Family Photo Session!

My family and I had professional photos taken at the San Clemente Pier by a local photographer, Kristianne Koch.  The photos look incredible (after all, I'm in them).  We have a music-themed slideshow with some of the highlights that you can view via the link below (be sure to turn up the sound).

Click Here for our Photo Slideshow!

Pre-Preschool and Halloween.

October signaled the beginning of my path to Harvard, as I started "mommy and me" preschool, which meets two days a week, two hours each day.  The schedule is obviously rigorous and I'm faced with many intellectual challenges, but no need to fret.  After all, I am The Dex.

Hmmm, if I only had a contraption suitable for carrying my books while leaving my arms uninhibited....

Aha!  This Dexter-themed backpack will do.

Let's roll!

When I'm not cruising through preschool physics, calculus, philosophy and picking up the ladies, I enjoy pushing things around the classroom (or, as I like to call it, "interior design studies").

This blue chair is much more fun than those toys.

If this lady would move I could park my basket.  Stop texting and please move!

Let's see, blocks, toys and crayons...yep, got everything on my list.

Although I was a bit shy at first (playing the "cool kid" card), I've since opened up and have made some friends along the way.

Did someone stick a nerdy name on my back?  Oh wait, that is my name.

Let me tell you how this ends.  I end up with the basket and you walk away.  Thx.

Nice stroller, Sunshine.  You come here often?

With all this learning, socializing and chair pushing, I need to recharge with some brain food.

String cheese, Goldfish crackers and juice.  My compliments to the chef.

I'll gladly pay you Tuesday for a Goldfish today....

While learning is of course cool, what I enjoy most about my pre-preschooling adventures is that I'm able to share them with my most special person in this world: my Momma.  I admit that even the The Great Dex is prone to the occassional fit, whining episode or no-holds-barred tantrum, but through it all I never forget how much I love my Momma and all that she does for me.  Thanks, Mum.

I love my Momma!

We took a trip to the Tanaka Farms Pumpkin Patch to check out pumpkins, chase bubbles, pick vegetables from the farm, and visit the petting zoo.

What are we reaching for?

I kind of like this dirt stuff.  Especially on my clothes.

This pumpkin is heavy!

Thanks, Mum.

For my second Halloween, I was my nerdy Dad's favorite character from Star Wars.  Similar to myself, this character is short, wise, and doesn't exactly speak proper English.

Wishing you a Happy Halloween, the Yoda Dex does.

I went to my Daddy's office for a Halloween party, which included candy, trick or treating, and candy.  Did I mention there was candy?

So you're telling me you can eat these M&M things any time you want?!

Don't worry Daddy, I'll respond to this message.

Using the Force, the Yoda Dex is.

Dexter, out.

Aloha! The Dex has conquered Hawaii.

I just returned from a much needed trip to Hawaii.  Even though I'm unemployed and don't have much cash (much to the chagrin of my Daddy), I decided to take my parents to Kauai for a week-and-a-half Hawaiian extravaganza.  We had a great time, full of new adventures, delicious food, a few dirty diapers and some great family time.

Our first adventure was the flight there, which was my first time on a plane.  For weeks my Daddy was freaking out about the ordeal for reasons unknown.  What's the big deal?!  Look how awesome I was.

Pre-flight peek-a-boo with the neighbors to lighten the mood.

Nothing like a good book on kittens to pass the time.  Would you please pass the Sky Mall?

Whoa momma!  It's true what they say about drinking at high altitude.

We finally made it to Kauai after a long flight and I was ready to relax.  I couldn't wait to hit the beach, so we got right to it.  Kauai has some of the most beautiful beaches I've seen during my extensive world travels and I will miss them dearly.

"Wheeee!" (or something like that.)

Uh oh.  Must wash hands.

Mommy and I could get used to this.

Sittin on muh throne, surveying muh new beach kingdom.

What?  I'm on vacation.

