more stories from the vacation to arkansas

Miah got to sleep with Mom in Garden City, KS. Since she has been working on lying still when she goes down for the night, this gave Mom cuddle time and a good night's sleep which we both needed. We made a record trip from Colorado Springs to Garden City--somewhere around nine hours (should take about six and a half, but we did stop to see Opal).

Grandma and Aunt S. thought I was crazy for taking this picture after Kellen and Miah's ninety-minute photo op in the park not a half hour earlier, but they play together so well that I had to have my own picture. I can hardly wait to see the pictures from the park. The two were enthralled with the bubbles, but the best part was with Kellen's wagon. Miah got out at the bottom of the hill and helped push the wagon, with Kellen complacently still sitting in it. You could see her little calves straining. I don't know if that was funnier, however, than when I placed a handful of Teddy Grams on the picnic table to keep them still. When Kellen thought Miah wasn't looking, he crammed a handful into his mouth. Not to worry though because Miah picked up the remaining crackers and put them in his mouth for him. What a pair.

After playing in Kellen's sand box it was time for a bath. You can tell Miah is used to having the entire bathtub to herself and going where she wants. Kellen didn't like it when she made her way to the other side of the tub, whether Kellen moved or didn't move.

home again, home again, jiggity jig

My thoughts are still a little scattered about the trip Miah and I just came back from, so my telling of it will not be appearing in any chronological order. In fact, I'll be starting with our last day in the car. Miah must have rotated through all of her car toys at least a couple dozen times by the time we rolled through La Juanta, so I pulled out the last and final resort we picked up at Mema's: colored pens and paper. Here (below) she is showing off her violet scribbles. That face says it all: "Are we there yet?"

Even though Miah slept until the last possible minute, she had a few minutes with Great-Grandmother Covey who introduced a couple of classics, the pull-along telephone and queen bee. Vicki pointed out that the queen bee must be a classic because none of us have seen remakes. I was surprised that Miah loved the bee more than the phone; she probably walked a quarter of a mile up and down the hallway before we left.

surprise and happy birthday

Happy Birthday Grandpa! Grandma Covey surprised Grandpa by bringing Little S and Kellen home to Colorado Springs for a few days. Look how big they are getting; the last picture I have like this they were about half this size.

While Grandma tells her grandkids how much she loves them, Miah points to Kellen and asks, "That?"

"'That' is a Kellen."

They get along unusually well for 19-month-olds.

Even though Grandpa has just finished mowing the yard he pulls both the grandkids uphill in the family wagon. This is the same wagon he used to pull his kids in.

Aunt S found no-spill bubbles at Target and the kids conned Uncle Mark into blowing bubbles for them.

Mark has Miah hooked on chocolate milk. She was drinking her cup of milk when Mark started making himself chocolate milk. She must have recognized the container of chocolate syrup because she ran over to hand him her bottle so he could stir chocolate into it.

roxy's delight

"Don't bother me, I'm eating peanut butter." Roxanne LOVES peanut butter. When I went to make peanut butter playdough I found a jar with about a tablespoon left. Oops. To Roxy's delight, I let her lick the jar clean. Her tongue goes to great lengths because she left a clean jar for me to throw away.

temptation

Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak (Matt. 26:41)

I love this picture of Miah face to face with her temptation: the computer keys. I also love it for her poise and contentment sitting on a big person's chair because she is happy to sit like this for quite awhile, especially if someone sits in the chair next to her.

America the Beautiful park and fountain

Summer is great for me to do Mom things I don't usually get a chance to do, like go to the park with our small Moms with Tots group.

Miah bypasses Dillon.

Oooh, a ladybug.

Follow the leader.
Going her own way.

tuesday

Helping Dad pack for Oklahoma.


Oops. I helped a little too much. Now Dad needs to put the zipper back
together.

If Miah were to take one of those Facebook quizzes like "What kind of manager

are you?" the result would be Micromanager: You are so detail-oriented and

in control that you tell the dog which kibble to eat next.

a good day

In the past 24 hours we've heard good news from family and also heard good news from a friend who landed a dream job in her dream city; we gave a mom a couple hours to help a friend while we played with Miah's friends (I was a King, a prisoner, and something else I couldn't quite understand); cleaned house, got the computer fixed, donated a car seat, cooked, and prepared lessons for the first month of school. But I am most proud of the way Miah handled her first scraped knee.

