The Grandkids

Here are Steph's parents with all their grandchildren at the end of a long and festive New Year's Day.

Tiger Face

This is self-explanatory. Watch how still the boy is. He really wanted that tiger face.

Those of you who know me, know that this kind of stuff isn't my thing. I never would've expected to enjoy having my son's face painted, but seeing how much he (1) wanted it and (2) loved walking around with it afterwards, reminds me to try to see things from his perspective sometimes.

"Eyes Front, Tim!"

This is from the "Volvo Driving School" attraction at Legoland. These kids, all under six years old, fully operate these cars, controlling acceleration and of course steering. What a blast!




Later, we get a preview of how it'll be when I teach Timmy how to drive. They're harder to spot, but Tim is in the yellow car, and his cousin Cameron is in the blue. Be sure to catch the wreck at the very end.

New Year's Eve Karaoke

Steph's parents were kind enough to keep the boys for the evening so the grown ups could get some ramen and sing some karaoke. In the spirit of self-deprecation, here's Steph's brother-in-law and me doing a rendition of Garth Brooks' Friends in Low Places. I know I can't self-deprecate for Mike, but you know what I mean. Click on this at your own risk.

New Year's Trip to Los Angeles

So the family traveled to Torrance, CA to bring in the New Year. It's an annual Japanese tradition observed by Stephanie's family and it's quite a big feast. The best thing about getting together with her family is it brings Timmy together with his cousins from Seattle. Cameron is a year younger than Tim, but is about the same size. Casey is a very beautiful girl of 10, who is still not too old to spend all her time with the two younger boys.

Here are the 3 on a train at Knott's Berry Farm.
Timmy was hellbent on having his face painted. Who would've believed that a 4 year old kid would hold stock still long enough to have his whole face done up like a tiger.
Later, the boys came in first and second in the All-Asian Kid pump cart race, beating out a set of different-sized Korean triplets. Well, they all looked the same, anyway. Here they are, well ahead of the pack.

And lest you think the kids were the only ones having fun at Knott's, the moms got in on the act too. Evidently, the ferris wheel is a thrill ride (see Steph and sister Cheryl screaming like ninnies in the middle of the photo, while the three cousins above them raise their hands in glee).
As is tradition, Stephanie and her sisters all get their favorite pie baked for them by their mom. Steph's is lemon meringue and her birthday falls nine days after the new year. We got to celebrate her's a week early and with two pies.

We bought him a Skateboard (oh no)

We visited Mike McGill's Skateshop near San Diego before going to Legoland, and met the former pro himself. He sold us a skateboard set up for a kid, as well as some signature pads. Now, Timmy's all about skateboarding. Here he is learning to fakie in his grandparents' driveway in Torrance. He's such a SoCal kid.



And here he is gritzing. Good thing McGill sold us the pads.