilla's - we get Baja Fresh. We don't get chicken nuggets - we go to Old McDonald's for Chicken McNuggets. Daddy doesn't drink coffee - he drinks Starbucks.
Emma doesn't like pink lemonade - she likes Poppin' Pink. We don't go to the grocery store - we go to Trader Joe's. We don't play games - we play Xbox (and Burnout by EA, to boot!) Pavillions, Target, Pier 1, Pottery Barn (Kids, no less) and on and on and on.
The culmination of all of this came the other night as we struggled through yet another cold. (I had it, too, of course. We're hardcore BIDS sufferers in this house.)
Emma woke at about 1 AM on the eve of Sam's birthday party and tottered down the hall. She appeared at the door of our bedroom, bleary eyed, and pronounced:
"Mommy, I'm sick. I need some Tylenol."
Not medicine - Tylenol.
Somewhere, in their dreams, there was a Tylenol marketing manager smiling.
Next trip to Pavillions... err, I mean, the grocery store, I made a point of buying the store brand ($3.96) instead of Tylenol ($8.97). I felt guilty, as if I didn't love my child enough to by her the real stuff. That was tempered by feeling like I was striking back at the evil marketeers.
Now if you'll excuse me, I need to grab a Kleenex and blow my nose.
January 24, 2005
darren makes marks on the wall
Earlier this week sweet Emma was playing with the school house Darren and Rebecca gave her many moons ago. It's always been a favorite of hers. She's even gone so far as to name the little girl and little boy that came with the set "Darren" and "Rebecca". It's quite sweet to watch her playing with them.
While feeding Henry in the other room, Marla heard some noises coming from Emma's room as she played. Marla knew she was up to no good, but with a nursing baby in one hand it's tough to intervene. Time passed, the noises stopped and all was right in the world.
Later in the day, while straightening the toys in Emma room, Marla noticed lots of brown marks on the wall. She turned to Emma and stared.
Emma innocently stared back and said, "Darren makes marks on the wall."
Yes, yes, indeed! Darren does make marks on the wall... when you repeatedly bash his head against it.
At any rate, enjoy the pictures of our playground supermodel. She's staring to pose well for me if I can trick her into playing along as a game. Note to other parents: try sticking stuffed animals on your camera to make them laugh.
Unlike Big Sister, Henry isn't getting into much trouble these days. He's continuing to do a lot of sleeping, a lot of pooping and a lot of wee-ing.
He has started to grow more aware of his surroundings, though, and stay awake longer between feedings. You can see for yourself in the photos, of course.
We had his weight checked again on Monday and he was up to seven pounds. Another 8 ounces in 7 days. He's packing it on!
I need to update the chart and see where we're headed. 100 pounds seems entirely reasonable, don't you think?
January 19, 2005
she keeps going and going...
We can't, of course, forget sweet, sweet Emma amid all the gushing over her darling brother Henry.
She's been enjoying Grandma and Grandpa Mandel's visit with us immensely. There's generally been a "warming up" period when they visit as she gets used to someone other than Mommy and Daddy tromping around the house and wanting to play with her.
Not so this visit.
The very first night she was up and in their laps at supper time eating from their plates as she so loves to do. Food is just so much more delicious when it is a) someone elses and b) fed to you by someone else.
The last half of this gallery is from the 15th, when we were all dressed up for Henry's naming at the synagogue. (We couldn't bring ourselves to do the Bris where the Hebrew name for a boy is traditionally given. I have too many Seinfeld memories.)
At any rate, after the naming we went to Corner Bakery in Tustin for tasty lunch and some play at the fountain there. It was only later that I realized that on a day all about Henry I hadn't taken a single picture of him. Oops!
Emma enjoyed herself thoroughly. Running, running and running. And a little more running. I've got too many favorites from the fountain to name them all, but I'm particularly tickled by the exchange captured between her and Grandpa Mandel. Too cute.
December 15, 2004
how do i look in my overalls?
Emma wore these overalls for the first time a few weeks ago and was just beaming when she put them on. Sunlight was streaming into her room, it was early on a Saturday morning and everything in the world was just right.
