Raising Minnesota

This past weekend Q and I made it out to Medicine Lake for the Art Shanty Project. Since then I've been pondering getting involved next year and trying to build an ice shack of my own. I have no idea what I would do but you know it would be kid oriented.



You still have a little bit of time to make it out onto the ice to check out the wackiness for yourself. It all ends Feb. 14.

Hangin' With Mo

We managed to make it to the wonderful Wild Rumpus in time to see Mo Willems. He was AWESOME! If you have a chance, stop by the Red Balloon this Saturday at 10:30. We just might go there too. I wouldn't mind getting my copy of You Can Never Find a Rickshaw When It Monsoons signed.

Planet Earth

We are encroaching a once a week average for zoo visits these days. Most often the Minnesota Zoo, but we do mix in the occasional stop at Como Zoo as well. Q has developed a passionate interest in the natural world and I'm guessing all our time at the zoo has something to do with that. That passion is even more prevalent now that he owns Planet Earth.

For Christmas Q was given the Planet Earth series on DVD (I swear to god, that was the first thing he said when I asked him what he wanted for Christmas. We had rented the series earlier in Nov.). While the boys were sick these last two weeks I got a little bit more willing to put in a movie while Q laid down on the couch. Every time I would ask what he wanted to watch, even suggesting Wall-E (I love Wall-E). Every time he would request a Planet Earth DVD. In fact, a lot of the time, he would request a specific episode. The caves one is his favorite he says. Is it weird for a now 4 year-old to prefer a documentary over cartoons?

Is it even weirder for a now 4 year-old to loudly cheer on the predators as they pursue their prey? "GO TIGER GO! GET THAT MONKEY!" What the hell? This is the same kid that offers his favorite stuffed animals to crying babies to make them feel better. He's even started acting out scenes from the show with his Little People animals.

You can totally tell he still felt like crap in that last picture. I'm glad that's over.

The Year In Blur

Ozzi,

The calender and your mother tell me a year has past since your early arrival ruined our plans for one last date night. Not that I'm bitter about that but it is a nice little story to hang over your head on occasion. Just like how, every once in a great while, I remind your mother that I turned down a date with Britney Murphy for her (don't tell her, but I'm endlessly glad I did).

You and your brother have sure made recalling this past year in detail near impossible. It's all a blur of no, stop, hold still, go to sleep, aaahhhh, and shit. And though the person who you will become is still a mystery I have learned a few things about you thus far.



You have my appetite and metabolism. You're only one but you have the caloric intake of a 16 year old.

You are a stubborn roaring belligerent bad-ass little force of nature.... just like your mom... and I love that!

You've earned yourself more nicknames than an average member of the Wu Tang Clan. Ozzi was the first. Then came Cuddlefish for your love of nuzzling and your ability to turn red at the drop of a very angry hat. Q, droppin' some robotic science, coined Ozbot and it stuck like glizzue fo' shizzue. Shortly after that you started training for Everest and I christened you Reinhold Messner.

Your big brother loves you more than I ever thought possible for a sibling and you seem to adore him even more than you do your own parents... and we're cool with that. Though there is the occasional conflict, I can already see that you two will always have each others' back... and that is more important to me than most anything else.

You are a smart, inquisitive, fast, and funny little dude... and I love you more than life itself.

Happy Birthday!

Modern Times

One might argue that my not having a super-high-tech phone like the awesome new G1 (seriously Google, you and Tmobile have my address. How shameless do I have to get here?) would disqualify me from the title of "modern dad". Well, one might be right, but I'm trying. For example;

Q is getting quite familiar with computers and has his own XO Laptop,

the boys have their own ipod that even Ozzi is learning to operate,

and this weekend we went to a party hosted by someone we only knew via the internet. Our internet real life friend Pumpkin Girl put on a great party for the kids and the adults as well. She generously sent everyone home with her highly sought after handmade baby clothes available on etsy.

Q scored a rockin' guitar shirt.

Ozzi got his dirty little hands on one of the famous tiesies. All we need now is a pair of red baby Cons and Ozzi could be Chuck for Halloween.

Nature Fort 08 August Edition

The fort then:

The fort now:

This Week....

we spent a lot of time in the giraffe tent,



suddenly got brave at the park,



and picked up these camo Keen's on clearance at REI for Q.



Now I'm packing up for Q and I to go to Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park for Q's first camping trip. "On to a'venture."

Like little phoenixes from the ashes

How in the world did these two handsome devils emerge from my genetic output? The only theory I have is that K8 passed on 100% dominant traits while I am a mass of purely recessive. Lucky for them.

Hilton Head

All Paris Hilton Blowjob jokes aside, our family trip to Hilton Head for K8's firm's "Family Weekend" was a lot of fun. Not being golfers we would have never gone there on our own and will most likely not return. All the stuff the Marriott had set up for all of the children was amazing and Q had a blast. We stayed a few extra days to go to Charleston to visit some friends and to tour Savannah before flying home.

Highlights of the trip:
Q peeing on K8's leg on the beach.
Q peeing on the plants right in front of the beach towel booth.
Q peeing into the packed kiddie pool.
Q not peeing in his pants!
Pizza at Mellow Mushroom.
Two (tipsy) nighttime walks on the beach, just K8 and I.
County Road 17.
Wandering beautiful Charleston with our friends Bill, Ana, Will, and Izzy.
Shopping in ShopSCAD and Cherub in Savannah.
Eating two of the best damn cupcakes I've ever had.
The 70% of the time in the air that Ozzi wasn't screaming as though a confederate flag was being branded into his side.

Backyard Shenanigans

Ozfest

Making comb-overs cool.


Rockin' the rice cereal!


Ozzi vs Blanket

Ooooohhhhh is for Ozzi

The Stink-eye

Bread Experiment #3 and a trip to Como Zoo

Last night we tried to make some semblance of chocolate babka. Its bread with a layer of chocolate rolled inside like chocolate babka, but that's where the similarities end. Totally different taste but it is still bread with chocolate rolled in.

Last week I took the boys to Como Zoo. Good times. We even ran into some friends. Gotta love living in "Small Paul".

Q's Future is Clear!

My attempts at ingraining an appreciation for music is starting to pay off in Q's love for everything and anything that seems "rock & roll" to him: cool sunglasses, check. guitar, check. (pretend) tattoos, check. sex pistols-esk shirt, check. rockin' attitude, check!

HOLY CRAP IT IS COLD!

-10 degrees! I am so ready for spring... or a trip somewhere warm, but having a 1 month old kinda puts the kabosh on that hope. I guess all we can do is warm up with some oh so cute pictures of the boys.

Ozzi out for a walk on a warmer day.



Ozzi's getting bigger everyday.



Q Makes birthday cake float.