Since my last posting, November and Thanksgiving have become memories and the Christmas holiday and shortest day of the year loom on the near-horizon.
My anticipated trip to the midwest cruised to completion when Glenn and I returned to Inkom in the late afternoon on Wednesday, November 23. Too bad I didn't have a movie crew on hand when we drove up to the Jurgen house. Miles standing in the billiard room window squealing, laughing and jumpin' up and down at the sight of Grandpa home again. . .and Grandpa pretty much mimicking this behavior as he spotted Miles. It was almost one of those "run through the meadow with outstretched arms" kind of moments! Reunited at last!
In the interim, our visit with the Hilleslands was fun as always. Although we missed seeing Seth (at CMU until the T-giving weekend) we spent good times with the rest of the family. Saturday morning Layne participated in sort of a speech showcase, so we viewed her performance of an Original Comedy piece. In the OC category students write and perform their own material. Hers garnered lots of laughs along the theme "cheerleading is not a sport."
Saturday Eric and Brenda roasted a turkey -- something of a mini-Thanksgiving with them after many years of celebrating together the actual holiday. Sunday we pretty much hung out and played games; Layne and I became addicted to Bananagrams -- we're both into games that deal with words or language. Monday morning Brenda worked only half a day due to parent-teacher conferences, so I accompanied her to Churchill Elementary and volunteered at the book fair, held in the Media Center where she works.
Tuesday morning very early Glenn and I began the long drive back to Idaho. Going was good that day and we didn't stop until Cheyenne, Wyoming. Good thing as getting further into the trip meant Wednesday we didn't need to start the last leg until sunup. Interstate 80 through southeastern Wyoming was a white-knuckler with snow-packed highway and gusting winds. The weather isn't what bothers us the most, it's the other crazy drivers. . . like the guy in the pickup with a cattle trailer behind him going 65mph downhill in the mountains on snow, low visibility and a posted speed limit of 45! But, we made it safe and sound.
We celebrated Thanksgiving with the Jurgens on the Friday following; Meg and I spent the actual holiday preparing -- baking pies, rolls, making salads and so forth. Of course, Grandpa and Miles spent much of that time getting caught up with each other! We resumed our regular daycare duties on Tuesday, November 30.
December arrived and so did the snow, enough that the local ski hill behind our house which did not really get up and running until Christmas in '09, cranked up the chair lifts on weekends beginning Friday the 3rd. We haven't been up to get our season pass photos yet as I've been nursing a nasty chest cold and Glenn's been rehabbing his knees -- playing racquetball and age (I think) are beginning to have their effects on those joints.
Now, we've decorated the house for the holidays, watched another dismal UM football season come to an end (well, at least they got a bowl bid this year!) and are preparing for a family holiday time of a different sort. First, Miles' Ohio grandparents will be coming in this year, arriving December 23 and staying through to New Years Eve. Secondly, in lieu of exchanging gifts between the adults, the Jurgens and we have adopted a family through the Salvation Army. Meg and I had fun shopping for the kids one day. I took the little boy and she the girl -- until she learns later this month if the newest addition to the family will be a boy or girl, this was a big opportunity for her to buy pink!
Mild temps in the last several days (in Pocatello yesterday we saw two thermometers -- one said 50, the other 51!) meant we could get Miles outdoors a couple of afternoons for some fresh air and exercise -- good for the three of us!
Regardng Miles, he continues to grow strong, healthy and mostly happy. His language skills (if I can remember other toddlers I've known accurately) are well developed; he's using words such as also, episode, suggestion correctly in sentences. As a two-year-old, however, his favorite word right now is NO! No to things like -- taking off his pajamas, getting his diaper changed, eating lunch -- just about anything where he's trying to practice control of his own environment. The subjective part of us believe he's advanced in many ways; the objective part of us recognizes he's a 'typical toddler' in just as many aspects!
One small area where he's beyond influence, though -- the threat of Santa Claus doesn't work. Miles says he either wants to be on the "bad boys list" or that "Miles be on no list". Meg reported that one day she told him "Santa won't bring you any toys" to which Miles responded by waving his arm toward his toy chest and pointing out "Miles has lots of toys!"
My anticipated trip to the midwest cruised to completion when Glenn and I returned to Inkom in the late afternoon on Wednesday, November 23. Too bad I didn't have a movie crew on hand when we drove up to the Jurgen house. Miles standing in the billiard room window squealing, laughing and jumpin' up and down at the sight of Grandpa home again. . .and Grandpa pretty much mimicking this behavior as he spotted Miles. It was almost one of those "run through the meadow with outstretched arms" kind of moments! Reunited at last!