After almost three years of being a daddy I'm still amazed how a few perfect minutes with her can erase entire weeks of frustration and despair in other parts of life.
These have to be some of my all-time favorite pictures of Emma - especially this one. (I've got a big print on the way.) Hope you like them, too!
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December 12, 2004
general cuteness abounds
I was chastised for going an entire week without updating last night. I know. I'm a bad, bad father. (Thanks, Leah!)
There are a few great ones in this collection. Emma is now Mommy's little helper at the grocery store. She'll cross things off the list and make sure that Marla buys everthing we need... and more.
I also love the little hand on Marla's leg in this one while they're reading a story.
And don't worry. Emma's eyes aren't really this big. That's what taking headshots with a wide-angle lens (28mm f/2.8) will do for you.
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December 3, 2004
i can do it myself, thank you
Emma is becoming more and more self-sufficient these days. She's able to entertain herself pretty well coloring, reading or feeding her Baby. It sure makes life easier when Marla is fixing dinner or taking a rare moment to relax. (I stress rare, though.)
I have to admit, though, that I'm left wondering what I am supposed to be doing. Is it OK to read a book? Dare I sneak on the laptop and check my e-mail? I'm afraid that if I do, the Bad Parent SWAT Team will come crashing through the windows and arrest me, just like the precrime cops in Minority Report.
She's gone so far as to start going potty all by herself. No more help needed - or wanted - from Mommy and Daddy. Tonight, in fact, she said, "Mommy go away. You need some privacy." (She still speaks in the 2nd person and calls herself "you" most of the time.)
I kid you not! Marla quietly shut the bathroom door and waited outside, calling me at work to give me the news.
"You'll never guess what your daughter just said..."
These pictures are much less exciting than solo potty shots, but still awfully cute. There's one of Emma reading by herself at the library and then a few more of her quietly coloring in The Big Chair.
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November 27, 2004
october wrap-up
I know, I know. November is coming to an end but I'm just now catching up with photos from October. The high price of shooting lots of pictures, I suppose.
There's no rhyme or reason to this gallery - it's just a hodgepodge of shots taken during the last half of the month. You'll find such gems as Emma's Hair Salon, Wet Girl With Duck, Punkin Head and Emma Playing With Scissors.
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October photo stats:
- 281 decent shots (1.4 GB on disk)
- 140 "keepers"
- 89 destined for printing and the web
November 19, 2004
the sprinkle walk
A few weeks ago we had an amazing deluge of rain. Marla, still a Seattleite to the core, decided it was high time that her daughter take a little "sprinkle walk" and learn just how wonderful the rain can be.
Emma reveled in it, of course. (You may remember she has a thing for playing in sprinklers.)
At the slightest mention of rain she'll now head for the window to look outside ("Emma wants to see the rain!") and start dancing in anticipation of another sprinkle walk.
These were taken on Marla's shiny new Canon A75. We'd decided that she needed a small digital camera to carry around on her adventures with Emma. So far it's paid off, don't you think?
November 15, 2004
lady in red, lady in cardboard box
We took a short trip up to the fountain one afternoon a few weeks ago. This is the same one we visited in July, you may remember. Seems like I even took a few of the same shots without realizing it!
I just love the little red outfit Emma is in. She seems like such a little girl in it. I absolutely love this one of her chillin' by the wall.
You'll also spot a shot of Emma proudly sporting her deputy sheriff's badge... in a cardboard box. She and Marla stopped by the new Rancho Santa Margarita town hall and met the nice sheriff. Both Emma and Baby were deputized.
We wrap up with a few pictures from Grandpaw Northcutt's brief visit with us last week while he was in town on business.
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November 6, 2004
emma and the xbox
Emma has been enjoying Burnout 3 right alongside me for the past few months. She calls it "the race car game" and demands that it be played several times a week.
She's kind of like the color man in baseball, adding interesting commentary and a little play-by-play:
"Ohhhh! Daddy you crashed! Look at that car in the rolling! Oooohhhh, Daaaaddy!"
