Party of Two

La Crosse, August 2011: Day Six

2012-01-08T23:35:00.000-06:00

Friday, August 19, 2011

Jumping headlong into our last day in La Crosse!

Up late (again), and we enjoyed our last hotel breakfast. Fruit Loops and blueberry yogurt were the order of the day, rather than his beloved waffles, for a change - oh, that and the white part of several hardboiled eggs. And orange juice. And a couple of buttery biscuits. Breakfast of champions, to be sure!

During breakfast, he kept doing pseudo-sign language to me, just to be silly. The ham.

Though they looked real enough to fool any idle bystanders! So I amend my previous comment to "the talented ham".

All summer, Ayize transposed his Ls and Rs, which made him sound very Japanese (I actually think he did it on account of my dad's accent, as Grandpa is kind of his super hero). Here he was talking about his "sclambled" eggs for a bit, before devolving into a shouted refrain that had everyone around us staring - and myself cringing, good vegetarian that I am.

Hi-ho, hi-to, it's off to our room we go.

Check-out time!

Goodbye, room! Thank you for all the extra hours of sleep you provided this tired Mama with, as your serene setting encouraged my early riser to sleep in each morning!

Off to Tamara's, and I snapped this view of the bridge that almost accidentally lured me to Minnesota on more than one occasion (it gets fed into by several one-ways, so it's almost impossible to avoid if you're unfamiliar with La Crosse's mazelike downtown street grid).

Major sibling war occurring here. A one-sided one, as Brianna was in abject misery over her line of trains being persistently ransacked, while the 13-month-old ransacker was oblivious to all the emotional trauma he was causing as he happily tasted train after train (none seemed sufficiently edible for his standards, so eventually he moved on to other, less challenging conquests).

Peace. Love. Bike.

No more need be said.

Tour of Tamara's basement. I fell in love with this antique steamer trunk of her grandmother's that actually made the transatlantic voyage back in the day from the mother country. Very cool clasps and detailing. Such a wonderful piece! Filled my imagination with days gone by.

Complicated negotiations between a 1-year-old and a 3-year-old had me laughing til the tears squeezed out. I particularly liked Ayize's choice phrase of "Oh, man!"

Nathan had a nap, and then we were off to Erickson Pool again for a last visit. It was hot as Hades out and we were all ready for a cool-off. Plus, Tamara and I had an ulterior motive: with a long drive ahead of us all, it behooved us to tire out the troops pre-trip.

Nathan's first waterslide!

Brianna was next.

I daresay she liked it.

Happy swimmer.

Holding hands with Mom.

Silly spray fun.

Rub a dub dub...part two.

Silly billy.

Brianna and Ayize tried to work together to drag me forward by my feet (they were spectacularly unsuccessful).

Yee haw!

Banzai!

Catwalk.

Cooling their heels.

Guy time.

Sun worshipper.

Strike that! Gimme some shade.

Bombs away!

OMG, okay, on the count of three...

Yarriba!

Locker room antics, as past-pool-visit tradition dictates.

On the way home we made one last stop, to the Hugelheim Nature Preserve near Tamara's house.

Nathan was still "in the zone" from swimming, methinks.

The pond at the entrance.

Reflection.

The pond.

This unusual tree resembled a beckoning, crooked finger.

Giant daddy long legs were everywhere in the nature preserve - and they were red! Very cool.

Pretty stream.

Bridge over the stream.

Brianna clowning around on the bridge.

On the other side of the bridge, the water ran a little more rapidly.

Another neat footbridge, as we followed the winding path through the preserve.

Coming up to the first, smaller waterfall.

A strange rock beside the waterfall's catchpool. Upon closer inspection, I realized it was a cleverly-disguised cover for a small water hygiene basin.

Making a wish?

Cattails in the late afternoon autumn sunlight.

Fishing may not be "permited" here...but apparently, misspelling is. Yuk yuk.

This sign was covered in red bugs. Here's one on extreme close-up.

Continuing along the path, we next encountered this funny little bridge, which appeared to be bordered on both sides by pieces of someone's standard backyard fence.

The water we were crossing. The shadows created by the bridge were pretty neat.

Shadow in the water, close-up.

Unusual, square-shaped flower blooms. I likey.

Last bridge, near the exit of the preserve. A small one that reminded me of the troll and the trip-trap-trip-trap billy goats.

Just over the bridge, the path split. To the left lay a large pond and the exit. To the right was a small circular stone path bordered by a small waterfall and a little dedication pond.

The kids veered right and sat on the wall by the waterfall, until we noticed a sign warning people not to, on account of the dangerous snakes that sometimes lurk between the large rocks.

Caramba!

The small dedication pond, to the man who made this preserve possible.

We went back to the fork in the path from before.

Gathering little fallen berries from the bridge and path.

The large pond by the exit.

I lurked behind to capture this photo of the waterfall, and did a double take when something large and white moved suddenly at the top of the waterfall, startling me.

What the ---- ??

Oh. A giant white chicken-rooster-thing!

Nathers, finally out of the stroller, and ready for some action. He was pushing the pram down the long straight path bordering the large pond.

Ayize in motion (perpetually).

He returned to the waterfall to see the big white bird I'd told him about, but became more fascinated by what he swore was small fish in the catchpool (I never saw them, but he has better eyesight than me).

Both of us returned to the big pond to catch up with Tamara.

Giant blue bug landed on a nearby flower as we walked. It did not appear to be very friendly, and actually acted quite perturbed at me after I shot this from very close, so we had to run a bit to evade it's angry, buzzing response. Don't know if it can sting - but didn't want to find out!

Playing in the pond.

I returned to the other side of the pond to catch this shot of Tamara and the kids illuminated by sunlight.

Don't fall in, Brianna!

We returned to the house and quickly packed up our cars.

Then we all headed out - Ayize and I were, of course, returning home, and Dan and Tamara were actually making their way to Milwaukee for an Ultimate Frisbee tournament.

But our first stop, just on the outskirts of town, was actually to this Rocky Rococo pizza parlor, so we could all get a good dinner in before hitting the road.

While we waited for the food to arrive, the kids enjoyed the Lego table.

Hey, Nathan - no shoes, no service! LOL

Desperate to win a bubble gum ball, despite his serious quarter shortage.

