Gay Hotels Are So Gay

I've written here in the past about the English hotel that was found guilty of discrimination against a gay couple. Now the Equality and Human Rights Commission is investigating gay-only hotels to see if they are also guilty of discrimination against straight people.

Oh, my goodness. 

To me it's a bit like shutting down a racist white pride group and then going after a few black groups just to be fair. Here's the thing: there are some things that minority groups, especially ones who suffer from constant discrimination and hostility, can get away with. 

Miron and I stay at regular hotels. If it's a small one we ensure to make it clear that we're a gay couple when booking to prevent any problems at check-in. But I can see why some gay couples would rather go to a gay-only hotel, a place where they can relax and be themselves without worrying what the people around them might think or say if they happened to hold hands or, God forbid, kiss in public.

I don't think barring straight people is necessary. In 2006 we went on a gay cruise to Alaska and while the majority of the passengers were gay men, there were also some lesbians and a very small group of straight friends and family members of other passengers. It was quite refreshing to be on this little bubble where gays were suddenly not the minority. I think just stating that a place is gay-friendly or gay-targeted is enough to repel homophobes.

Little secret: gay clubs and bars are full of hot straight women who go there to have fun without being constantly hit on by guys who just want a quick roll in the sack.

Alaska Cruise 2006 - I'm such a handsome devil

I think gay hotels will go out of business once discrimination and hostility towards gay people will be a thing of the past. Since that's not going to happen anytime soon, perhaps the watchdog can leave them alone for now? Especially since they admitted there's not even one single complaint about discrimination made against gay hotels in Britain EVER.

--Mickey

Introducing: Fabtastic!

One of the things that kept me busy and away from this blog is finally ready to be revealed:

Fabtastic, a kid-friendly comics series about a gay parented family. The first story is on-line for your reading pleasure. Please let me know what you think and feel free to spread the word if you like it!

--Mickey

Two Years Without Kato

Kato & Baby Blake

Today two years ago Kato died, our first Great Dane. By us I mean Miron and me. Any other dogs in my life before Kato were my mother's responsibility. I wrote a big post about Kato and it just kept inflating to the point that I had to break it into chapters with lots of pictures. It would've been nice to have it ready for the second anniversary, but with the trip to Canada in the middle and other responsibilities I didn't really get the time to focus on it properly. Hopefully it'll be ready to share soon.

I haven't written about losing Kato until now because it was quite hard for me. The first few months without him were particularly brutal.

I still miss you dearly, Kato. Always will. Big doggie cuddles and kisses wherever you are.

--Mickey

I'm Back (again).

We came back from our Toronto-Winnipeg trip on Tuesday, but we're all still jetf***ed, pardon my french. Poor Blakey wakes up late, goes to bed on time, but then wakes up in the middle of the night from his "nap". You can see the sheer confusion on his face. The grownups are doing slightly better, but only slightly. I might write a bit about our trip later on.

During the trip Blake has developed an obsession with what is possibly the gayest song in the history of the known universe: Part of Your World from the Disney's The Little Mermaid. I sang it to Blake from memory; he fell in love with it without ever hearing the original! It's so nice that when they are so young they have such low standards for quality. I'm not a terrible singer, but I suspect that if I sang it on American Idol Randy Jackson would make a face and say "Aaaaah... I don't know, dawg, that was a bit pitchy" (mostly because that what he says half of the time). Simon Cowell, if he was still around, would say "what a peculiar song choice, it was like hearing a zebra eating a cactus".

It used to be one of my favourite songs ever, but after singing it (what seems like) hundreds of times over the last couple of weeks it's dropping down the charts quickly.

Regardless, it's quite fun for me to interrogate Blake for his song choice. All the old favourites are refused with a playful "no" nod of the head.

"Wheels on the Bus?" No. "Itsy Bitsy Spider?" No. "I'm the Music Man?" No. "Old McDonald"? Hesitation... No.

"Look at This Stuff?" (the first line from the song). Blake slaps his wrist in approval and grins.

As I start singing his eyes open up in amazement and a warm smile spreads across his face. It is unbelievable for me that my singing will have that effect on anyone, but there it is: he is utterly captivated and hangs on to every word, melting .

I showed Blake the original song on YouTube and he liked it quite a bit. It was a relief because I was getting tired of singing it 3-4 times in a row by request. He still likes my version better, though! Suck on that, Jodi Benson!

