It's my moneyplant, I can take pictures of it if I want to.
I like the classical Oriental feel to this picture.
Penny meets (Great) Uncle Bill and Aunt Sharon again.
Hey, Uncle Bill, whatcha got there?
Ooh, ice cubes!
Just what Bill wanted: Water with a twist of baby.
Daddy needs blocks to take to work!
Blocks, blocks, blocks! (37 of a 48-block set went into Matt's briefcase by the end of the weekend.)
Spiderwebs are pretty covered with dew. And without spiders.
Jess's Birthday Party! Yay, Jess!
Oh, thank goodness Penny isn't twins. (Screenshot from movie, below.)
Penny: I understand there will be cake.
Jess: Cake? Is that right, Mom?
Jess: Yes, cake. I will share with you, if you'll be my friend.
Penny: Agreed! Let us suck our fingers in the Secret Baby Friendship Signal!
Everyone wants to hold the birthday girl!
Jess: Sure, this is nice, but when's the cake?
You're not gonna let me fall, are you?
Hey, this is kinda fun!
I'm the king of the world! Or the playground. Queen. Whatever.
Havin' some fun now!
Who'd have thought a springy seal would be so much fun?
Braz offers the Ritual Toddler Greeting of neck-zerberts.
How old is Jess, again?
Jess: CAKE! THERE'S THE CAKE!
Pause for pictures...
Jess: DAD! Gimme the cake, already!
The all-important first tasting.
Now, as every chocolate connosieur knows...
...the icing on the sides is very important.
Hmm, yes, a very good year.
But it's the icing on top that's the real test!
The elbow viscosity test
Isn't there any CAKE under all this icing?
Oh, THERE it is.
Cake? Me? Haven't had any. Don't know what you're talking about.
Oh, hi, Auntie Liz! Did you want some cake?
Nope, still don't know what you're talking about.
Yeah, yeah, colored paper is fine, Mom. Let's get to the presents!
Now that's what I'm talkin' about!
No, Mikey, there are no presents for you.
Adorable Bear
Bears? What bears? Check out these great TAGS!
Oh, hey! Bears!
The prettiest dress
Mikey: PIKA! PIKA! PIKA!
Penny: Um... Mom? What the...?
MIFFY!
Beloved by kids of all ages.
Jess hearts Spot books!
Ooh, bath toys!
Penny gets a little tissue paper of her very own.
Bubbles!
(Picture shamelessly swiped from Braz)
Are you sure it's not a yo-yo?
(Picture shamelessly swiped from Braz)
Whatever it is, it's pretty fun!
(Picture shamelessly swiped from Braz)
Okay, that's boring now. What next?
(Picture shamelessly swiped from Braz)
Steps! Help me step down, Mom!
(Picture shamelessly swiped from Braz)
And now, watch the cake-thief at work.
(Picture shamelessly swiped from Braz)
Shh. We don't want Mom to know we're stealing her cake!
(Picture shamelessly swiped from Braz)
See? She doesn't even realize I'm stealing it!
(Picture shamelessly swiped from Braz)
Let's see who else we can steal cake from...
(Picture shamelessly swiped from Braz)
Hmm... Who else around here has cake?
(Picture shamelessly swiped from Braz)
You wouldn't rat on me, would you, Uncle Braz?
(Picture shamelessly swiped from Braz)
You have cake to share, don't you, Jess?
(Picture shamelessly swiped from Braz)
NO? What's that on your lip, then?
(Picture shamelessly swiped from Braz)
And here, on your hands!
(Picture shamelessly swiped from Braz)
Uh-oh, Mom's coming...
(Picture shamelessly swiped from Braz)
I'll let you off... THIS time!
(Picture shamelessly swiped from Braz)
Faster, Mom, FASTER!
(Picture shamelessly swiped from KT)
Toy in hand = toy on TV! Neat!
Snoozin' with Dad
Time to wake up!
When's it our turn to go to dinner?
Thar's teeth in that thar smile!
Penny and Daddy are soooo tired!
Ahoy down there!
Obligatory rehearsal dinner table shot #1
Apparently the Brooks Blinking Curse can be transmitted to spouses.
'One, two-' SNAP! '-three!' The Blinking Curse can be tricked.
