Holiday Program

Alden is wearing a brown sweater vest (you're welcome) over a sky blue, long sleeved henley. Alden is the red headed boy that hasn't stopped moving since 2009. Alden is the kid that is not into this until the hand motions remind him that, yes, this is happening. 

Dustin and I each had a recording device because these types of adorably proud moments don't come but every 3 days or so. We were grinning through the entire thing. 

In the month of practice before this two song performance, my favorite was when Alden would sing so earnestly, "Away in a manger, baby Jesus GO TO BED. The little lord Jesus lay down his sweet head." I wonder where that was picked up from, hmmm, Alden? Seems like we might be able to learn a bit more than forgiveness of others from the little Lord Jesus, eh, buddy? I'll bet he went to bed on time. Then mother Mary could get her crafts done in peace. Just sayin'.

Gymnastics If You're Nasty

Pumpkin Patch

Quiet Time

There was an peculiar period from October through December where Alden was waking up at, say, 2am and being fully ready to conquer the day. I don't care how much a mother loves her child, this type of return-to-infancy sleep schedule is bullshit. I'd try to lull him back to sleep by reading books, singing lullabies, and even rocking him but it was all wasted efforts. He'd pop right back up talking about monster trucks and homing pigeons. One morning at the beginning of November, we decided to make a fall leaf garland out of felt. You know, because that's completely normal at 3:45 a.m.

Most of these mornings Alden would wither by 8 or so. He'd zonk out on the couch while I drug my limp body and attitude through the rest of the day. I came up from the office a few times to witness him reflecting on... what? I'll never know. But it was nice to spend that really early morning quiet time together. 

By late December we realized why he was so excitable... he grew about 2 inches in those 3 months. He's not one to get cranky during teething or growing pains. HE. GETS. PUMPED. I can't wait to see what happens in the teen years. Gulp.

Dem Bones

Up to around three children are typically pretty flexible and open to negotiation. I was able to make Alden be a donut for his 2nd Halloween, for crying out loud. This year, at no prompting from us, he decided to be a skeleton. 

It's a bit off putting to see a sweet, peachy complexion go to stark, ghoulish white but Alden was firm in not being a spooky skeleton. He was the friendly sort. One that likes to hug. Whew. 

Alden is Bee-sy

This is being posted for two reasons.
1) Alden is cute in a bee suit.
2) I miss spring. This gives hope of spring having been here before. Perhaps it'll come back?

Zippy 34th Birthday

With only a zipper as a clue, Dustin was stumped as to what we were doing for his birthday. 

The folks at Rogue Valley Zipline were fantastic to play with. Funny, high energy, informative, and calm. I was all of those except for calm. Giving this as a gift is one thing but being there with Dustin is another. I didn't think about that when I was talking his family into chipping in for his ticket for his birthday. I didn't picture myself zipping along at hair blowing speeds plenty of feet off of the ground.

It was exhilarating and, after the third zip, I actually opened my eyes. 

Dustin, on the other hand, was comfortable using no hands and falling off  of the platform backwards. We tend to disagree on relaxedness.

Dustin's handle was "Red Squirrel". I don't remember mine. Something to do with peeing my pants, I'm sure. 

First Day of Pre-School

Is it bad that we chose a pre-school strictly based on the fact that his best buddy was attending? No? Ok, that's what we did. Turns out that he looooooooooooooooves it here and hugs his teacher, Ms. Kathy (Kaffy) every time we leave.

And just like that, Alden is already out of the house. Those first years of home only are over. That went fast though I wouldn't describe it that was two years ago. It was rough the first couple of days when we would leave but not impossible. I was proud of him for understanding that we all would be together later and that he was in good hands while we weren't there. It was so weird to not have him in the car on the way back home. It was so quiet in the house. I missed him instantly and every day still but love picking him up. We have new things to discuss and funny things to sort out as we try to interpret what he is learning.

All Aboard!

Have you been to the train yard in Medford? I am blown away that this place isn't better known. It is fantastic! Organized. Clean. Informational. Educational. Volunteer run. Free. Themed out to the hilt but not so over the top that a parent gets overwhelmed. Plus, there's Thomas. No brainer. Get there now.

Alden has got through several phases where he is OBSESSED with a theme. For a long while he adored Lightening McQueen in the Cars movie. Before that it was Thomas the Tank Engine. There were a few months where that didn't fly but then he was back at it again. So much that he invented a dance (shown in a few posts from now) and only wore his engineer uniform complete with mustache, soul patch and eyebrows.

In Montana, we got to tour a retired engine in solitude. He was awestruck. Silent for the first time in days. 

If I Could Hug a Video, I Would Hug These Two

Peaches, Peaches Everywhere

With all of the ways that a person can capture a picture these days, it is shocking that between my mom-in-law and I, we didn't get a single photo as proof for the story I'm about to tell you.

Picture it: pre-dawn on a Saturday. I am carbo-loading for an event that I've never trained for. My M.I.L. Robbie and I are going to the Peach Sale at Harry and David. This is where, in an organized fashion like Black Friday, peaches are dumped in low lying bins and spread out in the parking lot for all citizens of the valley to forage. Luckily, Robbie had been the year before and came prepared with boxes and a furniture mover. Not a dolly for a few measly boxes but one of those carpeted platforms with four casters. We were getting real here.

We waited in a bulging line at 6:00 a.m. for the bull horn man to bellow: GO! We picked a bin and dug in. Filling over 10 boxes and wheeling them in line, I waited while Robbie went back for more. Yes, more. After more or less an hour, I got to the front where we weighed each box for a grand total of...... drum roll......... 542 pounds of peaches. A steal for $54.20. We were the highest total that day. I should hope so.

We drove home cackling about our good fortune. And then gasping over what the hell we were thinking. I mean, I like peaches but c'mon. Once home, we unloaded and sorted in levels of ripeness. And then we proceeded to can for an entire week.

Now ninety cans a piece later, we are set for all of eternity. Cobbler anyone?