Don't know how long it will last, but I'm enjoying my short singing career.

Here's the song in question. It's Jodi Benson's original from the Disney movie. I'd upload my own version, but I don't want to break the internet.

--Mickey

Working Nine to Five...

What a way to make a living!

Actually only the song title applies to me because I actually like my new job unlike that whiner Dolly Parton. That's why I didn't write over the last few days, I was busier than usual.

Well, actually I just got addicted to CityVille on Facebook. I jest, not really. But it is pretty good for a Facebook game. 

Where was I? Oh yes, the new job. Since last friday I've gone out to work in central London going back to being a full-time game designer since Blake was born. Yes, I did some part-time teaching over the last two years and worked from home as freelance and on my own projects, but it's not the same as going out every day for the entire day. Also, in this job I don't get the plentiful holidays that come with teaching or working freelance. So it's a big change for all of us, but now that Blake is two and a half and all grown up (well, almost), I feel ready for this.

The worst part is undoubtedly being away from Blake for most of the day, especially since he's usually still asleep when I leave the house, but at the same time it makes coming back home to him (and that other guy, the one I married) all the more exciting. It already became a routine: As soon as I put the key in the door the dogs go crazy and rush to me and then I have to make my way through them to get to Blake who's grinning with sheer joy. I pick him up and have to hold him for at least fifteen minutes. I don't even get to take off my warm coat or bag. I remember as a kid being so excited when I'd hear the jingle of my dad's keys when he got home in the evening and how my brother and I would rush to hug him (and claim the snacks he always brought us). Now I'm the father on the other side of the door and it's so unreal to me.

It's a big change for Blake who's used to spend most of his time with me, but he's taking it like a champ. He gets to spend more time with Miron and I think it's great for both of them. In a couple of months he probably won't even remember me. 

I gladly take over Blake duties as soon as I get home, giving him dinner, playing with him and giving him a bath. These aren't chores, they are treats awaiting me at home.

Another great aspect of going out to work full time every day is that weekends once again feel truly special. I kinda missed that special friday feeling and since my job is pretty darn cool I don't get the monday blues.

Another down side is that now I have much less time to work on my own personal projects, but it just means they'll just take a little longer. I hope to have lots of exciting things to reveal here on this blog both from my new job and my own projects. It's better to be too busy than not busy enough. That's how serial killers start out. They're like, hey, there's nothing good on TV, maybe I should go kill some half-naked campers. 

Not that there's anything wrong with that, it's just not my thing.

--Mickey

Itsy Bitsy Spider : Exclusive Web Premiere!

Blake has really got into Itsy Bitsy Spider recently. We have to do it several times a day whenever the mood strikes, and that's almost always. During breakfast, during bath time, during, well... Everything.

Blake's new iPod can record video so I found out he actually recorded himself practicing the routine! Yes, he's a two and a half year old who records himself. I bet he'll have his own video podcast by the time he's four. Writing blogs with words is so 2010.

Anyway, here's the video:

Note the artistic lighting and camera angle. I have a lot to learn from the maestro.

And here's the full performance. You've seen it here first. When me and Blake will tour the world you'll be like "hey, I was a fan before they were famous". You don't have to comment about my singing voice. I already know it's amazing. Hopefully with this video out there in the open I'll finally get discovered by a talent scout.

We do birthdays, bar-mitzvahs, weddings and bachelorette parties. We accept all major chocolate bars and tummy rubs.

--Mickey

Three Down, Three Hundred and Sixty Two To Go.

OK, 2011 hasn't been too awesome so far. That's good. I would much rather the year wouldn't peak too soon. By all means let it burn slowly.

The thing is, Blake woke up with a high temperature on Christmas morning and has recovered since, but his illness has passed to me via Miron. As a result, with the exception of one night walk with the doggies last night, I haven't left the house at all this year.

It's not all bad. In fact, it's a lot of not bad.  While I feel a bit groggy the medicine takes away most of the symptoms and I get to have big naps with Blake in the middle of the day, play videogames (Blake demands at least once a day that I'd play Forza Motorsport 3 on the X-Box 360 and I must oblige) and watch lots of TV shows on my computer. I watched so much CSI over the last few days Blake must think I've been Skyping a lot with his Uncle Horatio from Miami.

There's actually a lot on my plate for 2011, so much that it's a bit overwhelming when I try to think about all of it in one sitting, so this lull is actually quite welcome. The calm before the storm or some nonsense like that.

