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!

Father Figures

So, Elsie is 5 1/2 years old...same age as Laura Ingalls Wilder in Little House in the Big Woods and Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird. Besides the disbelief that goes with her growing older, I think about the FATHERS in those two girls' lives. Jeez. One fights prejudice and one fights bears...literally. We are reading Little House now, and Pa Ingalls is a badass! Hunting fox all day in the dead of winter, prepping food for the long winter, running from panthers, and then making time for playing fiddle at night for his girls, walking eight hours into town to trade pelts for dress material for Ma and the girls. I can't measure up! And don't even get me started on Atticus...

Coal Tower

If you are ever in Pittsford, NY on a weekend, make sure to stop by the Coal Tower Restaurant and try their potato pancakes. I think it's the fluffiness, or the chives, or something...they are DE-lish.

Happy Birthday Part 2

The party continues! Henry decided to keep wearing his hat, and Elsie went along with him.

Pretty gosh darn cute picture!

Happy Birthday Hen!

Dinner:
Fish Sticks and French Fries, Peeps Cake from Mum

Baseball cards!

Three Matchbox cars!

A Nerf Hoop from Dad!

A Tee Ball set from Uncle Ben!

A lighthouse from Bob and Andrea!

A bus from Bumpa and Judy!

(I especially dig the noisemaker and "It's My B-Day!" badge in this photo...)