Halloween : Safety Inspector : "hand over your candy for inspection please"

IMGP1078, originally uploaded by hal(var).

It's a toy miner helmet I found at our local super random discount store, south pole, so some folks took him to be a MTA employee not a Construction worker as we intended, but I think Mr Danger would have been even more excited if he thought it had something to do with trains.
But I don't think he's got that level of detail down, I had thought to try and put MTA on the hat, and make him one of those MTA lanterns, maybe later I'll attempt that if it interest him.

IMGP1086, originally uploaded by hal(var).

though it is impossible to get everyone face at the same time here's the best family costume pic: here we go embarking on the trick or treat adventure, Bert didn't really get it yet, he just wanted to eat that first pack of M&M's.

Actually he never really understood why you would just put the candy in the bag; you have candy you eat it, then maybe you go get some more.

IMGP1090, originally uploaded by hal(var).

Bertram was not that into wearing his hat, so we started using it to collect candy.
As you might see it's a family costume, though Daddy didn't manage to get in on it this night.
Or in case you can't tell, Vivian is a traffic cone, and Rachel is the road.
I was a traffic cone the week before, but tonight I was considered the pot-hole.

And as you can see in no photos is he holding his flag.
Bertram was so into watching the construction workers 43rd ave this summer, and spent many mornings just watching that one of the construction workers gave him his flag. It was fairly large for Mr Bert and on a long hard dowel, so for the costume Rachel make him a scaled down version that was very fun for Bert to waive, but that was it's own game separate from the going out apparently.
But Vivian's big is also made from that flag fabric.

We only did about half a street but it was more than enough loot for Mr Danger. I mean he surely would have kept going but didn't need the candy and did need the rest.

Choosing a pumpkin.

023, originally uploaded by hal(var).

Another special event at Sunnyside Gardens Park early in October; the pumpkin patch. Mr Bert eventually picked a pumpkin that he could carry, and managed to carry it for quite a while.
We latter drew a face on it, and Mom carved it for us on Halloween.

021, originally uploaded by hal(var).

and in case there was any doubt, Vivian spent the day being cute too.

006, originally uploaded by hal(var).

First day sitting

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She managed it for a few moments at a time before this, but this was the first really satisfying (to Vivian) sit up and play by ones self.
Oct 24th Daddys B-day. It's old hat now, but I'm slow to get things posted.

Size comparison

046, originally uploaded by hal(var).

Bertram's not allowed in the crib, but I they were having a grand time. Bertram is always looking for ways to play with Vivian, he can't wait until she gets more interactive. Little does he know that havoc that will cause.

Bert is just about exactly twice her weight for the moment. And boy does he feel it. I can for the moment still carry both of them for a short distance.

Vivians first solid food

038, originally uploaded by hal(var).

Another late firsts post, Oct 18th Vivian started eating solid food.
One month later and she's ready to eat only solid food.

Yes that's right we broke all the rules AGAIN and put the Bumbo seat on the table, and here's the visual evidence to prove it.
now one does not walk away from the baby when doing this. Actually one does not walk away from Vivian while she is eating or she will let you know very loudly that she is not done eating.

Anyway Bertram happy gave up his Stokke chair for a Ikea junior chair, (I'm not sure he even noticed) and Vivian got the hand of sitting up by herself one week after this so this was a short lived transgression.

Long URL's please

Sure a url shorten-er is useful for deep links, but it's WAY out of control. The majority of posts I see with a shortened url have the characters to spare to include the full url. In fact they even have the requisite spare characters left to fit in a Re-Tweet string on the front with the full url.

I've even seen URL's lengthened by shorteners, UG!

But why should you not use a url shortener?

• If the service goes away, or decides to dump it's old database your link is Dead.
• Because I want to know where you are sending me, there is a lot of information encoded in a url, though most of it is in the domain name.
• Domains creating their own URL shortening service like the US government is great and I'm all for it. 
• You are giving away the link cred to the shortener service, and effectively hiding yourself as the source of the link.
• in other words the google juice goes to the service not your blog page etc...
• the refer value that the site you linked to sees in there log will be the shortener service not your blog or wherever you like to post.
  

Grim Reaper?

No not really that's a golf club, or the toddler equivalent. Halloween party at the Sunny-side Gardens Park.

queen victoria 012, originally uploaded by hal(var).

And The Frog Princess waiting for her kiss.

queen victoria 005, originally uploaded by hal(var).

Bert and Vivan both got to wear this one, turned out to be too hot to stay in it for cute pictures though.

Probablity of Children having fun. 1:1

041, originally uploaded by hal(var).

I took Bertram and Vivian to the Queens Museum of Science, it was thrilling.

Possibly Bertram's favorite thing in the museum was the balls falling through a series of pegs into slots that showed the "normal curve" Both visits he insisted on just sitting and watching it for a long time.

037, originally uploaded by hal(var).

Plenty of time to take pictures of Bert, and his interest also gave me a chance to change and feed Vivian and give her some attention. ... why yes she did come to the museum with us, but didn't interact with the exhibits much, and when she was out of the stroller or sling was not a time when I had hands to pull out a camera. She was however very entertained all day, mostly by watching Bertram run around like a mad man.

Box of babies.

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Toddler and baby actually. 6 month old Vivian and 2 1/2 Bertram.
Our fridge stopped working so for a couple of days we only had a freezer, but now we have a brand new fridge.
Kind of irrelevant to the photo but I emptied out this bin to put all our food in while they swapped out the refrigerators, but an empty box can't go un-played with.
Mostly my Mr Danger, but Vivian was glad to join too, she loves to do anything Bertram does. And for Bertram's part that's swell too, I know he can't wait until she can really play with him more.

Of course I could not get a photo where both of them were looking at the camera at the same time.

Sweet big brother

046, originally uploaded by hal(var).

Sweet big brother gives Vivian toys, sometimes she doesn't need them, but mostly it's very much appreciated by little Vivian who tends to lose hold of whatever she'd got a lose it periodically.

It's been chilly and here Vivian is dressed up to go out, she's looking far more grown up than usual here.