Chartin'

Tuesday was Riley's second birthday.

Doesn't seem like 2 years ago that I was stealing someone's wi-fi at Women's & Children's Hospital between trying to sleep on a hard couch and occasionally being interrupted by complaints about the pain of childbirth or something petty.

But anyway, time has flown.

Riley celebrated his birthday by having a doctor's visit with no shots.




If he'll tolerate the Flu-mist this year, he won't have any shots until he turns 4.

The doctor liked what she saw when his weight registered on the chart for the first time in a year and a half.

She didn't like what she saw on one of the developmental questionnaires where I answered "yes" to "Do you ever think that you child is deaf?" and some other equally obvious mistake.

She's cool though, so we laughed it off.


Wednesday, we headed down to Abbeville for a photo shoot with Beau Thomas, of JLang Photography.




Riley was not super-cooperative, but Beau did a good job wrangling what he could out of him.
And, in a small world way, it turns out that Beau is Anna's mom's godmother's son.
At least that's what I heard from my uncle's roommate's nephew's cousin's aunt.



Thursday, was the first Rhythms on the River of the spring, and Cedric Watson and Buckwheat Zydeco were playing. Killer line-up.

Riley played it cool until he and Gabe carjacked some innocent little girl's ride.






But Anna loves him even if he is a violent criminal.




and I got to enjoy one of my favorite beers. I'd probably enjoy it more often if I could have even a single drink without getting a headache.
My body lives in the wrong state.

(Maybe my body is telling me I may be better suited for Colorado or Northern California)



On the way to River Ranch, Riley kept repeating a phrase that lets us know we've raised him right.


(English translation- "I'm going see some bands")



Friday, the weather was perfect and there was another great band to be seen at Bach Lunch--- The Howdies, and Taco Sisters burritos to be eaten.

Riley even took a short nap in the parking garage just to get prepared.






Unfortunately, the sound equipment and its operator were horrible, so the band's full effect didn't come across, but they played fine anyway.
Neither Riley nor Gabe noticed a difference.






That afternoon we learned a new game called "Daddy jump off castle and scare me"





then a game/assault & battery called "Knock,Knock, Wake Up."






That evening, Riley unveiled his new-found ability to climb out of Jimmy's dog door on the patio.




and that is why he will not be in a "big boy bed" until high school. (when he needs room for chicks)



Saturday morning we took him to the epicenter of Amuhrican commercialism--- Sam's Club.






an hour and a half and an obscene amount of dollars later, the Highlander's back suspension was sagging like an episode of Golden Girls and we were rolling with a lifetime supply of Slim Jim's, ketchup and paper towels. Goooo team!

as a humorous aside, I heard the following (verbatim) statement from a 10 or 11 year old kid to his dad, in the liquor section : "Dad, Jack Daniel's is so good that other wines, I mean beers, are made from its old bottles."
Sip on that beer drinkers.


Our Sam's adventure was followed by a tip to Joan's Aunt Connie's for egg dyeing with Caroline.
The photos should tell the story that one kid was concerned with the finished product, while one kid just wanted to play with stirrers and drop eggs.









Fortunately, preferences aligned and one dad was willing to dig in and help , while the other is repulsed by vinegar unless it is mixed with salt and sprinkled on Zapps or Pringles.






But Riley found a creative outlet in Connie's piano.





and got some laughs out of Granny riding the clown bike.






Then we made the mistake I am paying for today, at least when anything occurs to my left.
We hit the trampoline.






Riley was too chicken to jump for himself, so he sat in one of our laps while the other bounced.
It was fun, but unwise for this old body. (and yes, I now know that there is no way to look cool in a photo while jumping on a trampoline.)








Beware the Double Bounce






That evening we tried Saketini, a sushi restaurant on Albertson's Parkway.
Their regular rolls were alright.
Their spicy tuna was really hot.

What was awesome though was the Candy Cane Roll ($13) and the Tuti-Fruiti Roll ($14).
Pretty pricey, but worth trying.

C'mon, who-da thunk 15 years ago that the metropolis of Broussard would someday be the home of three sushi restaurants?

Behold $70 worth of food.




Eating healthy ain't cheap.
Maybe that's why we don't do it much.
Yeah, that's my story.



Speaking of eating habits (do I ever not?) my immediate family gathered Sunday morning at Another Broken Egg.






So let's play a guessing game.

Which plate belongs to a former college athlete who still works out and maintains a healthy lifestyle, and which one belongs to a lazy lawyer who doesn't work out and can only do a pull up by virtue of weighing just slightly more than most 10 year old girls?






it's not a trick question.

But I enjoyed the hell out of my cinnamon roll french toast with cream cheese icing and whipped cream.
and fruit.
Don't forget that I ate fruit.


And, by chance, as Riley and I were hunting bugs and sniffing flowers outside while everyone else ate, Anna's family arrived and my Mom got to see her two grandsons and proxy granddaughter for Easter.






Before you click away, this is one of two posts for the week, so you're not quite done.
Keep reading. (it's worth it 'cause I tell you how you won't have to read much anymore)