From July 4th. Little Miss Em gets up early, ready to play around; M decides to put her hair up.

Em has taken to tucking herself in with her blankies.

Just kidding! There was no chance I was napping.

The look of disapproval will never die. Her kids are going to love her.

The now-ubiquitous roaring. Someone has decided to really take after her big brother.

We had M’s sisters and niece over for dinner. Em loves taking pictures with her Auntie.

Taco night and smiling faces.

Em makes sure her cousin is in the picture.

The boy is grinning about something. Who knows what.

So click on to see what greatness has arrived.

From July 3rd. First, M needed a test subject, preferably a still one.

I like the ball opposite the sleeping Tyrone.

That’s our grinning boy!

His feet really are that large. He’s a disturbingly big six-and-a-half-year-old.

“Hey honey, could you look up something in the manual for me?”

Let’s see what sharp object Daddy has left too close to the edge of the counter…

Oh my God, Mommy has a new camera! I’d better scream!

(By the way, we’re potty training, hence the strolling in just the skivvies.)

Well, now Mommy is taking pictures, so we better pose some model shots. Have to love the detail in the hair, right?

Daddy and Daughter.

Daughter who can make Daddy do anything she wants.

Contemplation.

(I like to think she’s contemplating what to throw a fit about next.)

There’s my handsome boy!

No, actually, there’s my handsome boy.

For some reason, this is my favorite picture of my kids since Em was a mere baby.

Mommy worked hard to get a shot of those teary blues.

Thug life, or just cleaning food off a finger.

Bath time at the end of the day.

Plenty more to come. This is just the tip of the iceberg. M has been waiting to use this level of photographic equipment for as long as we’ve been married.

Guess who got a few new bracelets when she went to the mall with Mommy.

Just a few.

From April 25th.

She had to play with them again the next morning, too. And pose for the camera.

Lots of posing. Seriously, this girl is only two!

At least they all fit her.

Seriously!? It’s a shot from a music video, I swear.

From April 26th.

In other news, the lad started soccer this week.

The Fab hair blowing in the wind.

From April 28th.

Every year, the children’s class holds a tea party. The kids demonstrate their fine motor skills and etiquette by serving their invited adult for the day.

Flawless delivery.

This kid knows how to look good.

From April 18th. M and I took Austin to a baseball game on Sunday. We were pretty stoked to see the Twins play in their new ballpark.

There was sky and grass and everything!

M needed a picture of the two of us.

This is what Austin looked like for the first two innings, because our seats came with a free hot dog and lemonade.

After the game, as a Sunday tradition, they let the kids run the bases. How much fun is that!?

I love the state logo with the Twins, Minnie and Paul (and the sky with clouds!)

Us out on the field.

Right field foul line.

The screen there is amazing. Full sun on it and still perfectly viewable.

Mommy and her cool little boy.

There’s the good-lookin’ dude!

He and I in front of the visitor dugout. I so wanted to go in there and crunch on the sunflower seed shells.

You guys went where without me?

From April 1st. Dinner time with grilled burgers and chips & salsa. The girl likes salsa, apparently.

Good lookin’ kid, I’d say.

Wait for it…

Really, REALLY like salsa.

Gram and Emily playing with pictures.

One more funny grin.

My kids just keep getting odder, don’t they?

All the girls. This is M with her two sisters, niece, and Miss Emily.

From April 2nd.

Her usual line: “Hello? Hi! Talking on phone? Bye!” Apparently Gram needed proof that she was on the phone.

Don’t know why, I just love the Grandma pictures. Seems like the way the world ought to be, doesn’t it? This is distributing gifts for the Birthday Girl.

Keen gears!

Time for some dress-up. Movie starlette in the making.

From April 3rd. Looking like a proper girlie girl.

Trying on the birthday dresses and making Dad’s heart troubles start before he’s 30.

A girl more beautiful than my daughter? I submit that there is not.

Found another tutu shot.

From April 4. This dude completely rocks the button-down shirt. (And the M&Ms hidden in Easter eggs.)

The rest of the world better be ready for some waist-high pictures.

From April 6th. It’s a blurry phone picture, but you can tell these two are a pair.

Opening Auntie’s Present

Seven unedited minutes of babbling before dinner (From March 16th).