I'm pretty sure I howled at my first scrape because I howled over everyone after that. This was either due to getting sick at the sight of my blood or frusteration because I was supposed to dress up nice within the next couple of days or it just plain hurt. (It was a given that I would show up in a party dress with a scraped knee or elbow.) So Miah did not pick up that unfortunate character trait of mine. Instead, she was mildly curious, but too excited about being the running dragon to care. Oh boy! This only confirms what I am starting to learn about her: physical pain is nothing compared to getting what she wants.

She might throw a fit because her box gets hung up on the carpet, she'll spill tears when I tell her she can't do something, and she'll cry bloody murder for a minute when I leave her to go to sleep at night, but she will take several spankings for the same lesson and she will not cry when she scrapes a knee. She is her father's daughter.

sunday

Miah likes to begin each day attached to my hip. I kind of like it this way myself.

Sundays are good days for naps.

And for blowing bubbles (with your nose!).

And for popping bubbles with your popping finger.

And for popping bubbles with your nose. Noses sure come in handy.

And for making yet more ice cream. (Dad and Miah cleaning out the bucket.)

yard work and trouble

No pictures today. No time for that.

It was the perfect day to work outside, so I started to tear down the weeds on our hill. Miah had other ideas however and kept me hopping with encouragements, hugs, and snacks. At one point I poked my head up over the hill to check on her. She had taken a seat on our chair and taken an interest in my coffee mug. Such an interest in fact that she competently picked up the mug with both hands and took a swallow of the tepid bitter dregs of my morning coffee. She carefully returned the mug, then checked to see whether she was caught. I had moved so she couldn't see me. "Maybe this will cure her fascination with morning coffee," I thought. I thought wrongly because a moment later she repeated the performance and was about to take a third swallow when I intervened. Silly kid, coffee is for adults.

I returned to my work and she returned to her trouble. Parents, beware the sound of silence. Her quiet absence finally sent alarm bells off in my mind, so I went looking for her. I found her sitting happily on the kitchen table eating from the sugar bowl (both things she's been told "no" about a hundred times before). As much as I wanted a picture of her pretending to be innocent, there was no time between finding her and exacting discipline.

Needless to say, Miah didn't take a nap at her regular time. Too much caffiene and sugar.

She did make me smile when I was giving her a treat to give the dog. Roxy is supposed to sit for her treats, so when I told my excited dog to sit down we both had to wait while Miah also had a seat on the kitchen floor. That's the trouble with this age: Miah is learning the same imperatives that we taught the dog two years ago. Too often we'll ask one to come and they both end up in our arms; or we want one to stay, but the wrong one leaves while the other remains.

Miah dotes on Roxy's attention. She usually asks for a piece of food to taunt the dog into a game of chase, but today she decided to put her arms around the sleeping Roxy and heave with all her might to get the dog to go down the slide with her. Earlier that morning they actually fought over who could play with a long cardboard tube. I think someone needs a sibling.

By the time the contractor and floor estimator had come and gone I was ready for real company. We stopped by Home Depot for paint samples on the way to Grandma and Grandpa's. Mark's mom encouraged me about selling our first home, and then I let her love on Miah to help Jimmy. It is about time I returned the favor of yard work.

We went out for a great dinner at The Cracker Barrel where Grandma bought a bubble machine. Miah was sad to leave the new great toy behind in order to go to bed. It's tough being little.

ice cream maker

Who, me? All I did was take out the trash for you (and dump it all over the back porch step).

Meanwhile, we're enjoying our new toy: an ice cream maker. The first batch, Vanilla-Rum, dressed up my apple pie fresh from the oven. I'm waiting for the Coffee ice cream to finish and we have already chosen the next batch, Honey Cinnamon Clove. I'm willing to bet that one turns into a holiday staple.

As the photographer, or rather the person holding the camera, I'm learning about making ice cream vicariously. While preparing the cream, assemble the ice cream maker. Let the dog help you separate the ice.

Don't sit idly by or let the whirring of the motor lull you to sleep. Pour the ice around the canister of cream, add rock salt, and poke the ice down. Repeat until the cream has been churned into ice cream.

As for the coffee ice cream made from Starbuck's French Roast, I had to get seconds.

busy day

A couple days ago I picked up a new hat for my fair-faced red-head. We showed it off to Dad while gulping down the morning cup of milk. This inspired Dad to wear his own hat, and so they sat together wearing hats.


