Along the Merry Way....

I told Willie, Hugh, and Matthias that many hundreds of years ago, pirates had come to the house in Combermere, and there was a legend that pirate treasure was hidden somewhere, probably buried deep beneath the house. They were very excited by the idea, and we began to search the house. Hugh and I were looking in the stonework near the fireplace when we saw a bit of charred paper stuck between the stones. I pulled it out and found a dirty piece of paper that was marked with a skull and crossbones. Hugh immediately brought it to Willie, who discerned it to be a map. We followed some of the more legible landmarks down into the basement and deep under the foundations of the house to the spot that was marked with an X. Willie was pretty brave and climbed in head-first on his belly to fit between the floorboards and the house foundations. Hugh opted to guard the rear entrance and watch while Matthias tried to scramble after Willie and I. His diaper was a little too heavy and cumbersome thou...

What a wonderful thing to happen! Raphael Pemberton was born on October 5th, and so now we share a birthday. What a beautiful thing to happen. What a special gift. (Note: Hugh wanted to call him "Little Hugh". Makes sense. Then he'd be Big Hugh :) Other name suggestions from the boys were: Picklehead, Poopface, and Binky! (Thank you, Mary, for the pictures....see also http://flyingsquirrelpress.blogspot.com/ for more)

Mary was looking through a Sears Catalogue to buy shirts for Will. Hugh was eagerly clustering up next to her and looking over her shoulder. He pointed to one of the male models in a plaid button-down shirt and said, "I want that one for the new papa." Mary says, "Hugh! I'm not ordering a new papa. I'm ordering a shirt!"

Will has been speaking to Willie in Latin ever since he was born. When Willie was about four years old, his dad happened to look over in the middle of a conversation with Mary. Willie was sitting on the counter with wide eyes, staring at his dad with a look of shock. He said in a quiet, stunned little voice, "Pappa, you speak English!"