The highlight of 2011 so far? The Chinese food we ordered in today.

Before I wrap up this post, here's a picture of a lettuce I got from google image search:

I'm sick, give me a break. It's the best I could do for now.

--Mickey

Don't Let The Door Hit You On The Way out, 2010!

Another year comes to an end. While 2010 wasn't all bad (how could it be when I got to spend every single day of it with my miracle baby boy?) it was certainly not the easiest year we've had.

The dogs alone kept us busy most of the year: Dexter's behavioral problems, Leo's leg operation, Dexter's eye injury, the scary occasional fighting between the two of them. At least it seems like they're both healing now (though Dexter squints a lot with his recovering eye and earned the nickname "Popeye") and since their training and Dexter's neutering they behave much better. Dexter isn't only less crazy, he's also much more interested in cuddling and hugging.

Popeye

Popeye yawns

At the beginning of the year we were quite concerned about Blake's communication skills, but he's now saying a few words and can read around 150 words, even when I use handwriting. Blake has blossomed this year and I look forward to see what 2011 has in store for him, but also dread losing this current version of Blake as he grows out of it.

Christmas is exciting!

There were other issues I won't discuss on this blog for personal reasons, issues which kept me from writing regularly here and there, but I'm glad to say that as 2010 neared its end each one of those issues was addressed with a potential solution, so on all fronts 2010 ends on a note of optimistic hope. It's not happily ever after yet, but there's light at the end of the tunnel. There's also a nest of killer bees and a group of evil ninjas in that tunnel, but I'm sure we'll pass them with minimal damage. I hope!

Best wishes for 2011! 

To end the year with style, here's a cute follow up video to show Blake's reading skills. I used a marker so it'll be more visible on video, but he can also read thiner lines made by a regular pen.

--Mickey

Best Worst Christmas

On Christmas eve we had delicious duck with bucket-loads of trimmings. Blake ate a little and the rest was obliterated by the two of us. Well, there were left overs, but by now they are also almost completely gone. We all hung around the living room and Blake suddenly rediscovered the big inflatable soft ball that was lying around the living room for the last nineteen months - it was Blake's first ever birthday present for his first ever birthday. We played happily, but we were all unusually tired and turned in at ten.

Blake is encouraged to go to sleep in his own bed, but most nights he'd prefer to go to our bed. It's something we're still working on ever since he got his own real bed instead of the cot and now can get out whenever he wants. But it was Christmas so we let him join us (he's got us wrapped around his little finger, yes). 

Turned out Blake wasn't as sleepy as us and he kept bouncing around in the dark all over the bed happily. Miron managed to fall asleep somehow. I decided that I can just as well go down and do the dishes if I'm being kept up. Blake followed me down, but by the time I was done he was gone. When I went up I saw that he already went back to our bed and was fast asleep. I was wide awake at that point so I played some games on my iPhone and then went to bed as well.

Christmas morning arrived. We took Blake down to the presents and started we opening them, but Blake was uninterested. He was being a bit miserable. I tried giving him breakfast, but he ate very little. He was also very warm. We checked his temperature and it was over 39 degrees. Poor puppy woke up sick on Christmas morning!

A bit of Calpol and Blake was almost back to his old self and he managed to enjoy the numerous additions to his Thomas the Tank Engine collection. He also got three books, two of them about Thomas, a magic drawing board, two miniature animals for his collection (it's getting difficult to get ones he doesn't have yet!), some posh candy and a big fluffy Tigger.

Thomas loot

New bestest cuddly friend

We didn't go crazy with presents this year. I'm hard to shop for because I usually get the stuff I really want right away as soon as it is available and if we can afford it. I told Miron I don't want an iPad, Kindle or X-Box Kinect. I did jokingly mention I need underwear so I expected one box as a joke. Instead I got three boxes of underwear and a Chinese cookbook. Hooray! Miron got two books, toffee sweets and crappy massage blobby thingie. It didn't matter. It was all about seeing Blake reactions to his presents. The dogs also got bones, pig ears and toys and were very excited and happy.

Our turkey was delicious, but Blake ate very little. Regardless, we all had a great time doing a whole lot of nothing and just hanging around with each other.

Blake had a very rough night and since he slept with us, so did we. His temperature reached 40 at one point and he was utterly miserable. He kept waking up crying which not only disturbed our sleep, but was also heartbreaking.