In a rush to beat the contractor coming to repair, mud, texture, and paint our ugly ceiling, we installed two more new lights over the dining area. It's amazing how dark our kitching and eating area has been this etire time, and I'm pretty sure I could find a religious metaphor about how living with light changes the way I look at things. Ever helpful and ever Daddy's Girl, Miah was in the middle of things. We let her be since she is happiest if we can find some way for her to be a part of our activities. She's going to regret that when she realizes that with increased age comes increased responsibility.




This done, I took Miah to Wally World where we picked up school supplies (for me), tempting foods for her, and some Tylenol in preparation for her visit to the doctor. At the Dr.'s office I was reminded why I usually send Mark on this errand. Although I had no time to get queasy over the needles, my heart broke over the look of betrayal in her eyes when the kind nurse stuck her once in each leg. We tried once more to see Grandma and Grandpa, but they were out, so we dropped supplies off at school. Miah's favorite thing to do at school is climb the desks and push a locker shelf everywhere, as long as Mom will let her.




As I walked down the hall to my classroom, it was with a shudder: someone had the great idea of moving the Freshman lockers to the English hallway. Even though I was there for the conversation and agree with the decision, it also makes me want to run and hide. It's a good thing they painted my classroom a relaxing blue.

While Miah and I were running all over town, Mark had recruited his friend Chris to help repair our siding. An old friend also came by this evening. They're all outside with the cigars, beer, and the moths swapping stories while I catch up on my website for school. That may sound like work, and it is, but it's satisfying.

wading pool

Miah splashes in the cold water of the wading pool. She doesn't know yet that she gets to go all the way in. But first we have to show off her dress to Grandma and heat up the water.

Not sure about this new playtime activity, Miah walks Grandma around and around and around the pool before taking a seat and splashing everyone.

Then Dad made the mistake of showing Miah that he could blow bubbles in the water. She could have stood there demanding with a point and "that" that he repeat this performance until he drowned.

daddy's helper

"It looks like a dirty job, Dad, but someone's got to do it. I think that you should cut the red wire and loop the white one around the yellow."

"Here, this should do the trick."

40th Anniversary

Wow! 40 years and counting! All I can say is that my in-laws wonderfully model marriage, and I pray our children can say the same one day. Happy Anniversary.

too tired

Miah was fussing as usual for this time of day, and I thought it was nothing more than being a picky eater. When I turned around from some task in the kitchen, this is what I saw: the one who usually fights off sleep slumped exhausted in the crook of her arm and the persistent beggar at her feet.

the muppet show

Like mother like daughter, Miah loves The Muppet Show. It is the only show she'll watch for longer than ten minutes. I've learned, however, to place her where the computer is out of reach or else she'll poke and kiss the characters.

happy 4th of July

Mark had to work today, so Miah and I drove alone to Monument this morning. So did everyone else. But I'm grateful that the small hub of Monument opened its streets for all of us to enjoy the two hour parade.

It's been years, a little over ten, since I've been to a parade, and we arrived woefully unprepared to stand that long and to fight for a view. That's partly my fault for not rousing myself out of bed in time to arrive early. The generosity of people is amazing. We were offered a chair, an umbrella, sunscreen, and a bottle of water from the families standing around us. How did we come across as looking needy when we weren't?

Our parade began with a bang. Miah shuddered at the booms of black powder muskets fired off by the Mountain Men. These guys were wonderful as they beckoned for brave boys and timid women from the crowd to come pull the trigger. They were followed by our Civil War reenactment group who saluted with fire as well. The crowd began to settle into their seats just as the colors came around the bend, so everyone stood back up again. It was like this throughout the parade. You can imagine the numbers of veteran and military groups represented in a parade just miles from three or four bases as well as the Air Force Academy. We also waved at pageant queens, politicians, riding clubs, bands, church groups, clowns, color guards, local business floats, llamas, cheerleaders, and more. The Tea Party group took up almost half a block, the second largest group, and were met mostly with cheers. Hooray!

In those two hours the sun glared at us, the clouds spat at us, the weather forecast changed from partly cloudy to dangerous thunderstorms, and finished with a pleasant sunshine. We came home just in time for the heavens to let loose.