Turkey Day

Thanksgiving at the Manoukians

Campo Railway Museum

Took a drive out to the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum. The old steam engine is in disrepair, but they have it on display. They also have a diesel engine that runs along an hour long track to the border. Imagine a dusty wind blown version of Sodor Island.

Makin Pancakes

What could be more fun...

Airplane ride to Vancouver

Caden's first airplane ride. Proved to be entertaining for all, including the random lady Caden tried to flash...

Warm summer days

Staying inside trying to stay cool.

Baby Sushi

INGREDIENTS:

1 Ripe Banana
2 Tablespoons Peanut Butter

DIRECTIONS:
Peel banana. If you want to impress friends and toddlers alike, don't peel by using the stem handle like normal people. Rather, pinch the other side and peel away while telling your amazed audience you learned this by studying monkeys in the wild.

Now break the banana in half. Take one of the halves and slowly pinch the banana meat, breaking into three natural banana slices. Perform the same magic on the other half and you will have six banana slices.

You're now within 5 minutes of serving, yet your toddler has probably finished his or her milk. Because down time leads straight to tantrum time when strapped to a chair, I suggest serving three bare banana slices as an appetizer.

With the three remaining slices, lay each slice out with the rounded side down against the cutting board. Slather somewhat liberally peanut butter across the point of the two sides that are facing up.

With your shapest sushi knife, slice at a 90 degree angle. As the Dutch say, walla!

Ride em

Mouse Tub

Wee lil field mouse got stuck in our tub. Ah country life...

Gorilla Face

For today's viewing pleasure, we have two skinny white guys on a tractor performing silverback gorilla face. Lovely.

Happy Birthday Buckeroo

Nearly forgot to mention...we bought the lil ranch hand his first hat for his birthday.

Go Go Tractor

I usually get home from work between say 6 and 7. This is dinner time and Gayle has Caden in his chair eating. Well, nibbling and throwing is more like it. But we're working on the throwing bit. At any rate, the second Caden hears the door open, he starts in with his #1 request. "Go go tractor?" It's a struggle to finish up dinner with the now distracted youngster, but soon enough we head out.

I think it's like a reverse parade for him. We drive around at about 1 mph and the entire time he's waving and say hello to everyone. "Hi Swing! Hi Tree! Bye Swing! Hi Cherry! (one of the horses) Hi Fence! Bye Ramone! Hi Swing!"

Easter Egg Hunt

It was all pretty confusing for the wee guy. Fluorescent plastic eggs in plain view and all the cousins pushing him towards them and a handful of adults yelling 'yay Caden.' Perhaps next year he'll fully grasp the concept.

Happy Birthday Caden

After the Easter egg hunt it was straight to the birthday party. Two years old and officially a toddler. Cake and candles, Caden and the cousins, top it off with a scooter and everyone's happy.

Grass is Green

The sun was out, as was our son. The grass a vibrant green. Caden showing off his whiter shade of pale. On this day, the white wonder was almost glowing.

Swingtime

Caden was pretty nervous about the idea of riding a swing. First we had to warm him to the idea. Next help the wee lad up on the seat. Ease our way onto the swing. Hold on tight. Here's the full replay...which didn't turn out quite like we had planned.

Feedin Time

With the longer days, I no longer have to feed the horses in the dark. Most any evening can be a full family affair. Now I know this will sound kinda dumb to many, but time is usually a factor in all this. So first thing to do is load up in the truck for the 300 yard drive.

Caden racing Momma to the hay barn. It is customary to give the lil cowboy a bit of a head start.


Helping Daddy with the the grain.

Lil Buckeroo

Morning Exercise

Straight from the crib to the Tonka Truck with his pal Goofy for a morning workout.

Some big boots to fill

One of Caden's favorite words is boots. Not his all time fav mind you. That would be vacuum. At any rate, here's the lil buckeroo tryin on daddy's boots.

Olympic Goodbye

Two weeks of Fun in Vancouver and wee Caden has a new pal Miga.

Hockey Day in Jamul

The young upstart Americans with the hot goaltender were set to take on mighty Team Canada. We spent the morning training.

Happy New Year Crop Top

The start of a fresh new year. Hope springs eternal. Resolutions run rampant. Time to clean up, make some goals and chart our path through a glorious new year.

So what's that mean to a toddler closing in on his 22nd month? Time to abandon your young hippie ways and jump into the barber's chair. Long time followers of the blog will recall we did chop the mullet back in the Riff Raff days. Here we're talking about the entire landscape. Official Haircut #1.

Now keep in mind, we're making our way out in the hinterlands. I'm not driving the young prince to the city for a day at the salon. No sir. Strap the lil guy in a chair, give him plenty of playthings and hand me the shears.

We did have a sidebar to determine who was better qualified to play the butcher in this unfolding drama. Gayle's experience was limited to plucking eye brows. Back in college, working as a valet, I once shaved Paul's head during a particularly slow Sunday. So I grabbed the scissors and G the camera.





Aww how cute, first time hair up the nose...


Still having fun!


Alright...enough. Are we done yet?


Ta Da!!!!