Today Blake was getting better. He ate some cereal for breakfast and lots of chips for lunch. His temperature was gradually getting better, but in the afternoon he got cranky again. I put him down for a nap from which he woke up screaming. I tried singing to him, tell him stories, sooth him and even show him some videos. Nothing helped, not even CSI: Miami. I took him to our bed and I realized that all he really wanted was for me to shut the hell up. With silence and darkness he fell asleep again.

Blake woke up since and ate some sweet corn and now wanders around being his old self. So there you go. Blake's first proper Christmas was actually not that awesome, but that's OK. Because it means it can only get better. For example he'll get two Tiggers next year, not just one! Bring on Christmas 2011! 

--Mickey

Christmas Adventures

On his first Christmas Blake was only seven months old and on the second we were in Israel, so this year it's the first "real" Christmas for us. Well as real as a Christmas can get for non-religious Jews.

We knew in advance what Blake would like. Since he's still not reading my blog I can reveal that he's getting six talking Thomas the Tank Engine toys. Almost at the last minute I decided that the adults should also buy presents for each other and in that case the dogs shouldn't be neglected either.

So on Wednesday when Blake was left at his last day in the nursery Miron and I went our separate ways to purchase presents and Miron also did food shopping at Marks & Spencer's buying the most amazing yummynommynummy foood ever (we're going to double our weight over the weekend, at least that's the plan).

I had to pop into Miron's office to pick up the post, make photocopies and mail something. At that point I had about two hours left to get my shopping done and be on my way to pick up Blake. Blake is into Winnie the Pooh nowadays so he has to get a Tigger. I assumed I could find one in Hamley's, the world's biggest toy store, or the Disney Store. I couldn't find the Disney Store and assumed it has closed or moved. Hamley's was next.

Hamley's is a very dangerous place. You go there looking for one thing and come out with tons of things you didn't intend to buy. Just as I walked in I picked up a magic blackboard since Blake likes drawing and reading. I found a big fluffy and velvety Tigger on the third floor even though one of the assistants told me they weren't selling Disney products. Another employee was impressed by the Tigger and asked me where I got it. Is the store that big that employees keep getting surprised by what they can find there?

When I walked past the customized CDs stand I had to see if they had any new CDs. Blake already has two CDs with cute catchy songs that use his name "Wake Up, Blake" etc. There was a new Christmas disc so I just had to get it, right? For the dedication I asked the guy behind the counter to write "To Blake, Happy Christmas from Daddy & Papa."

"What's the difference?" He asked.

"What?" I didn't understand.

"Daddy and Papa. It's the same thing."

"There's two of us: one of us is Daddy and one of us is Papa." I said without getting into detail.

He smiled and we wished each other a happy Christmas.

He might figure out we're a gay couple or maybe think I'm suffering from a split personality disorder. Whatevs.

I also looked for something for Miron and I ended up buying: a secret present for Miron, sweets, a book, and two miniature animals and that's on top of a few books I picked up from a bargain book store on the way to Hamley's. At some point I just walked through the store staring at the ceiling to avoid temptation. When I reached an entire section dedicated to Thomas the Tank Engine I quickened my pace.

The last few items were purchased in a hurry as I realized I was running out time and needed to already be on my way to pick up Blake. I tried running through crowds of people, which is never fun. 

The light decorations in the street were nice, but on Regent Street there's always some ghastly lights sponsored by the latest Hollywood Christmas cash-cow, this year it's the third Narnia film. I really really hate advertisements. You can pay to remove ads from otherwise free software, but how can I get an ad-free life?

Nice

Ghastly

On Thursday I popped out to buy presents for the dogs. They almost didn't get them because, while I was away shopping for them, they decided to be naughty so close to Christmas (amateurs: you're supposed to be naughty right after Christmas after you already claimed your gifts from Santa). Our handyman, whom they adore, threw them a toy and they started fighting over who gets it. To make things worse Miron got bit when trying to separate them, but only noticed the blood afterwards. 

Last night I was supposed to take the Christmas tree down from the attic. It's a really nice fiberglass tree that glows in lots of different colours and we used it for several years now. It was two years since it was last used, so while I roughly remembered where it was back then, two years is a long time. We added lots of other stuff to the attic and I looked everywhere and couldn't find it. In the morning Miron also went up to take a look. It was the morning of Christmas Eve and we had no tree...

