…though when I look at this picture, I can recognize that expression for what it truly is; second child syndrome. “What the heck is that big black thing on your face? Camera? What the heck is a camera?”

Oh yeah…and Nicole was here too. Hey Nicole!

What the picture raises for me, however, is just how tough it is to get a picture of Ethan these days. It used to be that as soon as he saw the camera, he would put on his best smile and freeze. Now, well, it’s a little different. Take, as an illustration, the series that the above photo was a part of…

Yeah, well, that pretty much says it all. It is made no less challenging by the fact that he wants to see the result after every shot. I guess we all have our own aesthetic sense…

That’s when I remembered that I had set up an account for Laura…you know, right around the time that I hit “delete” on the last batch of users.

I don’t know if anyone else uses a blog this way, but for me, at this point, this blog represents the closest thing to a comprehensive record of what we’ve done over the last few years as I have. So needless to say, I was a little upset to remember that Laura had used her account to put up some posts when we were in France with Ethan.

That’s when Google saved the day! Since Google caches just about everything, I was able to find all of the posts on Google, then re-post them to the site. A nerdy bit of time spent, but it saved one of my favourite shots on this blog (reposting the picture for good measure!) which – I think – was the exact moment in Ethan’s life when he fell in love with trains…yup, the shot of Ethan on the TGV to Lyon.

Thanks, Google!

n.b. I also love that Wordpress lets you backdate posts!

Austin’s actually grown up enough to hold his own with Ethan in the wagon, though the two of them seem to like it best when Ethan’s pulling and Austin’s holding on like he’s riding a chariot.

When not wagoning, Austin can otherwise be found eating, which has become a constant state for him.

Little Mr. Austin

By which I mean to say, don’t expect to see a photo of him without food all over his face. It won’t happen. Ever.

My goal here is to dispel such wild, unfounded rumors. See exhibit ‘A’, the very real, very post-natal Austin:

 And as for this Ethan character? Despite his rabid support for Barack Obama – who he believes should be his next President – none have managed to silence him.

Indeed, despite the turmoil these days, Ethan has managed to keep a rather sunny disposition, convinced as he is that brighter days lie ahead.

What a wise young man.