"Hehehe! That car is flying and flying and flying in the air! Oh, silly Daddy!"
"Oh, Duuuuck! Look at that silly school bus crashing and crashing and crashing! There's so much dust in the air!"
In addition to her role as announcer Emma also serves as a backup singer for the game's soundtrack. She's grown very fond of "Lazy Generation" by The F-Ups (yes, I cringe when I think about it) and she's also a big fan of "I Wanna Be Sedated" by The Ramones.
My little girl is a gamer... and on her way to becoming a punk.
November 1, 2004
emma's halloween 2004
So the big day has come and gone, and Halloween 2004 was a great success! We had fun last year, of course, but this year we were really looking forward to trick-or-treating - Emma included.
There was an exhaustive search for a costume that was fun yet affordable. It seems silly to pay so much for something that will only be worn for a few hours at most, but apparently Halloween is now all the rage. We finally found a "pixie fairy" costume at Ralphs, of all places, for a song.
You could feel the excitement in the air as it grew dark outside. Emma couldn't wait to get into her costume and go out on the town and "get some treats." (I know the pictures don't look like she was having fun getting dressed, but believe me, she was having a blast.)
At last, the costume was on and The Pixie Fairy was unleashed! We posed for a few snapshots with the jack-o-lantern and we were off to gnab some loot. (Pictures of punkin' carvin' coming soon.)
Emma-car strutted her stuff down the street with wand in one hand and her pal, Duck, clutched in the other. I figured there was no way the neighbors could resist The Pixie Fairy's charms (her powers of cuteness were unstoppable) and we'd make out like candy bandits.
Alas, it was not to be. After the fourth house she was done.
She had dutifully walked to the door and proclaimed, "TRICK OR TREAT!" and then said, "Thank you!" after they'd given up their candy, before turning to go. (It was actually more a barely audible "trick or treat...." but what do you expect from a 2 year old?)
But after that fourth house all she could talk about was getting back home to show Mommy "all of your candy."
All of your candy, indeed. If only we could all be satisfied with a few Tootsie Rolls and some Smarties life would be good.
October 31, 2004
random randomness
A quick group of shots from the end of September and the beginning of October and I'm nearly caught up. It's amazing what not being around will do to hamper your rate of picture taking.
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October 18, 2004
quick emma fix
We've had two rounds of grandparents in town and a week-long trip to Sweden in the past month, so we're a little behind. I know it's been tough for some of you out there to go so many weeks without your Emma fix, so I thought I'd toss up a few pictures quickly to get you over the hump.
Enjoy!
October 5, 2004
overheard in the northcutt household
Things overheard in the Northcutt household over the past few days:
- "Don't step on your Daddy. It's just not polite."
- "Daddy, don't hold your left hand!"
- "That light is on to help me remember to water the plants. Can you do me a favor later and water the plants?"
- "Emma, don't do that!" (spoken by Emma)
- "When you're hiding in the corner you're really telling me you need to go poop."
- "Duck is SO famous!"
- "Do you want a time out?"
"Yes." <eyebrows raise>
"I mean no." - "Daddy don't antagonize you!"
- "That's not appropriate." (spoken by Emma)
- <incoherent shrieks>
"That might be a sign it's time for bed."
September 18, 2004
yes, i like that party hat
I've been a lazy, lazy Daddy the past few weeks. My camera has mostly been in the bag and I've been playing Burnout 3: Takedown on the Xbox non-stop.
I shook off the funk, though, and put up a few shots from the first half of August earlier today, as well as a great "party hat" set. (If you don't know about party hats you're not reading enough P.D. Eastman.)
I've also been on the road for work. I was in Austin last week at the Austin Game Conference. I gave a presentation in Austin on "The Implications of Namespace Design" - you're impressed, I'm sure. (Not!) I'm heading back to Sweden on Monday for more consulting on one of my favorite franchises.
Marla won't be lonely, though. Grandma and Grandpa Mandel are in town for all of next week. They've enjoyed their visit so far - I think they're impressed at what a handful our Emma can be. They had quite the adventure getting down here. They were among the thousands stranded by the radar/radio outage last week.
