Poolside

Alternately, how to look cool, like you are on Entourage, while wearing a swim diaper. A wet swim diaper. Here's Jack, post dip, showing off the guns and the generally sculpted upper body. He declared "ah-duh", extended his hand for help out of the (36-inch-by-36-inch) kiddie pool (see "Carl Spackler," below) and clambered up onto the patio furniture. Like he owned it. Which of course he does.

How Much for the Zebra?

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The endangered zebra, that is. In full camouflauge, and from the comfort of his stroller, Jack went zebra hunting yesterday at the National Zoo (which, incidentally, was pretty sparsely populated by viewable animals). Like any good tracker, he first consulted the map, then peered intently into the field. After spotting (striping?) one, he inquired with a local as to thier asking price. He ultimately decided against it, upon learning these particular East African "'bras" were engangered (down to 2,500) and upon seeing that, up close, they were actually brown and white, not black and white. Good eye, Jackie.

Carl Spackler

Continuing on a theme, here's Jack doing an impromptu impersonation of the unforgettable Carl Spackler. There's no mistaking the resemblance.

Jack/Carl: "This place got a pool?"
Ty Webb: "Pond and a pool... Pond'd be good for you."

The Joker

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Jackie went to town on a homemade mixed berry yogurt-sicle yesterday - for what we like to call "lunch-dessert." It was pretty risky business considering the deep purple color (and the actual berries used in making it), but we didn't spill a drop! Depsite worrying that the popsicle was too "hot-tah," Jack dove in and almost instantly became the Joker, more Nicholson than the late, great Ledger, but maybe a combo. In photo 3, he's saying, "Do I really look like a guy with a plan?" :)

Shrimp Dumplings!

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Jack tasted shrimp dumplings for the first time today and quite liked them. His strategy of sleeping through the where-to-have-lunch discussion and most of the actual lunch worked perfectly, as the adults chose a fancy place (instead of a park bench somewhere, with string cheese and dry Cheerios and "honey sticks"). So he sampled Ten Penh's dumpings and sat in a big boy chair and actually used the silverware (but we won't show that picture because it could get daddy in trouble with mommy). Yum!

Daddy Camp - Day One

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Day One of the (2nd) annual test of daddy's ability to get thru a week without mommy went off without any major incidents today... We began with a Metro ride (Jack insisted on holding onto the pole) to the National Aquarium, which is naturally located in the basement of the Department of Commerce Building (??). Yes, there was a shark, but in this photo there are alligators! Later we had lunch at Ten Penh (see next entry), then it was back to the ranch for a homemade mixed berry popsicle ("poppy") (see topmost entry). And, of course, somewhere in there, there was Turtle Park (third photo), which is really two parks in one...

Workout

An instant classic here - and maybe a sign of the times. In the first photo, you see Jack effortlessly pumping iron. In the second, you see him "refueling" with a special sports "cocktail" prepared for him by his trainer - aka, his mom. In the third photo, you see him calling for more "juice," as he prepares to up the weight and go to two barbells. Two tickets to the gunshow, please!

Mailman

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Jack covered two new vocations yesterday, including fire fighter (see below) and mail carrier. Daddy actually remembers playing postoffice as a toddler (with an old Chivas box, not a mailbox, exactly - mom, what's up with that?), and Jackie took to it naturally, delivering and undelivering the mail with plenty of commentary (including open, close, door, mail, mailbox, and all done). He didn't particularly like the oversize American Express mailer, either. He's ready for the USPS!

Fire Truck

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Yesterday, we took a stroll down the block to the local firehouse only to find ... no firetrucks. They were out on a call. So Jack checked out the poles (and the clamshell - great idea!). He checked out the ambulance and the flashing lights (thanks Bob!). Then the firetruck came back - and backed into the firehouse, right under Jackie's nose! Talk about wide eyed. Then the big firefighter, Gardner, said, "Hop on in!" To which both Jack and dada said, "Really?!" "Sure!" he said. So in Jack hopped - into the real live firetruck. Jack showed no hesitation and felt right at home up high in the truck. He grabbed the wheel, then posed for photos, then asked, "How old before I can sign up?!"