Vivian and Evan Photos

We carved yet another pumpkin (the first one had melted and rotted in the heat by midweek), ate candy, and took pictures this afternoon. The kids were happy and the jacko came out spooky (I wish I could claim more credit but I used one of those paper templates and carved along the dotted lines).

Hula

So Vivian was a hula dancer for Halloween. Yesterday was cooler so she wore a tank top under her coconut bra. This evening for Trick-or-Treating she looked more beachy. Here are some pictures of her and Eleanor and Ava and Viv from down the street.

Thanks to Amy for the face painting and yummy pumpkin pie and Lucinda for trick-or-treating with Tito's punch.

Have I had Dinner Today?

Vivian enjoys playing with Caroline on our date nights and stays up till God knows when. But last week we had two date nights (on Saturday we celebrated our anniversary with a trip to the Austin Film Festival, thanks to Karen, Kalimba, and Nate). So, for a change, Jo suggested that on the Thursday date night, we leave Evan with Caroline and take Vivian with us for a "grown-up dinner". We went to Vivo's and Vivian ordered a very nice virgin daiquiri and was a charming dinner companion.

So when Thursday rolled around again, Vivian was surprised to hear Jo say something to me about Caroline taking care of Vivian and Evan. She stopped the conversation with "Wait a minute!". We patiently explained (again) that the last Thursday had been a special treat, and that date nights were for just Daddy and Mommy.

At the appointed hour, Caroline was in the living room with the kids and Jo was already standing out on the front porch. I was about to wish them good bye and step out myself when I heard Vivian say in a small voice "Daddy"?

I had a couple of lines on the tip of my tongue. "You know what we told you about Date Night. Now can you be a Big Girl and take care of Evan and Caroline?" But before I could, Vivian continued "Have I had dinner today?"

Ouch.

The Panty Incident

Last Friday at school Vivian didn't make it to the bathroom in time and came back with a wet panty in a plastic bag. We got home and it was soon time for her to get ready for her afternoon nap. We went to the bathroom and she sat on the potty. We asked whose panty she was wearing, given that hers was in a baggie. She replied "Oh - its Ms. Mary's panty. It's too small for her now". God bless Ms. Mary. How many teachers would do that?

Happy

Evan is a happy kid. He's beginning to nap and sleep more predictably so we love him more. He still wakes up once a night but Jo has it down to science and sometimes gets back in bed without opening her eyes.

Evan is crazy about the idea of eating. He can't understand why we spend large parts of our lives eating while he sits and watches. So Jo started him on solid food early. Unfortunately it constipates him a bit and he ends up eating a lot of mushed up prunes. He devours his teething biscuits and bits of bagels and fruits. And eating out with him is like inviting Jabba the Hut and friends. If you don't have something ready for him he grabs at any anything he can and drools over everything.

Evan is a lover. He gives you a lovely tight hug when he first sees you. He smiles and laughs and makes plenty of eye contact. He cries loudly and with lots of tears when he finds himself alone on the living room carpet if we wander off into the kitchen. He reaches out with his mouth and gums your nose and then blows zerberts on your face. He transfers easily to anyone and wanders around everywhere at a party.

The other day Jo gave him his first haircut. He had lots of hair when he was born. Then he lost most of it except for some on top of his head while he grew new fuzz. The fuzz eventually grew out and his original hair looked like some sort of a strange comb over. So Jo trimmed it all down and now he looks more normal.

Evan talks like its going out of style. He started with the usual screams and squawks and has progressed to "blah bah" and more moderated "singing". He cackles like an old woman when he sees Vivian and when he is amused. A very loud old woman.

Earlier this week after dropping Vivian off at school, Jo and Evan I went and voted. Here he is with his "I Voted" sticker.

I went for lunch with Mike the other day to Sea Dragon and this was my fortune cookie. I thought it should have been Evan's.

Town Lake in the Morning

Once a week I used to load up the kids in the double stroller and run around Town Lake while Jo was at Crossfit. Then Vivian got bored of hearing her dad's labored breathing and asked that we walk instead. So these days we take a short leisurely stroll down to the boat dock and back. The kids stay in their jamies. Vivian gets to throw rocks and pine cones into the water. Evan hangs in the stroller. And occasionally someone decides to tell Vivian something about the swans. I didn't know that the ones with a few brown feathers were juvenile males born this spring and that they will gradually turn all white like the females.

The Morning After

Yesterday we had the annual Halloween party at Rosedale. It was anything but the usual. There were more kids than adults (sorry if you weren't invited this year - the admission ticket was a toddler or two). The first guests arrived soon after 6pm. The last ones left by 10pm. The raciest costume item was my coconut bra. There was more beer in the fridge after the party than when we started.

This morning we were up as usual. Not having had rampaging hoards of scantily dressed drunks destroy the house last night, we had it back to normal in short order. Than we hung out on the couches on the deck. Evan and Vivian jumped on the trampoline for a bit. Evan can't crawl yet but he can stand while holding on to stuff.

