click image for more

Will found some interesting eyewear at his grandma’s house last week.  I’ll let the pictures say the rest.

click image for more

September is nearly gone and I am still not quite certain where it went – kinda how I feel about my mind some days.

September has definitely been a busy month for us as Jess got back into full swing teaching 6th grade language arts at Traverse City East Middle School, Will started preschool 2 days a week ( half days ) at Eastern Elementary, we took the boat out of the water, finalized our fall “to do” list, became members of the Grand Traverse Resort, and I have begun weekly tennis classes there.  Work for me has been insane, the days have been mostly sunny, the nights too short, and I finally finished reading my latest Christopher Moore book.  The summer plants have been replaced with mums and pumpkins, the grass doesn’t need cut quite as often (  I had been paying my 8 year old neighbor Brian $5 to cut it, so that extra 5 spot means the return of weekly boxed wine for this guy!  ), and I am still making really bad jokes all around.  Seriously.  They’re pretty bad.

But given the flurry of days, Will has kept things in perspective with his “ice soup” recipe and lazy days with a pumpkin, his tractor, and Elmo.  Because when it comes right down to it, a fella doesn’t need much more than a big vegetable, a good buddy, and something to haul it all around in…

click image for more

Will is growing up.  Quickly.  So quickly, in fact, that I feel as though I am that guy in the movies that is precariously hanging from the moving train, white knuckled, hoping that it will slow down just enough for him to get a better grip.  That’s me.  The guy that needs a little better grip on the train that is rolling right along.

A bit dramatic.  I know.  I don’t care.  Will started preschool last Wednesday, had his second day today, and I don’t think I ever heard the train’s shrill whistle declaring that it was leaving the station.

His first day of school started off entertaining enough – he had shaved “just like dad” the night before ( though with less clothes and no actual blade in the razor ) and was ready for his first First Day at Eastern Elementary.  We had practiced the “good bye” multiple times, but hadn’t planned for the other crying children that may not have practiced their good byes.  Specifically, two wailing boys when we first entered the class room  left Will dumbstruck and on the verge of tears himself.  But a little “distract and redirect” move to hang up his backpack seemed to do the trick and the send off was without incident.  Though Will hasn’t used the bathrooms at school yet ( he seems to be holding it until he gets home as he heads straight to the bathroom and pees alot! ) and has yet to eat his morning snack ( white milk or juice boxes apparently aren’t his thing ), he always has lots of fun stories that let on to how much he enjoys it.  As a matter of fact, I was just interupted writing this post so Will could tell me that his teacher has a book called “Chica Chica Boom Boom!”  He quite proudly explained that when Mrs. Feaster reads the book, they get to say “Chica Chica Boom Boom!”  Which, when I think about it, sounds a bit like a train clacking over the tracks while a flailing body slams against the side, desperately trying to hold on… chica chica Boom! Boom! chica chica Boom! Boom!

click image for more

A little late in posting, but I am finally catching up after having taken the first week of August off for our 2008 Summer Vacation!

The week started off with gorgeous weather – sunny and 80s – and our plan was to head out to the cabin on Spider Lake Sunday evening; unfortunately, we had a bit of an issue with the water well that set our vacation back until Tuesday morning…  the water table had dropped so low this summer that the well pipe was no longer sucking water?!  Well…  after a long Monday organizing a well company and replacing the well, we were back in action on Tuesday morning.

We spent Tuesday, Wednesday, and part of Thursday enjoying the lake and the weather.  We even had some neighbors out one evening for a cook out, campfire and neighbors Mike and Andy provided a bit of fishing fun for the kids.

Thursday evening was spent at the Northwestern Michigan Fair for an extravaganza of tractors, elephant ears, rides, and more tractors!  Corn dogs and cotton candy for all!

The weather then turned pretty cold and windy ( at the lake, anyway ) and we spent Friday out at the farm watching a combine harvest Roger’s oats crop.  Needless to say, that was Will’s vacation high point… just can’t beat a tractor AND a combine!  Roger’s mom ( Jess’ Grandma Steed ) even cruised down on her four-wheeler with dogs in tow to check the progress!

Saturday we spent in Suttons Bay for the sidewalk sales and Sunday was recuperation day!

It was another fantastic week spent in Northern Michigan and taking a week to ourselves is the best way to soak it all in.  We wait 9 months for this precious season and it didn’t disappoint!