After a yummy dinner of pizzas and breadsticks and garlicky cheesy bread, we separated into our respective vehicles. Dan was towing the two kids, while Ayize and I enjoyed the pleasure of Tamara's company all the way to Milwaukee (we got in a good four hours of girl talk and gossip, so it worked out perfectly)!

Sunset in my rearview mirror as we drove.

Goodbye, La Crosse.

Sniff!

Ayize woke up randomly around 10, just before we dropped Tamara off on the outskirts of Milwaukee. I know I'm like a broken record, but I swear, this is the happiest kid I've ever met. He never fails to wake up with a smile on his lips, and he laughs and giggles and smiles in his sleep all night long. I was so happy that I had Tamara to bear witness to this - he was chortling so hard in his sleep, and grinning like his face hurt, that he woke himself up. And once awake, the big smiles and sleepy happy talk and giggles continued, and they did so all the way home - he never quite fell back asleep.

One last bit of excitement awaited us: I ran out of gas somewhere in the pitch blackness of the outskirts of Sturtevant, Wisconsin and we crept on fumes to the point where we limped pathetically into a gas station in literally the nick of time. But for those few miles, as I felt the car sputtering and the gas truly giving out, in the middle of some pitch black cornfield on a deserted, unlit country road, with zero cell phone reception, I can honestly say I began to feel truly panicky. Not a common occurrence for me, but somehow the isolation and my generalized "country folk" phobia (thank you, Deliverance, for scarring me for life) and my little boy in the backseat, whom I felt I had terribly failed, all combined to scare the bejesus out of me. I have never felt so happy to have a full tank of gas as I did driving out of that station! Lesson learned...never take having gas for granted when you know your low fuel warning light is on the fritz!

And on that dramatic note, we ended the last leg of our journey and came happily, exhaustedly, into the embrace of our beloved little home.

Such a wonderful trip (except the last hour of it - LOL), and such fun times to treasure! We can't wait to return!

La Crosse, August 2011: Day Five

2012-01-04T00:07:00.000-06:00

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Another rip-roaring day!

We slept in - again.

Gotta love the sight of my sleepy, tously, doe-eyed, loose-lipped boy first thing in the morning. He's never crabby when he wakes up, and often lingers in a silly, zoned, half-awake world of nonsensical chatter that I adore.

Off to our complimentary breakfast.

He pretended to be captain of the boat at the entrance to the restaurant.

We enjoyed our usual waffles, hot off the griddle, from our table with a riverfront view.

No, he was not punching me!

He was demonstrating how a paddleboat works (we saw quite a few trawling up and down the Mississippi during our stay, and he found them endlessly fascinating).

Tamara, Brianna, and Nathan came to meet us, and we headed off to nearby Red Cloud Park, another of the items on my checklist for our trip (we were knocking a few back faithfully each day!), as it was supposed to be fun, and in the middle of "wildlife".

Ayize on his throne.

Well, there was definitely some wildlife, but it was just this patch of wildflowers and weeds.

Nathan wanted to walk, so we took the opportunity to explore further.

This copse of trees provided picturesque shade just beyond the playground and "wildlife preservation area."

It was bordered by this stone wall, which the kids (especially Nathan!) enjoyed walking on.

And there was this log cabin-ish thing just beyond the stone wall. It had washrooms and picnic tables, and a sign advertised it for rent for "special functions."

Showing Nathan something.

At the edge of the tree grove, Tamara spotted this sign. A clue!

And just past the sign, a break in the trees, where they became heavier and forest-like. Ayize scouted ahead...

...then eagerly hailed us. Aha! Wildlife, indeed. And such beauty.

Brianna followed behind him, slightly apprehensive about where the path was leading.

As we walked downhill, we looked down on this lovely little pocket of nature and peace.

I spotted something in the water and shot this photo with extreme zoom, so apologies for it being blurry. But what a neat little patch of wild pink salvia, growing out of the trunk of a felled tree.

Li'l hikers.

Neat.

Long-ago fallen tree.

We returned to the park proper. I hadn't noticed this pale tree before.

Nor this one. They were both pretty and unusual.

Back along the wall went Ayize, and Nathan itched to follow.

"I can do it, too!"

Playground time.

Love love love him.

Silly lounger.

Sibling tunnel.

Denied entry.

Planking, toddler-style. Gotta show the littler guys how it's done.

Tunnel tot.

Tunnel toddler.

Tunnel party!

"Me too! Me too!"

Giving Tamara a ticket that he'd found among the rocks.

Mount Everest is next.

And away they go...

Pseudo picnic, with hot head.

A return to Taco John's. Cheap, easy, near the hotel. Their food was actually decent, though their slogan left something to be desired - "A Whole Lot of Mexican."

Particularly ironic considering their fare was even whiter than Taco Bell's - no rice and beans on the side here, but you could get tater tots! LOL

Chocolate milk - a special treat.

Driving to Tamara's house, we were finally stopped at a red light at this intersection. I'd been meaning to get this picture for days.

This is Copeland Park, the playground/sprayground that I spoke of a few postings back. Ayize loved passing this train as we drove to and from the hotel each day, so I was happy I got this shot, and the next.

We also passed this place every day, and it never failed to inspire a snippet of that old song. We even wondered if it was inspired by the real "Sloopy", of the song's fame.

Driving to her house, we detoured to try to get Nathan down for an early nap (he had woken up very early that morning).

We drove down to the riverfront, where we spotted the Friendship Garden that we'd been meaning to check out. He was looking heavy-lidded though, so we decided to save it for another visit.

Further down along the riverfront, we saw this statue.

And of course, Ayize's famous paddleboats.

Apparently, there was to be a sand sculpture contest that coming weekend. Very cool to see the skeletal structures going up, not to mention the huge piles of sand at the ready. Each pile had a "no parking" sign stabbed into it, inexplicably (who would park on a five-foot-high pile of sand, anyway??)

Looking at the bridge that connects Wisconsin to Minnesota. You can see another sandpile at far left, this one dumped on a pedestrian boardwalk, with its ridiculous "no parking" sign proudly on display.

Another sculpture.

Brianna, having a snack attack, despite our big lunch. Can anyone say, growth spurt??

Back at the hotel, Tamara used our stroller to nap Nathan again, though he woke up about a half-hour later anyway.

Bu the kids were happy for the delay and killed time in the arcade, despite having no quarters (they didn't seem to notice they weren't actually controlling the games).

Here, Brianna tried to get her hunt on.

