so, this was christmas

Every year, we always think that we have overdone it just a little...and every year, we are right, really.

We were able to get some "buy in" when it came to Santa..."Santa brings presents to little girls and boys who believe in him."  Just trying to extend the magic, I guess.

So, yes, Christmas was merry and all that.  Pups were royally spoiled.  Papa got a whole bunch of stuff he didn't know he needed plus a lot that he did.  And, I got stuff that will in some way increase my productivity or my general well-being.  In regards to the consumer-side of Christmas, we did okay.

In terms of the reason for the season, we spent Christmas Eve at the children's service at church which always proves to be entertaining.

We hope your Christmases or Hannakahs were happy, merry and bright.

More pictures and video in flickr.









pups in portraiture

When looking at Christmas cards in the stores this year, I noticed that selection has gone way down.  People just aren't doing Christmas cards anymore, that's a general statement, because we still do.  A lot of people have moved to the picture card, which is good, less waste, I suppose.  I tend to send the pictures that people send out, but it's probably more an extension of what I spend my work day doing anyway.  In any case, we are old school: card, letter, picture.  We updated the letter to a timeline this year, but we still had a picture (see above).  The portrait of the Pups was the main shot for the year.  I might be biased (since I took it) but I think it's a fantastic shot.

I tend to go for portraiture without the trimmings of holiday accoutrement.  It's usually a better option for year round display...just my opinion; but, there you are.

I did a lot of shots in the studio over the last three months. It was a fun challenge to learn about studio lighting and photographic lighting in general.  I will pop more shots in the flickr site since I know the grandparents like it when that happens.

Part of taking so many shots in the studio was getting shots that were, basically, "misses".  I collected them and will put some of those in the flickr site as well, because some of them are just funny.  Here is one of my favorites, because, honestly, I have no idea what they are doing or why they are doing it.

We also did an outdoors family picture as well (the capture of which was so painful, I can not even begin to articulate it in this venue).  But hey, memories, I guess.

conversations with santa

So here is a brief synopsis of our visit with Santa this year.

Santa with SP 2.0:

Santa:Have you been a good boy this year, young man?

SP 2.0: No.

Santa: Well, if you haven't been good, then why should you get presents?

SP 2.0: .... [insert maniacal laughter here]

Santa: Oh, well, what do you want for Christmas?

SP 2.0: I want presents. Lots of presents. And Christmas decorations, 'specially nutcrackers. I like nutcrackers. And presents.

Santa: OK, very well then.

And Santa's interaction with Pup, the Elder, after he clued all the other children in line about the Santa myth and how Santa is not really real, which was, as you can imagine, awesome.

SP 1.0: You're not any realler than last year; but, your beard is better this year.

Santa: What do you want for Christmas?

SP 1.0: My mom told me to tell you what I wanted, but I'm pretty sure she and Daddy already got everything. They have been hiding presents in the basement.

Santa: So what would you like for Christmas this year?
SP 1.0: More legos. A wallet. And more paper. I want the legos to be spaceship legos.
Santa: I will see what I can do. Have a Merry Christmas!
SP 1.0: Oh, I will!!

Even though SP 1.0 has been trying to explain to his brother that Santa isn't really real, SP 2.0 will maintain belief in any person, place, or thing, that will serve as a source for gift acquisition. If we have learned anything from all of this, it is this: Seal Pup the younger, his loyalties can be bought.

xmas prep, the 2011 edition

After we celebrated Seal Pup 2.0's birthday, we immediately kicked things in gear for Christmas preparations.  We pulled out the fake mini-tree and all the decorations.

We got a tree (a real one from our usual tree farm).

And in the vein of "we did it because we could" (or really, because we were told to), we went to New York to have lunch with my mom.

It was a two grandmother kind of day!

And then we went back home and decorated the tree.

Christmas, we are ready for you.

par-tay

Most Esteemed Son #2 turned 3 today. It was a big deal. There was a party at school. And then there was a PAR-TAY at home (no, I don't know what the difference is either--besides desperate grasping for hipster status and the other being, well, English). We had fun. And, of course, HE had fun. So there we are.

Photos and (more) video in flickr.

gobble (x2)

Did you have a good Thanksgiving? We did (until we didn't). Papa's sister and her family came for a quick visit (and a Thanksgiving feast of epic proportions). There was much screaming from ecstatic children and much eating of food (there was not so much picture taking, but there you are).

