Trip to LHC

Went back to AZ for the holidays.  Leave tomorrow.  I'm not allowed to help pack because Shaundar is what the French call "Anal."  So, I'll post some pictures.

These are most of the good ones from my camera.  Flashes were going the entire trip, so if you got some good ones, let me know.

Plane Ride!

"P-P-P-Poker Face, P-P-Poker Face"

Playing with Mason

Eating at his very own little table.

Mason

Melissa

Uncle Steve

Mason and Ryan

Mason and Des

With some homeless guy

Opening presents with Mommy

More playing with Mason

Presents on Christmas Day

With Grandma Pankow who I'm sure will love that I am using this pic. But, it's the only one I have.  If somebody got a better one, send it my way.

With Uncle George

Grandma Kathy and Aunt Jennie

Hugs for Grandma Kathy

I have titled this one "Rabbit Between a Tire and a Hose" $450, if you want a print.

Des was having a blast putting rocks onto bigger rocks.

Des and Mason

Palling around with Ryan and Jacob

Brandon

Jayden

With Grandpa John

Getting a hug from cousin Brandon

 Brandon and Jayden

John and his grandkids.

Jayden and Des

I said, "I'm testing the timer, so this isn't for real."  This is what I got.

Time for an intervention?

Desi is learning new words.  I was talking about them in an earlier post.  Some new ones are Caligula (sp?) and this morning he said Ninja.

But...he's got some real words, too.  Among them are Yellow (Yell-la), Blue (Boo), Lights on (La-La), Thank you (La-La) and Daddy is the coolest dude in the entire universe (La-La). 

His favorite word, however, is also his favorite thing to eat in the world. 

Cracker.

Either that...or he's racist toward white folk.

I'm not sure if the addiction began when he learned to say the word or if he learned to say the word because he was an addict.  I imagine that it could be trial and error.  I'll keep making noises until I get close to something that makes them bring me that crunchy goodness.  Oh, Look!  I put these two noises together (Ca-Ca) and they get all gooey and excited and they bring me my favorite thing.  I'll have to keep doing this.

Anyway...first thing in the morning, right after milk, "Ca-Ca."  First thing, once we get home, "Ca-Ca."  First thing when we sit him down for dinner, "Ca-Ca."  Immediatly after he eats the cracker we just gave him, "Ca-Ca."  It's becoming a problem.  We were worried that all the carbs were blocking him up.  There were a couple periods of multiple days without poop followed by a painful one.  But, I think he's moving past that.

Still, it never fails.  Ca-Ca, Ca-Ca, Ca-Ca.  We may have to hide the box in the garage.

PEPS Birthday Party

Our PEPS group got together, today, to celebrate all of our babies birthdays!  Since all of them were born within a month of each other, it was only fitting.  The party was held at the Seattle Aquarium.  We hung out in a conference room where Sammie the Sea Lion came to visit followed by some starfish for petting.  After that, we had some birthday cake and purused the aquarium. 

Following that, Shaundar and I hung out with our pals and fellow PEPS parents, Tom and Jodie and their son Braden.  Here are the pics.

Upon arrival of Sammie the Sea Lion

Touch Tank

Jodie made these cute little picture boxes for all the kids.

Blowing out his candle. I realized today, that he's done this 3 times, now. I think we're done.

It's hard to see, but there are jelly fish in the tank.

Desi, Braden and an octopus.

Same picture, but with flash. I can't take very good pictures in low light.

This fish wouldn't stop staring at Desmond. (upper right)

He's supposed to be a Jelly Fish.

With Braden on the carousel

Daddy's boy.

Random nothings

Nothing exciting to this post.  The first pic is Desi looking at all the people at the MS Halloween event in my building.  The second is the service award I just received for 5 years at Microsoft. 

Shut Up, Quincy!

Clearly...I need to watch what I say around Desmond.  We knew this could be a problem during pregnancy when we were discussing how to curb our Sailor mouths.  We've gotten pretty good about refraining from swearing around Des.  What we forget are other things.

For instance...Quincy is a very whiney dog.  He will frequently lose his ball under the couch.  Or, he will want food.  Or, he's just bored or lonely.  When this happens, he will give a pathetic little whine or whimper.  If we don't notice, he will begin to give increasing louder high-pitched barks.  For the 5 years that Quincy has lived with us, my reponse has been to yell, "Shut up, Quincy!"  It's automatic, at this point.  Much like belching after beer.

The other day, Quincy was yapping away.  I think it was one a lost ball.  Unprovoked by me, Desi pointed at the dog and said, "Yah Yah Da!" or somthing that was not very intelligible.  Although, the number of syllables and the cadence of the blabber, as well as the intonation, reminded me an awful lot of, "Shut up, Quincy!" 

Do you realize what this means?  It means I have to be aware of my tone and what I say at ALL times.  When I am driving and someone cuts me off.  When the Mariners are playing.  When the Mormons come to my door.  There is nothing that Desi can't pick up on.

Maybe I'll still keep my routine when the Mormons come to the door.

Happy Birthday, Desi!

Yeah, yeah...I know his birthday was actually on the 17th. We held his party, today (Saturday). On Tuesday, we gave him a half of a mini cupcake, sang Happy Birthday, and called it a day.

Today was the big shindig.

We had a small gathering of family and neighbors. Nothing huge. Just a few peeps.

Here are some pics.  Videos at the bottom.

A cupcake on the Real Birthday.

With Mommy...this hat actually stayed on for a record amount of time.

With Keely

Ryan

Auntie Kelley

With Mom, again.

The Birthday cake.

Eating the cake...in case you couldn't tell.

Presents...after a change of clothes.

Blowing out the candles from Jason Pankow on Vimeo.


Cake from Jason Pankow on Vimeo.