Ayize quickly stepped up to give her some tips (he considers himself an arcade master ever since our trip last February to Key Lime Cove, where he "played" a zillion quarter-less video games with his godfather Peter.)

Nathan was up by now, too.

"If only I could reach the pedals..."

Back to the pool we went.

Sun-dappled ball balancer.

"I can catch one too!"

"Ooh, look what I can do with the water!"

Two ball balancers.

Buh-bye.

Biting off more than he could chew.

Mini temper tantrum involving flinging the kickboard out of frustration (it was hard for him to pick up).

Sulking, and mad at me, probably because I couldn't help giggling and thinking the mini-temper tantrum was adorable.

Back in a jolly mood again (you can't keep a good baby down).

Nathers got brave and decided to do a little water-sliding.

Wheeee! No fear!

Meanwhile, Ayize and I meandered over to the hot tub to soak up some warmth.

We came back to discover that Nathan had gotten overconfident on the waterslide and taken a small tumble. He was not to be deterred, though...well, at least not mostly...

Nathan decided to play it safe at ground level, where he and Ayize played "pass the ball" for a bit.

Brianna dancing on top of the waterslide. I think she had made up a song too. You can see Nathan's little hand at bottom left - undaunted, he was ready to try again!

"It's so hard to hold on to!"

Young Elvis.

Using Mom for balance.

I love this pic. Mothers of sons will see this and agree.

Impressed the kids with my b-ball skills, getting the volleyball into the dumping bucket in the nick of time.

Now two! Yeah, that's right! Mad props for this mama!

Awwww. Somebody was feeling a little sad and cranky from lack of sleep.

Comforting.

Consoling.

Conspiring?

Contentment.

Up to our room, to get washed off.

Rub a dub dub...

Back at Tamara's house, Ayize fantasized about going all kamikaze on the steep hill at the base of their driveway.

Instead, we just recreated a scene from The Remarkable Riderless Runaway Tricycle (remember that movie? circa 1970s? with the cop and the giant radar gun?? - skip to the 3:20 mark).

We headed to level ground for some actual riding.

Meanwhile, Brianna caught some serious air on her pogo stick with a little help from Mom.

Back on solid ground.

Duet.

Hoarder.

Aspiring DJ (actually, the "headphones" were Dan's ear protectors for mowing the lawn).

We went in for dinner and ate ourselves silly.

Afterwards, we headed out to Ranison's, an old-fashioned ice cream parlor that Dan's co-workers had told him about.

Ayize literally sat down cross-legged in front of the glass candy counters, agog.

And why wouldn't he be? Check out these chocolate rocks - yum. And so cool-looking.

Oh man, who doesn't remember these?? First, you have to bite off the icky, waxed end of the bottle, but then out would flow the sweetest, sugariest juice of all time.

Ayize, predictably, went with Blue Moon, based on color alone.

Nathan seemed a little disgruntled at his lack of conage.

How good?

Soooooooo good!

Blue lips.

"What're you lookin at?"

We left Ranison's and headed out on foot to nearby Weigent Park to let the kids run off their sugar high.

Along the way, we passed through a neat neighborhood with a mixture of big, Southern-style, wraparound-porched houses and run-down college kid party palaces.

At the park, Ayize was making the best faces, followed by great dramatic flair. Soooo happy that I happened to have to camera on at this moment. This could quite possibly be one of my favorite movies of all time!

My silly boy!

Placated by the swing (but still pondering that elusive ice cream...)

Trying to get Dan's attention to tell him about how Mommy threw the rest of his Blue Moon in the trash.

He was okay with my garbaging it - he's not the biggest sweets fan - but he thought the way it looked when it splattered into the can was super cool, and wanted everyone else at the park to admire the blue mess!

Preventing a forward topple (Nathers had not quite mastered the art of sliding yet).

I can so do this!

Or...not.

Of course, Tamara had to show me up (I know it was just her sweet revenge after our game of pool H-O-R-S-E the other day!)

The kids were nervous but still willing to sit on the rolling barrel.

Too tall to stand.

Wooden eyes.

Toddler three-way guillotine.

We parted ways for the night, and Ayize and I made tracks for our hotel, where we were greeted by the most glorious sunset yet.

Back in the hotel, we were exhausted, but couldn't resist one last moonlit dip under the great glass starry ceiling.

But after 20 minutes of swimming and 10 minutes of hot-tubbing, we were done for the day.

Zzzzzzzzzzz...

La Crosse, August 2011: Day Four

2011-12-26T21:02:00.001-06:00

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Surprisingly, Ayize woke up early, despite yesterday's long, packed day and our late, post-swim bedtime.

And he managed to totally keep it together (as this late afternoon photo attests - LOL) throughout the course of this long, fun day - yet another - in which we ate out three times, hit up three playgrounds, swam and waterslided in the hotel pool, got soaked at a sprayground, and climbed a fence to attend an Ultimate Frisbee game.

But I'm getting ahead of myself. So to return to the morning of the 17th, I was amazed that his lack of sleep had not dampened his mood.

He got right into the swing of coloring and playing at "his" table by the window.

I let him watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse while I hopped into the bathroom for a quick shower, and when I came out, he was doing a mean imitation of a sharpshooter.

Guess he's not the biggest Mickey Mouse fan!

Headed downstairs for our complimentary breakfast. Got this little plane with working propellers and lights for a quarter at a garage sale a couple days before the trip, and it has paid for itself in spades.

Flying his plane down the long hallway towards the dining room.

Silly face, mouth stuffed with waffles (we made them ourselves every morning on a neat little machine that he loved), and every page in his "Colors" book slid open. Reminded me of a kid cramming for his college exam.

Heading back to our room, and scoping out our pool as we walked. Gotta love that glass roof!

Tamara arrived at our hotel with the kids, and we started off for a walk around the hotel grounds. First thing we checked out was the hotel's mini-golf range. But we didn't get far before...meltdown!

Tamara had to talk Brianna off the ledge - she was understandably very glum about moving in any direction other than the one that led towards our hotel pool!

But Nathan had no such reservations. Ignorance is bliss!

He was content to suss out our hotel beach and boat dock.

Brianna cheered considerably when she saw the floating boat dock. She and Ayize raced down to have a closer look, Tamara and I hot on their heels.

Tandem skipping.

What was he pointing at, you ask?

A mama duck and her teenage ducklings on the beach - very cute.

And they're off!

Happy dance.

The view from the boat dock.

Happy dance supreme.