Now this part could be a family Christmas movie. The whacky Blumentals couldn't find their tree and had to embark on an adventure to secure a tree at the last minute. The end result was far less entertaining. I first went on foot to the high street to see if any of the local shops had trees, sliding on the icy snow and nearly falling with every step. Then we all piled up into the car and found a real pine tree, lights and decorations at Home Base. The end.

To make it an entertaining Christmas family movie we should've befriended a little girl with bad attitude, crossed paths with a talking squirrel and foiled a bank robbery on the way to the store. The movie would star Owen Wilson and Kate Hudson and be utterly dreadful, but still make enough money to warrant two sequels.

On the way home Miron dropped me and Blake at the barber shop where Blake behaved as if his limbs were being cut off and not his hair. We didn't remove much as we love his long hair, just enough so he could actually see where  he's going. Walking back home on the icy snow with Blake in my arms was even scarier. The snow has melted just enough to become slippery ice, but somehow we made it without falling even once.

Blake's new doo

By the time we got home Miron already got a head start with setting up the tree and decorating it. He wanted more decorations so I bravely went out again on the slippery ice. 

The tree looked great and once we placed all the presents underneath and lit the fire place it was just perfect. Poor Dexter could smell his gifts (bones, pig ears, dog toys), but wasn't allowed near them. Not finding our fiber glass tree turned out to be a blessing in disguise. This is so much better.

I then washed the dogs in the big walk-in shower we have downstairs in the guestroom, leaving an angry and upset Blake screaming and banging on the door outside. I then took Blake and showered with him.

Our lovely tree

So we're all now sparkly clean and soon we'll be having lovely duck for dinner. I must say I think I'm going to like this Christmas thing. Now, just have to wait until tomorrow morning to open all the presents...!

Oh, I took this picture on Regent Street. 

I guess that's what they mean by a "secret Santa"

Merry Christmas!

--Mickey

Crazy in Love Cover

How do you take a sugary pop song and turn into something beautiful and haunting?

Like this:

--Mickey

Last Day

Yesterday was Blake's last official day at his nursery and I went to town to do some last minute extra shopping for Christmas, but that's a story for another day (tomorrow if I'm not too lazy).

Since February Blake has been going to Ely's Nursery in Finchley twice a week for the afternoon. Between the two of us, someone is always with Blake, so we didn't really need it, but we wanted Blake to spend some time away from us with other people, particularly other children his age. The added bonus was two afternoons that could be used to catch up on Television shows, naps or nude bangee jumping from the top of Big Ben.  The nursery was also useful when I was teaching up until a few months ago.

Leaving Blake at the nursery wan't always fun. Often he'd start clinging to me and cry, but most of the times he'd just be going through the motions and immediately calm down when one of the girls picked him up for a cuddle. Picking him up at the end of the day was the real treat. Seeing his face light up when he sees me and have him run into my arms, it's a unique pleasure I can't quite put to words.

It was nice to see Blake doing something we haven't taught him, like certain hand gestures to go along with certain songs. Little things like that. At the end of each day we'd get a detailed report on Blake's activities and it was fairly obvious that despite his occasional protest at being left there, he actually liked it quite a lot there.

We're planning to travel a bit in the new year and  then move, so there was no point keeping him there on a regular basis. I was delighted to find out that he can still attend on a day to day basis. So yay.

When we brought Blake to Ely's in February he wasn't talking and barely responded to his own name.  The only way I could grab his attention was singing to him. Now we know he was just ignoring whatever he found boring, but back then we were worried. The staff at the nursery picked on that too and suggested he should be seen by experts. He was and we were assured that there was nothing wrong with him. And indeed by now he dispelled any fears we had back then. I decided to show off just how far Blake has come.

In the principal's office with a few members of staff present I demonstrated Blake's reading skills. I held Blake with one hand, as well as a paperpad. With the other hand I wrote with a pen on the pad. I used a regular pen, not a marker and I wrote in my regular hand writing which I must say is very readable.  Blake immediately smiled when he realized I was writing words he knew. Kiss, he blew a kiss. Hair, he brushed his hair with his hand. Nose, he touched his nose. Duck, quack quack. Blake knows about 150 words now.

The staff was genuinely impressed. I also left a link to my blog because a couple of the girls asked to stay in touch.