My Nona Mary, Nono Miguel and Tia Yvonne (Grandma, Grandpa and Auntie for my non-Argentine readers) joined us in Kauai a few days after we arrived.  By the time they had joined us I was effectively a local boy, so I decided to show them the ropes and took them on some beautiful hikes.  Although I'm an expert hiker, I prefer to let my Daddy do most of the physical work while I take the reins as navigator.

Onward and upward, Daddy!

Wow.  Now that's a grand canyon.

I don't want to say hello, she's a GIRL!  Ewwww!!

Post-hike evidence that I truly can sleep anywhere.

Note to my readers: There were 3 screaming roosters behind the tree when this picture was taken. 

Given my survivor-like hiking skills, I was typically far ahead of the pack on the hikes.  I didn't want my family to get lost on the way back, so I took a note from Hansel and Gretel and left some road markers for them to follow.

One Goldfish for my tummy, the other for the road.

One of my favorite parts of the trip to Hawaii was the food.  We spent a great deal of time searching for delicious local cuisine and hit some major jackpots.  Most importantly, I learned how to dip my fries in ketchup (featured in the video below).

Dex Dex loves Lau Lau.

Picnic on the beach.  I'm a simple kind of guy.

Chopsticks.  You're doing it wrong!

Real men wear shirts to a luau with the same pattern as their Momma's dress.

We were constantly doing all kinds of fun stuff on our trip, certainly too much to document separately, so here's a quick pictorial summary of some highlights of the trip.

Uh, I think I dropped something in the canyon.

Gave swim lessons to my Mommy.

Took the family shopping for tourist junk.

I really am a super sweet guy.

There was something about this fence in Hanalei that made me quite happy.

My Daddy insisted that we take pictures by this cool tree before we left.  Did I just feel a rain drop?

Yup, definitely felt a rain drop.  Thanks a lot, Daddy.

Although we had a great time visiting the beaches, hiking the beautiful trails and munching on delicious bananas, the highlight of the trip was my decision to finally timely start walking.  I knew my Daddy had always been concerned about missing my first steps and he had sincerely hoped that I would do so while we were on vacation, so I threw him a bone and did it while we were on Kauai. You're welcome, Daddy.

My parents say their lives won't be the same now that I'm walking.  Yup, they're right.  Check me out in the video below.

Mahalo, and until next time.

The Beach, Pool, Soccer, Haircut and a Minor Treadmill-Induced Injury

My Momma's best friend from her childhood (Deidra) came to town with her kids for a visit and brought my new best friend, Adayja.  We spent the day at the beach and had a groovy time.

Although I'm already an expert swimmer (in my mini bathtub), my Mom insists that I take swimming lessons a couple of times per week.  Coach Brian has me on a rigorous 20-minute workout schedule, two times per week (I'm ripped), with grueling drills such as dunking my head under water and tolerating silly lobster squirt toys.

Just call me Dexter Phelps.

Post-swim lesson celebration.  Respect the hood towel.

Coach Brian recommends that I stretch after swim lessons.  In typical D-Man fashion, I take it up a notch and stretch in my own unique way.

Feel the burn.  The upside down burn.

After the upside down stretching, I like to blow off some steam and take a spin around the cul-de-sac at an insanely high rate of speed, all the while showing off my ridiculous swimmer's body.  Visual evidence is below.

You want some of this?  Just try and keep up.

In an effort to speed up my swimming sprints, my Daddy suggested that I cut my hair, which, I've been told, is a bit too long (what's a "mullet"?).  My Daddy used his hair clippers to clip my locks.

I am VERY happy with my new haircut.

Lola, check out my new haircut! (where are my pants?!)

My Auntie Yvonne had a soccer tournament over the weekend.  They were short a player.  I'm a short player.  Naturally, we won the tournament.  A high speed camera was able to catch me in action.

Bend it like Dexter.

My Daddy was trying on some new running shoes and I wanted to give the treadmill a whirl.  I crawled in the wrong direction (apparently, the treadmill is a one-way road).  End result: Boo-boo on my nose, as evidenced below (if you look closely).

Chicks dig itty-bitty nose scars.  Right?

Until next time....Dexter out.