Stratego

When Zach and I play a game, it's usually something on the GameCube, or occasionally a card game like Magic.

So it was something of a novelty when we got out the old Stratego board game tonight and played a couple of games.

As the games progressed, I taught him the importance of not signaling your plan of attack too early, using decoys, and waiting for the right moment to strike with the Marshall.

At one point, I even used an old Stratego deception trick: I reached for one of my bomb pieces as if I intended to move it but then changed my mind, all in order to (falsely) signal that the bomb piece was something other than a bomb. Zach took the bait, attacked the square containing my bomb and lost his Colonel. But being a quick study, he added that trick to his arsonal, and fooled me with the same ploy later in the same game.

I think he's hooked.

The Tooth Fairy Conundrum

Phoebe has recently renounced her belief in Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy.

As for the question of who then puts presents under trees, candy in baskets, and money under pillows, she has identified "Mommies and Daddies" as the prime suspects.

Inconveniently, she lost another of her front teeth yesterday.

With a visit from the tooth fairy on the line, we'll see how this crisis of faith plays out.