Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh!

Oh my gosh! Umpa buyed me a helmet! I just had to take a picture and show you my helmet! It's red, just like my bike. And red is my favorite color. Here's a picture of my helmet. Umma says it's not old, it's new!


I brought my new helmet to the library with me but I just wanted to hold it in the car, I didn't want to wear it until I got back on my bike. But I did wear it all afternoon, even when Umma and I went just for a walk down by the creek. When I was in the garage, I thumped my head on Umpa's workbench and it didn't even hurt! I was so surprised. I waited and waited for it to hurt, but it never did!

Umpa said I ride my bike SO fast now that I'm just like a race car driver, and race car drivers wear helmets, so he got me my very own helmet. I was so 'cited! I know when I'm on my bike I feel like I'm flying! I asked Umma to take a movie of me on my bike so you can see how fast I go.

I love Festibuls!

Umma called me on the phone yesterday and asked me if I wanted to go with her and Umpa to a FESTIBUL! I said YES YES YES! because we always have too much fun when we go to Festibuls. I like music. I like to watch people. I like to clap my hands and dance. I like to see new stuff. That's what a Festibul is in case you don't know already.

This Festibul was in a big field and it had a lot of old old old houses that Umma said were made from trees. When I looked close, I said Yes! Trees!



There were also houses there made from fabric. Umma said some are called "Tents" and some are called "Tee Pees". That TeePee word made me laugh. I won't say what it sounds like!

People there wore funny clothes and the girls all had white hats on and long long dresses. The boys wore funny pants that I wouldn't want to wear. But the boys had GUNS and one time they went out in a big field and shooted the guns. I thought they were fireworks because they banged like that.

A nice lady let me help her use a rock and hit flowers until they smooshed on a piece of white fabric and then the fabric had yellow color on it! I thought that was pretty cool. Umma says we can try that at home, but next time she'll know to keep her fingers out of the way when I'm hitting with the rock. Sorry, Umma.

There was a lady and a man and we sat down to watch them so I could have a snack and a drink and they played music. I just love music! They were really really good and I clapped my hands and tapped my feet a lot. I didn't dance because I just can't seem to dance good when I'm eating crackers and drinking orange juice because I forget about the food and dance dance dance and drop everything on the ground and then Umma won't let me eat it. So I just clapped and tapped and ate. Umma said the lady was playing an "Ah-cord-yan". It was the best thing ever. It had buttons on one side (and I love pushing buttons) and a piano on the other (and I love playing the piano). The man played a guitar and that's another favorite of mine. I had so much fun watching them play music and listening to them sing. I forgot to bring my camera, so I asked Umma if I could take a picture with hers and here it is.



I took a picture of Umpa too. You can see Umpa is having too much fun with me!



We went into a store that was another house made from trees and it had a fireplace and there was really fire in it and it felt good. I saw a pretty green bracelet and asked Umpa if I could buy it for Mama and he said yes because Umpa always says yes. That's why he's Umpa. He also let me buy a sucker but that was one of those things I thought I wanted until I got it but then I didn't want it after all.

I got to walk all day and I got to run run run in a field and I got to sit on a funny chair that Umma said was a Hay Bale and I got to pet a lot a lot a lot of doggies. One lady had a little tiny doggie and her name was Juno and the lady said she liked to be scratched behind her ears and that's what I did.

The best part of the Festibul was watching the people dance and bang on a really big drum and sing songs with words I never heard before. Umma said they are Indians. I think I want to be an Indian when I grow up. Especially if I can have a drum like that. Two girls had on really pretty dresses and they danced. Umma told me they were dancing like butterflies and when I watched, they were just like butterflies with big wings and everything. Just for a little while I sat in my stroller to watch but I was pretty tired from walking all day so it felt good. Umma took a picture of me watching the Indians.



After that we got in the car to go home and I was pretty tired because I didn't have a nap. But then Umpa surprised me and we went to another place! It was a park and it had a bridge and a sidewalk and lots of rocks and some water and a big big big hill and lots of stairs. Umpa and I went for a nice long walk but Umma's camera was out of batteries and I couldn't take pictures. I was sad because it was so pretty. But Umpa said we can go back again sometime so I can bring my own camera and it's batteries WORK.

And when I thought I'd had the best day EVER, it was time to get in the car and Umpa said, "Who wants to go to MacDonald's?" I dooooooo! Don't you think that chicken nuggets are just the perfect way to end a perfect day?

Zoooooo!

It's not so hot outside anymore, so Umma said that it was a good day for us to go to the ZOOOOO! When I got to Umma's house early early I was still in my jammies, but I wanted to go to the Zoo NOW. Umma said the Zoo wasn't open yet and she set the timer to tell me when it was time to go. It was forever before that timer went DING DING DING but I clapped my hands and yelled YAY! when it did.

