Snow, snow, go AWAY...

...don't you know, it's the end of MAY?!?!? Emmett's dad cursed his decision to take the snow tires off the car on the May long weekend, especially with the extreme snowfall warning issued yesterday. Luckily, the snow did not stick in their neighbourhood, but Emmett, his mom, and his Nana were trapped inside as it poured rain. So Emmett spent the day exploring his artistic side, by reading with Nana,

his first painting session,

and attempting to play Van Halen with a spoon and a mixing bowl.

One degree of separation

Emmett was willing to give up the limelight for this post in favour of his Aunt Nancy who, with five of her friends, muscled her way onto NBC's The Today Show this morning. Now that she has hit the big time on network television, Emmett's mom and dad are pretty sure that they're going to have to find a new accountant.

Emmett and his Aunt Nancy in her pre-superstar days last Christmas

Tubs of New Zealand

Emmett didn't see, let alone experience, a single proper bathtub while in New Zealand. Fortunately, after several weeks of retraining Emmett has been brought back up to speed with his toddler tub-bathing demographic.

News from the animal kingdom

Emmett's dad has been aching for an excuse to share a couple of his favourite news stories from New Zealand, and finally found one.

Big news in early April from Alexandra: the Great Easter Bunny Hunt, giving nightmares to chocolate-loving Kiwi children since 1991.

Then, a week later in New Plymouth, a story about a spraypainted goat. Believe it or not, this made national headlines.

And right here at home, just today, Emmettilius stranmccannii has at long last cut his first tooth. Not bad for a creature who started showing symptoms of teething, like, three months ago.

Thanks to Shawzanne for the video evidence, recorded while Emmett's parents abandoned him to watch the women's semi-final hockey game back in February.

Breakfast for dinner

As Emmett continues to expand his palate for various foods and textures, his parents try to provide a variety of flavours for his burgeoning tastebuds. Steak and eggs for breakfast, pureed salmon and blueberries for lunch, and Emmett's current favourite, Cheerios for dinner.

"He's only eight months old,...

...never kissed a girl."(Apologies to the Tragically Hip) But he really likes to check them out at the playground.

He had to play it cool though. They were, of course, older chicks. So he had his mom drag him over to the pirate map, to show off his, y'know, navigational skills.

Just another day at the playground for Emmett.

Maybe we should avoid caffeine altogether

Fearing that he might chew a hole clear through their new kitchen floor, Emmett's parents add Red Bull to Emmett's list of banned substances. Like the jittery movements and hyperventilation weren't incentive enough.

Pre-toddler angst

Emmett's parents graciously acknowledge that, by the time Emmett turns 2, outbursts like these will long since have ceased to be funny. For the moment, though, they're enjoying the show as Emmett channels his inner pro wrestler.

Post New Zealand Blues, Remedy #3

No blue skies in Emmett's neighbourhood today. The temperature plummeted and the snow continues to fall. This snow storm in May is great for the farmers, but brutal for those who want to play outside in the spring sunshine. Each member of StranMcCann tries to find a way to deal with the winter weather and PNZB. Emmett's dad bakes banana bread, while Emmett and his mom discover the wonders of Baby Einstein and look at their travel photos. It doesn't seem like that long ago they were walking along the wharf in Wellington...

playing on Piha Beach, just outside of Auckland...

...hiking up to the centre of New Zeland in Nelson...

and checking out the sights near Takaka.

"If this storm continues", Emmett's mom was heard to say today, "we'll have to plan another holiday". Emmett thought that was a great idea.

Post New Zealand Blues, Remedy #2

Another winter storm has kept Emmett and his mom housebound today. Sigh. Going through their over 600 photos and videos helps them to deal with the weather and the post travel blues. It's hard to believe that four weeks ago today, they were driving to Milford Sound...

hiking through rainforests in the land of hobbits...

and hanging out on the beaches of Queenstown and Wanaka.

However, as depressing as the winter storm is, Emmett was quick to point out that at least they weren't dealing with a flood watch, like the residents of Queenstown are.

Kiwi relationship with coffee

It took Emmett's parents a while to warm up to coffee in New Zealand. It's not that the java down there is significantly different, it's just that mom and dad were altogether unsure of what to expect from a culture in which it is fairly difficult to find a cup of plain ol' coffee.

Emmett's folks were naive. Now, of course, they're missing their daily flat white.

Evidently, so is Emmett, who hasn't boinged like this since his parents curtailed his coffee intake back in Fox Glacier, like, three weeks ago.