I left Blake so I could go shopping and when I returned with big bags of excessive shopping I ran into two of the girls who were on the way out. They told me they were waiting for me to say goodbye so I was glad I ran into them. They told me how impressed they were with Blake's reading. They told me they already read my blog and loved it. They couldn't stop reading even with the kids running around and said I was a great writer and so on. I'm not used to getting such compliments in person, so it's a good thing it was dark in case I was blushing. I guess they might be reading this post too, so hi girls! I hope to see you again in the new year.

When I walked in I was given a package with Blake's spare clothes and these two lovely books:

  

One had goodbye drawings from the kids from his room and the other photos and artwork by Blake.

I unfolded Blake's stroller from the cupboard and packed him in as usual with his coat, gloves and hat. And then we just walked out. An end of an era - I seem to have a lot of those when it comes to Blake.

The principal was also very kind to upload to my memory stick all the photos they took of Blake over the year. Here's a selection from the pictures. I removed a few, but couldn't really narrow it down from there. Not that it matters. My blog is a bit like Penthouse: it has lots of text in it, but everyone is really only interested in the pictures.

So here we go:

Awww, he wants to be a doctor. My inner Jewish mother just high-fived herself.

--Mickey

My Littlest Biggest Fan

I'm a star. I don't perform in front of thousands of people who paid too much for bad seats, but  it doesn't matter. I have a fan-base of one, but in this case its quality over quantity.

Blake adores my singing. He'd drop anything he is doing if I sing one of his current favourite songs. The list changes all the time. Many months ago "Wheels on the Bus" was sung to death  and later on it was "Poker Face", but right now "Itsy Bitsy Spider" and "If You're Happy and You Know It" top our local charts. 

Not every time, only when I deserve it, Blake will clap politely at the end of a song. It makes it a bit problematic trying to sing him to sleep as at the end of each song he'd sit up in his bed in the dark and clap. It's one of those moments that make me feel as if my head is going to explode with sheer joy and happiness. Does he even understand how mind-blowingly cute he is?

Blake also loves watching me play racing games on the X-Box 360. He'd point at cars and various objects on the television, expecting to interact with what he sees just like he does on his iPod. He would watch the race in excitement and if I win he'd raise his hands up victoriously and then clap as if I just played a round of golf. 

Sometimes he'd run to me for a hug and I'll have to quickly raise my hands, both holding on to the game controller, and then bring them down around him. It makes concentrating on the racing action a bit tricky and I lost more than one race because of Blake. But I don't care, because it's all about me spending time with Blake, not playing some stupid videogame. Well, maybe I care a tiny bit. Well, OK. If it's a really long and hard race and I was doing well until Blake made me lose near the end then that could be quite annoying. Infuriating even. Oh, just you wait until he's fourteen or so and plays a racing game, then I'll run to him and hug him and make him lose. Revenge is a dish best served cold.

Where was I?

Oh, yeah. Talking about how Blake makes me feel like a superstar. Because when someone so special and incredible like him thinks so much of me, that's a huge compliment. I wouldn't trade my audience of one for the entire world.

--Mickey

A Blake self-portrait using my iPhone

Fa-lalalala-lalalala!

Our home in the snow.

Once again London is snowed under. It's not that impressive for some places in the world, but for London it's a big deal. I've been living here for thirteen years and it never used to snow in my first few years here. Once in a while it might snow just a tiny bit, covering cars in white dust. You might be able to make one snowball if you scraped clean an entire car.

But for the last few years it's been snowing more and more. This time we might actually get a white Christmas. It's a bit of a nightmare because this country still isn't ready to cope with snow. Flights are cancelled left and right and traffic is also a nightmare. Thankfully we're staying home for Christmas and don't expect any visitors from abroad in the next few weeks, so we can just enjoy the good parts.

The dogs love the snow, it works on them like an adrenaline shot. Blake was quite intrigued by the snow, but wasn't quite sure what to make of it. We might make a snowman in the next few days if I'm not too lazy.

We were once on holiday in Lapland and I tried making a snowman, but it was too difficult and cold so I settled for a small snow-duck. Blake loves ducks (quack-quack) so I might get away with it.

Anyway, here's some pics and videos from yesterday of us having fun in the snow.

Blake and Daddy.

Papa, the gentle giant, gifting Blake with a snowball.

Snow is fun!

What is that thing?

Dexter and Blake.

Blake examines the snowball I made for him.

As you can see, Leo's leg is much better.

--Mickey