I think Umma was crabby today. We had some fun but I know I could have had lots MORE fun if Umma wasn't crabby. Before we went in the gate, Umma said there were RULES about the Zoo. I know what "rules" means. It means I'm not going to have as much fun as I want to. Sometimes rules are OK. Today I didn't think so.

Umma's rules were: I have to walk with her all the time. I can't push the stroller when there were lots of people around. And I can't walk in the garden parts. See? I told you she was crabby. The good thing about being little is you can pretend you don't know what the rules are, even when you do.

When we got in the Zoo I wanted to ride the train first. I love trains! I love train crossing signs! Umma took a picture of me TOUCHING the train sign!



Next I wanted to see the elephants. It's a Long Long walk to where the elephants are and I had so much fun! I ran ran ran and I jumped off the sidewalk and into the plants and ran through them. I figured out that Umma couldn't go as fast as me cuz she had to push the stroller and stay out of the way of all the people, so I just went fast fast fast until she catched me. She was crabby when she catched me. One time she even made me sit back in the stroller because she said she didn't like it when I don't listen. I listen, Umma. I just don't like it when what I hear means I can't have TOO MUCH FUN.

Umma wanted me to take pictures with my camera, but I guess I wasn't much in the mood today. I just took one. I saw big pink birds that I liked because they had just one leg. Umma said they had two legs but I can count and when I count the legs there is ONE.



I know at the Zoo there are lots of animals. But I found out there's better stuff there too. Like, all the bushes have long long long lines with white lights on them. I wanted to touch every light. And if you walk off the sidewalk, you can find all kinds of pretty flowers to pick and big trees to hide behind and even walls made out of rocks with big drop offs. I liked waving at people who were riding on the train, until I realized it wasn't ME on the train and that kind of made me mad, even when the train station was another long long long walk away. Umma said, "We're already here, let's just go see the elephants" but I wanted to ride the train NOW, Umma! NOW NOW NOW! But Umma said "No" and we went to where the elephants were but I was too busy climbing on the stairs and rocks to see them. I don't understand what's the big deal. I can see elephants in my books anytime I want. I can't climb on rocks that look like stairs!

Then I got hungry and I wanted lunch NOW so we went to a place that had food but it wasn't Maccadonalds and why doesn't the Zoo have chicken nuggets, anyway? What's a kid supposed to eat if there's no nuggets? That made me mad. I never tasted hot dogs or hamburgers but I know I don't like them. I eat pizza sometimes, so I let Umma buy me some, but then I decided today wasn't the day. Umma had a banana and fruit snacks and apple juice in a box in her bag, so that's what I had for lunch. I really wanted nuggets though.

The best part of the zoo is where you can get close to the animals and pet them.


I petted a goat and saw two cows. There was big brown things on the ground near the cows and I asked Umma what that was and she said, "Cow poop". I liked the cow poop better than the cows. I can see cows in my books anytime, but boy, I'm pretty sure there's no cow poop pictures in my books.

After lunch we went on one more train ride. When you want to go on the train you have to stand in the back of all these people and take turns getting on. I don't get it. I fit under all the railings and went right up to the front by myself. I thought it was a good idea. Umma wasn't too happy about it. She decided the train ride was the last thing we were going to do and it was time to go home. Her face was red. Her hair was a mess. She looked like I feel when I need a nap. Sometimes I even saw her close her eyes and take a big breath and let it out slow like Mama does when she's crabby at me.

We got to the car and I wanted to drive and not sit in my car seat but Umma had another rule about THAT.

Rules and listening and not stomping flowers and not touching electric lights and not being able to hold my hand out the train window and taking turns (except when it comes to driving!) and sharing -- Life just isn't as easy now as it was when I was just ONE years old!

So much fun!

Today was my day at Umma's house. Umpa isn't here. He's in Maddachusits and yes, I can say that word. I don't know where it is. I don't even know what it is. But it's where Umpa is and I miss him a lot. I love you, Umpa!

I also love backhoes. When I ride in Umma's car and see a backhoe, I tell Umma about it. I tell her if it was on or off, and what color it is, and sometimes she turns the car around so I can see the backhoe better.

Today, Umma said she had a treat for me and I thought she was going to take me to Maccadonalds, but it was even better than chicken nuggets. Umma took me to a place where there were a whole BUNCH of backhoes! I was so excited! One backhoe even had the bucket off and I got to watch the bucket get put back on. One backhoe was pushing dirt, and Umma said that was called a bulldozer. Umma and I walked behind a building so I could see the backhoes real good, and I got to watch the man push all the buttons and sticks and make the backhoe move. He even waved to me! Umma remembered to bring my camera this time! Thank you, Umma! So I took pictures.



