Sunday, January 30, 2011

Canada Rd

Despite the lousy weather, we went to Bicycle Sunday with the new trailer.

It's not raining. Well, not much. Plus the trailer has a waterproof cover.

Mountain bike tires + extra weight from trailer = rolling resistance of a brick.
I think I will use the road bike next time.

Oh hai! I am in this weird plastic box. With my
objects. I find this very acceptable.


Still in my box.

Snack break.
Obligatory post-ride visit to the Woodside Bakery.
Mom got a hot chocolate. Nick got a piece of bagel.

Thursday, January 27, 2011

NTS 3!

We have a new NTS (Nick Transportation System). NTS 1 is the regular stroller. NTS 2 is the jogging stroller. The new addition is the NTS 3, the bike trailer.

We got a recommendation for the Chariot brand of bike trailers, so today we went to REI to check it out.

What is this nonsense? Do I need to yell?

























Nick looked reasonably well-attached and secure so we plopped down the money and went home with the trailer.

Nick was nice enough to mostly self-amuse on the front lawn while I assembled the trailer and attached it to the mountain bike. The mountain bike is a little more stable and has the flat pedals, which is why I decided to use it. Eventually the trailer will probably go onto the road bike though.
Looks pretty fancy!



















Then we had to break for lunch and a nap. While Nick was napping I made sure everything was securely bolted, took a short ride up and down the street, and found my bike helmet. It's been more than a year since I actually used it.
Once Nick was up, it was time for a test ride.
I find this device quite acceptable.

























Ok, let's go. Less posing, more pedaling!

























We only took a short ride around the neighborhood this time, since I was still afraid that the baby will fall out, or the trailer will disconnect from the bike, or the baby's neck will snap due to the bouncing, or that he will totally hate it or something else. However, none of those things happened, and Nick found the activity most excellent, even though he had to wear the baby torture device, aka the bike helmet. So, Page Mill Road next, right? Riiiiight....

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Weimaraners!

No Nick picture today, we he did get to go to the Ponds with Polly, Tony, Mara (human), Desmo and Woody (weims) today. He thought it was a most acceptable way to spend the morning, especially since he was allowed to skip his morning nap to go.



















The rest of the pictures are here.

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Photography

Umm, I think the dog is under-exposed in this shot...

Monday, January 24, 2011

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Fun and games

I am being bounced. I like being bounced.
It is good strength training for the parents.
I am an all in one exercise program.

Hi Tony! Can I poke you in the face?
(Answer: Yes. Tony suffers the baby's abuse stoically and
even comes back for more. Because he is the best dog ever.)

Similarity

Kostadis and Tony: quiet, calm, subdued.
Nick and Polly: fidget, fidget, gnaw, gnaw, fidget
My life in a nutshell

Nick vs avocado

Friday, January 21, 2011

Coaster

Guest post and photo by Kostadis.

Ladies and gentlemen, I present you
THE COASTER.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Sunol Hike #2

New baby transportation system: the backpack. On the positive side, it allows for hiking on more rugged trails than the stroller. On the negative side, ouch, heavy baby, ouch.
Hi, can I pull your hair?



















Polly had a new backback too. She carried the dogs' water and Nick's diapers and wipes. Very helpful.



















Nick said the backpack is mostly acceptable.
Why are you treating me like a piece of luggage?

























Time for a break. 



















Released from her pack, Polly is finally allowed to go
into the water.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

More baby gear

Today we scored a bike helmet and a new baby backpack. This spring will be fun!

I am ready to go up Page Mill Rd. When are we getting
a bike trailer?




Why am I in a backpack. I am not sure that's OK.
(He was pretty happy once we went outside)

Monday, January 17, 2011

The Nick in the Hat

Stylin'























Oh, and we went to the beach again. It was in the high sixties and sunny. Don't be jealous.

Beach bum #1

Beach bum #2

Trying out the water.

Lunch! Sam's Chowder House in Half Moon Bay is most excellent!

Sunday, January 16, 2011

More better titles

They beat me, you know. Every day. With a baseball bat. I am
a very very abused dog. Please come and save me.
Miss P got her Rally Excellent title. She is now formally known as: Marstad Power Play RE NA NAJ NF CGC.

We had two runs yesterday and one today, and ended up with all three Q's, and two third place ribbons. Our first run yesterday had lovely dog performance and terrible handler performance. I missed the walk-through, missed the call into the ring, and basically had to read the signs as we went along. As a result we lost 10 points on the jump because instead of "send dog over jump handler passes by" I apparently did "pause, flap arm towards jump, handler stumbles by in a daze". Polly didn't care and took the jump well, but we got scored as an "incorrect performance. Personally, I thought -10 on that was kind of harsh, and it dropped us from first to third place with an 84.

The afternoon run yesterday wasn't as good, dog was tired, and wanted to sniff and scratch herself. Looked like stress behavior to me because the cookies were not forthcoming. She even almost broke the down stay (she got up just a little which apparently is fine in Rally). But everyone else was tired also, because we still got a third place, with a 91.

Today we didn't need to go back since we already had our title, but since the entry was paid, and the trial was only 20 minutes away, we went for practice. I thought this was our best run, dog was upbeat and paying attention. We got a 94, but no placement since there were lots of other great dogs in the ring (first place was a perfect score).

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Ummm, time to baby-proof yet?

I am not quite sure exactly how he managed to get under there,
but the original starting location was about three feet away in the
middle of the room.

Friday, January 14, 2011

Beach bummin'

It was 65 degrees and sunny outside, so we went to Carmel to hang out at the beach.

Beautiful day in California. How's that East Coast blizzard going?



















Nick doing his best imitation of a Greek at the beach.



















He refused to eat his banana this morning, but apparently
sand is delicious.




















As are dogs' leashes.

Tony excavates a hole.



















And settles in it for a relaxing afternoon.



















There are no pictures of Polly because she wouldn't stand still long enough. But she says she had a very good time also.

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Labratoy

I wonder if Nick thinks that Tony is just one of his stuffies.

Nick eating bananas

It's important to have the right sound effects. Apparently bananas require loud smacking.

Bananas

We are having moderate success with feeding ourselves bananas. 

The cleanup crew waits patiently.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Olympiakos fan

OLE OLE OLE!
Interestingly, even though he doesn't really like very loud noises, Nick is completely unaffected by the sound of someone blowing into the vuvuzela. I attribute this to early childhood conditioning, since he did watch (sleep through) most of the World Cup matches.

Monday, January 10, 2011

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Curious Nick with Curious George

Nick and Kostadis went to an exhibit of the art of Margaret and H. A. Rey in San Francisco. Apparently Nick likes museums. Which is great, because Kostadis likes museums too, and I don't really. So now he has himself a museum-going buddy.

I scored me a new toy! It has a hat.
I has a hat too. We are hat buddies.

Saturday, January 8, 2011

Top chef


What I have for you today is a pizza margherita with heirloom tomatoes, basil and herbed chicken.

Friday, January 7, 2011

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Sluuuurp!

Yes, the dog licked the baby's face. Somebody has to clean
off that milk mustache.

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

We've been busy

and keep forgetting to take pictures until Nick is asleep. So here's one from just before bedtime. Although it looks like he's actually holding the book and turning pages, actually he's trying to eat it.

Saturday, January 1, 2011

New year outing

We went to San Francisco to look at the big Christmas tree on Union Square. And shop for discount ornaments at Macy's and Neuman Marcus. Got home right in time to watch the Winter Classic on TV. We think that Nick may secretly be an Ovie fan.