Mutch thanks for all your good thoughts on Damon and his college friend. I have passed it all along and we shall see what he does. Damon is ever optimistic and will take every person at his or her word. I go through life with an eyebrow permanently cocked. Sometimes we need third party opinions. Also, called me out, entirely correctly, on my lack of neutrality in story telling. So true! But you should have seen the first version.
We’ve just returned to Knoxville from a round robin of family visits — Lexington -> Cincinnati -> Louisville -> home. Being back in Ohio made me yearn for my hometown. I’d be happy to live there again. But for now I’m thrilled to be under my own roof, regardless of where the house sits. Elliot, turns out, is not a fan of riding in the car. By the time we pulled into our garage he had gone all hoarse from yelling.
Warning: This photo could make you spontaneously pregnant.
The boys are catching a nap at Grammy’s house. I’m fascinated by how they hold their hands the same way — thumb tucked under pointer finger.
Buddy Hackett!:
He doesn’t always look like that:
Pumpkin pie:
Today we took Alden to the zoo, talking all the way about how we will see Wilbur the Camel (stupid, I know) who he got to feed at a recent visit. We make him our last stop, which means Alden is both tired and hungry. No camels. So I say, “I’ll bet Wilbur already went to take his nap.” But I didn’t want to give up so soon, in case he had just been relocated. So I carry Alden over to a nearby zoo worker and say, “Hey, we’re here to see Wilbur. Is he around or is he taking his nap?” She looks directly at my expectant son’s face and says, “The camels aren’t here. They’re only here on the weekends during the winter.” (Dying to know where they go during the week). So I look meaningfully at Alden and say, “I see, okay. But Wilbur is just napping, right? Not gone. We can see him at our next visit.” And she says, “No, the camels are all gone.” And I say, “Yup, got it. All gone and Wilbur is napping. We’ll see him another day.” And she looks at me like I’m slow and says, “There aren’t any camels here.” Gah! The day was saved when we walked by the alpacas and llamas, who are camel-ish enough. Alden was satisfied that the one in the far distance was probably Wilbur, who was probably sleeping.
Don’t feel too sorry for him, though. He was a right pill all day long and I was delighted to bundle him off to bed.
jaysaint 
Posted by your_new_cuckoo on November 13, 2009 at 8:23 am
Oh wow. The photo of the two of them just made my heart explode- the cute, it’s just too much!
And really, you’d think someone working at a zoo would have half a brain cell about the difference between animals being gone and being gone. How is it that she couldn’t pick up on the “nap” stuff?! Glad for the alpacas and llamas, though, or else he might have gone from pill to pistol (as my grandma used to say).
Posted by your_new_cuckoo on November 13, 2009 at 8:23 am
Oh wow. The photo of the two of them just made my heart explode- the cute, it’s just too much!
And really, you’d think someone working at a zoo would have half a brain cell about the difference between animals being gone and being gone. How is it that she couldn’t pick up on the “nap” stuff?! Glad for the alpacas and llamas, though, or else he might have gone from pill to pistol (as my grandma used to say).
Posted by jaysaint on November 16, 2009 at 12:12 am
“Pill to pistol”
I’m stealing that!
Posted by lemon_says on November 13, 2009 at 1:08 pm
That woman was rather sloooooow.
Elliot looks so much like Alden! They are so sweet. You know both of mine were highly anti-car for months. Oh, the screaming.
Posted by lemon_says on November 13, 2009 at 1:08 pm
That woman was rather sloooooow.
Elliot looks so much like Alden! They are so sweet. You know both of mine were highly anti-car for months. Oh, the screaming.
Posted by jaysaint on November 16, 2009 at 12:14 am
Slow indeed.
So, tell me when the screaming stopped…
Posted by lemon_says on November 16, 2009 at 12:57 am
Six months for Anya, seven for Ez.
Posted by scout1222 on November 13, 2009 at 3:51 pm
That Buddy Hackett photo is spot on! It made me cackle.
Posted by scout1222 on November 13, 2009 at 3:51 pm
That Buddy Hackett photo is spot on! It made me cackle.
Posted by heathrow on November 13, 2009 at 7:01 pm
I could eat those kids with a spoon!
Posted by heathrow on November 13, 2009 at 7:01 pm
I could eat those kids with a spoon!
Posted by travellight on November 13, 2009 at 7:10 pm
Your children have the most pleasant expressions on their faces.
Posted by travellight on November 13, 2009 at 7:10 pm
Your children have the most pleasant expressions on their faces.
Posted by jaysaint on November 16, 2009 at 12:14 am
They are, for the most part, happy little bugs.
I have procured tailor’s measuring tape. Post-nap I will be measuring Elliot. For no particular reason.
Posted by travellight on November 16, 2009 at 2:20 am
I laughed out loud at the comment that Alden has been a right pill. His face just makes that look improbable.
Well, good. I like knowing such trivia.
Posted by willowkitty on November 20, 2009 at 5:56 pm
i want another baby
Posted by jaysaint on December 4, 2009 at 12:20 am
Me too! I just don’t want to be pregnant again.
Posted by jaysaint on November 16, 2009 at 12:12 am
“Pill to pistol”
I’m stealing that!
Posted by jaysaint on November 16, 2009 at 12:14 am
Slow indeed.
So, tell me when the screaming stopped…
Posted by jaysaint on November 16, 2009 at 12:14 am
They are, for the most part, happy little bugs.
I have procured tailor’s measuring tape. Post-nap I will be measuring Elliot. For no particular reason.
Posted by lemon_says on November 16, 2009 at 12:57 am
Six months for Anya, seven for Ez.
Posted by travellight on November 16, 2009 at 2:20 am
I laughed out loud at the comment that Alden has been a right pill. His face just makes that look improbable.
Well, good. I like knowing such trivia.
Posted by willowkitty on November 20, 2009 at 5:56 pm
i want another baby
Posted by tsalino on November 29, 2009 at 2:03 pm
Elliott as Buddy Hackett has to be my favorite baby picture ever. And I’m not usually much for baby pictures.
Posted by tsalino on November 29, 2009 at 2:03 pm
Elliott as Buddy Hackett has to be my favorite baby picture ever. And I’m not usually much for baby pictures.
Posted by jaysaint on December 4, 2009 at 12:20 am
Always such a nice surprise when you drop by.
Posted by jaysaint on December 4, 2009 at 12:20 am
Always such a nice surprise when you drop by.
Posted by jaysaint on December 4, 2009 at 12:20 am
Me too! I just don’t want to be pregnant again.