Proudly standing up, having used the railing as an aide. Unfortunately, moments after this photo was taken, poor Nathers went crawling onto the boat dock proper, and charted a course that took him right through a sizable mound of duck poop!

Skip to my Lou.

Always attracted to the animals.

Sadly for Nathan, Mom would not allow him to show off his swimming skills!

The Bird Whisperer.

Walking the plank, one-handed.

Love them photo ops.

Contemplation.

Our next destination was nearby Copeland Park, just eight or ten blocks down from the hotel. The park is famous for a huge, retired steam engine that sits on the most prominent corner of the park, at a busy intersection, but kids are only allowed to board it on a few special occasions a year.

Still, the park is situated along a portion of the Mississippi River that houses a marina of floating houseboats - a veritable feast for the eyes. It also has a fun playground and an awesome sprayground. Train inaccessibility was pretty much a moot point, with that much alternative fun available.

When we arrived and parked, Nathan found himself standing beside the car without assistance after one or the other of us moved away as he was leaning on us for support. He had been trying to stand solo with limited success throughout my trip, but this moment seemed like a true turning point, so I'm happy I captured this series on my camera.

There are apparently three steps of learning to stand unassisted.

Step 1: RAGE.

How dare you guys leave me standing here like this?? You know I don't know how to walk yet, and I'm scared to fall down into a sit!

Step 2: unhappy acceptance.

Fiiiiiiine. Just leave me standing here. Waaahh! I won't forget this, mark my words!

Step 3: enlightenment.

Hot damn, I'm doing this thang! Watch out, world!

As Tamara grabbed swim gear out of the car, I turned to look at the houseboats - this one in particular, closest to where we parked, was quite extraordinary because of its sheer amount of stuff on its dock, plus its extravagant amount of no trespassing signs - and when I turned back a moment later...

...Nathan had mysteriously moved from his point of earlier enlightenment, and was still standing sturdily on his own, this time facing the other kids, and making noise about wanting some of Brianna's dry cereal. To this point, he had never managed more than a few unassisted steps, and they always ended in spectacular forward falls, of the kind that only newbie walkers are capable of.

What the ---- ??

The mystery remains to this day.

On the curb bordering the park. Nathan grabbed hold of my leg as he cruised around on the edge of the picnic bench, and shot me this adorable look.

We hit the playground.

Ayize would love to be able to do the monkey bars proficiently on his own. Until then, he's just doing a really good job of faking it til he makes it.

I crossed the bridge!

Climbing from one level of the playground to the next. He was thrilled to see me hiding under the play structure, peek-a-booing him for all I was worth.

Wrong direction, kid!

More climbing attempts.

Ayize's Elvis pout.

More climbing attempts. This one was quite ballsy.

Despite the encouragement being shouted by the big kids, it was a no-go. Nathers stayed firmly rooted to the ground - luckily!

We walked over to the adjacent sprayground. This may be my last shot of Ayize in a swim diaper, as his potty-training was - pun intended - totally in the potty, given the fact that it hadn't been rock solid before our leaving anyway, and with the introduction of travel, and all the changes that entailed, it was at a virtual standstill.

So I panicked, especially after our recent Baby Ruth episode at Erickson Pool (see Day Two travel diary), and not wanting to EVER be the mom of a Baby Ruther, I clad him in a Little Swimmer. And a sun hat. Inexplicably.

(I'd actually forgotten all his water stuff at the hotel, hence his lack of swimsuit - I even had to borrow the swim dipe from Tamara!)

Rainbow!

Tiptoe drink.

Wheeeeeee!

Back to the fountain.

Pretending to be a train.

Meanwhile, Nathan and Brianna were still engaged in the swings we'd encountered on our brief meander from playground to sprayground.

Big sis providing push power!

But after watching Ayize for a few minutes, they were ready to join in the fountain fun.

Tamara dressed Nathan (parallel apparel to Ayize's) but he hung curbside, a little apprehensive about testing the waters.

Sunscreen dabs.

Mom even got a hug during the sunscreening, while Brianna played balance beam.

Sibs venturing forth, gaining courage from one another.

Perhaps my fave photographic series of this trip!

Geared up to take the plunge.

Ayize ran in, hell for broke.

Halfway through the freezing spray tunnel.

Tamara followed suit, to bolster Brianna's confidence that she could survive running this gauntlet.

Running through again. (And again. And again.)

Brianna stood off to the side the entire time, regarding Ayize with a mixture of pity and contempt. High-larious!

And Ayize, Tamara, and I all ended up shivering and soaked, so to her credit, she may have been on to something!

Something is...missing.

Little Pillsbury Dough boy. I just wanted to poke his soft, adorable tummy!

Dancing on the picnic bench as we prepared to leave for lunch.

Meanwhile, Ayize found this bazooka of a tree branch and balanced it on his head...

...before running off, wielding it like a tomahawk, as he shouted war whoops.

Never a dull moment.

We ate at Taco John's, a tasty Taco Bell knockoff near the hotel. Man, did the kids put it away! I had to hit the counter for seconds for Ayize.

Nathan fell asleep in the car as soon as it started driving, so we drove the few blocks back to the hotel. We took the Graco stroller out of my car, dropped the back into reclining position, and transferred Nathan into it, but sadly, he woke up.

So me and the older kids ran up to our room to get suits for me and Ayize, and then the three of us went ahead to the pool to start getting changed and ready. Meanwhile, Tamara took Nathan for a stroll round and round the first floor of the hotel until he crashed out again, at which point she parked him in a shady corner of the pool deck, and joined us for some fun.

The kids hit the small pool first. Brianna immediately entered into some intense negotiations with Ayize - she really wanted Polka Dotty and Stripey, his goofy moving-tail fish. But he was stalwart in his refusal to share them, as they were a special gift from Grandma.

She amped up the bartering, even employing the ol' "flying truck" trick!

Luckily, he relented and tossed Polka Dotty her way, or this Geneva Convention might have gone on for hours!

Soon after that, we moved the the big pool.

Water dance.

Mom can bust an aqua move, too!

Catching a ride from Tamara.

Underwater sea life was quite diverse down here...

Tamara and I got our competitive groove on, in a game of water basketball - HORSE, to be exact.

(I won't be petty and recount my amazing comeback in exhaustive detail here, complete with my obnoxious victory dance, because we are a pair of mature adults, teaching our toddlers by example, that it's not who wins or loses, it's how the game was played.

