Pappa's World

Well, it's been a while...

I have so much to write about! It has been an amazing, and very busy month or so!

As Mama wrote, we have moved and had alot of fun things going on. Work has been kind of slow, which has been nice. It has allowed me to help out a bit with our crazy schedule. But, the really important part of this post is to talk about all the fun stuff I have been doing with our sweet baby girl!

On the morning of July 14th, Olivia and I went to "Daddy Bootcamp", which is a class for expecting fathers at the hospital where O' was born. She was in very good spirits, and was a great model for all the daddie's to be. She had her diaper changed by a couple of strange men (with Daddy hovering about, of course!), took a nap, showed off her latest tricks, and was adored by all.

The next week was busy, Momma had VBS going Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, so we got to play alot. Wednesday was Baby Spa night. Olivia got a massage, then a good soak and splish-splash in the tub, and then fell asleep at the bottle, which was the perfect opportunity to trim her finger nails. Later in the week, Lee was busy with Auntie Sal, so Friday and Saturday night were good Daddy-Daughter times as well.

On the Solstice (June 21st), Lee went out with Sal, and Boo-boo and I loaded up the REI Pigy Back and hoofed it over to Olbrich Park for the neighborhoods Solstice Celebration. This was a fun spirited Hippie-Dippie event, with kites, local art, and some live Irish Folk Music. Olivia was a hit dancing to the music, and she wore herself right out. She fell asleep in the kid pack on the walk home, and I got the chance to try out a restaurant in the 'hood that I'd had my eye on called "Bunky's". I got a yummy Greek salad to go, and was totally happy about it!

Last week, Lee got the chance to go see a play with her Mama, and Olivia had a play date with her Fairy God Mother so I could go to the small group I have joined at church. She had a blast with Jane (as always!), and it was good for me to catch up with the B.Boys.

On Saturday, I finally got the chance to try out some Midwestern Fly Fishing! Peter's good friend BJ met up with me west of town about an hour, in what is known as the "Driftless Area". This refers to the fact that the Ice Age glaciers that formed the Great Lakes did not cover this portion of Wisconsin, so the geography is quite different. It is a beautiful area of rolling hills, lush green valleys, farmland and streams. Unfortunately, the flooding of a month or so ago wreaked some serious havoc on the trout streams, stripping away all the aquatic plants, which removes the insect's food, which is what the trout like to eat! Soooo, we didn't really have any luck to speak of, but we had an absolute blast, and it was just good to be outside, casting a line!

Well, we have a busy month ahead of us. Lot's of family birthday's: Uncle Spark's was the first, Cousin Julie's the 2nd, Uncle Ryan's is the 5th, Aunt Katie's the 16th, Cousin Elias and Gramma Lori's the 24th, and I think that covers it! This Sunday, I am taking Spark to a Brewer's Game in Milwaukee with some co-workers. The 11th is my company summer party (karaoke!!), the 19th we are floating the Wisconsin River (again with co-workers). There are a few other things that I know I am forgetting about, but that is most of it!