All aboard the Carnivore Express

Emmett got his first taste of the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train on Sunday.

Shortly thereafter he got his first real taste of Swiss Chalet, and gave his mom and dad a glimpse of meals to come.

Emmetalhead

Emmett's early dance moves, albeit simple, are awfully cute.

Adjust the music, however, and he exhibits a nascent interest in heavy metal. Need only to add a pair of too-tight acid washed jeans and a pack o' smokes, and he's ready to rock.

Long haired freaky people need not apply

After having his hair compared to that of a child from an orphanage in Victorian England, Emmett's parents reluctantly agree that it's time to get the rat's nest cleaned up a bit.

Safely bungee'd into his rack-and-pinion stylist chair, all progresses well. For, like, five seconds.

Shortly thereafter, however, Emmett emerges in one piece, stylie 'do and all.

While his mom is currently undergoing treatment for post-traumatic stress, his dad is overjoyed that Emmett now looks old enough to be put to work at the local sweat shop.

Grey Cup Sunday

With the copious amounts of snow last week, Emmett's parents were itching to get out and play. Emmett agreed to go cross country skiing on Sunday, only after he got assurance from his parents that he'd be back in time for the big game.

In typical Emmett fashion, he was unfazed by being bundled in a snowsuit and pulled around in his stroller. Speaking of fashion...

Emmett's choice of colours and stripes were a little less than coordinated. But then again, what difference does it make when you are sitting with your dad and a tasty beverage, watching the Grey Cup? (thanks to the TSN live stream this year, Dad and Emmett were able to see the game).

When the weather outside is frightful...

A fort is so delightful...
When it's minus 29 below,
Stay inside, build a fort, let it snow!

Snapping a cold snap

Apparently, Emmett's town was pretty much the coldest place in North America this morning. Too cold, even, to get a reading on the Emmetthermometer.

Beneath multiple blankets, a snowsuit, and a pair of Arctic-weight wool socks knitted by Gramma, Emmett is snug like bug in rug as he rides his Chariot to daycare.

His equally effective, but somewhat less practical strategy for dealing with the cold involves cramming into his PeaPod with multiple other humans. Here he illustrates this technique with the assistance of cousin Jimmy and Uncle Colin.

And the crowd goes wild

Emmett registers his first-ever hat trick when, at 2:30 of the third period, he puts his third puck in the, er, net.

Chew dat gum, chew dem bones

For Halloween this year, Emmett's parents thumb their noses at all the suffocation warnings, wrap Emmett in plastic and balloons, and call him a gumball machine. Then they do the same thing to themselves.

Trick or treating doesn't amount to much, but Emmett shows great interest in the graveyard on Cousin Rod's front lawn. He is particularly fond of the bones strewn among the headstones (clearly, his parents should have opted for the blood-smeared zombie costume).

Originally disconcerted by his behaviour, Emmett's mom fesses up that she vaguely recalls maybe introducing a 7 month-old Emmett to skeletal gorging at a BBQ ribfest in New Zealand.

Much too gross anatomy

On the eve of Halloween, Emmett exhibits an early aversion to pumpkin guts. That pretty much rules out a career in cardiothoracic surgery.

Neurological reconstruction, however, remains a possibility.

The comb is mightier than the tuque

Having never had a haircut, Emmett's hairdo on any given day might be described as 'cheveux chaotique'.

Following a daycare drop-off with his usual foofy-do Emmett magically appears in his first-ever school photos, much to his parents' dismay, with moron Crisco head.

Thanks to Bill Watterson for some of his best work. Faithful old Calvin & Hobbes fans, check out the full Crisco hair sequence. Amazing how this stuff just doesn't get old.

StranMcCann Shop of Horrors

Short list of potential 2010 Halloween costumes for Emmett:

1. Inflating-head Oenophile

2. Dwarf/Hobbit Hybrid

3. Pediatric Eye Infection (parents hide your children)

4. Blood-smeared Zombie*

* Smearing of blood may cause eye irritation. See costume option #3.

Uncle Colin saves the Bow watershed

Uncle Colin is in the water business. Having seen a couple of Emmett's previous bath shots, he points out the size disparity between a big soaker tub and Emmett's wee behind. One shiny new Rubbermaid bin later, Emmett's daily bathwater consumption is cut in half.

StranMcCann. Proudly tree hugging and fish kissing since 2005.

Two dogs, one bone

Emmett and his dad engage in a snarling match over an unseen cupcake. A battle for the ages is shaping up until Emmett gets hung up on a fragment of protoplasm, and ultimately the judges score it a draw.

What lurks in a turkey

Despite an initially poor placement of the turkey platter at the Thanksgiving dinner table, Emmett ultimately did get his fill of tryptophan, had a good night's sleep, and banked sufficient energy for a hike in the mountains and his first attempt at throwing stones into a river. First attempt, not first successful attempt.

More than one way to crack a rib

Emmett loves this game.

Now, he has a better understanding of the associated risks.

And so does his dad.

(for Gramma)

Mister, Mister, Mister Bubbles

Almost as impressive as Emmett's self-taught bathtub bubble blowing is his dad's unintentional success at maintaining the 'G' rating of this blog.

Leaf well enough alone

Emmett is underwhelmed by his first session of playing in fallen leaves, so he opts instead to help his dad with fall clean-up.

Unfamiliar with the concept of 'gone in 60 seconds', Emmett fails to make off with a neighbour's bike carelessly locked to a signpost. He nonetheless manages to roll the bike for parts and makes off with a front fender, bottle cage, and left pedal. Ooh, and a wicked grease stain as he learns the pitfalls of trying to steal a bike chain.

Welcome to Stransgaard

Emmett and his folks flew east last weekend for the occasion of Aunt Lindsay and Uncle Blair's wedding.

Seeking to not steal the limelight with his oft-underestimated celebrity (not to mention his snappy tie), Emmett absconds with Uncle Blair's glasses and successfully navigates the event incognito.

9.8 metres per second squared

First ascent up the stairs.

Video footage of the first descent down the stairs is unfortunately not available, as gravity tends to accelerate at a rate slightly higher than the speed at which Emmett's dad can grab the camera.

Block Party

Emmolution

(Not to be confused with immolation. That's something different.)