Regime

E: Just so you know, tomorrow I'm going to do 120 jumping jacks, 30 cartwheels, 50 pushups and 150 legups.

Me: Why?

E: Just to be ready for football next year.

His last game of this season was last night. …

Read: Obsession.

Kid quotes

Michael was reprimanding Elliot about something.  Apparently Elliot was feeling like the conversation was unfair.  This is what he said:
I feel like I'm the 13 colonies and you're the English king.  I don't have the power to fight back.

Elsie was not enjoying a canoe trip down the river in Valentine. Michael and a friend were trying to cheer her and other kids up with knock knock jokes.  Elsie was even laughing a little.  She got quiet for a few minutes and then said, "Knock knock".  Michael thought, oh good, she's getting into it!  So he said, "who's there?" To which Elsie replied, "I hate the river."  Hm.  Maybe not so much.

This morning when making breakfast Elliot said, "I'd like the usual: cereal and toast.  And a bar for an extra kick."  ?

Valentine

Michael spoke at an RUF retreat this weekend.  It happened to be in Valentine, NE.  9 miles from South Dakota.  I couldn't stare long enough at the huge sky and the endless horizon.  Amazing.  

I don't know why this dinosaur was at the gas station.  But he needed passengers.

Elsie started ballet

Tea party

Elsie and I had a tea party the other day while Elliot was at book club.  Just because.

Yaya sent everybody a new outfit, so of course they all tried them on

He gushes affection

As Michael walked out the door this morning, without prompting, Ezra said, "Bye Papa, I love you."  Seriously the most affectionate human I have ever known.