Wednesday, July 27, 2005
Routine activities
Rearranging the CD collection in various ways, as in High Fidelity. Today's list is "best 5 CDs for drooling on". (Actually I haven't seen the film, but that's what happens in the book). 
Taking a walk. It's a slow and methodical activity for Chloë: each ant on the sidewalk must be greeted by name.
Taking a walk. It's a slow and methodical activity for Chloë: each ant on the sidewalk must be greeted by name.
Wet face
Now this is funny to watch. Chloë has taken to playing with a squirt bottle full of water, but she hasn't figured out that it should be operated with the nozzle facing away from the user.
She seems to appreciate the direct causal relationship between squeezing the trigger and water hitting her face. At least I think she said "direct causal relationship": it's hard to be sure sometimes.
The end result is a happy girl with a wet face and shirt.
She seems to appreciate the direct causal relationship between squeezing the trigger and water hitting her face. At least I think she said "direct causal relationship": it's hard to be sure sometimes.
The end result is a happy girl with a wet face and shirt.
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
Cinderella trial and error
Nice look, but if the shoe don't fit you must acquit.
Now here's one that fits. You shall go to the ball.
Now here's one that fits. You shall go to the ball.
Monday, July 25, 2005
This end up
She can't decide whether she prefers head up...
...or head down. Note that Stacy is modelling "head up" behaviour in both pictures.
...or head down. Note that Stacy is modelling "head up" behaviour in both pictures.
Tuesday, July 12, 2005
Independence Day
For the Fourth of July (Independence Day, sometimes referred to as Thanksgiving in Britain), we visited our friends Chris and Gillian and their two sons in Evanston. Chris's parents were also visiting from England. In the afternoon we went to Evanston's parade to celebrate the day. Note that Chloë hasn't quite got the hang of facing the interesting side of the street.
This is quite the oddest thing I have ever seen in a parade: an old iron lung being towed along the street. Rotary International (which happens to be based in Evanston) is proud of the work it is doing to eradicate polio. I looked for a hand waving from one of the little windows, but it seemed to be empty, which quite frankly spoiled it for me.
Don't rain on my parade... but sadly it did. Fortunately we had a shop doorway to shelter in.
Our friend Gillian is the managing director of Redmoon Theater. Their Bug Brigade spectacle was in the parade.
Finally, exhausted and slightly damp, we made our way back to Chris and Gillian's house for a slap-up feed.
This is quite the oddest thing I have ever seen in a parade: an old iron lung being towed along the street. Rotary International (which happens to be based in Evanston) is proud of the work it is doing to eradicate polio. I looked for a hand waving from one of the little windows, but it seemed to be empty, which quite frankly spoiled it for me.
Don't rain on my parade... but sadly it did. Fortunately we had a shop doorway to shelter in.
Our friend Gillian is the managing director of Redmoon Theater. Their Bug Brigade spectacle was in the parade.
Finally, exhausted and slightly damp, we made our way back to Chris and Gillian's house for a slap-up feed.
Saturday, July 02, 2005
Balloons
This morning we all got up insanely early. I have never seen a hot air balloon take off, and for years I have had good intentions to visit the "Eyes to the skies" festival in nearby Lisle, which features massed balloon launches at dawn and dusk. This year we finally did it.
Some of the balloons going up. There were about 14 of them, all launched between 5.50 and 6.15am. There was a surprisingly large crowd of insomniacs like us watching them inflate and go.
Later in the morning we went for our usual walk. During the week when I'm at work, Stacy somehow wrangles both dog and child. Normally there are no witnesses, but here is her heroic struggle recreated for the camera on a Saturday. Having risen at 4.30am, we had seen the balloons, come home for breakfast and completed our walk all before 9am.
Chloë has decided that it's no longer satisfactory to ride in the shopping cart: she must push it herself (while being carried, of course).
Some of the balloons going up. There were about 14 of them, all launched between 5.50 and 6.15am. There was a surprisingly large crowd of insomniacs like us watching them inflate and go.
Later in the morning we went for our usual walk. During the week when I'm at work, Stacy somehow wrangles both dog and child. Normally there are no witnesses, but here is her heroic struggle recreated for the camera on a Saturday. Having risen at 4.30am, we had seen the balloons, come home for breakfast and completed our walk all before 9am.
Chloë has decided that it's no longer satisfactory to ride in the shopping cart: she must push it herself (while being carried, of course).
