Pool Party Pics

The Blueberries

Earlier today, over blueberry pancakes: 

Me: Life is sweeter with our blueberry eater. 

Oliver: Yes, life is super with our blueberry pooper. 

Writing a Love Note to Sneak into Dad's Lunch Sack

Water Baby

Nuts About Fruit

Our Friend Sabrina earlier (giving away the answer in the question): So what color are oranges Toby? 

Toby: Orange! 

Sabrina: That's right. They are orange. And what color is the grapefruit Toby? 

Toby: Banana! 

Our Cheesy Date

My mother-in-law watched Toby last night, and Oliver and I went to dinner at Bravo Farms Cheese Factory.  

It was 100 degrees and the place isn't airconditioned - still, it wasn't that uncomfortable. They have a lot of ceiling fans, and serve ice tea in huge mason jars you almost need two hands to drink from. They have a seating area outside too (aka: "The Garden of Weeden"), with chickens and a parrot. They have little pipes that spray mists of water on the birds and plants to keep them cool. The atmosphere is laid back and friendly and the food is great. 

We had a good time. Bravo, Bravo Farms. 

Hot! Hot! Hot!

It's supposed to get into the triple digits today - and it's not even summer yet! 

Another day, another crocheted necklace

Chuck E. Cheese

We went to Chuck E. Cheese for the first time yesterday. I was worried that it would be loud, crowded, and crazy - like a live Barney the dinosaur music video with kids literally running over my little guy. We went with our new friend Kat and her son. She says it can be like that on the weekends, but we went on a weekday morning so it was pretty mellow. Toby's new love is race car video games. I work the petals and he sits on my lap and helps me steer.

We decided that ABC, stands for "Adorable Baby Club"

Kat, Elliot, and the Big Cheese.

Don't Ask Me - I Just Live Here

When Oliver's brother Nick was in town a few weeks ago, we drove past the "Lakeside Apartments." When he saw the sign he asked us if there was a lake nearby. It would be a perfectly logical to assume there would be, based on the apartment complex's name - but, I had driven past it before and looked for a lake nearby and - no lake - just a duck pond a little bigger than your average swimming pool. I double checked this online, "Lakeside," is a bit of a stretch - but certainly a lot nicer sounding than, "Artificial-duck-pond-side".

But... I made the mistake of telling him that there were no lakes in Fresno. There's a lake that I knew of right outside of Fresno, but other than the duck ponds at the park, I didn't think there were any real lakes. Then, just this week, I'm driving around, and hello - look at this - it's a lake, in Fresno! Woodward Lake, Fresno - and it's beautiful. I mean really beautiful. The pictures do not do it justice at all.

Granny Square Necklace

I think the colors are more accurate in this photo.
P1010013, originally uploaded by santabarbiefrogger.

Homemade Crocheted Necklaces

I made three of these necklaces yesterday. This morning I took a few pictures of myself wearing one of them. (I used the bathroom mirror to help me make sure I was in the frame. It's hard to take pictures of yourself!)

 

Grandmas Juli and Lousie, and Uncle James and Aunt Laurie joined us at the park on Saturday to celebrate Toby's birthday

I made cupcakes!

Funny things happen when my husband dresses our son

I dug the old camera out of a box in the closet  this morning - my old camera - the one that takes FOREVER to take a picture (as opposed to the one I had that won't work anymore -  it only took A REALLY, REALLY LONG TIME to take a picture).  I press the button on the camera and hope my son is still in the room when the camera actually gets around to taking a picture - forever to take a picture. I used to complain about it all the time (among other things, as Oliver will testify to) which is why Oliver got me the one that just died. I'm so glad I still have it because, otherwise I wouldn't be able to share this picture from this morning with you: 

Oliver dressed him this morning (while I was looking for the old camera). I was so glad that I found it because - Oliver dressed him in footed PJs with sandals! It reminded me of another time that he dressed our son. 

Of all the days for my camera to die!

So, Toby blew out the candles and, although we tried to stage several re-enactments of the event for our internet viewers - my camera still refused to cooperate. 

So Oliver says, "So, uh... how about a new camera for mothers' day?" 

I'm kind of in denial about it. I keep taking the batteries out and putting them back in again. Turning it on and off - but it won't let me take any pictures. 

Happy Birthday Toby!!!!

Toby turned two today! 

Greenwich Village... Fresno?

In a former life, otherwise known as my early 20s, I completed a Television Studio/News Broadcasting Certification at NYU. I was an intern/news reporter for a Summer. What a Summer that was! While I was there, I rented a school-owned dorm/kitchenette/apartment on the 15 th floor of a building just one block away from Washington Square Park. 

I'm sure all of you reading this are rolling your eyes right now thinking, "Yeah, yeah, Suzanne. We know this already. What we'd really like to know is, when are you going to stop talking about New York?" 

And what have I done with this fancy journalism background of mine? Well, I have put these skills to work, writing this blog, of course - aren't you lucky? In all seriousness though, I truly believe that the education was it's own reward, ten times over. I loved New York and hope to visit again someday. 

This is a picture of Washington Square Park:  

Washington Square Park, for those of you who have never been to Manhattan, is in Greenwich Village. 

When I think of "Greenwich Village," this is the image that comes to mind: 

I also imagine, honking horns, cars whooshing past, people yelling, laughing, and making fun of each other. The smells? Hot dogs. Rotting garbage and pee. 

So, when I saw this sign, and discovered that there is also a Greenwich Village, Fresno - I just had to take a picture... and laugh. It does not get anymore "suburban" than Greenwich Village, Fresno. 

Imagine finches tweeting sweetly, and a warm, soft, jasmine-scented breeze. Imagine street after street of adorable, but otherwise uninspiring, beige family homes. This is Greenwich Village, Fresno. 

Both places, surprisingly wonderful in their own way; and perhaps, in their own time in my life. 

Nick & "Wheeze"

Days after their visit, Toby can't stop talking about 

Nick 

& "Wheeze", aka: Grandma Louise. 

Yogurt-covered Toddler

Alastair Greene Rocks Fresno's Tower District

My brother-in-law played at The Sequoia Brewing Company tonight in Fresno's Tower District. Great music, great company, microbrews and fried pickles - made for a pretty great evening. My mother-in-law was kind enough to babysit so we could all go out. One of my new knitting friends and her husband even joined us for a little bit.
The Tower, of Tower District Fame:

There are lots of great things to do and see in the Tower. I wish I could share more of the sights with you, but my camera doesn't do so well at night.

Alastair

Alastair and, my husband, Oliver Greene

My other brother-in-law, Uncle Nick, came down from Oakland with his girlfriend, Veronica, to celebrate Toby's birthday, see our new place, and see Alastair play. 

Nick and Veronica at the Sequoia Brewing Company

From left to right: Toby, Oliver, Grandma Louise, and Uncle Nick.

Grandma Louise on the chair, Oliver, on the couch, and Veronica playing on the floor with Toby. 

Blockheads ;o)