Tae Kwon Do

Danny had his first belt test today.
I'm not convinced that he really knows enough to have a belt, but standing up in front of people in a big room and performing is certainly a good experience to have.
Having the chutzpah to tell your master that your tiger eyes are also your dinosaur eyes is something that can't be taught.

It sounds like he's been at politician school, by non-answering with "I can promise, Sir."

To his credit, he did share his precious trophy with Leigh as soon as he got home.

Co-sleeping, Part Deux

Eagles-Bengals pre-season game a little dull? No problem.

Here at the Bakeree we use this time to practice and refine our co-sleeping. We test all components of the MAMS (Maternal sleep And Milk delivery System) using a checklist.

Baby? check.
Baby's mouth otherwise unoccupied? check
Comfortable seating? check
Milk shooters primed? check
Milk shooters accessible? check
Neck support? no go, wave off!
If the pilot falls asleep while running the check list we all feel a little silly.
I think we'll go with a simple B³ system in the future.
Baby?
Boob?
Bed?

Co-sleeping

Stay up a little late watching the Phillies top the Giants, Surviving the Cut "Ranger School", and World Extreme Cagefighting on Vs? After turning on the dishwasher and alarm, the logical next step is to photograph the rest of the family while they sleep.

Camerlenghi-Maier Interlude

The ever-reliable Professore and Mrs. Professore stopped by, fresh off a summer in Italia, the Hashemite Arab Kingdom of Jordan, and other points East. Nick, as is his custom, came bearing gifts.

Nick and Danny play with some of his childhood cars while Jessica demonstrates the proper use of a kaleidoscope to Leigh. Nick imparted this piece of wisdom, "Don't go looking for snakes in a Ferrari." Danny could not be convinced that a jeep was a more practical poisonous snake hunting vehicle.Nick complained of a "sports headache". I ridiculed him at length for using this euphemism for a [redacted]. A more careful history taking revealed it was probably a migraine, and review of the medical literature revealed that exercise-associated migraine is a recognized syndrome.
Jessica tends to her stricken mate while Danny plays on.
Nick had to get one more kaleidoscope session in before he gave it away.

Cape Cod, v 4.0

Early morning playtime. Matt and Stacey will be happy to see their bouncy seat used as a racetrack. Hanako tolerates.Low tide beckons the crab hunter.Fearless.Our biggest catch, a Portly Spider Crab. Not nearly as ill-tempered as the Calico Crab.Midday lounging.A short walk to the beach.


The madness begins, crabs in the water!
A family effort.
1 hour later, 100 hermit crabs.



Goodbye, beach.

Postscript-
Reviewing our photos at home, I found this one of Danny holding a crab part with Edward Hopper's house in the background.Significant because he painted Nighthawks, which appears in one of Danny's favorite books, Pete and Pickles.

Also the deep blues of the sea and sky are thanks to a lens polarizer from Aunt Maggie; everyone should have one.

Cape Cod, 2010 v3.0

Danny was excited to go crab hunting at low tide, so we obliged. Low tide was at 07:50 so Daddy roused him at 06:15.
Leigh was in the same position, but awake and muttering nonsense.Early morning crab hunting.Posing by Mt. Seaweed.Undaunted.The Calico crab lived up to its "ill-tempered" reputation when it grabbed Daddy's finger.Later in the morning DHV got back to crab catching.Look, Daddy, a hermit crab!

Cape Cod, 2010v2.0

Here's Danny after a long day. He thinks he wants to play more, but he can't.
This is Leigh after Danny ran her over.Snuggling.
Deep concentration, trying to remember how she got there.Daddy made her sit there.SPF 60 on the faces.DHawk is swimming out in the deep deep.Would you like to go crab hunting with me?
A big whole one!
There's a whole lot of beach
with a whole lotta crab. DHawk is undaunted.

Cape Cod, 2010

Mighty fine weather here in Cape Cod, sunny in the 80s.
Danny Hawkins continues to lead the action.


Leigh pokes around and wanders off with her shovels.
Baby Hko and mama hang out in the beach tent.

Smiles

SHV caught Hanako smiling for a few minutes.

DKV caught a red-tailed hawk up in a tree.