This backhoe spins around. It scoops up dirt, then spins around and puts the dirt down. I watched it for a long long time.


Look at the wheels on this backhoe! They aren't touching the ground. Umma showed me this and we couldn't figure out how it stayed up in the air like a helicopter does.


Then Umma asked if she could use my camera to take a picture of me. Thank you for asking this time, Umma.




This day was just so much fun. Umma didn't even tell me we had to leave too soon. She let me stay and watch and watch until I was done. She said next time maybe we could bring chairs and water and sit all day!

Just when I didn't think the day could get any better, Umma actually did take me to Maccadonalds and I got chicken nuggets. And we came back to Umma's house and I played in my sandbox and pretended my cars were bulldozers and backhoes. Then Umma taught me a new song to sing to my dog, Jack. Hit the Road, Jack and doncha come back no mo no mo no mo no mo, hit the road, Jack, and doncha come back no mo.

Lackamanoooo!

(Note from Umma: We don't know what this word "Lackamanoo" is or means, but it's Brayden's word and he uses it as he sees fit. I know a young man who used to say the word "Banunja" and he's leading a sane productive life today, so I guess we accept "Lackamanoo" just as we did "Banunja". Oh, and I'm sorry about the wrong dates on the camera again!)

Summer is fun!

Umma cleaned her office a few weeks ago, and lost the thing that hooks my camera into her computer so I can post my pictures here. We found it today. Yay Umma!

I've been having a great summer. Mommy's been taking me to all kinds of farms and playgrounds and other fun places. I never remember to bring my camera with me, so I don't have pictures of any of them to show you. But trust me - they were fun!

My Uncle Jeff and Aunt Lisa came to visit and boy, I sure like them. I wish they lived closer. Uncle Jeff and I played golf in Umma's backyard. Well, Uncle Jeff hit the ball and I cheered him on when he went in the woods to find it. He didn't find too many but it was fun to watch him look for them. Sometimes he would even let me chase the ball and bring it back to him. He's a nice uncle like that. Umma took this picture of me and Uncle Jeff playing golf.

Aunt Lisa is a really pretty lady and she brought presents! I love presents! Thank you for the really nice book, Aunt Lisa!


These are the flowers they brought to Umma. Umma almost always has flowers in her house and sometimes she lets me help her cut them in the garden. But I like these flowers better because I didn't see any bugs on them like Umma's garden flowers have sometimes.


Here's a picture of Uncle Jeff and Aunt Lisa. They stood nice and quiet so I could make sure I saw them in the camera before I clicked the button.


That's all the pictures I have today but I'll try harder to take more. Umma and I go to the library on Thursday and I want to take a picture of my friend, Miss Cheryl the library lady, and the button I get to push to open the big library door. I only get to push that button if I don't run or laugh real loud or pull books off the shelf in the library (one of Umma's silly rules). But I'm figuring out that pushing that button to open the door is even more fun than hiding in the library from Umma. Well, almost.

See you next time!

My First Movie

Hey, look! My camera takes movies! This is my very first movie.



Wow. That must be what Umpa calls an Action movie. There sure was a lot of action!

I like my feet. Umma says I have Barney Rubble toes, just like Mama did when she was little. I don't like it if my feet get dirty. I have to sit down NOW and brush the dirt off. Good thing I learned how to take my shoes off by myself!

I know you want to see my regular pictures. I do too. I think I'll be a photographer when I grow up. Or a road fixer or a cat doctor or a yard sale have-er or a race car driver or maybe work at the library or ride on the garbate truck or clean carpets. I'm glad I don't have to make up my mind today!

This is my Time Out chair. I don't mind being sent to Time Out, but don't tell. I like to sit and swing my legs and look at my toes and count things and see if I can cross my hands and my feet at the same time and watch Joey sleep and find out how far I have to lean before I fall out of the chair. What's not to like?

These are some of my books at Umma's house. We buy them at yard sales. My favorite book is The Monkey Book, but it's not in the picture. Umma and I like to read books together. I can read my numbers 1 through 10 now and I know all my colors -- even green! That was a hard one.

This is Joey. He's always on the wrong side of the door. When I'm outside, he wants to go in. When I'm inside, he wants to go out. I call him Bead Joey now. I don't have to explain why. I learned I can make his tail twitch if I touch it just right. I also learned not to do that when he's sleeping. Bad Joey. Don't bite!

I don't have more pictures because now Umma and I play outside most of the time and she never remembers to bring my camera! Bad Umma. Sit in the Time Out chair, Umma. I'm only two -- I can't remember this stuff!

Oh boy, I just found one more movie on my camera. You can see Umma in this movie. And me. I like watching the red light when it my camera takes movies. I don't remember hanging from the ceiling when I took this movie, but it looks like I did. You'd think I'd remember that.

I'm Happy

Today I want to show you pictures of things that make me H A P P Y!

