No Ball is an Island (update, again)

  November 18, 2019:

 You can see the baseball field at the end of the hallway on the second floor of UHS.

You can also see the top of this small roof.

Last year a foul ball landed on that small roof. The lonely baseball sat there during the summer, fall, winter, and spring. I'm sure the custodians are too busy to worry about retrieving it. I had thought about taking a picture of the ball during all four seasons. I've seen it covered in leaves and in snow. I suppose I didn't take the pictures because I felt a little sad for that baseball.

The ball was still there in August for its second year of school, but this time things are different.

Everybody needs a friend...

Update November 9, 2020: 

... or two.

Update March 28, 2023: 

... or three. 

"Hey guys, got room?'

Update September 3, 2024:

... or four. Glad to see they're keeping themselves hydrated. 

No Ball is an Island (update, again)

 November 18, 2019:

 You can see the baseball field at the end of the hallway on the second floor of UHS.

You can also see the top of this small roof.

Last year a foul ball landed on that small roof. The lonely baseball sat there during the summer, fall, winter, and spring. I'm sure the custodians are too busy to worry about retrieving it. I had thought about taking a picture of the ball during all four seasons. I've seen it covered in leaves and in snow. I suppose I didn't take the pictures because I felt a little sad for that baseball.

The ball was still there in August for its second year of school, but this time things are different.

Everybody needs a friend...

Update November 9, 2020: 

... or two.

Update March 28, 2023: 

... or three. 

"Hey guys, got room?'

Update September 3, 2024:

... or four. Glad to see they're keeping themselves hydrated. 

No Ball is an Island (update)

November 18, 2019:

 You can see the baseball field at the end of the hallway on the second floor of UHS.

You can also see the top of this small roof.

Last year a foul ball landed on that small roof. The lonely baseball sat there during the summer, fall, winter, and spring. I'm sure the custodians are too busy to worry about retrieving it. I had thought about taking a picture of the ball during all four seasons. I've seen it covered in leaves and in snow. I suppose I didn't take the pictures because I felt a little sad for that baseball.

The ball was still there in August for its second year of school, but this time things are different.

Everybody needs a friend...

Update November 9, 2020: 

... or two.

Update March 28, 2023: 

... or three. 

"Hey guys, got room?'

Iowa State Fair '16: Midway Edition

The next time we went to the fair Charlotte got to use her "ride anything you want as many times as you want" wristband. Last year she bonded with a another girl on the first ride, and they were "two hour friends". Like a gambler who hits a jackpot on the first spin, Charlotte is doomed to believe this will happen every time she gets on an amusement ride.

She thought she had a shot with this guy.

But it wasn't to be.

We consoled ourselves with some food on a stick. Guess which stick is mine and which one is Char's.

A cool drink also helped her mood.

Let's try again.

Time to celebrate and cool off with some ice cream nachos.

Expression exercises!

"Look happy."

"Look sad."

"Look mad."

"Look hungry."

"Look even hungrier."

"Look scared."

"More scared!"

Then I said, "Actually, I think it's time to go home now."

Real emotion?

Nah. Kids are born actors, and we went home anyway.

Friends in Low Places

Sometimes I toss Char a joke, and she runs with it to parts unknown. Here's an example.

We went shopping on Saturday, and the back of Daphne's car was filling up with all the super-sized items we bought at Costco. To make room, I took the package of 30 toilet paper rolls and placed it in the seat next to Char. I told her, "On the way home you get to sit next to Toilet Paper Man!"

She smiled and giggled. Then Char started talking about Toilet Paper Man. All the way home she told us about the things he likes to do: shop at the store, run at the park, play at the zoo, and he especially likes to get his haircut. She created a voice for him, and had him answer her questions.

"Am I your new friend Toilet Paper Man?" she asked the plastic wrap.
"Yes Charlotte," Char lowered her voice and shook the bag with her hand, "You are my best friend!"

After a 20-minute drive, I thought Char would be tired of Toilet Paper Man, but as soon as we brought him in, she wanted to start working on his haircut. I had no clue what she meant.

She first requested colored paper, which she cut into strips. "I loooove to cut paper!" Char sang as she worked the scissors. Char then asked if would I help her tape the strips onto Toilet Paper Man's head. "Don't forget the sides," she crooned.

Soon it was time for his haircut.

"Doesn't he look good?"

Char gave Toilet Paper Man a face, and then slicked him up with some stickers. Later in the evening she brought him down into the basement. She didn't want him to miss "movie night" with the family. He even has his own chair.

 Has a package of toilet paper ever been so loved? I doubt it. I think that smile is actually real.  

When we walked upstairs to put Char to bed, I thought I heard Toilet Paper Man whisper in the dark, "Thank you, Charlotte... I never thought I'd find a friend."