The velocity of our days is increasing. I guess that makes us pretty normal in today's rushed society.

Kathleen is working very hard towards her goals and hopefully will have an assistant on board to help alleviate many of the perfunctory burdens she is having to overcome. Her time is better spent wrestling higher functions within a corporation than with a pernicious copier or printer.

Nathaniel is running around the house, as usual. He will point at something on a shelf, in the cupboard or toward another room and begin to speak his monosylabic baby garble. It is really cute and our standard reply, sometimes interrupting him so he can become accustomed in the future, "really, that's great." There are instances when he will look directly at you, engaging you into a game I call Who is Thinking What. He will not say anything and sometimes will have an expression on his face that is quizzical. Nat is doing very well around children his age and is learning over and under, as well as throwing and running away from us when he is doing something we don't approve. For instance, the other day he scooped up a handful of dog food while we were in the laundry room folding a load. I asked him to not play with the dog's food and walked over to help him put it back in the dish. He turned away from me toward the door and ran through the family room into the kitchen and stopped in the dining room, laughing the entire way. It was really cute, yet frustrating. He is quickly becoming a little boy.

Saturday, we went to the Lowry Park Zoo and looked at the elephants, giraffes, zebras and manatees. Nathaniel took a ride on the carousel and loved it. We had a great time and Kathleen was able to enjoy her son doing something that is a ton of fun. It is getting hot by 11 in the morning, so all of our activities include some sort of water fun and the zoo has a neat fountain area for the kids to play. Thursday last, Nat and I enjoyed our visit to the Florida Aquarium. He really has a lot of fun running around and pointing at the fish. There was an exhibit of shells, so Nat was able to touch a lot of different sea shells. He learned that if you put a conch or whelk up to your ear you can hear the ocean. He really liked discovering that.

Here is first mate Nathaniel aboard Nemo's Playpen with ensign Daddy. Captain Mommy was aboard getting some sun and a great boat ride. We didn't catch any fish and had to limp back to the boat ramp on a couple cylinders at the end of our journey to Caladesi Island. Another fix I'll have to address prior to our trip south for the weekend. Gabe and I went out on the boat last weekend and had a successful trip to Weedon Island, where we caught a dozen spotted sea trout that were between 10' and 14'. No keepers, better luck next time.

Here are a couple of Nat's expressions. He has many in his arsenal.






Our big trip to Minnesota is quickly approaching. I will be in Montana most of the time, but Kathleen and Nat are making it a solid family adventure of their 5 days. They will be at the cabin to begin and end up at Grandma's in Waseca. She has her 15 year class reunion on August 19th in Owatonna and I have a date with some rainbow trout on the Yellowstone River in Paradise Valley. Should be a great trip for all of us.

Be well,
Michael

We have some days to replay, so bear with me while I try my best to recount them.
Since our last edition of the blog, Nathaniel came down with a sinus infection and so did Daddy. It wasn't fun and had us down for over a week. We were healthy just in time to fly to Michigan for our 12 day visit con familia Premo. The trip was extended an extra two days because of the near miss tropical storm A. We had a great time with Grandma and Grandpa and did many things, like go to the zoo, play miniature golf (with cousin Dominic) and visit all of the relatives we could.

The first Sunday we were in Saginaw, everyone gathered for Mikkel's birthday and to visit. Here are all of the cousins together as best we could manage.

Then we had cake and Aunt Julie offered to help Nat with his. Everyone within 5 feet of them had cake somewhere on them. Lots of fun.


Keaton was exhausted by 2 and the girls were really quiet playing near him. It was a joy seeing such well manered and beautiful nieces. They will be very special as they grow older.








Why yes, that is Albert Premo fishing from the banks of the South Branch of the mighty AuSable River. Next year we'll have waders for him and better weather for the trip to the cabin on Fief Lake. First time Dad and I had been fishing together since I was probably 12. Fishing was O.K., not much caught, but the area is very beautiful and the wild Irises were in bloom.







Nathaniel loved playing in his Grandparent's backyard. Running, falling and rolling all around the yard, but his most favorite of all was the red Radio Flyer wagon.






We had a brief visit from Aunt Lisa. Nat loves a good book before bed and the company of family. It was great to see Lisa, no matter how brief. We'll just miss them in August.



Nathaniel is now learning how to eat with a fork. Yep, the mess is on. He really enjoys utensils, but has a habit of throwing them across the table or dining room.





Kathleen was working some amazing hours the past two months. She has certainly proved herself worthy to be General Counsel for a growing company like JSA. She has received many positive comments about her work and demeanor. This comes as no surprise to Nat and me, we knew she just needed the venue to perform. She is an excellent addition to JSA and will be an asset in the future of the company. Even with her crazy hours and two trips to Las Vegas in one month, we had a brief family trip to Sanibel over the 4th of July weekend, but was cut short because Nat had croup. Unfortunately, red tide was getting very thick on the south beach, but was not present on Bowman's Beach. Let's hope it clears up and goes away.

Here is a great side by side comparison of our house 2003 on the left and 2006 on the right. A lot of sweat and money can brighten up a house.



Be well,
Michael, Kathleen and Nathaniel