Church Festival

Random photos

I don't even want to know

Scott and I usually take turns putting each of the boys to bed. We love to fall asleep with Will but lately Will's been kicking Scott out pretty early. I think it's because a twin bed can be a bit crowded when your dad is 6'2".

So, on Scott's nights, Will generally hasn't fallen asleep when Scott bids him good-night. His awake status leaves all sorts of opportunity for Will to be a creature of the night.

One recent morning, Will, who usually wakes up by 6:30, didn't rouse until almost 7:30.

He had deep pillow creases across both cheeks and looked as us with only one eye half open as he stumbled through the living room.

"Wow. What kind of night did you have?" I asked.

"Nice tats," Scott said.

Will lifted up his forearms one at a time, glancing at the tattoos with a lack of recognition.

He just uttered two words. "Last. Night."

Please, please, please let this not be one of those weird deja-vu moments in late May 2025.

All hands on deck

Chef Char-o-lie

It's fun to sometimes think that kids will foreshadow their future career paths by the toys they like or characters they love.

It sometimes works out: I think I've heard a story or two about Paul Flanagan and his toy airplanes.

If Charlie is anything like cousin Paul, there's a good chance he's the next Emeril or perhaps that guy from Hell's Kitchen. That boy just loves his kitchen gadgets.

He started screaming the other night as Scott headed out to the deck. We couldn't figure out what on earth was biting him when suddenly we realized that Scott had "Charlie's" spatula.

Yesterday, when I was putting away toys, I found pair of tongs next to the Little People. Yesterday morning, he strolled by me with a garlic press.

Of course, he does have his favorites. For Father's Day, the kids and I decided to get Scott some really manly grilling tools. These things are beefy. When Charlie brings them around the house, he has to use two hands and hold them above his eye level to keep them from dragging on the floor.

We'll see if this stage lasts very long. For the time being, I'm grateful that Charlie's fascination with toilets has ebbed ... that was just plain gross.

Memorial Day weekend at Presque Isle, Sugarloaf Mountain

Pot stickers

Woke up one weekday morning and found Charlie wearing a t-shirt and nothing else.

Scott was about three feet away scrubbing the living room carpet with a dish towel and some Windex.

He looked up, "Thought I could trust him."

As Scott finished up and went upstairs to shower, I checked out Charlie's state of half-dress and figured, Well, he just peed, probably OK to let those buns air out for a while.

A few minutes later, as I was making some scrambled egg-beaters, I heard an odd sound. A bit like rain on a tin roof.

At my feet, there was Charlie, taking a leak in the oven drawer.

I told Scott that in these stressful economic times, it's comforting to know that we at least have a pot for Charlie to piss in.

Charlie at Lower Harbor in Marquette

Time for prayers

As we were getting ready for church last Sunday, I asked Will to get a few things together for himself. It's always good to have a few distractions handy to help in his efforts to sit still for an hour.

"Ready to go!" he said. I looked in the bag he had packed: four books, two coloring books and a sleep mask.

Will's birthday party