Oscar's TV face

Here's Oscar watching some old-school Sesame Street.  We think he's left his Dennis Franz phase and is now entering an Archie Bunker phase....

Bette's and the Beach

To celebrate Father's Day, Oscar took his dad out for breakfast at his favorite diner in Berkeley. Bette's Oceanview Diner

Later that day, the Voelz boys dipped their feet in the ocean and played in the sand at Baker Beach.

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day Vince!

Oscar is lucky to have such a wonderful papa.

7 months ago you became a dad. It has been so fun watching you two.

O and I love you very much. -K

sans bib

Oscar likes his sweet potato.

Macky The Cat

Oscar alternates between picking the grass and picking on Macky (Auntie Barbie's cat).

Giggles

Cousin Sydney makes Oscar giggle.

Hey Mr. Tamborine Man...

Oscar bangs one out as his mom recites his favorite book.

Grand Ole Days

Jen and Tim (Fritz's mom and dad) sent these pictures from the Grand Ole Days parade in St. Paul with Kristi, Oscar and Grandma Gayle.

pics from Lisa

A few more pictures from our trip to the farm -- thanks Lisa!

Oscar in full John Deere regalia.

Sydney, the proud confirmee, with her cousins.

On the Farm with the Bergs

Oscar took his first trip to see Aunt Lisa and Uncle Brad's farm in Northern Minnesota.  He also got to meet his cousins Hannah, Eiley and Sydney for the first time.

With a John Deere onesie and camouflage hunting cap (thanks Lisa!), Oscar blended right in.   Here he is with Uncle Brad and cousin Sydney.  Oscar was impressed by Uncle Brad's big tractor. 

 

We visited Aunt Sally and Uncle Rick the night we arrived, and cousin Trudy put Oscar in a giggling fit.

Breakfast at the Bergs.  We were a bit worried that Oscar wouldn't get any attention...

Eiley (Middle River class of 2010) and Oscar.

(The bib says: "lock up your daughters" -- thanks, Sydney)

Sydney (recent Luthern confirmee) and Oscar.

 Hannah, Oscar and Kristi.

 Young's General Store in downtown Middle River is a little-known American treasure.  Where else could we find this pink lace-trimmed camouflage onesie?

In continuous operation for more than a hundred years, Young's is one of the last remaining general stores in Minnesota, packed to the rafters with hardware, home items, groceries, you name it.   Their motto:  "If we don't have it you don't need it".   Read more in this Minneapolis Star Tribune article. 

At Honkers Flat, a greenhouse and nursery, Oscar got to see lots of farm animals.

Auntie Lisa and Oscar with punk-rock chickens.

 Oscar and Sydney with a half-ton pregnant sow.

Auntie Sally and Cousin Josh with Oscar at church on Sunday.    Like Oscar, Josh has mysteriously lost his wrists too!

Everybody thought Josh and Oscar looked a lot alike.

Oscar plays with Hannah.

Where's Oscar?

More pics of Oscar and Fritz

Jen drove up so Oscar and Fritz could have a playdate!  Thanks to Jen for sharing her pictures with us.

 Who, me?

At Oma and Opa's

Oscar and Kristi have been visiting Oma Carol and Opa Jeff in Minnesota.  He has been learning lots of new things, such as how to sit up by himself, what Baltimore Orioles look like, and how to put one foot in front of another so he can amble around when Mom and Dad hold his hands.

Got your nose!

On the back deck with Oscar's favorite Great Aunt Julie (shown here recovering from ankle surgery).

Crawlaxin' (I just made that up) on a patchwork quilt

Toe jam inspection at the dinner table

Uncle Nik is teaching how to play "Axel F" on a Casio keyboard.  

So far, the results are very encouraging:

Audio clip

Tickling the ivories

Oscar rips out a few Art Tatum-style glissandos while no one is looking.

 Grandma Carol and Oscar sport their "preppy" look.

Kickin' it with Fritz

Oscar's bananas for bananas

After rice cereal the next solid foods Oscar tried were bananas, and boy does he like them!  Here he's sucking a banana from a mesh container that he can hold.  Al provides backup.