All on her own. (And I can’t believe she’s big enough for her own set of bowling shoes…)

Coming up to the ramp. This thing is a great idea for the wee ones.

Loading up the ball.

And the expression of glee from just rolling a big ball down a hill. She’s in the middle of yelling out, ‘WOAH!’

Grandpa came over to see the birthday girl for a bit. Now they’re sitting back to watch Austin go for it.

The boy’s early attempt was just amusing to see.

Now, we’ve got a pro. I love this next shot.

And generally the normal sequence of events.

Wait for it…

Yes! Knocked something down.

My kids watching Mommy bowl.

Then we finally got home and put on pajamas, only to find our birthday gift in the living room!

Time to let our hair down and sit in the big pink armchair.

Happy Birthday Girl. She’s two now.

You’re really going to take a picture of me, Dad?

Hang on, let me at least put on the right face.

A

Beautiful smile and showing off her now-traditional, brand new St Patrick’s Day birthday shirt.

Grinning and about to head down the stairs to go to school.

After school, smiling in much better light.

Side shot of the pigtail. She really does have the most beautiful hair.

And a goofy face because we can.

Birthday night out pictures coming tomorrow!

From March 5th.

Have to play with the zoom on the eyes.

Mr Cool.

Look at the big black thing Daddy is putting on his face.

Guess who already likes getting her picture taken.

OMIGOSH! I love getting my picture taken and yelling a lot!

Splash.

No, she is not being prompted.

The posing. Sideways head and blue eyes. Taking after an auntie, I think.

There’s my little gamer.

“Why do I have to take another picture?”

Plotting the next move.

Now, Austin is demonstrating the proper way to place a Go stone (they are called stones, and if I had the cash, these would be real ones).

Just me in the mood to take pictures, really.

My favorite non-kid shot. I really love taking close-up focal points and letting the rest of the world stretch on.

Go has been fun to teach Austin. It’s easier, I think, than starting out with Chess, yet it develops into just as strategic of a game. Plus there is no set-up time needed for Go; you just start placing stones. He does play Chess too, so I’ll have to get some shots of that next time we go at it.

From February 9th. These two require a little explanation. After a meal, she cleans up her tray with a washcloth. This time, after cleaning, she dressed up her cup…

…then exclaiming, “Cute!”

More dress-up for her now.

From February 10th. Rocking the pony tail even more.

Need to take the picture with Mommy now.

Oh yeah, Big Brother is in on the love, too!

Don’t mind the tattoo on his cheek. He went to his school’s fun fest the previous night.

Look, I have a computer just like Mommy.

Working hard on something. Probably turning it on and off, over and over.

Hi Big Brother!

I probably just told him he couldn’t play video games for another four hours.

From December 25th. Santa delivered some warm robes and slippers for the kids, as well as some snow toys.

Inspection by the cats…

…passed inspection.

Merry Christmas, Miss Blue Eyes!

Trying on the new polka dot robe and slippers.

We do sticky notes instead of fancy to/from tags.

Can’t beat the warm indoor booties.

And now the rest of the family got to spoil the kids.

That remote-controlled monster truck is pretty darn sweet.

More blue eyes and having fun tearing into wrapped presents (which is all she really wanted to do.)

And it was his turn this year to put the star on the tree.

Miss Emily had a pretty new dress to wear for Christmas. Of course it’s tough to catch both a nice smile, and the whole dress. So here are just a bunch of pictures.

(Why do I get the impression that she’s royalty saying, “We do not approve”?)

In motion, wiping her face with a napkin.

Caught.

Believe it or not, a picture of me and my wife. Together. No kids. Crazy.

The family, December 2009.

From December 19th. We got the best presents, books. Here’s Gram with a happy Emily.

Granddad and Austin discussing every page of his new book.

Grandparents, pure and simple.

Miss Emily’s books are short, so it’s time to start playing with Gram’s slippers.

From December 21st, just a happy morning smile.

I believe this is Fraggle Rock being watched.

Bonding.

Anyway, someone’s hair is starting to get longer, so more and more hairstyles are available…

From November 7th, rocking the ponytail and a bow.

And the lad rocking a cheesy smile.

From November 13th: here we have a simple bow barrette with lots of adorable faces and posing.

