May Update

Well, it's time for some updates. Since the last post, Ela celebrated her second birthday, and one can see pictures from her dessert party here. Auntie Jen bestowed a play kitchen on the household as a gift for Ela and Boookie. Here is Ela cooking in her new kitchen.
And here is Boookie in his "cooker man" costume. He's probably going to get some steak out of the fridge.
The hobbitlings have discovered how much they enjoy playing outside in the yard.
On a not-unrelated note, they have also been enjoying frequent baths. Here's Ela with her best "Cindy Lou Who" hairdo.
Here's Boookie showing off his bathtime mohawk.
And here is Ela immensely enjoying getting to use Mommy's hair wrap.Boookie has started doing "commission jobs," earning a nickel per job (not counting "chores" like getting dressed and putting his toys away). He is saving up to buy a scooter, and he's over halfway there right now. Below is the thrifty hobbitling lad after his weekly payout. He takes his tithe to church in the "Davy Crockett bag," which used to belong to the Mayor when he was a lad. Incidentally, Ela thinks that it's called a "Daveee Quack-Quack Bag."
Here's Ela holding her almost-empty piggy bank. She insists "Sissy need a moh-nee!" but does not currently possess the requisite skills for commission jobs.
Here's the hobbits getting "nice 'n cozeee!"
Here's Boookie showing off his drumming skills, playing wildly along with his current favorite song, Either/Or, by Wild Sweet Orange.

Michael Delving went on an excursion to the U-district Street Faire this last weekend. Here is a picture of some perfectly horrid, wretched little dogs we saw at that had been further mutilated by dyeing. Hint: the dyed monsters are blue and green, and we're not referring to the little girl.
Here's Ela admiring her "pity fah-lahs" while sitting in the Mayor's lap.
Here's Boookie enjoying the bounce house.
Here's Boookie going down the slide at the Street Faire. He was wearing the same shirt last year going down the same slide, and it's amazing how much older he looks!
Ela did not enjoy the bounce house, and she was removed from it after it became clear that her misery was not about to turn to joy.
Here's Boookie riding on Daddy's shoulders.
Here's the Mayor and his Ela.
Here's the pretty hobbitling lass with her beautiful hobbit mommy.
Here's Sissy with her "sah-lasses." She is a true Seattle native; at the slightest hint of sunshine, she begins whining about her eyes and requesting "sah-lasses."
Here's Sissy trying on Mommy's sah-lasses.
Here's the hobbit wife wearing her springtime daisy crown.
Here's Boookie showing off his skills with swording.

Here's Ela showing that she will not be out-done in the weapons category.

And finally, here's Ela showing off her 3 little baby flowers.