A (somewhat) Wish List

The world according to Humphries....... A VERY familiar scene in the Goldsmith household. We got Humphries at the tail end (no pun intended) of the burning season....but he's gotten a few fires still. That being said, he is "starting" to be seen in front of the stove. Still not in the context Thomas used to indulge (if you remember, Thomas would pretty much lie on the hearth). But, we're thinking Humphries will eventually be a wood-stove kitty cat.

Q: Why does Callum play with this cat thingy more than anything else in the house lately?

A: Because its not one of his toys....duhh!!!

He loves this thing! I think grandmom gave this to Amanda. We keep it on a bookshelf, and, of course, Callum has found it.
The Favry's are due any day now to have their first little boy (and our first nephew!). On the (somewhat) eve of Jackson's birth, I put together a quick "wish list" of pleasant thoughts and hopes I have concerning two little cousins spending time together. Geography is our enemy here, but we all hope to do the best we can.....please feel free to add some!!

1. Two little boys to run around Nannie's house around the holidays, eating chocolate something-or-other, and then touching the wall

2. A new audience to which to tell my old jokes that everyone has already heard a million times

3. Constant practical jokes played on Papa Goldsmith (hide his glasses, put whoopie cushions on his chair, put ice cubes in a cup with a hole cut out of the bottom and then hang it above him while Papa sleeps, change all the settings on his computer, etc)

4. The possibility of matching outfits for certain holidays

5. All the cool things about apple picking that we used to love when we were kids can now be passed on to Jackson and Callum

6. a contest to "find last year's turkey carcass" the fastest (this will be done, as tradition, on the morning of Thankgiving)

7. The image of Papa Goldsmith sitting with a six year old and a five year old, surrounded by Shirley Temples, crumpled up napkins, and a huge Pu Pu platter on a table

8. Constant practical jokes played on Nannie (playing "touch the wall" and "how long can I go with my shoes on in the house before Nannie notices")

9. Seeing the two of them in the bath together (every family in America has pictures of their little toddlers in bathtubs with other toddler brothers, sisters, cousins, etc.). Kranthony, I think we'll have to do this one in Maine, for obvious reasons.

10. Taking two little guys out for a canoe trip down the Kennebec or a notable Connecticut river

11. Carrying on perhaps the greatest Goldsmith family tradition: The deep-sea fishing trip. I've done a little math here....when just dad and I go, dad usually packs 12 sandwiches for the day. SOooooo.....if me, dad, Twon, CS, and JR go, then that works out to....um....about 388 sandwiches, a pallet of Pringles, and a keg of Polar seltzers. You should just buy a cow, Papa.