In the interim, our visit with the Hilleslands was fun as always. Although we missed seeing Seth (at CMU until the T-giving weekend) we spent good times with the rest of the family. Saturday morning Layne participated in sort of a speech showcase, so we viewed her performance of an Original Comedy piece. In the OC category students write and perform their own material. Hers garnered lots of laughs along the theme "cheerleading is not a sport."
Saturday Eric and Brenda roasted a turkey -- something of a mini-Thanksgiving with them after many years of celebrating together the actual holiday. Sunday we pretty much hung out and played games; Layne and I became addicted to Bananagrams -- we're both into games that deal with words or language. Monday morning Brenda worked only half a day due to parent-teacher conferences, so I accompanied her to Churchill Elementary and volunteered at the book fair, held in the Media Center where she works.
Tuesday morning very early Glenn and I began the long drive back to Idaho. Going was good that day and we didn't stop until Cheyenne, Wyoming. Good thing as getting further into the trip meant Wednesday we didn't need to start the last leg until sunup. Interstate 80 through southeastern Wyoming was a white-knuckler with snow-packed highway and gusting winds. The weather isn't what bothers us the most, it's the other crazy drivers. . . like the guy in the pickup with a cattle trailer behind him going 65mph downhill in the mountains on snow, low visibility and a posted speed limit of 45! But, we made it safe and sound.
We celebrated Thanksgiving with the Jurgens on the Friday following; Meg and I spent the actual holiday preparing -- baking pies, rolls, making salads and so forth. Of course, Grandpa and Miles spent much of that time getting caught up with each other! We resumed our regular daycare duties on Tuesday, November 30.
December arrived and so did the snow, enough that the local ski hill behind our house which did not really get up and running until Christmas in '09, cranked up the chair lifts on weekends beginning Friday the 3rd. We haven't been up to get our season pass photos yet as I've been nursing a nasty chest cold and Glenn's been rehabbing his knees -- playing racquetball and age (I think) are beginning to have their effects on those joints.
Now, we've decorated the house for the holidays, watched another dismal UM football season come to an end (well, at least they got a bowl bid this year!) and are preparing for a family holiday time of a different sort. First, Miles' Ohio grandparents will be coming in this year, arriving December 23 and staying through to New Years Eve. Secondly, in lieu of exchanging gifts between the adults, the Jurgens and we have adopted a family through the Salvation Army. Meg and I had fun shopping for the kids one day. I took the little boy and she the girl -- until she learns later this month if the newest addition to the family will be a boy or girl, this was a big opportunity for her to buy pink!
Mild temps in the last several days (in Pocatello yesterday we saw two thermometers -- one said 50, the other 51!) meant we could get Miles outdoors a couple of afternoons for some fresh air and exercise -- good for the three of us!
Regardng Miles, he continues to grow strong, healthy and mostly happy. His language skills (if I can remember other toddlers I've known accurately) are well developed; he's using words such as also, episode, suggestion correctly in sentences. As a two-year-old, however, his favorite word right now is NO! No to things like -- taking off his pajamas, getting his diaper changed, eating lunch -- just about anything where he's trying to practice control of his own environment. The subjective part of us believe he's advanced in many ways; the objective part of us recognizes he's a 'typical toddler' in just as many aspects!
One small area where he's beyond influence, though -- the threat of Santa Claus doesn't work. Miles says he either wants to be on the "bad boys list" or that "Miles be on no list". Meg reported that one day she told him "Santa won't bring you any toys" to which Miles responded by waving his arm toward his toy chest and pointing out "Miles has lots of toys!"
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(12/09/10) Miles' face reveals the realization of cold fingers -- which happens when you insist on taking off your mittens and then fall into the snow! |
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(12/09/10) Despite a substantial snowfall, not just cold weather set in. A warming trend bringing temps into the mid 30's resulted in melting and this little puddle. Of course, what toddler can resist jumping up and down in any small pocket of water? |
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(12/09/10) Because of mild temps some afternoons, we're again getting Miles outdoors for a little rompin', stompin' and sledding. Grandpa follows along for safety as Miles saucers down our front drive. This day, Miles wasn't too interested in sledding, though. He was more drawn to taking off his hat and mittens and stomping them into the snow. What turns in the mind of a two-year-old? |
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