The lad wearing a crown of colors and shapes, made himself. Cheesy grin added at no extra cost (and yes, the only times we can catch him are when he’s sitting down at breakfast).

From November 28th, the pigtails. She still looks like Cindy Loo Who to me.

And lastly, the boy cuddled up with his mommy and auntie. You’d never know there was a TV on to his left…

(To be fair, it was, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.)

The Ultimate Loot Drop from Evan Fryer on Vimeo.

From October 30th, the kids getting ready for their respective fun days at school.

Waiting for little sister and Dad to get their acts together.

From October 31st. Mommy and Emily playing dress-up in her Halloween outfit.

She really digs cute things in her hair.

And of course, flashing some adorability for the camera.

Finally, out for Trick-or-Treating with the cousin. We have a white ninja and a flower power girl getting to every door as fast as possible.

Now we have Mommy escorting a little pirate.

This little pirate made it halfway through the whole night, walking the whole time, insisting on carrying her bucket.

The white ninja, action pose!

And yes, we should get credit for having both a ninja and a pirate working on the same team. Never before in history has this ever happened.

And best for last, the Halloween Hangovers!

So pitiful, huh? She was roughing it. Austin was faring a bit better.

From October 12th, reading and pajama day. Big brother to the rescue!

Oh, the camera is on?? I never knew!

That little girl is so so so lucky to have him as her big brother.

More from October 12th, a dusting of snow.

Snow day!

I can’t help but post pictures of my girls.

Just can’t wait to get some snow pants.

If you can make it out through the shadows, that’s one heck of a face.

From October 14th, after the first day back to school after being cooped up at home for a week with the flu.

From October 1st, keeping Emily occupied while she’s on the potty. Mommy gave her a hair binder and egged her on to try doing a ponytail.

From October 4th. And now to keep her occupied during big brother’s birthday party, here are a bunch of balloons!

[I think I may be sticking with Vimeo to hold my videos, rather than YouTube. I like Vimeo's interface a little more, plus I can access it while at work. Thoughts, comments, concerns?]

Two Saturdays ago, my young son turned six. He was so excited to finally be six that he counted down the days for nearly a month. Having lots of family from distances far means goodies get to arrive in the mail and build up. So birthday morning was practically Christmas morning.

From October 3rd, 2009. Austin still in pajamas and opening presents.

Reading his card from Gram and Granddad.

I just liked the blur of motion here.

Diggin’ on the laser kaleidoscope.

After birthday pancakes and getting the sitter to watch Emily, M and I took the birthday boy out to the Mall of America. Sadly, they don’t let you take pictures at the Bodies Exhibit. It was cool. All the displays were of real body parts and systems. Coolest had to be the circulatory systems, hovering in suspension absent all the other organs. He dug it; it just got a little long. Plus we spotted our second destination on the way to the exhibit.

This is Austin posed with one of his favorite Star Wars characters, Jango Fett. In Lego form. In his hand is a bag full of birthday money-purchased Legos. The following is just a big battle robot of some kind.

From October 4th, 2009. By special request, birthday cupcakes! Made with love and sprinkles-filled cake.

He’s six now.

He looks like he’s eight. He talks like he’s fourteen. And he’s everyone’s favorite dude.

So much so that Daddy can’t resist sneaking up behind her and giving her a kiss.

From September 19th. The hair is finally long enough to try out our first ponytail.

From above. Also, the Tyrone’s tail.

The profile while holding one of her favorite toys: a measuring spoon.

And of course, striking a pose, this time by smothering a stuffed bunny. How sweet!

Now to clear up some room in the camera for the soon-to-be birthday boy…

The bow is Miss Emily’s hair.

And a nice shot of her little dress.

Pictures from August 27th. Before the summer ended, we had Cousin stay over for a few days.

Cousin reading a book before naptime.

From August 29th. My first lovely lady.

The second little lady. She’s starting to really pose for the camera.

The pair. Resemblance much? (And I’m such a sucker.)

Oh, and little missy is getting taller. See her new tricks?

From September 5th. Lunch time!

From September 8th, the first day back to school. Here’s Austin with Mommy so you can get an idea of just how big he’s getting.

And Miss Emily all dolled up and ready to go.