Charlie and Bucky

Not sure if I've helped advance Charlie's love of the Badgers or sparked a lifelong fear of Badgers, but here's a fun video of the baby, the mascot, and On Wisconsin.

Oh, God ... I mean gosh

Will was in the play area at church on Sunday and I told him that we were going to go talk to somebody for awhile, so he should wait there for us.

"You're going to talk to someone?" he said. Then his eyes got big and he said in a half-whisper, "Is it Dog?"

"Dog?" I asked.

"I mean God."

Day at Sunset Lake

On a recent Saturday at Sunset Lake, a beautiful county park 15 minutes from our house that we've never been to before, Will practice his swimming stroke ... in the sand ...















... and practiced making snow angels ... in the sand.

Grandma Tappa and Charlie

Dunk tank

At the St. Mary Magdalene parish festival, Will took part in a dunk tank. On his first round, he connected with the target, but didn't throw the ball hard enough to trip the seat. On his second round, he connected with his first throw and put the lady in the water. The key: stepping with his left leg when throwing with his right.

Also key: stealing a dollar from his father's pocket. Well, sanctioned stealing. ;)

Yooper Eucharist

The other day at church, the priest was speaking about "serving Eucharist" as Will and I were walking to the bathroom.

"Serving Yoopers?!" Will said/asked.

"No, Eucharist," I said, and began the attempt to explain the Christian sacrament.

"Yoopers are people that live in Upper Michigan, right Daddy?"

"That's right, buddy."

I suppose that's what Sunday School teachers are for.

First day

Charlie has been having a super smooth transition back to daycare. I just called and he's pretty much been just eating and sleeping. His teachers said that he "really let us know" when he was hungry. He apparently also gave them hell when they went to change his diaper.

As for me, despite a checklist of to-dos that I think may rival a NASA space launch, we got out of the house within a minute of planned departure and arrived to work on time. (Deadlines are key in the publishing industry.)

Today has actually been very fun. I was greeted to a huge "Welcome Back Jana" sign on the window, balloons, lots of treats and a lot of very cool, very special pictures of Charlie and Will ... complete with clever captions! Below are a few, many thanks to my friends Katy and Sue for these. Enjoy!

Our boys

Everyone wins in Gwinn

During our trip to the UP, Jana took Will to meet up with some of his cousins in Gwinn for a centennial celebration. This first picture is Will (in white) with Nathan (in blue), who, if you'll remember, is about the same temperature as Will.

Blocking sled anyone?

On our drive home from day care today we passed the high school football practice field, and saw some blocking sleds. "What is that?" Will asked, and I explained.

"Can we buy one?" Will asked. Well, I explained, we could, but they're usually just for football teams. You need five people to use it, and they're for bigger people than you.

"Well ... when I get bigger, and you get bigger, and Mommy gets bigger, and Charlie gets bigger, and Mommy has another baby and he gets bigger ... then we can get one."

Sound reasoning, but I don't want to raise linemen.