That being said...I TOTALLY kicked some Byrne butt!!! Though there's no way I'll get so lucky next time around!)

Ayize wanted to get in on the game, too.

He had the grab-the-ball part down pat, but it was the make-a-basket angle that was giving him so much trouble. He was more about grabbing the ball and using it as a flotation device.

The many faces of post-nap Nathers.

Just awake. Sweaty, yet cheerful.

Dazed but happy.

Where am I??

Giggling about some secret joke between him and the floor.

Huh??? Heh heh heh!

Glug!

Tamara and Nathan headed off for a quick change.

Meanwhile, the big kids hit the mini-waterslide, since the big one was closed for the day, much to our disappointment.

Spittin' image of her dad here. Wow!

Hmmm, do ya think someone wanted my attention? LOL

Grinning mugs and jazz hands!

Two peas in a pod.

Mama and son.

Sharing with sis.

The next Gerber baby! Somebody call a modeling agency, STAT!

;-)

Not sure what was happening here...!

Loving the big blue whale.

Sun-kissed boy.

Elephant walk out of the pool.

Ayize zoning in the hot tub. He was way into the steamy waterfall feature.

Slippery rocks were not much help!

Big steps.

As good a perch as any, I suppose.

Yay for me! Yay for me!

Ear-to-ear.

I love the way my camera caught this splash in perfect focus. (And the adorable, grinning mug on that baby boy weren't too shabby, neither!)

Nathan kept taking watery tumbles - not that he seemed to mind. But they gave me and Tamara a series of mini cardiac events, to be sure!

Only his pride was hurt!

Zoning in the hot tub. Let's just zoom that in for a closer look...

Oh yeah. Definitely in the zone!

Heaven must be a little like this.

Ayize came over for a quick cuddle with Mom.

Me and my favorite person in the whole wide world!!!

Time to shake a leg. Still so much to do today, and time was flying.

We stopped to use the washroom in the adjacent arcade, and Ayize displayed his usual tendency toward first-person shooter games!

Back in our room, Brianna wanted to tub up first, so Ayize and Nathan delved into the toy backpack while they waited.

Nathan was in boy toy paradise!

After the boys had washed up and changed, Tamara and I set Nathan between us and encouraged him to walk. And he made his best attempt ever!

It was only 4:30, but we'd all worked up a monstrous appetite swimming, and Dan and Tamara had an ultimate Frisbee game at 6, so our next destination was picking up dinner.

We headed to the same Jimmy John's where Ayize and I had stopped on our way into town, and picked up sandwiches and pickles and chips. I also zipped next door to Burracho's and grabbed a big tub of lime-cilantro rice for Ayize - his fave.

Spotted this on my drive, and couldn't help but snap a photo. Oh, Wisconsin! This cartoon, and warehouse name, spoke volumes. I was giggling and giggling.

After grabbing our grub, we next met up at Myrick-Hixon Park, in another parallel from our first afternoon in town.

Dan biked over from work to meet us there too, and we all - three adults and three kids - pigged out at a picnic table surrounded by a shady grove of trees.

After dinner, the kids group-hugged each other on the grass at our feet - very cute moment.

Then Nathan took off his shoes. Shoe removal was a big hit with him for my entire trip there - it just never seemed to grow old!

Tamara headed across the street to play the first few rounds, and Dan and I strolled the short distance from the picnic grounds to the playground.

The old bait shop was back in action...

Then the kids hid from us in this funny little alcove.

Found ya!

And later, Ayize hid in another cool alcove, this one with its own toddler-sized bench. He was quite pleased with his discovery!

London Bridge is falling down...

We left the park and headed to the nearby college playing fields.

Sadly, we misjudged the proper entrance for the game, and the kids were way too blasted to make the long walk around the many connected football fields to the proper side.

So Dan and I heaved three small children, the stroller, and ourselves, up and over a locked, and fairly-high, fence. I'm always up for an adventure, but this one suspiciously resembled a kidnapping endeavor to the casual observer, so I was happy there were no cops afoot.

It would not have looked good!

Safely ensconced on the other side, we headed towards the game.

Apparently, Tamara was the only player NOT suffering from sun blindness! LOL

I'm open!

Watching Mom play from the sidelines. Old hat for this seasoned Frisbee kid!

What are Ayize and Brianna up to over by the football practice area??

Brianna dashed back shortly to report to me, showing her spic-and-span hands as she did, that Ayize was (and she looked me in the eye and shook her head with consterned emphasis and a hint of a smile), "very, very, very messy."

And she was correct!

Gives new meaning to the phrase, "Grease my palm."

Nathan grew bored of sitting so he stretched his legs, and big sis took advantage of the opportunity for a portable chair.

Happy to have clean (er) hands - 10 baby wipes later.

Awwwwww.

Thrilled little man.

These mayfly larvae (??) were awfully attracted to Dan's white t-shirt.

Touchdown, baby!

Game over.

We opted out of another fence climb and took the long way around instead. Nathan was happy to catch a ride because Brianna was exhausted (I think all three kids were - in a good way!) and was not giving up her cushy ride.

Crocs mingling.

Last stop of the day - the kids spotted the playground for the Spence Elementary School near where our cars were parked and got a second (third? fourth? fifth??) wind.

Rock climbing in the dimming of the day.

Balance beam, pre-walking style.

Big climb up the chute.

Hugs from Mom after a near-tumble.

Attempting a super-tired climb up the mushroom (not happy about being thwarted by parental units).

Did better on the double slide.

Especially because big sis was right by his side to help steady him!

Sunset over the playground parking lot.

We hopped into our separate cars and said adieu for the night.

Back at our hotel. Vanna White showcased sunset over the Mississippi (can I get an "s"?) from the vantage point of our mini-golf course.

Oooh whee. A beaut.

Captain Jack's Shack was hopping.

But not for us!

We were too exhausted to do anything but get to our room (we both gamely discussed a pool run, but neither of us could motivate the other - LOL), eat our cold cilantro rice from Borracho's as a bedtime snack, and veg out in front of some random Lifetime? Oxygen?? channel (whatever, we don't have a TV. You get the picture though. Something sappy).

We were in our jammies and under the covers. At some point I noticed he was asleep, and then I realized that I was also hovering at the periphery, so that was all she wrote!

