Apple baseball

Will got to play apple baseball for the first time in the U.P. He even used the "bat" I used when we started playing about 15 years ago.

Picking apples in the U.P.

My cousin Chad and I picked apples this weekend for apple baseball. It was so pretty, I had to go back with the boys for just a few more.

Fall fun in the U.P.

We went to Michigan this weekend to see my family, including my Aunt Jo, who was visiting from South Dakota.

It was an absolutely beautiful weekend. We climbed Sugar Loaf, hung out at the Black Rocks and enjoyed a lot of quality time around County Road MT.

Will at Lake Superior

Photos from Will's classroom

Memory Walk

And Will riding in a fire engine ...

What to do with all this money

Will, convinced that we're going to win $100,000 in the Subway game, is super worried that I'll spend our winnings on something silly -- like my dream house.

"Mommy. We don't need to spend money on a house, we have a house."

What should we spend it on?

"We could buy trophies and jewelry!"

How am I going to pay for all this stuff?

Now that Will has become an expert at kindergarten, he seems more willing to continue on with his education. To a point.

"Does everybody HAVE to go to college?" he asked.

Clearly, Scott and I had gotten too deep into the finances and logistics of post-secondary education.

"No, you don't have to go to college, but it could help you to get a better job," we told him.

"I have to get a JOB too? I have to go to school AND have a JOB?" he started whining.

We told him that we'd both had jobs in college to help pay for food and rent and cars etc. Plus, we both had taken out student loans.

"We have a college fund started for you though, so don't start worrying too much yet," Scott said.

"Plus, you can try to get scholarships like Mommy and Daddy did," I said, inadvertently sparking a Are you kidding me? I didn't get any scholarships, they all went to kids who didn't deserve them as much as I did look from Scott.

"Tell me how much this is going to be," Will demanded. "Give me some prices!"

I think he'll do just fine.

Final days of summer at South Park

Save the world, Bucky

This morning the boys and I were driving home from Waupaca after a morning of errands and parks. Will was upset we left the park, even though it was Charlie's nap time ... and more importantly, Badger gametime.

As he likes to do, Will spent the drive home negotiating, trying to get me to agree to watch the Badger game on the smaller TV in our bedroom, rather than our new, high-definition, DVR-enabled TV in our living room. Fat chance, kid.

"Daddy, you can't save the world by watching the Badgers!" he said.

True enough, but you can't save the world watching LazyTown, Kiddo. Sorry.