Watercolor me impressed

Tonight, Lexi told me that she wanted to paint. She was pretty insistent. So I got out the watercolors, got on the phone with Jaime and stopped paying attention.


A few minutes later, I realized she was actually creating something pretty coherent.


I'm no artist, but I think this is pretty good for a 3-year-old.


Think I'm gonna have to frame this one.

By popular demand

...the drunkest clown ever. Happy Birthday, Suzanne

Bowzer

...or is it Bauzer?

I'm in Carthage, and my parents are trying to pick a puppy. Tonight, Lexi and I tagged along while they checked out some Schnauzers. We met this one, which my dad quickly nicknamed Bowzer.

Please take me home.


Please?


How can you resist me?

Wesley Friends

I gave a talk tonight to about 100 members of a retirees group called Wesley Friends. I give several of these talks a year, usually about restaurant reviewing, and it always leaves me hungry for retirement. These people have a good time.


Look what they gave me! Mmmmmm. Turkey and taters. (I think it was turkey.) Hospital food, but not too bad.


Can you, like me, usually determine the approximate age and gender of people based on their handwriting?

Only 15 years till I can join.

Piano

Found the piano I'd been looking for last week on Craigslist. Two days and $75 later, it was in my living room, exactly where I'd imagined it. I hope Lexi will want to learn.

Nasty onion breath

I did NOT know that sweet little 3-year-olds with angel breath could ever smell so stanky. But tonight, after Lexi finished her cheeseburger, she smelled kinda like a sailor, minus the whiskey.

Don't let your child do this.

Forgot to pay

...for that cute little grocery item in the middle.

Mudbuggin', ride ridin'

My sister and her two boys are in town. So after work, we loaded the kids in the car and drove to Winfield (Wellington?) NO, definitely Winfield for the Cowley County Fair.


The reason we went was to hear The Mudbugs perform, but we'll get to that in a second. See that giant Ferris wheel in the background? LEXI RODE THAT!!!!


Fueled by a little Joe bravery, Lexi actually agreed to get on board. She was reluctant at first -- she's hesistant about new things, especially potentially scary new things. But once she was up there, she had a blast. Jack sat beside me. Annie stayed on the ground, which is where she prefers to be.


Earlier, the trio took a little car ride...


... and Joe and Lexi tried out this flying dragon while Jack utilized to Porta-facilities. That was the extent of the rides, though. Even at the CCF, it costs $3 a ride. What a racket.

Of course, the real point of the evening was to support the Mugbugs in their Cajun jammin'. Here's Jaime in her new stage ensemble.


Look just below Carter's fiddle and you'll see her banging away.


Robin, Kenny and Randy also showed up. Robin was so excited about her recent discovery that the Arb won it's $25,000 grant, she did a little dance in front of the whole audience. Make that three or four little dances.


Didn't get the kids to bed until close to 11 p.m. It was worth it, no matter how much they make us suffer tomorrow.