La Crosse, August 2011: Day Three

2011-12-20T22:03:00.003-06:00

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Today marked Ayize's first time swimming in the Mississippi River. We also stood on the edge of a cliff. We hiked through gorgeous swampland with animal sightings everywhere.

And at the day's end, we checked into our hotel, where we ended up swimming and watersliding until 10 o'clock at night, despite being exhausted from our awesome day.

But let me begin at the beginning...

The kids woke up and started playing immediately.

Ayize and Nathan sat face-to-face, puzzling over their respective computers.

Then side by side, where they could help each other out...

Three heads were better than one.

But Nathan was still left scratching his head...

They moved upstairs to Nathan's room, where the big kids got back in touch with their baby roots, playing with blocks and soft toys. Ayize gave Nathan a few crucial engineering tips.

Whee! Brianna happily scooping up dirt balls.

Nathan grabbed the balls for himself.

Breakfast, and the boat filled with blocks somehow migrated to the table along with the kids.

Our next stop was Starlite Park, where the kids had fun climbing around this old school fort.

Beside the fort was a small play structure that encouraged lots of creative play. Ayize loved the periscope.

The mini-slide was more fun than expected!

Making music together. Very very cute.

Across the street was another small playground. We illicitly snuck in under the sawhorse!

Old school seesaws are the BEST.

Giggles, giggles, giggles as we four rode tandem on the teeter-totter while Nathan continued to happily nap away.

We paused for a snack break. The kids devoured juicy plums and made a horrendous mess on a nearby picnic bench.

Then playtime resumed on this slide, a double for the one beside Tamara's house.

Brianna did some super fast sliding again! Tamara and I suspected it might be on purpose...LOL

Nathan awoke, and we decided to hit up the Myrick-Hixon Eco Park. Ayize and I had played on their awesome playground upon our arrival in La Crosse two days earlier, but the visitor's center had been closed then, and we didn't have the time or energy to hike the trails after our long drive.

It was time for a revisit!

Inside, the kids gravitated to something. I wasn't sure what it was, until closer inspection...

Yikes - a stuffed bird that Ayize wanted me to "help"!

Meanwhile, Tamara and I sussed out this 3-D topographical map of the area. Miller's Bluff (at left) looked promising, so we decided that would be a future destination.

Nathan crawled around the base of the large table that held the map, playing peek-a-boo, while I snapped the shot above, which would later prove to be our "map" as we navigated the twisty, climbing roads to Miller's Bluff.

Tamara and I are such Luddites! Gotta love it...

Nathan noticed the big kids had moved on, and he started off in furious pursuit.

Destination arrival.

Ayize discoursed upon the turtle he liked best.

Nathan was an apt pupil.

We set off for the adjacent swampland. Nathan was quite excited about our adventure as we headed out across the small parking lot towards the trails.

At the very beginning of the trail, Ayize spotted the water's edge and made a mad dash. I snapped this photo as I called his name, but it was too late - he had thought the green sludge was solid, and had already set foot in it!

I busted out the baby wipes and tried to clear the green algae covering his lower clothes as best I could, but his feet and sandals were already hopelessly "slimed".

My fast, fast little guy! No stopping him.

Ah well, lesson learned, and it reminded me of a long-ago experience when a beloved pup of mine also discovered that green swampy sludge is decidedly NOT solid. And he had a much poorer attitude about the life lesson than jolly Ayize did, so no worries there.

One of the first cool things we encountered on the trail was a giant, felled, partially-hollowed tree trunk. Ayize walked out to the farthest point and happily captained his "ship" for quite some time.

Brianna joined him, though she was a bit more hesitant about trusting the vessel to be seaworthy!

He was pointing to these cutie pies, slowly paddling through the thick green muck, making a meal of it.

I loved the way the glassy water met the sludgy swamp.

We set off on a long straightaway portion of the path. All was quietude, except the sound of the animals and insects. Brianna posed perfectly at the edge of the path as she looked out over the water.

Her view.

Ayize found another cool hiding spot in the shade of this old tree along the path.

Gang of four, hiking ahead of me. The weather was absolutely perfect.

Gang of four, close up.

Gotta love Mizz Mother Nature. I'm reminded of this absolutely amazing clip, well worth a watch.

Turtles on a log.

Rounding a bend, coming out of the welcoming shade.

Straddling the waterway.

Long-ago fallen trees poked out of the sludge, creating myriad visual illusions.

Ducks on a log.

This guy decided this gently-swaying log was too unstable, so he struck out on his own to find a better perch.

Ah...well now, that's more like it!

Halfway through the loop, we paused to snack and rest on this dock.

Ayize was living dangerously as he tried to get a closer look at the small fish flitting around just under the water's surface.

"I think I need a little more sunscreen."

Can you see it's cool, uncurling proboscis, getting ready to gather some nectar?

Camouflage ducks.

Camouflage turtle.

Walking back. Doing the straddle again.

Little stone wall.

Ginat bumblebee, enjoying the bursting fall thistles.

Back where we started. A wonderful way to spend a late morning.

Back at home, Ayize decided it was time for some midday oral hygiene. Nathan, inspired, joined in.

Ayize was finishing up, but Nathan seemed reluctant for the fun to end.

"Hey, where ya going, Brush Buddy??"

"Whatever. I can do this solo then."

"I'd better sit down. This could take awhile..."

Meanwhile, sweet Brianna danced on tiptoes around the hallway.

Dramatic gestures all around! They were also singing, "Snake, snake, snakey, snake."

Turns out they were serenading this little guy on top of the baseball stand Ayize was using. Not sure how he survived the rounds of baseball prior to my discovery, but there you have it. I moved him to the relative safety of the grass after this shot.

The Slinky added to the difficulty factor in their bizarre, made-up, miniature-Frisbee game, that was a constant source of entertainment throughout our trip.

Nathan, napping throughout all this, woke up. Tamara went up to fetch him while I sat with the kids and told them we were headed to a place with amazing views. Ayize got ready!

Midway through our drive to Miller's Bluff.

I was by now using my camera as our aforementioned "map"! The views were gorgeous as we drove higher and higher.

We passed this awesome weather-data outpost.

Arrival, at long last!

Brianna pretended to be asleep, but her smile gave her away.

The trail to the lookout point was gated off and padlocked, but it was one of the least effective deterrents I've ever seen, since there was no fence on either side of the gate.

Heading towards the bluff lookout.

We passed through a shaded grove of trees along the trail, and Ayize and Brianna were delighted to see someone had spray-painted many animal shapes on the asphalt there. Ayize enjoyed jumping on all of the animals as if they were some sort of hopscotch.