This is my favorite car. See those yellow buttons on top? If you push one it makes the car play music and if you push another one it makes the car lights light up and if you push another one it makes the car go brooooom and if you push another one it... well, I forget what it does but I know I like it!



This is my special cup. It has Elmo on it. I like Elmo because he's red and red is my favorite color. Umma puts my favorite drinks in this cup - water, 7-up, rootbeer, orinj juice and apple juice.

Umma and Umpa took me to a Festifull. Boy, did I have a good time! Everywhere we went, there was somebody playing music and I really, really like music. I tapped my toes and danced and clapped my hands to the music. I even saw somebody playing a AutoHarp like Umma has! I watched that man play for a long time. I don't know why it doesn't sound like that for me when I bang on the strings with Umma's wooden spoon, but I'm going to keep practicing! Umma always tells me, "Try again." Maybe I will, this time.

This is Umpa. I have breakfast with Umpa every day I'm at his house. Umpa has cereal and I have yogurt. Sometimes we share a bagel. Umpa isn't usually this smiley in the morning.

This is me! Umma picked up my camera and took my picture. And she didn't ask if she could use my camera, but that's OK. I think I'm pretty darned good looking. I like to look at myself in the front of Umma's dishwasher and stove. Umma says, "That's one good looking boy in there!" and she's right.

My favorite things

I don't like food much. A few things I like, but most I won't even try. Umma says I'd probably like them if I'd try them, but why would I try them if I already have food I like? I don't get it. Umma calls me a "fuzzy eater". I'm not sure what that means and really, I don't care.

One of the foods I eat is bananas, but only if Umma eats half of it with me. Umma always has a bowl of fruit on her table for me. I'll eat apples if she has them, but today she just has bananas. Go to the store, Umma! I always like to tell Umma what she needs to buy at the store. She writes it on her "list" when I tell her. I say, "All gone, Umma. More" and she writes it down. She's good like that.


This is my very favorite food. Chicken nuggets. I have to have ketchups on one side of my dish and duck sauce on the other. I like duck sauce but I always ask for ketchup because it just makes my dish look prettier and it keeps Umma busy.

This is Umma. I like her a lot and she makes me laugh. She sings a lot, but she doesn't sing too good, but I don't tell her that. She and I both have jeans and a blue shirt on today.

I really wanted to take a picture of Joey today, but Umma said he's out in the woods. I called him but he didn't come in. I didn't tell Umma that Joey's mad because I squirted him with my water bottle when she wasn't looking.

My day at Umma's House

Today it was rainy outside, even though I sang the "Rain rain go away" song a whole bunch.

This is Umma's camera. That circle in the front pops out when she turns it on. My camera doesn't do that. I want hers. I don't know why, but somehow I know hers is better than mine.


This is Joey. He's waiting for me to let him out the door even though it's raining outside. I'm big now, so I can open the patio door all by myself, even when Umma locks it first. That lock is easy - just push UP. I might be two, but I'm not stupid, Umma!

This is my Mama. Isn't she pretty? I love Mama and give her lots of hugs and kisses - unless she asks for them. Then I just pretend I don't hear her.

This is Umma's coffee pot. She lets me shake the Sweet n'Low packet for her coffee and then she lets me stir her coffee with a spoon. It's easy -- swish it around a few times and then go tap tap tap on the side of the cup, just like Umma does. I do a great impression of Umpa drinking his coffee -- "Sluurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrp.....Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"

You can see crumbs on Umma's counter. I will point every single one of these out to her until she cleans them up.

March 21, 2008

Umma's cat, Joey. I like to blow on his head. No one knows why, and I'm not telling.

Umpa had a RACE CAR on his shirt today! I like it a lot. He asked me if I wanted a shirt with a race car on it and I said, "YES!". I'm pretty sure Umpa will buy me one.

The Photographer at work

My fish

These are my fish. They stay at Umma and Umpa's house. They like it when I feed them. Joey likes it when I open the door on top to feed them. Umma says Joey wants to eat the fish.

This fish I call "Big big one". He's kind of scarey. But he hides a lot, especially when I bang my hand on the side of the fish tank.

I like the orinj fish the best. When I stick my fingers in the water, they give me little fishy kisses that tickle.

Don't laugh over spilled milk...

Someone spilled milk in the sink, evidently.

Hmmm...I wonder who?


Was it Umpa????

Or was it this guy with the goofy grin and guilty look?? (Brayden's self-portrait)

Sorry, dates are still wrong on his camera! Take on 02/29/08 - the day before his 2nd birthday!

A day in the life

Brayden's beloved NASCAR cars:



A trip to the grocery store on 02/24/08 (dates are off on his camera) . The grocery store is very unique -- full of singing characters and happy music and lots of things to do and see!