Night night

Oscar's mom suggests "blow kisses."

Oscar responds with his interpretation of "I could've had a V8."

There's not an app for that.

Having missed this year's Consumer Electronics Show, Oscar didn't hear the news that he won't actually be able to share toys with the Baby In The Phone until Apple releases the iPhone 8.

Chunderstruck

This critically acclaimed barfingman bit from Oscar's dad's standup routine continues to receive rave reviews from every 1 year-old who has seen it.

Duelling hair balls

After a self-induced near-vomiting, authorities have seen fit to outlaw certain behaviours at the breakfast table.

Subtle hint

Like a hungry lion cub looking for its piece of the action around a fresh zebra kill...

Don't get distracted by the big hair

In an impressive demonstration of imaginative play, Oscar improvises a version of, "Hey, Is That A Diamond?!? Nope, Just A Piece Of Glass."

The 1980's Howard Jones-like hairdo, it turns out, is ancillary.

And away he goes...

Emmett woke up at 6am this morning, absolutely vibrating about his first day of Kindergarten. (His parents will no doubt remind him of this when is is 16 and they have to shake him awake to get to school on time).

He was the first one ready...

...having done alot of prep work the night before.

He was accompanied by Mom, Dad and Oscar to school. Aside from needing to hold a hand as he headed into his new classroom, and a few tears (from Mom, as she left the school), his first day started as it should. In his own words...

The night before Kindergarten

Twas the night before Kindergarten and all through the house

not a creature was stirring, except for one spouse.

The lunch had been packed

In the lunchbox with care

By his mom and his dad

Who were battling despair.

Their almost 5-year-old son was nestled

all snug in his bed  
as visions of his first day of school

danced in his head.

I was in the kitchen 
checking the snacks

making sure none violated 
the rules for the pack.

On Yogurt!
On Goldfish!

On Cheese Strings and more

Bananas, grapes and apples

Nutritionally...a score.

So many snacks, which ones to choose?

I must pick the ones that won’t receive any “boos”.

To the top of the fridge, to the bottom cupboard drawer,

Yogurt and banana you win the award.

What to do with their days?

His parents wondered, quite subdued.

They planned out the ways

They’d find work to do.

But they couldn’t replace

All those sounds they would miss.

Or the games they would play,

All those owies they’d kiss.

“Our babies are grown!”

Cried the one to the other.

“Not yet,”  came the thought,

No:

“There is another.”

Four more years, little one. Grow up slowly...your parents can't handle it.

In the garden

Emmett and his Mom harvest a bumper crop of carrots from the garden, just in time for school.

Camping

Summers are ridiculously short in the world where Emmett and Oscar and their parents live. While visions of hot summer nights and basking in the sun prompt them to go camping, often the reality is below zero temperatures and rain. Fortunately, they make the most of it, and this summer, enjoyed some pretty good camping trips. Minus sleep, that is. The littlest StranMcCann is still getting used to sleeping through the night in a tent. Either that, or he's being woken up by the snoring of his parents in such close quarters.

Uncle John, the non-camper, makes a surprise trip out West to join StranMcCann.

Warming up in the car.

Throwing rocks into Beauvais Lake. Note Emmett's trendy camping attire.

Watch out bears. There's a moose in the hood.

Tickle party in the tent.

The bitter taste of defeat

Unclear why this gag never seems to get old.

Ten months old

A 4.3-magnitude earthquake hit central Alberta and was lightly felt in Rocky Mountain House, a town of roughly 7,000 people.  Liberia's President apologized for the high death toll among health-care workers who have fought an Ebola outbreak, which has killed nearly 1,000 people in three countries. The U.S. military says it has conducted four more airstrikes on Islamic militants in Iraq, after U.S. President Barack Obama proposed a broader long-term strategy to confront militants. Eighty Australian firefighters have been deployed to British Columbia, where fires have destroyed 200,000 hectares of land, the largest area scorched in the province since the 1950s. And Oscar celebrates his 10 month birthday.

At ten months, Oscar has sprouted three teeth - two on the bottom and one on top. Photo shoots are getting harder and harder, as he never stops wiggling. He can roll from back to front, but not front to back, which means he gets stuck and has been waking himself (and his mother) up in the middle of the night for the past two weeks.

Lemonade For Sale

After raking in almost $50 at the inaugural StranMcCann Lemonade Sale, Emmett's mom remains torn on what led to the stand's roaring one-day success. It was either the unanticipated investments from a couple of passerby venture capitalists, or it was the fact that Emmett told customers he was raising money to help his poor little brother who can't walk.

Might as well jump

Nine Months Old

Germany faces Argentina in the championship match for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The Nathan O'Brien Amber Alert continues as police continue their investigation into the disappearance of the five year old and his grandparents. Craft beer breweries are straining the Vancouver sewage system. It's day seven of the 102nd Calgary Stampede, and the city smells of pancakes, deep fried food and alcohol. Greenpeace is stepping up its campaign to get Lego to end its licensing partnership with Shell to make toys carrying the oil giant's logo, releasing a video parody of The Lego Movie song Everything is Awesome. And Oscar celebrates his nine month birthday.

Stampede Part Two - A day at the Grounds

Slurpees and hot dogs in Weadickville. Check.

Rides at the midway. Check.

Discovering your kid is an adrenaline junkie while at said Midway. Check.

Stockdog competition. Check.

Beef on a bun. Check.

Beers. Check.

Bacon wrapped corn dogs. Check. (Emmett and Oscar's Dad self-actualized after sampling one).

Superdogs. Check.

Milk and Cookies for $2.00. Check.

Squeezing onto the C-Train, exhausted, but with two happy kids after a day at the grounds. Check.