Dear Joseph,

It has been cold here in Milwaukee, but Papa has been out in his kayak a couple of times. Your cousin, Adena, is here with me and grandma; and I wish you were here to. But, I bet it is warmer in Ohio right now.

Here are two pictures for you to look at. One shows how it looks out on the lake in winter. The orange boat is Papa's kayak. The other picture shows our group in the pool where we can practice rolling in warm water.

I miss you.

Papa loves you.

Dear Joe-Joe,

It was great having you here for the holiday, I think we all had a good time. Like your cousin Adena, you are growing so fast that grandma and I are amazed at the changes. You certainly get around just fine and have a growing vocabulary. Now, on to potty training.

Your mom said that you are all thinking of moving up here to Wisconsin. Maybe we all should move, but to someplace else. Something to talk about.

Anyway, I am already looking forward to spring. You will be 3 years old, and I would like to get you into a floating kayak to see how you like it. Meanwhile, get better, and remember...

Papa loves you.

Dear Joseph,Grandma and I were happy to have you visit this weekend. I thought we had a lot of fun at the wedding and playing at the house. We could not believe how you have grown and how much energy you have. In fact, you exhausted us all. I don't know how your mom keeps up with you.

Anyway, I am glad you made it home safely. Did dad tear down the wall?

I l;\ook forward to seeing you for Thanksgiving, but I need to rest up between now and then.

Papa loves you.

Dear Joseph,

Papa wanted to share this picture with you. I took it at the museum when you, dad and I went there. I keep all these pictures to help remind me of wonderful times and to remember how you looked at the time. You are growing so fast that it is hard to remember how you looked just a few months ago.

I hope you enjoy it.

Papa loves you.

Dear Joseph,

Papa had a really good time with you last week. I especially enjoyed the time we spent with Dad at the museum. You looked like you were having fun.

This seems to be an important time in your young life. Soon you will go to pre-school. Of course, you need to first learn to use the potty, but I know you will do fine.
I am putting up a picture of the Thomas The Train Trip we took with Mom. Hope you like it.

Papa loves you

Dear Joseph,
It was fun watching you on the computer screen with Grandma. You were going nuts. I mean, I never saw such energy. Maybe it is time to put it to good use, like for hiking or swimming or paddling/rowing a boat (soon I will explain to you the difference between paddling and rowing). I will see you soon. Meanwhile, here is a picture of Papa paddling in a kayak.
Papa loves you

Dear Joseph,

You sounded great on the phone yesterday, even though your mom says you have been sick. She has been sending me your pictures by phone, and they are wonderful. I miss you. You are growing so fast it is hard to believe. You are already running the place, but you will soon be old enough to realize it.

I'll be seeing you soon when I come to Ohio to visit you. Plan some good stuff for us to do. And, when you visit here next time I will put up the tent in the back yard (weather permitting).

Papa loves you