We mentioned a while back that Cal had suggested we do a post for each of the families in our “family” – and let you guys know what’s going on with the kids. This is the first of those posts – this one from Cal and Alex. We thought “socks” seemed like an appropriate photo topic 🙂

Hey, guys… it’s Cal. I told David and Ben I thought we needed to bring you up-to-date on the kids (or “ankle biters” as my Dad calls them), and I guess Alex and I get to go first. I should probably say up front you shouldn’t expect “fair and balanced” information about our kids because… well, they’re our kids 🙂
First, there’s our amazing daughter Bella. She’s the only female among the Northland “littles” and she’s a joy. Since they’re on school break, she’s been spending most of her time over at Koala Cove with Alex and her grandmother. She loves working with colors and Alex let her pick all the colors and textures (carpets, countertops, wood trims, etc.) on the first of the villas. He says her selections are “tasteful, yet venturesome.” Something obviously worked because Mum sold the first villa to a friend from K.C. for “a million-four and change.” Not bad for a remodeled fishing cabin 🙂
Bella’s birthday is August 28th (she doesn’t know it, of course, but she shares it with Tim and Beto). She’s been very specific about what she wants. She’s getting a “Nintendo Switch” video game system from Alex and me – and Chance is giving her a “Unicorn Princess” game. Did I mention… she’s a Joy!
Chance is growing like a weed. He took another hearing test last week (they’re doing them on Zoom now) and his progress is excellent. He wears his implant most of the time but takes it off when swimming, or rough housing with the other kids. When he’s not wearing it, he sometimes says “Look at me. Look at me,” so we’ll know he’s lip-reading. Alex was laughing last week and said “I wonder if he’s the only kid in the World who lip-reads in English, Spanish, French and Australian.”
About three weeks ago, Ben texted all the adults in the gang and asked if anyone wanted a “Boxer puppy.” The story was that the retired dentist who rents our “school building” to Ben’s school has a daughter who raises pure-bred boxers. It seems she had a litter of seven puppies and when she cropped their ears, one of them ended up with a “gimpy, or floppy” ear. She said she wouldn’t be able to sell it because of the ear and wanted her dad to “put it down” for her. He took the dog and said he couldn’t bring himself to kill it. So, he called Jim… who called Ben and asked if he thought any of us would be interested in a boxer puppy with one floppy ear. Ben called me and asked if we’d be interested. The thing is, Chance absolutely loves “Cookie” but she is – and always has been- Bella’s dog. So Alex and I talked it over and asked Chance if he’d like his own dog. His face lit up like a Christmas tree and we headed over to meet the pup (wearing masks, gloves and goggles). We met the pup and the connection between Chance and him was immediate. Of course, we brought him home and he’s Chance’s dog now (although Bella – being Bella – thinks she’s in charge of raising and house training him). We told Chance the pup needed a name and he said “His name is Goliath.” We have no idea where that came from – but we all call him “Go.”
So, that’s what’s been happening with us and the kids. We’re all tired of Covid and being quarantined, but Ben is starting school on Wednesday, September 9th and that’ll keep the kids busy.
We hope you and yours are happy, healthy and being kind to one another. Be of good cheer… it’s only 79 days till election day! xoxo Cal and Alex