Star Trek, the Annular Eclipse

Toddler's Log: Stardate 65850.7

It has come to my tiny attention that the Earth's moon will be partially blocking the largest star in our solar system in what is known as an annular eclipse. This event will happen on the evening of May 20, 2012 - and Albuquerque is one of the best places to view it. After letting Mom know that I wanted to witness this event, I have brushed up on my astrophysics and prepared myself for the upcoming astronomical awesomeness.

The moon is round...the sun is round...and so are pancakes. NOM NOM NOM!

Adalyn eats a whole pancake to get ready to witness her first astroNOMical event! (Insert groan here.)

Adalyn LOVES rocks - especially when she can use them to model the solar system.

Adalyn furiously wrote down some formulas to calculate the precise time we would see the Ring of Fire, then proceeded to explain all of this to Daddy. How frogs and fish and Halloween decorations are involved, we'll never know.

Adalyn demonstrates how the Earth rotates on its axis.

Captain Babycakes goes boldly where no baby has gone before.

Adalyn confused regular glasses with the solar glasses needed to view the sun. You only make that mistake once.

We have arrived at the viewing site - the inhabitants of Earth call it a "park." After eating a delicious meal and snacking and eating some more, I put on my Captain's pants, grabbed the solar shades from Mom, and said "Let's do this."

Adalyn is SUPER excited to see the moon and the sun in these awesome solar shades!

Adalyn knows that staying hydrated is the only way to keep the new diapers coming.

Even Captain Babycakes cuts loose every once in awhile.

Adalyn begins her journey to find the perfect viewing spot for the eclipse.

Even Adalyn is too tall to fit under the tree. Probably not the best of viewing places.

Uh oh, our fearless captain has wandered too far from home base.

Adalyn is proud to call herself Captain Babycakes!

For all future generations, behold the annular eclipse!

The eclipse right before the moon was perfectly centered in the sun, otherwise known as the Ring of Fire.

Mommy tried to get a decent picture of the eclipse, but the sun kept moving around.

The Ring of Fire....tada!

A partial eclipse at sunset...ooooh....aaaaaah!

Toddler Invasion!

Toddler: (noun)
1. A trojan horse where an extremely cute exterior deceptively hides a destructive interior.
2. A person who toddles, usually referring to a tiny child.

Nobody expects the Toddler Invasion!

If you give a toddler a chef's hat...

"Hmmm, which color should I start with first...the red crayon I call blue or the blue crayon I call yellow?"

Ninja supervises Adalyn's coloring session making sure Adalyn doesn't color on the carpet...or the kitty.

Adalyn colors on her new white board...maybe Mommy helped a little.

It's never a dull moment with a toddler running around the house. In fact, everyday, ordinary things come to life when a toddler takes an interest in it.

Methinks the keys don't quite go there...

Adalyn shows off her new dance moves!

Adalyn learns that spinning chairs are awesome!

As if one toddler running around wasn't enough, one of Adalyn's daycare friends joins the ranks and turns 1! So, now we have TWO toddlers running around at Anthony's birthday party...which is just the right amount of toddlers that Adalyn can count (it's official - she can count objects up to two!).

Adalyn knows how to dress for a birthday party.

"Hey, I've been hatted!"

Anthony knew it was his birthday, but he didn't realize he'd get an ENTIRE cake! Awesomesauce!

Anthony's mom knows that bringing bubbles to a party is a big hit with toddlers!

Adalyn exercises her tiny patience for more bubbles...

BUBBLES!!

Adalyn shows the next generation of toddlers how to properly play in the grass.

Little did Anthony know that birthdays come with birthday attacks...otherwise known as hugs to toddlers.

"...and one to grow on!"

As the oldest toddler, Adalyn instructs Anthony on how to be a proper toddler and cause as much chaos as possible.

Adalyn breaks in some of Anthony's new toys.

Apparently Anthony wasn't doing it right...