A week (or two) in pictures

Hey kids,

Your nana and papa have been here for the past week and a half. It's been crazy busy around here and I haven't had much of a chance to get online. But here's some photos to tide you over.


I dragged Jakob with me to the Blues Festival. It was a work-related obligation, otherwise I would not have even thought of going. I will tell you both a secret... I hate the blues. Don't tell my editor! All the songs sound exactly alike to me: My woman done left me; I want my woman back; If it weren't for bad luck I'd have no luck at all; etc. etc. ad nauseum. Luckily, it was raining very hard and it was cold and miserable, so you and I could bow out semi-gracefully one quarter of the way through. My editor admonished me the following Monday: "Bring a raincoat and umbrella next time! You really missed out. They played until after midnight!"

::::SHUDDERING AT THE THOUGHT::::



Of course, as soon as we walked back out to the car, the clouds parted and the sun came out.



This is one of the old blues guys that we did manage to see. Jakob, you and I have our very first inside joke. I guess I asked you one too many times if you were enjoying yourself. I kept asking you if you liked the blues. You finally responded, "WHATEVER, MOM!!! How many times are you going to ask me if I like the blues??!?!" Now, a week later, when it gets quiet, you will nudge me and say, "I've got a question for ya... Do you like the blues?" And then you will laugh uproariously.



We decided to have breakfast for dinner at Denny's before heading home. Kids eat free on Saturdays! Whoot!



Oh my gosh.... Wavy. Your first day at school. We were all so worried that you would hate it, because you're so -- how can I put this delicately -- so anti-social? But after one day of a few tears (according to your teacher), you are enjoying yourself and making friends. Good for you, baby!



It's papa! These next few photos were taken by you, Jakob. Ya'll have been out camping since Sunday. I, of course, still have to work, so I have been driving out to the campsite every night after work to spend some time with all of you, have some dinner, get eaten alive by mosquitoes, ruin my work sandals and generally just hang out until the sun goes down. Then it's home to my nice comfy bed, a glass of wine and Tivo. If this is camping, then I'm all for it.



It's Wavy! Nice shot, Jakob.



So, when I tell people that our family owns an RV, I'm sure they are picturing something a bit more slick and shiny and new. With pullouts, racing stripes and modern amenities. Well, this gal was probably slick and shiny and new about four presidents ago. But she is homey and comfy, and we are not afraid to spill our Kool-Aid, or track mud or occasionally puke (Wavy... this means you...) and she actually runs really well.



Jakob camping. This is a relatively short time into the camp trip, as he is wearing a clean white shirt and his hair is semi-stylin'.



I will have to go through my files and find the companion photo to this one. I originally shot one almost exactly like this, with you and papa wading in the river, about three years ago, when you were Baby's age. Very cute.



Playing in the Class V rapids.



Papa rides my bike.



You guys ride your bikes.



You guys eating your very first S'mores. Quite possibly the world's most perfect food.

Okay, someday soon I'll put together a proper post. In the meantime, I'll just keep taking photos of life's minutae, and annoying the hell out of you with my camera and my "HOLD STILL DAMMIT FOR JUST 1/125th OF A SECOND DAMMIT!!!" Heh. Love you both.