Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Monday, June 28, 2010

The Maine has Completed Her First Packing Run!

Whew!!!  Glad we got that one all wrapped up.

I was about the worry for a second.... Maybe being a new mother had robbed her of her prior superpowers.  But, as she has proven so many times before, I was wrong.

It all started this evening, as I was polishing off a nice tall Scotch (seems Daddy has had a rough week, and cannot wait until vacation).  After dinner, we adjourn to the bedroom... careful!... where the Maine has the suitcase all flambay-ed open.

And a packin we well go.  It was slow going at first.  Seems the Pizz has more clothes then both of us combined.  But the Maine was trying to keep us all in 1 suitcase (chew on that one for a little bit).  It looked rough for a moment.  My clothes were starting to pile up.  Somehow, the Maine got all of hers into 1 2x2 foot packing sack.  Wow!  Then she was feverishly trying to arrange my stuff.  It didn't look like we'd fit.

"Maine?" I ask "Why don't we take another suitcase too?  We can easily make do with the 'Little Boy' as well?"  (Editors note: we have a dual suitcase set, which we have accrued over time.  One is called the "Fat Man" and the "Little Boy"... or maybe it was "Big Boy and Little Boy".  Anyway, one is obviously bigger than the other... ok!)

"What do you mean?" she says with a sly smile...  "This is the Little Boy!!!"

"What!?!??!"  I went apoplectic.  "Are you telling me that I have to cut back on my european wardrobe, so that you can placate your inner packing demon?"

One look said enough.  And, deep down, it just made her want to pack and organize some more.  She turned and focused on the Little Boy.  I became very very quiet.

So now, after 30 minutes, the Travelers Yarnoz are cruising overseas in one suitcase, the Little Boy, with some extra space for goodies!!!

You know what they say, never mess with a woman who's packin!!!

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Mirando La Copa!!!


What mommy doesn't know...

Shhhhhh


Sent from my Verizon Wireless Phone

Friday, June 25, 2010

This is a test

Of the BY Vacation Transmission System

Sent from my Verizon Wireless Phone

Thursday, June 24, 2010

The Countdown Begins!

In honor of the First Inaugural BY Universe Family Vacation (aka Kemper Does Espana!), we have totally updated the looked and feel of BabyYarnoz. 

As of this time next Friday, the BY Universe will become extremely mobile and cross the pond to the Motherland!

Hopefully the International Passport of Cuteness will work!

The background is changed to incorporate some theme from the vacation... "the bullring".  Hopefully this will be the beginning of a wonderful 10days for the BY Universe.  Also, hopefully, you will all be along for the ride too (computers and wifi permitting)

This past week has been a little rough on the Editor, and sorry for not updating the Universe...  But hopefully each day leading up to the Takeoff will get us fired up!
Let us begin...!!!


"Hey Bull, I've got horns too!"

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Fortress of Kemper-tude: The Extreme Makeover Edition

Well, this past weekend as another episode of Daddy Daycare!

So Saturday AM, I set about making the Fortress for another lovely day of watching the Pizz giggle.  So it's all set up, and I bring in the Pizz into her lair and set her down.  2 seconds into her sitting... "Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!"  Nothing doing!

Seems the Pizz, with her new found mobility, doesn't want to be put in mini fortress anymore.  (Nobody puts Pizz in a corner!!!!)  She wants to be free!!!  Unfortunately, this meant that the rest of my Saturday was spent walking/crawling/chasing the Pizz around our house (and simultaneously placing plug covers in attractive spots!)  I barely was able to watch soccer.

So Saturday night, I was exhausted.  I tell the Maine that I was beat, and cannot take another day of that!  Then, in her infinite wisdom, says "maybe we should just expand the Fortress!  Give her more space"

Eureka!  My mind went wild, thinking of plans and turrets and "windows" for the Pizz!  I could barely fall asleep, thinking of all the different possibilities!

