Caleb & Me being Caleb & Me

Last night, I had a long talk with Caleb about the importance of discovering his gifts and talents so that he can use them some day to serve others. To provide an example, I demonstrated one of my skills. This video features an excerpt from our conversation.



I just love that kid's laugh. The best thing is how, after our talk, Caleb comes and puts both of his hands on my mouth and blows a slobbery raspberry right in my face. He's a fun kid.

Names and Measurements

Okay, so Gabe said a couple things that made me laugh, and I need to do a post for the week, so here goes.

I really love his logic as it relates to weights and measurements. Today, he stood on the bathroom scale, and said, "Look, Daddy, I'm not 3." And I explained that he was still three, but he weighs 40 pounds. Then I stood on the scale. He asked how much I weighed, and I told him, and he goes, "WHOA, we need to get you to the dentist!" I love his totally random logic.

Later, he asked me, out of the blue, "Daddy, what's my nickname?" I told him sometimes we call him Gabie or Bubba or Champ. He said he liked "Champ." Then he said, what's "Mark Hogan?" I told him that was his middle name, and he said, "That's my name when I'm getting a timeout."

One more Yo Gabba Post and I'll Stop

Okay, so Caleb. He love's "Biz's Beat of the Day." Just watch him...the boy loves to beat box.

A Thousand Questions

I originally saw this at Willow Creek's Leadership Summit last summer. I think it's quite powerful.

Yo Gabba...Wha?

Okay, so Gabe asked yesterday if we could check out a "Yo Gabba Gabba" DVD from the library. I had never seen it before. Can I just say, it is probably the weirdest kids' show ever? And can I just say, I think I really like it?

It scares Caleb. Any time the "DJ" would come on the screen, Caleb would turn toward me and put his head on my chest.

DJ Lance is painfully, amusingly weird to watch. I want a hat and glasses like his. They play dance beats through the whole show....I even saw a clip on Youtube from the show where they were teaching the kiddies to beat box.

Why didn't we have this when I was a kid? I would have taken this over Mr. Rogers and his spooky puppets any day.

Actual Frisco Pics from Days 3-4

Frisco Pics: Day 2-4

Here are some of my favorite pics recapping the rest of our trip last week to Cali. And I ought to say here BIG THANKS to Mammow and Oma for taking great care of the boys so we could get away. Man, that was nice.

Quick recaps:

Day 2 -- Conference day: I went to a mentoring conference (by Friends for Youth). I did a workshop, and after a lot of prayer and prep and prayer, was really pleased with how it turned out and was also quite relieved to get it behind me. After the conference was done, we went to check into our other hotel -- Mariott for $55/night via priceline...so much nicer than the Sofitel! Even got a room with a beautiful view of a bay. We headed for the real Fisherman's Wharf...which really is a tourist trap...reminded me a lot of areas of New Orleans with the souvenir shops and stuff...but the outdoor seafood vendors made the experience worthwhile. From there, we got some asiago sour dough bread from Boudin and made our way to Giardhelli Square.

Day 3 -- Golden Gate, Sausalito, and Napa Valley day.

Day 4 -- Lombard Street, Muir Woods, and More coast day

Day 5 -- Returned to icy Chicago. Glad to have had the opportunity and super thankful to be home safely with the boys.