Lisa n Tom (n James n Joseph)

Lisa writes: Just 'coz.

Lisa writes: A neighbor gave us this spanking new pack they never used. Tom said it was like going from a Civic to a Passat. (Tom knows whereof he speaks. That was his last car trajectory.) James doesn't care, just as long as he gets to cortar the grama.

Lisa writes: He had a whole column of these going down his spine (he was a Stegosaurus). He doesn't know this last one is still here ... and I'm not telling him.

Lisa writes: Tom said, "What is the baby wearing?" Camouflage.

Lisa writes: Finally fulfilled my lifelong dream of getting a rock tumbler. (Kidding, not kidding.) Picked one up at a thrift shop, went for a rock gathering walk with James, brought them back, loaded them up, spun them for a month, and here they are. It's everything I hoped it would be.

Tom writes:  Call me clueless.  I have had a brother for most of my life, one with whom I share a strong relationship, so I should know this.   But it has really surprised (ans pleased) me to watch James and Joseph that becoming brothers is a process add much as it is a family arrangement.  And they are doing it.  James will do crazy things to make Joseph laugh,  and he can draw a laugh out of Joseph better than anyone else.  Joseph, for his part, adores James.  I heard this exchange on the way to church today.  I wasn't paying attention at first, but once I did I realized I was hearing something new.

Lisa writes: It's an Eastern Hercules Beetle . I have never met a bug this big face to face before.

Lisa writes: Joseph and I dropped James off at Miss Sandy's house this morning, chatted a few minutes, then walked home. When I lifted Joseph out of the stroller, he started screaming. I thought it was because he was hungry (he's been screaming about being hungry lately) so I set him down on the carpet while I made a bottle. When I came back, there was a BEE walking across his leg. It was a little sweat bee. I flicked it off and squashed it, but it had already stung him twice. Poor baby!   After some Tylenol and a long nap, he seems to have forgotten the whole incident.

Lisa writes: I'm writing this down because I don't want to forget that when Joseph was eight months old, he did this funny thing where he would randomly stick one or both legs straight up in the air.

Lisa writes: My favorite incentive programs are the ones that reward you for doing what you were already doing anyway. The country library system has a summer reading program. We read James 15 books; they give him a coupon booklet for some free stuff. First up, one soft serve cone at McDonalds. James calls this "ice cream face."