I didn't use my camera much last night. Here's a few pictures: Vivian (with her eyes closed) and MacKenzie and Ms. Mary; Buzz Lightyear, tinker and a couple of Hawaiians, and the fam.

Boo.

ps. Sixer

Vivian and Evan,

As you know, today is your Mom and my sixth wedding anniversary. We thought you should both know that you have made our marriage and our lives richer in more ways we can ever describe. But if it wasn't for you brats we'd be sitting and sipping wine and chocolate cake somewhere in southern Europe this very moment. No - we (mostly) don't hold it against you.

Love

Sixer

Vivian and Evan,

Your mother and I were married six years ago today. She's put up with me for six years ("and more" as she reminded me this morning). Like in cricket so in life, a sixer is a pretty darn exciting. Not the pinnacle or the end. But a great way to get started on a half century and more.

The deal was cemented the day before Valentine's Day earlier that year. I persuaded Jo to go with me to beautiful Cibolo Creek Ranch located between Marfa and Presidio for a "vacation". We took the Texas Eagle / Sunset Limited combo and landed in Alpine where the rental agent met us at the Amtrak Station with our car. By the time I turned off Highway 67, it was so dark and empty that Jo thought I was out of my mind. We were the only inhabitants of the ranch that night - they left the front door open for us.

The next morning the desert was an amazing sight. During the night an ice storm had come through and covered the cacti and desert scrub with a layer of ice. In the morning, there was thick fog everywhere. Between the fog and the ice it looked like someone had painted the desert white. Jo and I took a walk to a small valley where a spring bubbled out of the desert. By the time we got there, the sun was beginning to poke through the fog and the ice on the leafless trees sparkled like diamonds. I got down on one knee and fumbled around in my pockets. I asked your mother and she said yes and I slipped the ring on her finger. She made a comment that Hell or at least Big Bend had to freeze over before the two of us agreed to be married. And it wasn't until a few days later that Grandma Carol told us that I had put the ring on Jo's wrong hand.

Anyway Vivian, about eight months after that we were married and about two and half years later you came along. And almost three years after that Evan joined us. I'll save the story of how I found the right ring for another anniversary.

I never thought I would ever be married. That's because I couldn't imagine waking up next to the same person for the rest of my life. And now I can't imagine not waking up next to Jo every morning. And thanks to you Evan, a couple more times every night. Dearest Jo - thanks for everything and looking forward to many many more happy anniversaries.

Half a Year

Tomorrow Evan will be six months old (he was born the day of the Deepwater Horizon explosion).

He's changing in front of my eyes. Last month Jo went to visit Vicky. I didn't see the kids for the better part of a week. When they returned I felt like I hadn't laid eyes on Evan for a month. And then I was gone to India for a week earlier this month. In spite of frequent skype-ing, it was a shock to see how much he had changed when I returned.

Yesterday he's speech was mostly a stream of vowel sounds. Today he chatted in consonant filled babble and modulated his voice.

The lad likes to eat as much as he likes to talk. It really pains him to see us all eat while he sits empty handed. The other day we went to Musashino. Evan got more and more agitated as he watched Vivian and me slurp our Miso soup and Jo chomp down tempura crabs. Eventually we had to give him empty edamame shells to suck on just so we could finish the meal. That taught us a lesson. Now Jo carries all kinds to goodies that he can slobber on (cut peaches, carrots and bagels are usually good) while we eat.

where's my breakfast

Wish you a happy half year birthday little guy and may you soon have teeth.

Whatever

Kids these days speak like adults. Really.

When we were having brunch with Jen a couple of weeks ago, Jen asked Vivian something. Vivian started her reply with "Unfortunately...".

Last week Vivian asked me if I had found any snakes in the garage and followed it up with a story about snakes "When I looked up in Grandma's house I assumed the strings were snakes". I don't think I used "assumed" in a sentence till I has at least three times her age.

One morning before school Jo did Vivian's hair with a clip. After inspecting herself in the mirror, she airily announced "Daddy I look like a high school girl. Are you taking me to school?" When I enquired why I should drop her off at school, she replied "Because I look so pretty".

This afternoon she had this sour look on her face. I said "Vivian - are you not happy about something?" She snapped back "That's just how my face is". Ouch.

Jo is stimulating the economy - Fedex and UPS combined for four trips to our home today. Vivian collected up all the cardboard boxes in the kitchen and made her "home". She settled down amongst the cardboard and invited Evan and me to join: "Daddy, Evan - come hang with me".

While getting her ready for bed, Vivian ended up in the corner. Here's how it happened:

Me: "Vivian - get ready for bed now."

Vivian: "Yeah - whatever."

Me: "Don't whatever me."

Vivian: "OK - whatever."