Water Boy

We got Ernie this honey bear squeeze bottle with a straw to teach him how to drink.

Ern wasn't super happy with us wiping his hands after meals so we devised this innovation where we present him with a dish of water. He likes to swish his hands around in it anyway, so it serves as a fun hand washing activity.

Ramen then Some Horsin Around

We packed this Sunday full of all kinds of diversions.

Today for lunch we popped over to the Bellevue branch of Hokkaido Ramen Santouka.

Ernie was having a time just playing with the menu.

The food at this restaurant is good and they have very bitable tables.

Bellevue Downtown Park

Nana’s Green Tea

I've been wanting Ernie to try this horse and potatoes baby food we picked up in Italy. I tried it with him. It was not great.

Pairing that with some Dom Pérignon really added the giddyup that the meal needed.

An Act of Aggression

Today we had an emergency even more dire than that gas leak at Ernie's daycare.

Ernie was playing like a good boy then next thing I knew..

He was touching my retro video games!

We need to have a family meeting about what are Ern's toys and what are Dada's toys.

This panforte I think must have been shipped from Italy because it took forever to arrive. That was kind of fun though because it took so long I had kind of forgotten about it and made for a nice surprise.

It was sitting on what I think was like rice paper. At least I hope it was because I definitely ate it.

Ernie's Daycare Did Not Explode

It's funny I feel like we pay Ernie's school to solve a problem for us, and they sort of solve it but in the process they create 7 more.

Today it was a gas leak emergency that they wanted everyone to come to school immediately and pick the kids up. Ok that's fine I guess? I feel like if we're worried the building is going to explode there could be a better plan than "sit next to the building and wait". Then they sent a message saying that the fire department said no big deal, but... come get your kid anyway? How bout no.

Ern actually looked like he was having fun outside.

I signed up for a Azerbaijan visa and got a little lesson in politics in the process. Apparently there's some border disputes between them and their neighbor Armenia.

A beer joint opened up near the lake called Moss Bay Hall. The service is a bit shaky but other than that I love it. It is very German, with long tables and a good selection of non-IPA beer. 

Trip Plannin'

British Mike and I decided upon a trip to Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. I guess some of his friends were expressing surprise that he wanted to head to such places in winter rather than some beach resort in Spain. That sort of trip is only for normal people, sadly.

I was pleasantly surprised to find one of these at the bookstore in Redmond Town Center. We bought this and a pile of books for Ernie with all of the Halloween mall gift cards that we had gathered through our scheme.

British Mike is understandably located in Britain, so getting to Azerbaijan isn't as big of a deal. I, on the other hand, was in for a journey.

The trip was going to have a large downside, of course. Missing out on my crew's adventures back home. Sigh.

I told my mom about some of our tough times at the beginning of the Doha cruise, where the airline lost our luggage and Ernie had to sleep in the hotel crib. His legs would get trapped in the slats and I guess according to this photo that was something that I actually found comforting.