Part of the reason for the delay

There are a number of reasons for the delay in posting over the last several weeks:

• Visits from Emma.
• A wicked beatdown on the Buckeyes by USC.
• Another Reds losing season.
• Aunt Mollie's 30th birthday surprise party weekend.
• The release of another Motorhead album, taking a lot of time.
• Hockey season being right around the corner - and the Blue Jackets have Mike Commodore this season!
• Our sixth wedding anniversary and Mary's tenth 29th birthday.

But at the end of the day, the biggest impediment to posting has been Hurricane Ike HITTING OHIO:

The video doesn't quite do it justice; yes, those folks on the Atlantic seaboard have had it worse. Yet, we were without power for a week solid. With the boy. And we lost half of one of our killer giant trees in our back yard. It was hectic to say the least. Anyway, don't miss the post right below this one - good stuff. More to come shortly, honest!!!

My congressman,

the House Minority Leader, aside from being a huge, crying assbag, is also a huge hypocrite. In a recent appearance denouncing Democrats for hating freedom, he had the nerve to NOT WEAR A FLAG PIN ON HIS LAPEL. So does this mean he hates freedom, hates the troops, or is it a sign that the terrorists have won? Perhaps all three? Douchebag.

Oh well, on to the cuteness. Jr has some kind of epizudec this week that caused him to break out on his hands, feet and bum. Given the troubles that ensued the last time he got sick, we called in the cavalry. He's always happy when the grandparents come in. Here he is playin' some baseball:
I got him a few t-shirts this past week. Sadly, they're all huge on him. Here he is with his Clash shirt. Descendents and Minutemen were included, but not shown. Clearly, he's thrilled to be flyin' the punker flag.
Cavorting on the couch with Baba:
"Who, moi?":

"Seriously, you don't mean me?"
I don't know how to describe the girations he goes through when he's feelin' goofy. It's hilarious.

Mommy got him this button down. She loves it. He's on the fence.
No, we won't get that hair cut. It's gonna be Mullet City, baby.
Love this shot:
So last Saturday he decided to go into a little soliloquy by the stairs. Got some video below.

"Alas, poor Yorick"
"And with that, I'm done . . ."
"Wait, I've got SOMETHING ELSE TO SAY!!!"
On to this week's videos. First up, he gets all chatty in the high chair, sorta:

This isn't all of it, but some of the stair talk:

Goofin' on the couch:

Goofin' with Baba and Dido:

And finally, the joy of discovering a new toy - the vacuum cleaner cord:

So there you have it. Three weeks, three posts. I'm exhausted. See you some time in July or August.

I keeed. We'll be back next week. Thanks for stopping by. You stay classy.

Thanksgiving Overdue For A Post Blogging / sleepblogging, sorta

Another week, another "crimeney, I'm WAY overdue for a post" moment. Despite the fact it was a four day weekend, we ran nonstop, with Emma making a surprise visit. So, without further adieu, Colin says, "quitcherbitchin, pops is gettin' to it when he can!!!!!".

At least that's what that shot there says to me.
First up, a few Jumperoo shots.
He was smiling when I went to shoot this.
Next up, got these wonderful shots on Thanksgiving day. My favorites to date!

As some of y'all may know, we made the sage decision to have our new kitchen / bathroom floors installed the week of Thanksgiving. Awesome move on our part. Sorry to Ben the Installer for all the troubles, but Thank You for the wonderful work. These shots were taken the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. In case it's not clear, the dishwasher, fridge and oven all had to be taken out of the kitchen to do the install.

That's the hall where the fridge stands, and in the background, the oven is in the living room.
This picture of the bathroom is screaming for some kind of crass comment. But I'm not going to make it.
Where the dishwasher and fridge would normally be.

Ben was here 'til 12:30 finishing the grout on Thursday AM. We moved the appliances back into place later that morning, and got to cooking. It all came together, no one went hungry, and it was a splendid Thanksgiving.

Here is Paul's daughter, Ruby, with Olive on Thanksgiving. She really put that whole "My gawd, your dog is a horse!" meme we always hear to the test. It was adorable.

"I love you, doggy."

If it's not obvious, she's seesawing on Olive's back there.
Jr. has begun to sit up in longer stretches these days.
"Hey, look at me! I'm sittin' up!"

Ok, like I said, "started".
And back upright again.
Here he is earlier tonight, with the help of the boppy. He can go for quite a while in that thing.

A bit of sleepblogging thrown in, just for safe measure.
Here's Colin after we gave him is first taste of taters on his first Thanksgiving. Not a fan.

Yet.
Gotta get the obligatory shot of the lovely table. If I didn't, boss would kill me.
Paul, Ruby, Colin and Mollie on Thanksgiving.

Yonk and June, photographed by Emma.
Colin, June and Emma.
Jr, before taters.

So there you go. Week late, and many dollars short. I'd say I'm gonna work all hard to get to posting more frequently, but let's face it - it's probably not gonna happen. Mary starts a new job a week from today, so that's just going to complicate things. Doing the best I can, tho! More later.

PS - GO SOONERS, BEAT Mizzou.

PPS - Thank you, Razorbacks, for beating LSU.

PPPS - RIP, Kevin DuBrow. What is the world coming to when the lead singer of Quiet Riot is dead at 52? It's like the heavy metal lifestyle is dangerous or something. Oh, wait . . .