Tisen cuddling Mr. Beaver quite a few months back (B&W HDR processed)

This evening, I realize I need to shoot an updated family portrait.  It’s been quite a while since I last captured Tisen’s collection of “babies” (as they say in the South) together.  I would stop writing to go shoot them now (even though it is already 20 ‘til 11PM and I have a 6:30AM yoga class in the morning), but I’m not sure where all of them are.

I know Tisen has left a large collection in the mini-van.  Every time I open the door I do a double take.  Big dog is occupying the back seat.  Lamb, Red Dog, Purple Monkey, and a large collection of others are strewn across the seats.\

Tisen taking Eddie Bear for a walk

But then I wonder what has happened to Lamb, who has frequently disappeared, Duck, Hog, and Mini Bear?  They were once favorites, but I’ve rarely seen Tisen with them in the past few months.  Tiger and Lion have also been replaced with new favorites.  Skunk, Cow, and the Green Reindeer seem to be vying for the latest round of the “favorite toy” awards.

I’m curious to see how big a pile Tisen’s toys would make these days.  I know they no longer fit into the hamper we use to store them when they’re all found and tossed together.  Perhaps that’s because they get feisty when they’re all in the same bin and start kicking each other out.

My personal favorite–I can’t remember the last time I saw Puppy Luv

Curiously, Mr. Beaver has recently reappeared from the bottom of the toy pile.  I thought Tisen had given up on dragging Mr. Beaver along on walks.  Mr. Beaver is too long with his tail. He drags on the ground tripping one or both of us.  I have been on a secret mission to convince Tisen that Mr. Beaver is not the toy he wants to take on a walk for at least 6 months now.

Just when I was sure I had convince Tisen that Mr. Beaver should be left at home in favor of shorter toys that don’t hang out of his mouth and create a tripping hazard, Tisen suddenly dug Mr. Beaver out of the hamper.

Lamb, so often lost, looks so cozy in Tisen’s arms

I have taken the substitution approach.  This is the same secret technique used successfully by women when retraining men for centuries.  Instead of convincing said man that he doesn’t want something he thinks he wants, said woman simply chooses something she prefers and then presents it to said man in such a way that said man does exactly what said woman wants while believe he is doing what he wants.

This is much more easily accomplished with Tisen than with Pat, for the record.  With Tisen, Mr. Beaver does not have a particularly good squeak.  Tisen is a sucker for a good squeak.  So, all I have to do is pick up Skunk or virtually any other toy in Tisen’s collection, and squeak it.  Tisen immediately drops Mr. Beaver in favor of any toy that squeaks for him.  Then, off we go with Skunk instead.  Works every time.

Tisen awakened from a nap with Minnie Bear