Out of the grove, and closing in on the bluff's point.

Ayize forged ahead, and Brianna held back slightly, but stuck close to him, as if for protection. Very cute!

Leaves of three, let it be!

My first close encounter with poison ivy (that I'm aware of). Tamara IDed it for me so I could snap a pic for future reference.

WOW.

Ayize loved looking down at the long freight trains passing below (can you spot them?) and at the swampland we had meandered through earlier.

Another family was there. The young parents also carried a 5ish-week-old puppy, which kind of broke my heart, as it was way too young to be away from its mommy and at the end of a thick leash. They were also all smoking like chimneys (grandparents included), and kind of scaring their toddler as they stood at the edge of the bluff and held him up high. This sounds terrible - they were actually very nice people - but anyway, all in all, kinda goofy.

The overtired toddler was torn between giggling and sobbing over the antics of his parents...

...so Ayize headed over briskly, where he admonished the adults that they, "Not make him fall down. It's too high!"

He told them this several times, very authoritatively, and they thought he was quite cute. As a bonus, his antics distracted them and they came to me to report all this before leaving to head back to their car.

Phew!

LOL

Awesome view.

La Crosse, in all its splendor.

Conversation.

Tamara and Brianna went down for a closer look on this little slope, while Ayize began to head back down the path towards the car, admiring butterflies and "corn" (actually, huge wheat stalks which sort of resembled corn stalks).

As we passed back through the shady portion of the trail, I stopped to admire nature's amazing symmetry and beauty.

Tamara stopped, too, and pointed out a very funky bird call to me, which was that of a rare bird's. We tried to record it on my iPhone microphone, but unfortunately, on playback, it was impossible to hear among the other noises of the forest. Still, it was a neat experience all around to be standing in the middle of this idyllic pocket of nature.

Back to reality. The kids spotted the gate we had entered through and raced to it.

Shockingly, they were not that interested in our rare bird call recordings!

Back at the homestead. Nathan was up and about. And predictably, playing with his giant Tonka truck.

The handsomest little Kewpie doll tow-headed li'l man in all La Crosse! I am so in love with Mr. Perfect Boy, it's shameless...

Exhausted. But still running on all six cylinders. My trooper.

Nathan suddenly experienced acute thirst and teared up until Tamara handed him a bottle of milk, which he CHUGGED. Suddenly, visions of future frat escapades danced in my head.

Ack - perish the thought! Never my Nathers...LOL

Thirst quenched, and our bags packed, we headed out for a combination Best Western Riverfront Hotel check-in and beach outing. The hotel went smoothly and I ditched our gear in our room while Tamara stayed in the car with the kids.

Then we drove back the way we came, just a block or two, and parked in a large, almost completely-empty lot. We walked past a changing area/restroom/outdoor shower facility and entered Black River Beach. Wow! No entry fee or tokens required...nice change from Evanston!

The beach itself was pretty small, but very clean and nice. There were some large plants and a few trees along the borders of the beach which provided welcome shade. A lifeguard house sat empty in the middle of the beach, and provided additional shade. And the water...so warm and welcoming! Ayize didn't waste a second - he just waded right on in.

He was lovin' it!

I wasn't too keen on the color of the water (goldish), but another beachgoer told us that the water was clean, but colored by natural elements and harmless by-products from some of the industries up and down the riverfront. Hmmm...not sure how harmless they actually were, but aside from the color, the water felt and smelled pretty normal, so I just hoped for the best! LOL

Ayize came across a little plant that had uprooted from somewhere upstream and floated within grabbing distance. He brought it to me to show me, and was very hopeful that we could "help" it.

So we planted it, smack dab in the middle of the beach. I think it lasted all of a half-hour before it was uprooted again by the gentle, but ceaselessly-persistent current, and continued on its floating way. Luckily, I don't think Ayize noticed til it was already adrift.

Picnic bench follies.

Wheee! Didn't look like the safest game, but Dad watched nonplussed, so I guess it was all good!

Ayize befriended this sweet little gal and her brother, and within no time, they were cavorting like the best of pals. Grandma was a youthful, painfully-thin, sun-scorched, tube top wearing, girlie novel-reading sideliner (but, characteristic of other La Crossians I met during my stay, very nice), and, after she realized the kids were entertaining themselves, she happily returned to her novel and her tanning.

Ayize and this little one played on the rocks along the shore, and had lots of fun balancing and splashing between the boulders.

Practicing surfing?

Brianna joined in the fun. And Ayize's kickboard, our $2.99 CVS special that provided him with so much joy all summer, did too!

Meanwhile, proud Nathers waded in ever deeper with Mommy's assistance.

Oh, Ayize. One of the most experimental kids I have ever met. I love his creativity and innovative thinking, but sometimes...

Sigh.

I finally confiscated the implement, which Ayize willingly handed over.

But then Nathan was all, "Can I have that?" because I think he thought that mouth-shoveling was looking pretty fun after Ayize's spectacular demo.

Fortunately, Ayize took responsibility for having previously set such a bad example, and agreeably set things to right by demonstrating other ways to shovel sand that would be considered more socially appropriate...ahem!

Brianna appeared about to jackknife, while Nathan let loose with a lovely string of drool that was completely forgivable on account of his being so darn adorable!

Cackling with delight as he "swam" around in the shallow water near the shore. This kid was born to be in the water!

Giving Mom's shoulder and back a workout again.

I remember those days...

Somebody call the modeling agency, quick! The kid is a natural...

Mommy lovefest, AKA "I shall use my mother to cruise since there's no furniture handy."

The grab and pull up...

...standing! And feeling quite victorious about it, from the looks of things.

Up and ready to move.

On the move. Circling around the back.

Moving right along.

Full circle almost complete.

And look at that expression. Cat that swallowed the canary, and deservedly so!

Swan song was the big big big hug he gave at the end.

There's no love like the love of a little boy for his Mommy. (At least, until he turns 3!)

End of a wonderful afternoon!

Both kids seemed well-pleased with our beach outing.

Heading home. Golden Boy looked so cute, half-nekkid, strapped into his car seat, and - like the rest of us - ready for dinner, having worked up an enormous appetite after our long, fun day.

Driving home, Tamara pointed out this sign.

What the hecky does the verb "kraeusening" mean?? I won't even ask...