Oh, one final note. Emma has decided on a name for the new baby: Henry Train. We think it's grand. Don't you?
September 8, 2004
northcutt family in town
Grandma and Granpaw Northcutt were in town a little over a month ago. Emma had a good time playing with them. Need evidence? See below...
I was in Seattle at the Microsoft Meltdown for much of Grandma's visit but as you can see, no one missed me :) Much fun was still had by all.
August 23, 2004
playing in the sprinkler
I'm normally really annoyed when our association water sprinklers go off in the middle of the day and stay on for hours. It's fun when things malfunction and waste precious resources, don't you think? In this case, though, it happened in the late afternoon on a weekend when we happened to be outside playing, anyway. What better way to introduce Emma to the fine art of playing in the sprinkler.
My brother and I would do this all the time growing up back in Georgia. One of my father's most cherrished pictures comes from just after a session in the sprinler. In the picture we are both down to our underwear, covered in mud and eating "hunkies" on some railroad ties in front of our house on Crowe Drive. Ahh... childhood.
Anyway, the sprinklers were on and Emma was off in a flash to play in them. Marla was watching her orginally and I was in the house. Marla, being the contientious mother that she, is was careful to have Emma only play around the edges, putting only her hands in. She ran inside for something and left me outside with Emma. You can see the results of my parenting skills.
I also slapped up a gallery of shots from early in July. First up is Emma Grace just being her normal, sweet self. This is followed by her being a HAM for the camera and wearing underwear on her head. As you can see, she quite enjoys the response it brings!
Lastly, Miss Emma took a walk with Daddy in O'Neill Regional Park one afternoon and decided it would be best if she went shoeless. While the pavement was nice and toasty warm it left her feet as nasty as could be!
August 8, 2004
fountain fun
We love our little town, it's true. Rancho Santa Margarita is such a family-friendly town with lots of parks and such to keep everyone occupied.
The fountain is just outside a Baja Fresh that Marla really enjoys. Emma has looked at it longingly for many months now and we finally let her play in it.
We ended up having to ride home nekkid (poor, dead Lewis Grizzard) the car because she was dripping wet.
The second group of photos is, of course, from the lake in Rancho Santa Margarita. I loves me my circular polarizer. Deep blue skies and no glare on the water. Enjoy!
August 7, 2004
chuck e. cheese
Chuck E. Cheese may be the happiest place on Earth while weathering the blackout days for season pass holders at Disneyland. Emma's quite fond of the carosel and drving the little yellow bus.
She has, unfortunately, already shown signs of talking on the phone while driving, as other Californians do.
I remember really loving Chuck E. Cheese when I was a kid. Did you know that Nolan Bushnell, founder of Atari also started Chuck E. Cheese? That must explain it.
Some things never change, I guess, if Emma's instant affection for a giant rat is evidence. The groovy animatronic band is gone, replaced with a teenager in a battered rat suit and some flashy video screens, but kids still seem to go crazy and have a blast there.
August 6, 2004
angel is a centerfold
Emma's new thing is taking all of her clothes off. "Emma get naked!" she likes to shriek. I'm convinced that she's just excercising a new-found skill (getting herself dressed/undressed) and not a budding nudist or anything.
She's also quite fond of "driving" Marla's car. She'll press every button, turn every dial and (try to) shift every lever. The car's a mess when she's done, of course, and I'm convinced we'll blow a speaker any day now.
Combine these two activities (nakedness, driving a car) with shutterbug parents and you get what can only be described as a photoshoot fit for something like Maxim Baby.
PS - I think I'm going straight to Hell for this one. And this one.
July 20, 2004
fun in the sandbox
A few weeks ago we went to the Rodenbaugh's for a cookout on Dipper's fancy new grill (a Father's Day present).
He was mighty proud of his grill but his daughter, Shayna, was even more proud of her brand spankin' new sandbox. She and Emma played and played... and then played some more. The light was just right and I took gobs of pictures - are you surprised?
