Staughty called me over to see something he had drawn this morning. I called Katie over to her that on the hands and feet of the character he he had drawn were five fingers and five toes except for one of the feet which had three toes. To this he responded by adding two more toes.

Random Portraits

Walking to Oakhurst.

Today, while laying brick at the backyard gate, I looked up long enough to see Eula reach for something and pull it to her in a deliberate way. It was a cloth ball she sleeps with—Katie had brought a traveling sleeper out onto the back porch because the weather was mild. Eula rolled over for the first time while we were at Mark & Joy's in Jacksonville. She's an easy baby, very alert and hardy, and pretty.

Katie & Eula riding the subway to Manhattan

Taken by Staughty while camping at Lake Lanier.

Lake Lanier

Conyers Monastery — Staughty and I went on a whim. I hadn't been in years, but growing up in Conyers, I went to the monastery periodically. Fond of the big gambrel dairy barns — like mini cathedrals. Had the chance to build one similar for a man named Gray Stowers on Union Church road. While walking around, we came across some recently cut oak timbers drying. I inquired and found out they were going to build a timber frame chaple. They gave me a copy of the plans and said I could bid on the job. Very excited about this and am determined to get this project. We pick katie and Eula up from the airport tonight.

Just took Katie and Eula to the airport. They're off to see Jeniffer in New York for a few days. I've been thinking about writing something just for the children for a while and now seems like a good time to begin—I wish it were sooner. Time passes so quickly. Staughty, your not quite three and a half at the moment and you Eula are about four months old.

I'll try to recount as often as possible the major & minor events that seem significant. Know that your mother and I are so very proud of both of you, and that we will do our best to expose you to the wonderful things life has to offer and protect you from its many pit falls. Exposure to opportunity and the freedom to act on it—this is what I anxiously want for my children.

You just whistled as I was writing here and asked me if I heard. You were pulling off a legitimate whistle before you were three.

A pic from Katie's iphone taken in Brooklyn.