Getting Back to Business, Almost

My old iMac has come home from Apple General Hospital. Diagnosis: dead as a doorknob, literally. So while I set up my new Mac, testing all the various settings and calibrations, here are more pictures from G-rex’s 9th birthday.

G-rex really loved the cake. He was very specific: yellow cake, vanilla frosting, “GREGO9″ written in M&M’s on the top. Then once it was time for candles, he took a few minutes setting up a few Lego sentries. While he did that, I was very carefully adjusting my camera settings for the light in the room. LOTS of overhead light from the chandelier, so I was good to go. “Light ‘em up, baby!”

Then, much to my instant dismay, G-rex ran over to the light switch and turned the light off! Yikes!

I quickly adjusted for the available light, thinking that I wanted to capture the new ambience that G-rex was going for when he switched off the light. He obviously wanted darkness, so I kept it dark in camera.

“Today is a birthday, I wonder for who. I think it’s for someone who’s right in this room …” This is our birthday song. I love the warmth of this picture, and the eery shadows from the candles. It’s so “October.”

G-rex left one candle burning on purpose. Not sure why.

One of the best things about living in Metuchen? You can walk to downtown amenities from pretty much any place in Metuchen. We were going for a hike all over town, with a stop for ice cream.

Along the way, I couldn’t resist taking pictures of these beautiful flowers.

G-rex loves his scooter. I love to document him riding it, making sure to include some things that define the times like the cars on the right. On the left: architectural details of the Catholic school, which are not likely to change much over the next several decades. Do you guys find my thought process the least bit interesting? When I document my own family, I’m always thinking: what am I going to want to remember about this moment 30 years from now? I think I’ll find the cars interesting, and G-rex’s playfulness on that scooter, and the details of the school, sidewalk and trees.

I love that G-rex is so into scootering.

More flowers.

This one documents our street, and the fact that Mike and Brad love to walk and talk. I love the fact that they are so close.

See those trees on the left? Forest pansy redbuds! I started documenting those trees when they were first planted.

I love being able to walk downtown! I never want to live some place where I can’t just walk out my front door for a bagel from the bagel pantry, a book from the library, and a diet coke from the coffee shop.

Love this picture!

What’s the Scoop is our favorite ice cream shop, and I LOVE that they have pizza and soup and other stuff now. It’s one of my favorite places!

Milestone year for the G-rex: he finally ventured away from plain vanilla and now goes for SUPERMAN! Woo hoo! Change is good.

I was having a little fun with my camera and some sweet buttery light that afternoon. That’s my sweetie!

“Hot dog!”

Brad was not as eager to participate in my little photo shoot.

Awesome sunset shot! The letters are a shadow of a little window above the outdoor seating area under the ceiling fans.

My G-rex, my Superman!

Just as I was taking the picture above, Amy walked by and told whoever she was talking to on the phone, “Can you believe this? I just ran into Julie Shaver and she has that camera in her son’s face!” And she said to me, “Do you ever leave them alone?” IT WAS HIS BIRTHDAY! Ok, but you’re right. I don’t leave them alone much. Had to do something to keep my mind off the butter pecan lurking in the freezer just inside that store. (Off my mind and off my hips.)

Still playing. Mike is so photogenic!

I was capitalizing on that sign in back of him.

Oooooh baby. Hot, and only a buck-fifty!

The sun is quickly setting on G-rex’s birthday.

We went for a long hike after our ice cream, and came across a tree I used to document, Heidi’s Eastern redbud. Heidi moved to a new house, so I don’t track this tree any more, officially. But I always check it out whenever I’m in the neighborhood.

Back home, Mike and the G-rex play a little driveway basketball. I love this picture! Happy birthday AGAIN G-rex! Like I keep telling you, make the best of your last year of single digitdom!