two parades

Zak, Mom, Dad and I hopped a train downtown Saturday morning. The plan was to wander around, window shop and have lunch. We managed to do all those things and stumble onto a Memorial Day Parade. All before naptime!


The best part of Saturday's parade was this boat that floated on concrete. It left us speechless.


We hit our second parade on Monday with the Benzkofers. This one kicked off with about 20 giant firetrucks, which did not leave us speechless. "Truck! Truck! Truck! Truck! Truck! Truck! Truck! Truck! Truck! Truck! Truck! Truck! Truck! Truck! Truck! Truck! Truck! Truck! Truck! Truck! Truck! Truck! Truck! Truck! Truck! Truck! Truck! Truck! Truck! Truck! Truck! Truck! Truck! Truck! Truck! Truck! Truck! Truck! Truck! Truck! Truck! Truck! Truck! Truck! Truck! Truck! Truck! Truck! Truck! Truck!" (That's 20 trucks with both of us screaming "Truck!" for each one, in case you're counting.)


Here I am cooling off after all the excitement.


And here is my brother. Didn't you hear? The Sweaty Hair Look is in this summer.

Happy Belated Memorial Day!

our big break

You people have no idea how much work goes into the photos we put on this blog. Lighting, wardrobe, hair and make-up. Okay, not really. What you are actually looking at is our professional acting debut, which took place this very morning. That's right, Wyn and I are starring in a national TV commercial for the Peter Potty!! The spot features one child, so my brother and I took turns in front of the camera. And while we were supplied matching baby blue polo shirts, we had to share a pair of shorts. Thus...my state of undress in the above photo. Oh, how we suffer for our craft.


Wyn offered his assistance to the Director of Photography during his pantless off-camera time. "No no no no no," he sighed. "This moment clearly calls for a rack focus shot."


In what can only be called an odd bit of casting, our mom plays the role of our mom in the commercial. She did alright, but then nobody's going to be looking at her anyway.


Here I am projecting anguished despondency in a "before Peter Potty saved the day" shot. I gotta tell you, this acting gig is a piece of cake.

Seriously, we had a really good time and are so grateful for this experience! We'll definitely let you know when you can see the finished commercial. Until then, you'd better run out and get your Peter Potty while you still can...

sneak preview

Check back this weekend to find out why Zak and I are so excited about the Peter Potty! (Hint: It goes beyond us learning to be Little Stand-Up Guys!)

this hand-holding thing is sticking

what a wonderful ralph's world

What kind of parents would take their kids to a bar for a live rock concert and turn them loose in a mosh pit filled with screaming, sweaty, juice-box-fueled maniacs? Um, our kind of parents!!!

Last Saturday, Cousin Sam, Wyn and I went to Fitzgerald's Nightclub for a special 11:00 a.m. appearance by Ralph's World. They're really famous, and they make kids' music that parents actually like too.


Here's Sam tearing up the dance floor with Aunt Marjorie, while I take a break from boogie-ing to dissect the meaning of the refrain in "Happy Lemons":

La la la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la lemonade


Toward the end of the show, Ralph invited me (well, everyone) onstage to jam with the band.


Okay. Do I even need to say anything about this photo featuring Daddy, Wyn, me, Sam and Aunt Marjorie after the show? Other than: Grandma and Grandpa Lipsey, how many copies do you want?


Aaack! More hand-holding cuteness. Must've been the music...

*hug*

andersen park, we hardly knew ye

The Good News: We're getting awesome, brand-new play equipment and all kinds of other things at the park right behind our house.

The Bad News: Construction began today and will last through August. (Great bulldozie action though!)

fun @ the forest preserve

Last weekend we took Mom and Dad to the Thatcher Woods Forest Preserve. It was really neat. Here's Wyn telling Dad to hurry up, there's a TREE ahead!

Of course, we weren't the only family out there enjoying the weather...

duck and cover

A huge thank you to Grandma and Grandpa Lipsey for the. cutest. towels. ever.

ski elmo

I've created a fantastic new business concept that I'm fairly sure will bring in my first million. I'll let you in on my idea. It's called "Ski. Elmo." Picture this: a family-friendly resort in Colorado or possibly Switzerland where kids and parents can, you guessed it, go skiing with Elmo. I'm now in the market research phase, conducting targeted focus groups which consist of me exclaiming "Ski. Elmo." several times a day to anyone within earshot. So far, the consumer response has been overwhelmingly positive.

[Parental Note: Zak really does go around the house bellowing "Ski. Elmo." -- but we have absolutely no idea what it means. Other current Zak quotables include "bulldozie" for bulldozer and "okay again!!!" which is what he repeats over and over while waiting for his meals. He also does a pig impression that is both stunning and alarming in its accuracy.]