Real quick...before I forget...sorry no pics...

Earl is traveling...he left early yesterday morning before the kids were awake. Both questioned his absence almost as soon as they woke up. Grace was content after I told her that Daddy went on an airplane for work and that he would be back before she got home from school on Wednesday. Sam however kept asking about "dada" throughout the day. He'd look up from whatever it was that he was doing that minute--I tell you this kid is minute to minute...he never stays in one spot very long--pop out his chou-chou*, look at me questioningly, and say "da-da?"
*"chou-chou" is our family word for pacifier...rhymes with "bow"

Sometime around mid-morning on Monday, Earl called to check in...he had a few hours free and had stopped to visit Mount Vernon (the home of George Washington)...as he was talking to me, he said "Well...whaddya know, there's a camel here...hey buddy!" I replied, "A camel? At Mt. Vernon? Really? Well, watch out...they spit." Then we hung up...it was a short phone call, they mostly are when he travels...just a check-in here and there, then he either has to go back to whatever it is he was doing or the kids start beating up on each other and I have to go and go pull them off of each other. As soon as I hung up, Grace asked about the camel (she pays close attention to the conversations of grown-ups, particularly the conversations of her grown-up parents...we must be careful what we say around such little ears)..."Daddy saw a camel?...wow...cool..."
We continued our day...lunch, naps, snack, sibling WWF, laundry...and Sam continued to ask about "da-da?"...Each time he would ask I would say "He'll be back buddy, he flew on an airplane and went to work." I finally loaded the kids up and took 'em to Wal-mart...sometimes when you're flying solo at this parenting thing, it is not smart to stay in the house. Sometimes it is best to get out there and share your crazy children with the general public. As I was unloading and putting on coats and strapping in Sam to the shopping cart, little baby man looked up yet again, popped out his chou-chou, and said "da-da?" And before I could answer, big sister piped up...."SAaaaaM! Daddy flew away on an airplane to go see a camel..." Well, folks there ya go...plain and simple...I couldn't have said it better myself. And ya know what? Sam stopped asking...I guess Grace cleared up any doubt about the where-abouts of his beloved "da-da"