Instead of shopping deals and steals over the weekend, I decided it would be a good idea to twist my ankle and spend a few hours in the local ER (which, well, awesome). After I finished with the crutches, I wrenched my back and now I am in physical therapy, just in time to allow birthday fun for Seal Pup 2.0 to ensue. My timing, it is legendary.

...and things here

So let me fill you in on what's been going on with us.

Seal Pup 1.0, or "Most Esteemed Son #1", as I sometimes like to think of him, had a second first day of kindergarten because we pulled him out of the local school to put him in the regional magnet school program when a space opened up. We were concerned about traumatizing him, but he has settled in fine. Moving from a half day to a full day program with solid programming in languages, art, and music...it's a big deal; and, well, there's the bus ride.
Oh, Pup 1.0 also learned to play chess, and it's become another big deal. I played a 30-minute game with him and the game ended in a stalemate. I am not sure whose chess skills this says more about, mine or his.

Both pups have become models for me for various photo projects over the last few months.That's always exciting.
And then there was Halloween last month. Pup 1.0 was "The President of the United States Running for Re-election in 2012" and Pup 2.0 was the lead agent of his secret service detail. In case you are wondering, his party affiliation was the Independent Party.I went to Texas last week to attend the International Quilt Festival and I saw a lot of quilts...clearly, this might be the top of the list for high point of the year.
Now we are gearing up for Thanksgiving. Because food is involved and that can mean only good things.

big (little) man on campus

So today was Most Esteemed Son #1's first day of kindergarten.

It seemed kind of weird just popping him on the school bus (which was a really big deal, actually), and watching it roll away. We started counting down the days at 59 days to go.

Irene added a week, but that's okay, especially considering that "kindergarten is so great and [he] loves it!"

I will do a summer wrap up later, but I figured the grandparents would want to see photos of this momentous occasion. Pictures in flickr.

california traditions

As we do every year in the summer, we headed west to California to visit with family and a few friends (this was at the endof June/beginning of July (at least I am still in the same season, right?).

As always the time was enjoyable.

Fun in the sun, beach, food and shenanigans that people who are on vacation normally participate in.As much as the adults love our reunion, the people who have the best time at this annual get together are the kids.We took the annual Seal Pack pic on the beach again (it's a tradition now!). Funny.

We went to Benihana (tradition!).We went to Disneyland this year, it was as chaotic as you would imagine. But it was fun.

There are a ton of pictures in flickr, which comes as a complete and total surprise, I am sure.

we found a heart in philly

So, I am playing catch up right now. We went to Philadelphia in June (yes, I know), let me tell you about it.

During Valentine's Weekend (yes, back in February), Pup 1.o saw a special about the human heart exhibit at the Franklin Institute on the Sunday Morning Show. His response to the bit was, "I would like to see the heart at the Franklin Institute." Well of course, why wouldn't one want to see a humongous heart at the Franklin Institute. This of course meant we had to figure out what the Franklin Institute was and where it was--which, had we thought about it, we would have been able to figure it out fairly easily. In any case, after researching it, we decided a little wish fulfillment was in order and we wandered down to Philadelphia for a short weekend of fun.We saw the heart exhibit. We walked through it. Many times. Many, many times.

We explored other thing as well. But mostly we learned a lot and had fun.
We also found (I actually found it when I attended a conference in Philly last year, but whatever) a Korean restuarant called Miga.

Which was conveniently located across the street from a Max Brenner, which of course is awesome.
It was a fun little jaunt down the coast.

More pictures in flickr.

so, about last month

Funny.
Funnier.
Funniest.We have been doing our fair share of wondering for the last month and a half. How about I tell you about the rest of May?

To celebrate my birthday and Mother's Day, we took a trip down to Washington DC. We spent a day in Maryland, at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival, as one does.
That was fun.
And then we explored Washington DC a little bit. Seal Pup 1.0 fell and hurt himself. But he got over it pretty quickly.We cut our trip short because Seal Pup 2.0 got a stomach bug or food poisoning (we never figured out which) in the middle of our second night there, so we left early.

But it was fun while it lasted.

More pictures in flickr.