10.29.2008

THE VERY HUNGRY CHAPUT CHILDREN


In the light of the moon, two little bumps lay under their blankets.
One Sunday morning, the warm sun came up and—pop!—out from the blankets came two tiny and very hungry children.
They started to ask for some food.
Their mother fed them each a big bowl of yogurt, applesauce and granola, but they were still hungry.
Their mother fed them peanut butter toast, but they were still hungry.
Their mother gave them orange juice cut with water, but they were still hungry.
Their mother stopped at Sara Jane's bakery for doughnuts after story hour at the library, but they were still hungry.
Their mother fed them turkey sandwiches, cottage cheese, broccoli, pear slices and milk for lunch, but they were still hungry.
Their mother fed them goldfish crackers and string cheese for a snack, but they were still hungry.
Soon it was dinner time. The children ate chicken vegetable soup with dumplings (and then had seconds), apple crisp and ice cream, glasses of milk and a drink of water before bedtime.
That night, surprisingly, they did not have stomachaches.
The next morning was breakfast time again. The children ate Clifford Crunch.
Now, believe it or not, they were still hungry—but they weren't such little children any more. They were eating round the clock and constantly telling their mommy they were hungry. Then they tried to put on their clothes, push their feet into their shoes and ... discovered although they had not turned into beautiful butterflies, they had suddenly grown out of everything they owned. (And one of them even skipped a whole shoes size while his mother wasn't paying attention.)
The End.

10.07.2008

A HAPPY BAPTISM

When we decided to have Lu baptised near Pete's family, we knew we'd need to coordinate with our church here and hope that the parish we chose in Wisconsin would reflect our own more liberal beliefs and lifestyle.

As a reluctant Catholic who's more inspired by Buddhism, I wasn't completely sold on the notion of having either of our kids baptised. But, the religious aspect of being catholic is only a fraction of what it has meant to me over the course of my lifetime. It's been much more tied to being with family, celebrations, love and food (yes food, and lots of time beer too). Being a big believer in all those things -- I could make sense of formalizing that for my kids, bringing them into a faith that in my mind, is more about formally welcoming them into our families.

Father Mike at St. Joan of Arc in Nashota, Wi. gave us the most joyous, happy, spiritual and fun (yes, fun! at a catholic mass no less!) experience that I think I've ever had in church. Lu had a full immersion baptism, and at certain parts of the mass I was sure we'd somehow gotten mixed up and ended up in a Southern Baptist church with all the singing, arms held up toward the heavens, clapping and swaying. Lu's baptism was really about him, celebrating all he is and all he will become, with others on many levels of life, loving him, supporting and looking out for him. I couldn't have asked for a more special day for my son.


Lu takes the plunge.


Everyone celebrates Lu!


Father Mike and the kids.


Joe and Jodi Chaput (Lu's godparents), Father Mike, Lu, Pete, Mel and Clara


Aunt Mary Ellen, Grandma Carol (Pete's Mom), Jane and Monica (2 of Pete's 12 siblings) Pete


Congratulations Lu!