Matt demonstrates the size of the ice cube in Penny's cheek.
Is it a little weird that Penny would rather have ice cubes than milk?
Obligatory rehearsal dinner table shot #2
Generational Geeks
Nibbles what???
'Adult Costumes For Him, Her & Others' - OTHER???
Grandmother of the bride.
Mother of the bride
Dum-dum-de-dum!
Carol Davenport, an old friend of the family, performed the ceremony, which was very neat.
Oh, yeah, there was a groom, too.
By the time we sat down to dinner, Penny was soooo tired!
Mm, cake!
Don't be trying to steal my new bear, Dad!
You saw him try, didn't you, Mom?
Rachael's beautiful bouquet
Check out my Boo-Bear, Gramma!
Here, Gramma. You can play with Boo. But don't let Dad have it!
Please, Mom, may I have some more?
(Picture shamelessly swiped from Matt.)
Penny's a good little Rebel.
Yep, blaster charge looks pretty good! Bring on the stormtroopers!
I've got feet!
The beginning of Penny's toddler-exhibition phase.
This is my lunchbox!
Hi, Mom! Just having some lunch!
Walking around with the lunchbox.
(Just between you and me, Mom, it's actually Dad's lunchbox.)
Oh my gosh! There's a baby in this box!
It's a whole new kind of bunting.
Hey, she kicks less about tummy-zerberts when she's boxed!
Okay, Dad! Now you get in the box!
We need to find a lower shelf for Penny's books.
Penny sure loves her some peas!
Yeah, it helps if you put the food in the mouth.
It's what all the cool girls are wearing this month, according to Penny.
(Picture shamelessly swiped from Matt.)
Lunar eclipse
Last one until 2007!
Penny is a little dubious about being at school after hours.
She has nothing but enthusiasm, however, for her first Cheez Doodle!
Look, Mom! Something else for my treat bag! It's a... Um...
What are the Big Kids doing in the toddler room, Miss Heidi?
Savannah demonstrates her lion roar. Or at least her lion lick.
Look what I got, Nya! It's a... Um...
Savannah admires Nya's jewelery.
I didn't know they made CareBears that big.
Holy cow! That's Julianna under there!
Look what I found in the mulch pit, Mom! It's a... Um...
Julianna found something, too! It's a... Um...
The gloves are off!
Hey, Penny! Come and play!
Julianna is a little dubious about Savannah's story.
Toddler Trio
Isn't it about time for more Cheez Doodles? Or a cupcake, maybe?
Amazing how much energy a single bite of cupcake can give a baby.
So, this is the Big Kids' playhouse, huh?
Penny likes the tunnel!
And the slide! Penny loves the slide!
Whew. After a couple of dozen slides, Penny's almost done.
'Spider!' 'Octopus!' 'Forget it. I'm going on the slide again.'
You push this button right here.
This one. Right here.
Grandmom and Grandad Luck are getting a little silly with the toys.
Whoo, something to knock down!
Uncle John the Troll is after me!
Daddy, save me from Uncle John the Troll!
Betrayed!
Penny flees the Troll
Why, look! A cunning structure! This calls for...
Godzilla Baby!
Dressed for the Hallowe'en Parade
Penny the Puppy
What's a puppy-girl got to do to get some candy around here?
Quick, Dad! Time to get in line!
(Penny did not want to leave the stage.)
We follow the cord to treasure. Or at least mud to play in!
Mom! Help! I've lost my hand!
Tired puppy
A dog! Mom, look, a dog!
Nice doggy!
That's not really a dog, is it, Dad?
Bark! Bark! I'm a doggy, too!
Y'know what Penny likes? Balloons.
Is it just me, or is she already oscillating from the excitement?
All worn out. I said she might fall asleep with that balloon...
Trick or treat! And don't be stingy! You don't want to know what kind of trick I've got!
Devil Braz and Angel Emma
Penny has no candy for Emma, but she will share her gorilla!
Dad! Don't we have candy for Emma?
Emma, being a savvy 3-year-old, shows Penny the candy bowl.
Matt and Braz play a round of Maraca-Balloon Volleyball.
Look, bub, I'm just sayin'. Hands off my b'loon!
Emma demonstrates a 'MOO!' for Penny.