We spent a few weeks in Boulder, where we displayed my artwork in a booth at the Boulder Creek Festival. A few days later, we drove to Denver to introduce my grandmother to Koen, and also to visit my parents. On the drive back, we stopped at the last foothill, just before the road nestles down into Boulder. The sun was setting, and life was feeling just about as brilliant as it possibly could.

My little space monkey boy…

I don’t know how this happened, but it seems that Koen was channeling the thirteenth Shah of Persia for a moment or two.

A slightly chilled evening walk, with Koen in the stroller.

A close-up of what appears to be an impersonation of either King Henry or King Richard. Either way, it’s clear that Koen is parading his English blood for the camera. Crumpets and mincemeat pudding, anyone?

Hmm. Frankly, I have no idea what Koen is doing here…

…but I do know what he’s doing here. Loving life, plain and simple.

A most amazing transformation is ocurring in Koen…he is developing what developmental psychologists refer to as the “Social Smile” - which means, he’s smiling not because his facial muscles are twitching and working out the kinks while he’s asleep, but rather, because he’s awake, aware, and responding to the people in his environment. It’s like little Koen just sprouted faerie wings!

I have a sense that Koen was trying to tell me something, but I was not feeling all that sharp at the time…

…so he proceeded to break out in this display of physical expression. Humbly, I had to admit that I was still unable to decipher his exact intention of meaning.