Strider Bike

OK, so Dad dropped a hundred bucks on my new bike after the "guys" at Tryon Bike Shop said I needed a Strider Bike, and he saw multiple youtube videos, and they were on sale at Luvaboos! Luvaboos (hollah!) is our local retail cloth nappie location with other essentials...such as Strider Bikes.

So here I am. Specialized helmet. Lance Armstrong Yellow Strider Bike. Elton John Butterfly Sunglasses.

Let's Ride!

Wisconsin Weekend

Goodbye to Bumpa at Mitchell Field. Not always at the top of our list of "Fun Things To Do in Wisconsin"!

But what was at the top of the list:

1. Ice Cream Everyday (cherry dip for Elsa, chocolate vanilla twist for me)
2. Swimming Everyday at the village beach
3. Fireworks (front row)
4. Shopping at Kohl's for sweet Brewer gear for Dad, dresses for Elsa
5. Brewer games with Mom
6. The Corn and Brat!
7. Sausages from Rig-A-Tony's
8. Late night trip to the emergency room (wait, wrong list...)
9. Quiet time at night to watch Brewers, read Stieg Larsson...ah summer...
10. Pancakes for Else in the morning made by Chef Ron
11. Ass Coffee (oh wait, wrong list again)
12. Spotted Cow!
13. Leinie's!
14. Chat with Dara and Henning
15. Catching up with the Quicks
16. Elsie playing with Henry and Alex
17. Mojitos with Shannon!
18. Looking at pics with Mom
19. Puttering around the house
20. Usinger's pit-stop!

Thompson Beaver

"Natalie likes to listen to...I don't know what his name is...that Beaver guy."

"What Beaver guy?"

"Oh, come on Dad...I don't know...that Beaver guy."

"The Leave it to Beaver guy? Beaver Cleaver?"

"No. I don't know. Oh...Thompson Beaver!"

"Thompson Beaver?"

"Yeah."

"You mean Justin Bieber?"

"Yeah. Oh. Yeah, right...Justin Bieber."

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...