Family flu

This past week has been especially tough on the family. Roger got hit with the flu on Sunday night and Family Day Monday and Tuesday. He was running a high fever for three days. The kids seemed to get it on the Tuesday with lower grade fevers themselves. Melody's had it for almost a week now and the cough is just relentless. Malcolm luckily got off with some minimal symptoms, but stayed home last Thursday as well. Both kids did manage to get through Friday as they didn't want to miss any Valentine's Day celebrations. With so many kids away I think festivities suffered anyway. As a special Valentine's Day surprise, Tracey and Roger put on a sort of hunt with a super big surprise at the end. They arranged a series of clues throughout the house with some small V-Day gifts along the way. Anyway, here's how the clues read:

We love you both We think you're the best Now search for a place
Where Obi can rest Here you scrub a dub dub Splash and get wet
It's one of your favorite places I bet

When this is on it makes lots of noise
And we have to be careful not to suck up the toys
This place is chilly and Keeps our food icy
Ice cream lives here
But nothing too spicy

We sit here when it's time to eat
Now look for a clue under your seat
When the mail comes It lands right here

The end of the hunt is now quite near
M&M we love you a lot,
But life would be better if you never fought
How about a trip with us and some friends
To a place where the fun never ends

Go to the computer room and find your last clue!
Hi M&M, It's been a while
Can you come to our place
For some fun and a smile? Love the other M&M

That's right folks, we're heading back to Disneyland for Spring Break.

Here's the video:


Disneyland Treasure Hunt from Obiwanhavanese on Vimeo.

Disneyland 2012

It wasn't the best of starts for the trip to Disneyland. Roger and Tracey wanted the trip to be a surprise, but it was difficult to decide on when exactly they were going to tell the kids. On the day of departure, they sat the kids down on the couch and gave them the surprising news. Unfortunately, Malcolm didn't react the way they expected, he cried and cried exclaiming that Disneyland was no fun and that the PNE was much more fun. Melody on the other hand seemed truly excited, she asked whether she'd get a chance to see the princesses and meet Minnie Mouse. So suffice to say, the beginning of the trip was met with some drama and tears. I think as parents, it's questionable to feel whether it's worth it. With tantrums, mood swings, and less than exemplary behaviour all they really wanted is to share in an adventure with them.

I think all in all, the kids had a great time, but something that has reared its ugly head is the delayed onset of the terrible twos. Melody has had pretty much a tantrum a day all related to either her independence and or her resistance to do something. It can be something as simple as having a bath, putting on a jacket, changing her diaper or in the case of Disneyland, getting off the ride all by herself or not getting that special toy. Perhaps the high temperatures and fatigue were a factor, but Roger and Tracey have dealt with some very unreasonable behaviour over the past few days. Let's just hope that she outgrows it soon.

Despite all that, they do have to reflect on the good, that is, the kids did really enjoy themselves. Disneyland must be a pretty magical place in their eyes. A place where characters come to life and where fairy tales do come true. Pictures like this one below of Malcolm do make things worthwhile. This was Malcolm's first ride on Thunder Mountain, a less than tame roller coaster. As you can see from the expression on his face he was having a great time. The picture made it worthwhile for Roger to carry that beast of a lens (Nikkor 70-200VRII) around.


Here's Malcolm's second ride on the roller coaster the very next day. The look on his face is priceless.


The family also enjoyed a character lunch at Goofy's Kitchen, where they saw a total of 8 characters for a meet and greet. Here's a shot with Pluto.


No trip to Disneyland would be complete without a visit with the princesses. They managed to catch Belle one morning and snap a picture with her.


Roger was happy to spend some(albeit short) time with some family down south. Although he just saw cousin Connie, he hasn't seen the rest of the family in a long time, over 15 years to be exact.


Here's a shot with Tracey and the kids as well.


Here's a shot of David and me. Compared with the shot of David and me shot in 1999. Wow, things sure do change.



Their last day at Disneyland with the castle in the background.




This is one of Roger's favorite images from Disneyland. It captures the magic and excitement that is Disneyland. It was taken during Mickey's Fantasmic show, marking the last day of the family vacation. Very poignant that the blue moon was also captured, adding to the metaphor of a trip to Disneyland.

Obiwan and Mickey Mouse.

Certainly, my status within the family has been significantly downgraded with the arrival of the kids. I totally understand this situation, it's not unlike what happens within most family homes with pets. For the most part dogs just aren't allowed to go everywhere and anywhere they please, even if the family wants me to tag along. I feel happy that I was able to go to Sechelt with the family, but now with the trip to Disneyland on the horizon I know I'll miss the family a lot during their absence. At least I don't have to stay in a kennel or with some other strange family. I'll get to stay home with Grandma and Papa, keeping them company during the five days everyone is away. I guess in some respects we're lucky the weather has cooled down, I can't imagine more hot weather now. I have trouble enough as it is, wearing this fur coat 24/7. Well, I do with them well, I'm sure they'll all have a great time at "the happiest place on earth". I can't wait to hear about it.

The portrait above was taken with a 50 year old camera, a Koni-Omega Rapid 6x7 Rapid. It was shot on Kodak VC160 and lit with a SB900 mounted with a small umbrella camera right.

Surprises.

It's been a busy weekend. Roger participated in the 12x12yvr photomarathon on Saturday. It was a day of 12 film exposures in 12 hours of 12 distinct themes. Tracey and the kids met Roger in Vancouver to help with a few of the themes. Let's just hope they all turn out ok. We'll all be waiting till the evening of the 22nd to find out.

On the home front, there have been some challenges with respect to the kids. Melody in particular is resisting going to sleep. We're all hoping that it's a short phase, but for the last several nights evenings have been tough. Lots of crying and complaining. That same old phrase starts running through my head: "No-one said raising kids was easy". It's less than a week to go for the family trip to Disneyland. After months and months of planning, it's actually coming to fruition in less than 7 days. Roger and Tracey have decided to wait and surprise them. They've told the kids that they're going to Seattle, but in fact will spring on them that they're going on an airplane to Disneyland. Roger's hoping to capture the reaction on video. They're excited enough to go to the PNE every year, now we'll have to wait and see how they'll react to this.

Here are some images that Roger took with his new 70-200VRII lens. It's amazingly sharp.