Friday, October 23, 2009

Show Off


Little Buddha
Originally uploaded by erickpineda527
I know I'm biased, but damn this kid is cute! Taken a couple of weeks ago when I was changing Nico Boy's diapers he surprised me by standing straight up while I reached over to grab a wipe for his butt one morning.

This is probably one of those photos he'll hate me for later for posting for all to see. Either way my little boy is growing up!

Where the Wild Things Are

As a small boy I've always loved this book. It's one of the first book I read that had illustrations that really appealed to me. I guess I could relate to Max's naughty and imaginative nature. It's probably one of the things that led me to really get into fine art and thus into art direction and design. I even (sheepishly) admit to indulging myself into Todd McFarlane's Where the Wild Things Are figures a few years ago. I also admit to exposing my children to anything that held fond memories for me as a child - Disney World, Sinatra and Nat King Cole, drawing and painting, whatever.

I was pretty stoked to hear that Where the Wild Things Are was going to be made into a movie awhile back. After the movie opening a couple of weeks ago El had been prepping Isa by reading her the book before bed for the past two weeks. This is the same thing we did when Pixar's Wall-E was about to come out to help familiarize herself to it. Same goes for Disney. Anyways, it was a great way to get her to watch something I personally wanted to see without her losing interest or getting fidgety in the theater (yes...I work that way).

This morning I went to her room to find her "reading" the book to herself. Tonight was the night! After work we had a tasty anitpasto dinner El prepared and drove the kids out to see it. Spike Jonze's version of it remained true to the book imagery. Even Max was spot on to how I thought he should be although a little older. Nico was passed out, but Isa held her attention for the most part. I thought it was GREAT. Definitely a little more (surprisingly) graphic than I imagined at times but still true to form. I thought Spike managed to successfully "extend" the movie out - a difficult task considering the actual length of Maurice Sendak's book. The Wild Things even got a little scary at times with what they were capable of doing. Overall, great flick. Just not necessarily a kid flick - just a flick about a kid.

It's Official Now...Fall is Upon Us.


Pumpkin Patch 2009
Originally uploaded by erickpineda527
We've kind of made it a tradition with us to kick off the cooler season by taking the kid(s) every year to the Celebration's Pumpkin Patch for photo ops and to take in some nice, cool(er) night air. This being Nicholas' first year we were able to capture some moments. As Isabella gets older she has grown to appreciate these types of things more.


Poseur
Originally uploaded by erickpineda527
She has definitely become more sociable with people. Before she would be shyer around most people with the exception of anyone who seemed like a "mom-type". Now she talks to everyone. She's even started to warm up again to her daddy's camera and would throw in a pose or two if coerced with the proper reward. Ice cream afterwards perhaps.
Nico Boy on the other hand is a true natural and seems to just enjoy being around new environments and experiences. Such a simple, happy boy he's always been very easy to please and I've discovered that he cries if he thinks you're mad at him. This, of course, is easy pickings when I want to see how cute he is when he's upset (sadistic - I know).

Pumpkin Patch 2009
Originally uploaded by erickpineda527


Pumpkin Patch 2009
Originally uploaded by erickpineda527
After the pumpkin patch we enjoyed a nice dinner al fresca at the Celebration Diner. Food is okay and service is always better than average - the relaxing atmosphere is what I come here for on evenings like this. I think everyone enjoyed themselves as much as I did.

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Chasing My Tail

That's what it's been feeling like these past few months. So much has been going on and I want to write about it, but things have been too busy to even do that. I've spent a few hours writing here and there and even have new photos ready to go. Just when I think I can sit down and collect my thoughts something new happens. Good and bad. A lot of new developments in my life and I need to get cracking on it before I start to lose any kind of chronological order to it. I'll get there I know it. Just need to focus...