Musical genius

Summer Family Photo

Hang Ten

Nothing quite like the feel of the wind in your hair, an open expanse of rug out in front of you, and a vacuum cleaner under your feet...(it's now impossible for me to vacuum without this new "attachment").

Just for the grandparents

Elsa's trip to Minnesota was highlighted by grandparental kisses, smiles, laps and arms-a-plenty. The Prickly Pair has never seen so much Elsa in one post...

Poaching eggs

Egg Hunters take your marks.....get set....go!

(Per takes his Egg Hunts a bit more serious than the others...)

Per's early lead in the Hunt is stymied by a game-changing spill.

Per pauses to consider multiple baskets next time...

Meanwhile, Elsa is bored on the sidelines.

Hey, don't leave those empties in the park.

Dressed in our Sunday best...

10 for '10

Seeing as how we are in between the Golden Globes and the Oscars, we thought it would be a perfect time to look back at Per's year in film. Here are his top 10 roles from 2010 (in chronological order):

10. March. Falling Down

9. March. The Constant Gardner

8. April. The Egg and I

7. August. The Unbearable Lightness of Being

6. September. Man in the Mirror

5. September. Crash

4. October. Man on Wire

3. October. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Next

2. November. Its a Wonderful Life

1. December. Cool Runnings

Elsa, subdued

We have it on good authority that Elsa returned home from a trip to the doctor's office with not one, but two ear infections. She decides to stay home from daycare to mope around the house (and show off her ability to sit up on her own).

Here she is, in subdued form...

Well, almost sit up...

What's black and white and Per all over?

Before we unveil Per's 2010 Halloween costume, let's harken back to last October (insert back-in-time harp chords here). Ahhh, yes, how could we forget Per's one-year old physique?

This year, Per decides that black and white are indeed flattering colors ("slimming", to use Per's words), but decides to go with a more upbeat theme. Introducing "Happy Feet-Bergman".

Per's black and white obsession also extends to his Halloween possé.

Per's usual level of exuberance (augmented by sugar)

Per's exclusive black and white affair is touched by a shade of grey.

Per decides to make a break for it.

Tune in next Halloween when Per dons a Ding Dong costume...

Thomas-O-Lantern

Per picks the theme for this year's pumpkin...

Per turns two

Yes, Per is now two years old (if one were to ask his parents, they might say that they can't believe he's ONLY two, given the time that seems to have passed since the day of his birth).

With the usual cast of characters gathered for his pancake party, Per blows out his candles. All seems to be going well until Per really gets rowdy towards the end of the party...

Apple Picking

Although no actual apples were picked on this day, Per and Elsa enjoyed a cool, crisp September morning out of doors at Wiard's Orchards. Unbeknownst to their parents, a carnival separated the front gate from the orchards. So, rather than photos of pony rides, blow-up bouncy houses, and fun slides (none of which showcase what the day was supposed to be all about), here are two rather subdued snaps from later in the day (post snow-cones)...

(With no signs of upper or lower incisors, Elsa is dubious about the whole apple-picking adventure)

Dreams really do come true...

One can only wonder whether the Per-to-Thomas ratio in the first photograph is the same as the Thomas-to-Per ratio in the second....

Mug shots

It's now been brought to our attention that Prickly Pair viewers not only want more Elsa, but they want more of her with Per. With an infant that still doesn't sit and a toddler that doesn't sit still (see "Bouncing around the room" post), the logistics of this become more and more difficult, but hopefully these pics will do for now.