Sunday Afternoons with Mr. B

Just a brief sampling of how I spend my Sunday afternoons for those at work who want an explanation for why, on Monday, I never know "who won the game," or why I stare at them blankly while they recount some amazing feat of ground acquisition glory witnessed on ESPN:

After church, it's off to Papa and Grandma's house to play with cousins, eat lunch, swim, and capture pictures like this. Too much cuteness for a 5 megapixel camera! A closer inspection of Josiah's right lower mandibular margin (dental jargon) will reveal, not dirt - which is what one typically finds on this kid's face - but the remains of a chocolate-covered ice cream bar.

Driver's Training

Inside Javan's head: "I look good. I feel good. I'm the 'Javanator' with wheels, baby! The Javan Basnight machine -- zero defects. This permit thing is just a formality, anyway; I've been driving since I was eight. I could pass the road test with my eyes closed, driving backwards, uphill, drinking a soda. Speed limits? You've gotta be kidding me. I can't wait until I'm driving without my dad, so I don't have to hold this ridiculous 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock position on the steering wheel. Hey, wait a minute... if I angle that side view mirror just right I could see my bicep while I'm driving... sweet!"

Inside Dad's head: "I remember teaching this kid to ride a bike. Maybe I should put a helmet on him just in case."

I love it when I hear the kids say, "Dad, watch this!" or, "Dad, look at me!" Those statements simultaneously have entertainment value, pique my curiosity, and spike an adrenalin rush: The last time I heard Emily utter these words she was 30 feet off the ground up in a tree. Today, I'm watching her work on her lats... sort of.

Spotting for Josiah during a routine workout.