Father's Day

I couldn't have asked for a better Father's Day. Natalie and Jasper took me to Perkins for breakfast then we headed home to open my first Father's Day gift, a bracelet with Jasper's initials on it.

We loaded up the car — Cozmo too — and headed out to mom and dad's for the afternoon. We grilled lunch and just hung outside, enjoying a beautiful day - swinging, talking and watching The Coz play in the small water bowl. It was great to be able to spend Father's Day with as much of our immediate family as could be there.

We went to the Weller's in Waukee for the evening. Jasper got passed around all night, just like he did at the Wilson's, while The Coz hung out at Vicki's with Sadie.

Thanks everyone for a great first Father's Day!

Motorcycle man!!!

For the first time of many, I'm sure, Jasper got on my motorcycle. Geez, since I've only put about 10 miles on it this year he's been on it about as long as I have!!!

Hi Elli!

Longtime friend and now Missouri resident Elli Christenson visited last week. Thanks for stopping by, Elli!

Bald guys

Neither Jasper nor great-grandpa Bob Wilson have much hair, but I'd say they're both still pretty cute in their own ways. This photo was taken April 11 during a visit to our house by the great-grands — Bob and Rita — and grands — Paul and Debbie. And we can't forget about Syd coming to see her baby cousin, too!

Great grandpa Bob is sick right now and staying at the Kavanagh House in Des Moines. That — and the fact he was chased from his original room by rising water due to heavy rains — didn't stop him from entertaining Jasper when we visited on Friday, June 6, which just happened to be Bob and Rita's 62nd anniversary.

We've had a good time listening to stories this past week and some of great-grandpa Bob's jokes, but I better not type all of them in this space — it is, of course, a family blog!

We love you grandpa Bob ... feel better!!!

Let's try this again ...

Here's just a small selection of the 'Faces of Jasper.' The last post with similar photos didn't work out like I wanted, and now I can't seem to get the darn thing removed from the page so just scroll past that one when you get to it.

Anyway, we've got here Serious Jasper, what looks to be Surprised Jasper, Silly Jasper and, of course, Very Smiley Jasper. You'll normally see Serious Jasper or Very Smiley Jasper, but if you 'woof' him at the right time you get a great Surprised Jasper, too. (Grandpa Paul goes the best woofin'!)

These were taken by me - Dad - June 2 during a visit by Nat and J to my office in Altoona. Of course I had to get out the camera!

Sports fans!!!

It didn't take long for Jasper to join his dad as one of the 50 remaining NBA fans in the world. We chilled on the couch Thursday, June 5 with The Coz, watching the Boston Celtics win game 1 of the NBA finals against the Lakers. (Check out J's eyes in the top shot - he's actually watching the game!)

I guess I didn't get the memo that we were supposed to close our eyes in the second shot!

The faces of Jasper

There's plenty of others, but here we've got happy face Jasper, serious face Jasper and ... let's just call it silly face Jasper. We'll leave it up to you, the readers, to decide which ones are which.

This happened to be earlier this week when Nat decided to bring J in to my office for a visit. I had the camera all good to go but didn't catch the best smiles he had for me. That's OK, there'll be plenty more of those to come!