When He Grows Up

Oliver adores his two grandpas. He is crazy about them.

Recently, Oliver was talking to his plushy zebra friend, Balloon Face...

Excitedly, he said, "Did you know that when I grow up I will be a grandpa!"

This was quickly followed by a disgruntled, "but I will have to be a dad first."

Grandpa Than and Grandpa Mike are Oliver's favorite humans on the planet.

They have taught him that grandpas are fun. They always, always, always play with you. Grandpas are handy. They have "magic tools" and gadgets that can fix anything. Grandpas are thoughtful. They will read you books, and stop by just to say hello and take you on a walk. They drive trucks. They are strong. They tell excellent stories and can keep up with four year old imaginations. They are not burdened by human limitations. There is nothing they cannot do.

In Oliver's world, Grandpas are simply the best and he honestly wants nothing more than to be one himself.  

The Story Of Jesse's Life: In Which I Feed Him Cat Food

Sometimes, when I'm tired and wait too long to start dinner (as in it's 7 pm and I haven't even decided what to make) I whip out a can of something hiding in the basement storeroom.

Usually it is tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches, but I was feeling too lazy to even make a few grilled cheesies...don't judge me. You've probably been there.

Last night, it was No Bean Chili with corn bread from the freezer.

Neither of us thought it was overwhelmingly appetizing...or healthy.

When we blessed it, we asked that it would please sustain our tummies until we could eat something healthier. We knew we had no business asking for it to "nourish and strengthen" us when it clearly was not full of nutrients.

Jesse accused me of feeding him cat food. 

He wasn't far off base.

Put it on a chili dog, though, and we are all in!