Tooth Fairy

Elsie lost her first tooth the other day. It hung on for a while, shooting straight out, bleeding... No tears though! She put it in a little box under her pillow and woke up to a dollar bill in its place. We counted her total savings: she's at $5.11.

Swedish Fish Pancakes

The best thing about camping is having to think on your feet and improvise. No syrup? Garnish with Swedish Fish!

Religion 101

The scene: A bathroom. Elsie is on the pottie, Dad is sitting on the sink.

Elsie: Dad, God controls everything in the world from heaven.

Dad: Really?

Elsie: Yeah, from a little room in heaven, he controls everything we do.

Dad: What if I want to take off my shoe and God doesn't want me to?

Elsie: Then you won't take it off.

Dad: (takes off his shoe) I just took it off.

Elsie: Well then, I guess God wanted you to do that.

Dad: What about the bad stuff that goes on in the world, like when people get sick? Does God control that?

Elsie: (pause) Well, then, I guess a button is broken in God's room...

We're Back!

We got a new camera! Niese just struck out three in the first inning! I don't have to go back to work until September 7th! Cronmiller didn't die on Mt. Rainier! (but didn't summit...) Barry and Hazel are here until Tuesday! I found Utica Club beer at Beers of the World! Barry is refurbishing the Composter 9000! My kids love the Mets! (or, well, wear the clothing we put them in...)

Life is good...

You Gotta Have Faith

Elsie told me she believes in five things:

1. Santa Claus
2. The Tooth Fairy
3. The Tooth Mouse
4. God
5. Mother Nature

She added a sixth, "my family" but then took it back when she realized she can "see us" and she can't see the other things. One of her friends at school said Santa's outfit was "just regular clothes" and not a costume at all. She's got the tooth fairy on her mind because she's about to lose one of her lower front teeth. She's into Mother Nature right now- all the bugs in the garden are "part of nature and important". We didn't get into the whole God thing...

What's up with no blog photos?

Camera is broken, hope to get a new one this week...

Farmall Mountain Bike Challenge

http://www.ariumillusion.com/RVEbike/RVE-2010-Spring-05-25-10/12136825_Jdvbz#880287137_fkXjk-L-LB

"Dad, did you winned the bike race?"

"Ah, no Elsa, I didn't."

"How did you do?"

"I, ah, well...I quit."

"What?"

"The bike race. I quit the bike race."

"Why?"

"I didn't want to widow your mother."

"What?"

"I was supposed to do five laps, and I quit after three because my heart was about to burst out of my chest."

"What?"

"I was super tired."

"Oh. So you quit?"

"Ah. Right. I quit."

"Oh. Does Pa Ingalls mountain bike?"

Deck Destruction

Stop by on Saturday, May 29th to watch our deck get destroyed!