Then this morning arrived.  The Maine and I got up and "blew up" the old plans of the Fortress.  We expanded!  I found a suitable piece of cardboard to make a "window".  Then we brought in the Pizz.  She loooooved it!

It was awesome!  She crawled over to every designated "room" in her new Fortress.  She stayed in it almost the whole day (except for naps in her crib, and the obligatory run to the kitchen for Daddy food!)




When Maine came home, she found the Pizz happy and content!











If only the rest of parenting would be this easy!!!

Sunday, June 06, 2010

A Road-Trippin' With the Pizz Weekend

This past weekend one of my former college roommates got married in Durham. Since we had to go and were only 2 hours away, we felt this was an awesome opportunity to take the Pizzle on a road trip! See the sights, catch up with old friends!

So Saturday AM (after my Friday night on call), the Maine, the Pizz, and I set out, hybrid-style, for Durham. We were on a short time leash (due to the Noon wedding, and the Duke Chapel's strict timing requirements that called for us to be seated by 11:30.

So we blazed up (well as fast a the little hybrid could blaze... maybe more like a hum..) to Durham, and got to Karen's house at 10am. (Karen is a former roommate of the Maine's and one of the few who actually knew the two of us during our Duke years... simultaneously!... long story...) We caught up, and Karen was wonderful enough to watch the Pizz so the Maine and I could go to the ceremony.

We made it to the Chapel, and got there just in time. Sat down at watched the lovely ceremony. Seemed it was over before I knew (it was definitely a lot shorter that what I remembered from my wedding day). Then it was time to ski-daddle from the Chapel (you know, they had another 2 weddings that day! what a factory of God!)

We went back to Karen's to ready the Pizz. You see we couldn't come all this way for a wedding, and not try to pass around some Total Cuteness Package to all the attendees... could we? So we gussied up the Pizz and then, trucked out hybrid-style to the reception. (Side note: the groom, Charn, a Duke graduate, married a UNC graduate... and to make amends for the Duke Chapel nuptials, had the ceremony at the Carolina Inn.)

We drove through the UNC campus, and finally made it to the reception. I am surprised the hybrid's wheels didn't melt off, being in he(( and all! (Side note: Seems the Maine is not enamoured with my language recently. Seems I, the Editor, have a pretty foul mouth, and she does not want the Pizz to utter sh!^ or fu$%er as her first words. Seems she wants me to "tone it down some" So I'm trying...)


Then the lovely reception... and the Pizz, I think tired by the long day's travelling, didn't bring her full total cuteness A-game... But she did try.





We were able to snap a few Total Cuteness Moments!


But then, alas, the reception was over. But there was an after-party. (You know what they say about after-parties!!!) Unfortunately, the Pizzle was tuckered out, so the Maine graciously whisked her away, so I could partake in the after partizay! So my other former roommate (The Wu), his wife, and I made off for the after-party. And the merriment continued. Much laughter was spent going back down memory lane. But it, unfortunately, had to come to an end. The Maine then met us halfway (in a Walgreen's parking lot!!!) to pick up her lush husband and take him home.
Ahh, what a day!
Today started off ok, but then the Pizzle was just not herself. Not operating at 100% cuteness. So we had to leave early from Karen and Neal's. (A big shout out from the BY Universe for allowing us to crash in your casa!)
As we started our drive back to W-town, we though fondly of the Chapel. It would be a shame to get this close, and not take Total Cuteness Pics of the Pizz and her future college. Yes, it would. But she's pretty fussy. At this point, she let out a little giggle (very subtle and quiet, and if it was recorded probably could have been a cough). The Maine and I looked at each other... we knew! I turned the hybrid around, screeching and burning hybrid-rubber, and made off for Duke!
And the Cuteness was brought face to face with her future education (and I to the realization of the half-a-million $$$ pricetag!)
Can you say "Proud Graduate of the Class of 2030"???