Filling the Shoes

It seems that the Quinn is static sometimes, all of his pants from last year still fit and some of his shorts still don't fit. So it came as a surprise when his sandals fit one day, and then the next day he complained and pulled them off. Too small, too tight, give him some room because he's growing, even if we don't see it. Come to think of it, he's reaching door knobs and counter tops with greater ease every day. I suppose it won't be long before the size 7 shoes he doesn't quite fill out right now become Daddy's size 10s that he can't squeeze his feet into and he's towering over his 5'4" Mama. But for now he's still the little guy, clomping around in whatever pair of shoes he happens to pull out of the closet, earnestly insisting that he's ready to go outside...now.

Helter Skelter

When I get to the bottom I go back to the top of the slide
Where I stop and I turn and I go for a ride
Till I get to the bottom and I see you again.

Do you, don't you want me to love you
I'm coming down fast but I'm miles above you
Tell me tell me tell me come on tell me the answer
You may be a lover but you ain't no dancer.

Helter skelter helter skelter
Helter skelter.

Will you, won't you want me to make you
I'm coming down fast but don't let me break you
Tell me tell me tell me the answer
You may be a lover but you ain't no dancer.

Look out helter skelter helter skelter
Helter skelter

Look out, cause here she comes.

When I get to the bottom I go back to the top of the slide
And I stop and I turn and I go for a ride
And I get to the bottom and I see you again

Well do you, don't you want me to make you
I'm coming down fast but don't let me break you
Tell me tell me tell me the answer
You may be a lover but you ain't no dancer.

Look out helter skelter helter skelter
Helter skelter
Look out helter skelter
She's coming down fast
Yes she is
Yes she is.

Baby Koah

On the trip to Sacramento, Quinn and I got to meet Koah for the first time. This beautiful baby boy is the first son of my step-sister Stacy and her husband, Roy. I thought Quinn had lots of hair...you should see this kid. Quinn sees lots of babies at day care, so he is really good and gentle with them. He kisses and tickles them and generally gives me the fear that he is thinking of a career in politics. Pictures are of Norm (grandpa) and Koah, Aunt Pam and Koah, and Quinn and Koah.

Rental Cars and Child Seats

Did you know that most rental car companies will not guarantee you a child seat if you reserve one with a car rental? Since it is the law to have your child in a car seat and if one is traveling alone, and one finds one's rental car without the seat, what is one to do? So, we always travel with ours, if we are renting a car. I have some carabiners that I use to clip the seat onto my backpack. Makes for a big load and I get lots of comments. I usually have to apologies frequently for hitting other patrons in line and such since my profile while loaded is so substantial.

Anyway, I am thinking of contacting my Congressman or Senator about this. If there are laws that you have to have a child seat, then if you reserve a car with one...it should be guaranteed.

Boys on a Business Trip

I needed to go to a CARB (California Air Resources Board) workshop up in Sacramento. We have lots of family in the area, so I always mix these trips with some visits. Now that Quinn has come along, no one wants to see me if I am by myself. Wendy had taken lots of time off for our East Coast trip...So DaDa and Quinn were traveling alone...if not traveling light. Backpack, diaper bag, and a car-seat strapped to my back, Quinn and I made our way on via airplane. Quinn is the best little traveler. He really likes airplanes and for the most part stays in his seat, eats crackers and looks out the window. Getting through security can be interesting and we were pulled aside by TSA and sent to secondary on the way back. Even the guy in secondary was wondering why the guy with the toddler and all the bags needed to have his pack checked for explosives and made a comment about the "lack of common sense of some TSA employees."

Perfect Evening

Between DC and New England, we stopped in Edgewater Maryland to visit Jana and Mike. Jana was one of Wendy's classmates at SIO. She is administrating research grant money for ecological studies of the Chesapeake now and the two of them have a great house near the bay (about a block form the water.) Part of the deal with their house is that it comes with a slip where they keep a sailboat.

When Mike got home from work, we were going to go on a short sail actually a motor cruise since there was absolutely no wind) around the bay just so Quinn could get a feel for it. The short cruise turned into a run up the bay to a restaurant with a dock that we tied up at and had dinner and beer, took blue crabs to go. The air was warm and balmy, the company was wonderful, the crabs were delicious and a beautiful sunset was on display. Huge thanks to Jana, Mike and Remy for showing us such a good time.

DC

While visiting the Anderson's, we took a day trip to DC and walked the mall. Visited many of the iconic mall locations: Capital Building, Washington's Monument (dominates the entire landscape), White House, Lincoln's Memorial, Vietnam Memorial, WW II Memorial (Quinn fell into the fountain.) Picture shows a very tired Quinn under the benevolent gaze of Abraham Lincoln. I think of this trip as more of a scouting expedition for a longer trip inn DC.

Fall in New England

We all had such an amazing time on our east coast trip. New England was beautiful; crisp and cool one day, gentle drizzle the next. We traversed the roads from Plymouth, MA (yes, I did go and see THE ROCK) to Conway, New Hampshire with the leaves growing more scarlet and gold as we went. Quinn was unimpressed by the landscape being far too interested in playing with Gracie Verdugo, daughter of our friends Megan and Pedro. The bubblefish was a charming hostess and showed Quinn her favorite place, Storyland!

Walk in the Woods

What is a family visit without a Fall walk in the woods? Melissa and Gus live on the edge of a municipal park. We walked a miles or two before we had dinner. The cousins were having a great time.