World's largest six-pack.

Dinnertime was an event. We ate pizza, leftovers from yesterday's delicious Indian curry, the best frickin garlic cheese bread in the world (I can't find it out here, so I'm consigned to live forever unsatisfied, having tasted the best there is), and lima beans, which we adults enjoyed, but Brianna appeared slightly less thrilled.

Here she was, deep in the throes of heavy negotiations with Mom and Dad over how many more beans she would have to eat in order to score a Tastee Freeze for dessert. Meanwhile, Ayize seriously put away some eight or ten slices of that garlic cheese bread. He was for serious about that stuff! Like mother, like son.

I should mention here that after the kids had finished their meal, Tamara and Dan and I were sitting around the table yakking. Dan and I split a beer, but teetotaler Tamara, sober as the day is long, was actually convinced by yours truly to sing a Japanese tune she learned long ago.

I managed to catch the entire performance on video, unbeknownst to her (though I fessed up at the song's conclusion, as the video proves), and I'll forever savor it, because it was such a funny night with two good friends. Dan was admonishing her for not doing all the accompanying hand gestures, and I could only begin to imagine what the complete performance might have been like!

I didn't post my vid, for fear that Tamara might do bodily harm to me - ha ha ha! But I still feel obliged to mention it here, for posterity's sake. Good times!

Anyway, we headed out to the back yard for some pre-bedtime fun. Nathan ditched his Tonka truck in favor of this ride-on, and made this awesome facial expression to proclaim his pleasure.

Brain freeze!

Dan, Brianna, and even Shadow looked on in awe as Ayize performed this crazy running/gutter-jumping/singing feat at the side of the house. I blame the sugar high...

Nathan had grown up so much in the short time since we'd last seen him. It was particularly fun to hear him saying some of his first words, and this video caught him saying a couple.

And by the way, if you watched to the end and are wondering, the photo below will answer the burning question of whether Brianna succeeded in getting Ayize's attention!

Yes, she did! And they resumed their ongoing, serial Frisbee game in the waning light of day.

Next, Ayize tried to get Shadow to play ball, and I sensed a good photo op.

I made Dan and Tamara pose together, and they mocked me with this cheesy Hallmark moment pose. Tsk, tsk, tsk. But it had us all laughing regardless!

Okay, one for serious. The original child took front and center stage.

All three kids in the mix now.

I wish I had taken the time to adjust the exposure better, but I didn't have an opportunity to re-shoot because a neighbor came over to introduce herself and the photo op moment was lost.

While the adults spoke about local preschools and daycares, Nathan wandered into the house and Brianna unwittingly closed him in a moment later. He was not a happy camper, but instead of crying about it, he simply tried to magically pass through the glass. Alas, it was a major, squishy-faced failure!

I opened the door and he stepped back outside, triumphant, and ready to crawl and Tonka truck his way to the big kids, who were out in the yard, playing computer.

Last game of the day.

The hour had grown super late - it was past 8 - so the kids headed upstairs to turn in, and Ayize and I headed out to drive to the hotel. This made Brianna very sad, though she cheered considerably at the realization that she would be the beneficiary of the small waterslide park inside our hotel in the coming days!

The sun was setting over the Mississippi River as I pulled into our hotel parking lot. I snapped this shot as we walked into the building. So beautiful and calm, and such a perfect evening!

Ridiculously-worded, repetitive sign posted just inside our hotel entrance, and - the English major in me screamed - an egregious run-on sentence, to boot!

Caramba...

I thought I could sneak past the pool, but Eagle Eyes AKA Ayize spotted this view from our second-floor balcony and there was no avoiding a swim after that! This is actually the center courtyard of the hotel, but it's been fully enclosed with a huge, clear-paneled top that blocks the sun's rays by day, but still allows for an amazing, star-studded nighttime view. Ayize couldn't resist a swim...and even though we were both exhausted, and I knew we probably shouldn't, I couldn't resist one either. Not after I saw all those stars through the ceiling...

We dashed to our room, threw on our swim gear, and flew back to the pool, where we swam from 9 to 10. Despite our busy, fun-filled day of endless physical activity, Ayize showed no signs of slowing down for the entire time we were in the pool.

My kid never fails to amaze me - he can always find the gas in his tank to go that extra mile, even when I know he's running on fumes!

Yee haw!

My whale-riding cowboy rocked furiously to and fro in the kiddie pool.

Crazy eyes!

"I'm gonna getcha, Mommy!"

The pool had a big basket filled with water toys, and Ayize made up his own game using a mini basketball, this scooper, and the water plumes rising up out of the shallow end of the kiddie pool.

Mini waterslide at the base of the lighthouse was mucho funno - I know, because I tried it too! Tiny, but powerful - we really got up some speed!

Finally time to turn in. Not a word of protest, my little guy just politely complied, even though I think he would have stayed in the three pools (we also enjoyed the big pool and the whirlpool) another hour if I had let him.

He fetched a hotel pool towel, wrapped it round his shoulders, and began drying his hair as we started the walk back to our room.

When did my little baby become this grown-up guy?

Travel always forces me to acknowledge how many changes have taken place since last we hit the road. It's something about the complete loss of our usual routine, and the many unique activities and situations we find ourselves in each day when we're away from home.

But on this particular day - as he rose to the challenges of constantly adapting and enduring again and again - he really took my breath away. Guess my baby boy isn't really such a "baby" anymore...and I'm as sad to acknowledge that as I am proud to witness what a wonderful little person he is growing up to be!

"Speaking" of Birthdays...

2011-12-14T09:57:00.007-06:00

Ayize gave a lengthy speech on December 12, 2008, one day before his first birthday, and I was thrilled that I had the camera ready and caught it on film. It took him a few seconds to really get going, but once he did, he was off and running!

Then, in early November of this year, a month before his fourth birthday, we visited my sister's house where he met his brand new baby niece. While we were there, he held court with his two older nieces, and demonstrated his newly-discovered love of "rapping" - Ayize-style, that is. If you get him started with a phrase, he'll take it as an opener, then continue with totally random monotonous nonsense-speak, complete with facial expressions that will have you in stitches.

Amazing, to witness the development of speech over just a few years, despite everything he has been through with his hearing.

And yet, if you judge by this video, he only makes about as much sense as he did back in '08! LOL

Anyway, enjoy! I promised Miss Penny Loaf that I would post this for her, so here it is!

A birthday gift from Ayize!