Emma couldn't stop talking about the sandbox for days afterwards, so we ended up buying her one of her own. It's now the focal point of our patio and Emma never grows tired of playing in it. If only all toys could be this captivating!
I also slapped together a few more IR photos taken out behind the GameSpy on Skypark Circle. I was kind of bummed with the brownish sky that the Hoya R72 was producing when color balanced so I went crazy with Photoshop this time.
Lastly, today is the 35th anniversary of the moon landing. I heard a great story on NPR this morning about the near disaster during the first landing. The landing site was strewn with boulders and Armstrong took manual control of the Eagle to steer it to safer ground. They landed with approximately 16 seconds of fuel left. Listen to the full audio feed - it's good stuff.
July 15, 2004
water fountains and baby cakes
I put up two new sets of pictures tonight, the last of those from our trip to Atlanta in June.
In the first set there are some cute shots of Emma swinging with Grandpa and Uncle Paul in this gallery, but the real fun starts in the shots of her second second birthday party.
Grandma and Grandpa Northcutt couldn't make it for the real party in May, so they held their own, with Baby Cakes from McEntyre's Bakery in Smyrna. As you can see, she quite enjoyed them!
The second set were from our last day in Atlanta. We paid a visit to the new downtown area called "The Village Green" in Smyrna, Georgia.
This area looks nothing like it did when I was a child. The mayor, Max Bacon, has done a superb job in turning a run-down city into an exciting and vibrant downtown area. Someone should give him an award. (Oh, wait... they already did.)
But enough about Smryna... the real story here is just how much Emma enjoyed playing in the fountain. I love the way that you can see her going from skeptical of the water to having absolutely no fear in the span of just a few images. Enjoy the show!
The last bit of this gallery shows Emma playing with Grandpa outside, searching for lightning bugs. (You Yankees may have called them fireflies.) She loved them! It's too bad that there are none in California. I weep a small tear for all the kids growing up here who can only read about them.
July 8, 2004
first doughnut
Is a first doughnut a momentus occassion, like a first step or first word?
I'm not entirely sure, but the pictures are sure as cute as can be! Grandpa Northcutt had the great idea for a chocolate-covered doughnut on a lazy, uh, Tuesday morning and Emma certainly wasn't going to disagree! She attacked the doughnut with gusto and downed it with a frosty glass of chocolate milk.
We ended the day with some yummy chicken from my brother Paul Northcutt's grill at their new mansion in Bufford, GA. (Mansion by California standards, at least!)
July 4, 2004
emma on the farm
At the end of May, while still back in Georgia, we took a trip down to the family farm. Papa O.N. grew up here along with all of his brothers and sisters. Great Aunt Ruth and her husband, Forest Peeples, still live (and work) on the farm.
Emma had been a few times before, but this was really the first time that she was able to run around and really play, as a child should on a farm. She just loved running alongside the garden with their dog, Pickle. ("Goway, Pickle!" was The Phrase of The Day for her.)
I have a crazy dream that one day I'll move back to this place and raise cattle "naturally." I really believe that you could make a good, honest living raising cattle that roamed in the fields and grew fat on grass.
With demand for organic fruits and veggies these days, I think there's probably a boutique market for beef, too. (Reading "Fast Food Nation" and its account of the beef industry did nothing but reaffirm my belief.)
I say this, of course, as I add this entry from my laptop while sitting on the patio in the warm California sun - courtesy of my wireless network.
Do they have broadband on the farm?
June 25, 2004
28 miles to disneyland
Turns out we are a scant 28 miles from Disneyland. We splurged and got an annual pass for the entire family. Our last two weekends, therefore, have been spent with Mickey and the gang. We went in the evening on June 13 and then Emma and Marla took me for Father's Day the following Sunday morning.
Emma's favorite ride by far is Autopia, which she calls "bumper cars." So far she's always the driver, which is a nice change of pace for Daddy who generally acts as chauffeur.
P.S. I have no idea who these people are in the teacups at night but I really liked the pictures so I put them up anyway.
June 18, 2004
emma rides her bike
We've had this little bike for almost a year now, after picking it up at a yard sale just up the street. It hung in the garage nex
