I’ve never had the opportunity to drink out of a can before. It made me feel so mature and responsible. Grampa must really trust me. He trusts me to hold on to it with one hand and not spill. I had total freedom to spill because there was no sippy thing for protection. But, as a mature person, you have to make hard decisions. A lot of times those hard decisions revolve around whether or not to spill something.

Mommy and I made made these handsome/pretty birthday hats for everyone to wear throughout the day. The hat is handsome if you’re a man and pretty if you’re a lady. My friend Stephanie and I are perfect examples of how two similar hats can be both delicately pretty and utterly handsome.

At night time, my mommy and daddy threw together a last minute buddy party. The only reason these mommies are in this buddy picture is because they have little buddies growing inside their bellies, hence the belly hats. Please focus on the buddies and the bellies. As pretty as their faces are, they simply aren’t buddies.

Ice cream + everything on top + fire = a delicious and risky adventure.

After every awesome birthday comes a normal boring day where it’s not a birthday anymore. Luuuuucky for me, I had a week of normal study and activity only to be surprised with ANOTHER birthday party at the end of the week. This one was for the fam. I’m a lucky guy, that’s for sure.

There’s this phrase that goes like this: “All seriousness aside.” You say it before you say another bunch of words, and it sounds special. Well, these glasses make me think of that phrase too. They are very serious glasses, but sometimes you just have to throw seriousness aside, stop intimidating people, and goofy around for a little bit.

They said on the box “one size fits all.” Maybe it should say “one size fits everyone a little differently.”

Speaking of Daddy, he builds spectacular towers. AND, he does it all while balancing his body on one side and building with just one hand. I’m in the apprenticeship stage of this skill.

When it comes to photo shoots, I always try to do my best to contribute. Sometimes I’m behind the camera making the magic, and sometimes I’m in front of the camera being the magic. Being the magic takes a lot of practice and patience. Sometimes a person doesn’t feel like being magic but instead feels lots of grumpies inside. Ya know what? I have those days too, but with this photo shoot I was feeling extra creative. This pose is one that I thought up on the spot and I think it speaks of human balance and depth.

There is a time to be pose and a time to relax. There is a time to be serious and a time to say cheese. There is a time to be dramatic and a time to be cutie. I do “cutie” just for Mommy because I had a feeling that was what she was envisioning.

A successful photo shoot is one that ends with an open mouth smile. Giggles, tickles, and funny faces – those are the main redeeming factors of photo shoots. The rest of it is for the love of Mommy. What can I say? I’d eat a worm for that gal.

Buuuuuut, I do have to point out that my jammies have ferocious dinosaurs printed on them. Roses, no. Strawberry Shortcake, no. Other pink things, no. Dinosaurs. I read yesterday that this particular type of dinosaur was the most feared. I know that T-rex dinosaurs have the scariest reputation, but this very true book highlighted this jammie dinosaur as the real bully of the dinos. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think it’s good to be a bully. But, it’s different when you’re a dinosaur, and it’s different when you’re wearing jammies. You have to think about what everyone will think when they come to the house too early and accidentally see you in your jammies. They need to think you’re tough and not really in your jammies, so bully jammies really help in that area of life.

Gramma D. showed me how to be an artist. She is the most fancy artist in our family, so it only makes sense that she would show me the ropes.

Daddy showed me how to blow bubbles. I guess I got showed a lot of stuff during the sick time. I had no idea, but I guess there’s a proper form to use when one is bubbling. I have demonstrated below.

1. Two is better than one. Whenever possible have one person focus on one bubble area while the other focuses on the other bubble area.
2. Make your mouth look like the bubble stick end.
3. Lean forward so that the bubbles don’t end up coming back into your nose crevices.

4. Then blow. Some people prefer the O shape while others like the line shape. Daddy and I have demonstrated each one for you.
5. Keep your toes and feet together so that bubbles don’t make you slip off of your daddy’s lap. I’ve had that happen before. Believe me, I’ve learned my lesson.

And then there was the photo shoot. I make it a goal to never smile during a real photo shoot. Are you thinking I’m a meanie? Please, give me a chance. I’m not being meanie. I just have this strong, deep-rooted belief that real photo shoots should capture the side of me that most never get to see. Why have a photo shoot if it’s the same old stuff, right? I’m always smiling, so I like to mix it up and give my audience something fresh.

I was quickly able to convince the whole gang. See, isn’t this so interesting?

Just when you think I don’t have any new poses up my sleeve – BAM – the sophisticated, gentle professor.

Don’t mind this one. I know I’m smiling, and that’s the same ol’, same ol’. But, seriously, somebody tooted and I couldn’t believe that would ever happen during a photo shoot.

I’m going to say that this one is a manatee because now that I see myself I imagine that this is what a manatee probably looks like. Title: Manatee That’s Hungry for Breakfast.

Then if you make the same face but just purse your lips a little you have a bunny. Maybe you’re thinking that this doesn’t quite look like a bunny. Don’t forget about the rare bunny breed called Bigbosebun. I think if you knew what I’m talking about you’d be amazed at the similarities in appearance. Title: Bunny, Bunny, Give Your Brother Some Licorice.

I know it might seem that all my smoosh faces look the same. That’s because smoosh-facing is a fine art that has very fine and hard to notice differences. In this picture I am an orange frog. Looking to the side is the detail that points to orange frog every time. Title: The Frog’s Not Grumpy Anymore.

Second of all, this is Grampa V. whose rap name is Bop-pa. I love the guy, I really do. We get each other in a way that is special to light-haired people. I read somewhere that light-haired people should hang out and do yard work together as much as possible because something very beneficial-for-the-human-race happens when such a thing occurs. Therefore, I try to follow him around during most of my free time. He hasn’t read that light-haired article yet, so he doesn’t follow me around in the same manner. Give him time. He will soon understand.

When we hang out together sitting down, we usually end up reading to each other. If he’s the one saying the words, we read colorful books about wonderful animals, amazing shapes, and hilarious things. If I’m the one saying the words, we focus on more academic works like word magazines or boringful books that don’t draw anything out. Good relationships are all about compromise. The first rule to compromise is “Don’t be a meanie, and take a second to think about what books your friend might want to look at and listen to.”

Here I am. I know, did you see that crab too? Wow, I was stunned by its agility and compassion. Well, you wouldn’t know those things unless you were here in person, so you’ll just have to take my word for it. By the way, these pictures are obviously pre-haircut. If that makes you grumpy, you will have to put some pressure on Mommy to bring out the camera again.

When saying the Pledge of Allegiance, I heard that you’re supposed to put your arm across your chest and look serious. I was able to master the arm motion but couldn’t quite figure out the serious part. I really did try but I guess I have too many giggles stored up in my cheeks.

***post hair cut photos are coming soon.