all dressed up with somewhere to go

I had to chaperone a dance last weekend, and I brought my little dancer with me. When the first group of teenage girls huddled on the edges of the dance floor, the DJ beckoned them on to the floor with, "the dance floor doesn't bite." He didn't need to say that to Miah. As soon as the lights dimmed and the music began she was showing off her best moves. I had to assure a few students she did not learn these moves from me!

As we left she crawled into the lap of the history teacher who knitted her baby blanket years ago. This made his day as she demanded that he read to her from his dusty book about the Middle Ages. They had the funniest conversation about books and history before I had to drag her off to bed. Precious.

'coon hat and Valentine thing

A couple weekends ago I sorted old clothes and tried to take them to the consignment shop. The rules had changed at the shop, so my work became a waste of time for now. Miah, however, took to wearing the beaver skin hat while I worked.

One day Miah brought this home (what is it?) and told me that we needed to show the entire family. She surprised me by naming everyone from Anna to Tandon which is the first time she named everyone without any prompts! I told her that we couldn't go to Oklahoma that afternoon, but promised to share a picture on the blog for the family to see.

fox

It was electrifying!

I opened the shades in Miah's room to a surprise. A fox was basking under a wintery sun in the soft grass. I sent Miah to go tell Grandpa. A month ago I don't know what she would have done, but today she hustled down stairs and I heard her clearly order Grandpa upstairs, "Come see the fox!" It's amazing how she's grown.

We had to impress upon Miah that this dog, a fox, is not our friend. She put on her slippers anyway in a vain attempt to go outside. Grandpa shooed him away for us. Fortunately, Mr. Fox seems much more wary and alert than the fox that used to sleep outside my apartment door.

I don't know that I've seen a fox around here in the winter. I admired his muted coat and the way he blended in perfectly with the grass.

new interests

Miah is finally interested in dressing her dolls. I'm trying to use that to my advantage in getting Miah to bed at night (thank you Grandma for buying PJ's as well as day outfit for her doll last year), but it's only helped once. In dumping out the bag of Cabbage Patch Dolls's clothes, we found her tutu!

"Smile BIG, Baby," said Miah, and asked that I take another picture.

Mark told me later that when he dressed her in her overalls Saturday morning she stood up, hooked her thumbs in the sides and declared, "I farmer." Then I came along and found her tutu. Does this outfit (of her choosing) make her a casual Princess farmer? She's loving dress up items these days. As I plan ahead for her summer outfits, it's becoming loud and clear I need to stock up on dresses. 

one adventure in trinidad

I opened my inbox this morning and saw a message from Mark that read,"And you like snow." Let me clarify: I like snow because it usually means a quiet-stay-at-home-make-hot-chocolate-and-bake-cookies kind of day, and if I go out in the snow it's because I want to. For Mark, the two foot pile carpet spelled a long evening of shoveling himself up the driveway and praying he could get to class the next morning. It probably also meant a cozy log fire to make up for this.

PART TWO
I answered the phone while pulling Miah out of her bath to hear about what happened after this picture was taken. Apparently, Mark tried to shovel himself up the driveway, an undertaking I would never have considered--it's a long driveway. He missed. As he inched his way up the driveway, the car fell off the road. I understand there was a tow truck involved and he missed class.

I'm sure that this view out his window can't come soon enough.

pictures from the funeral

On our way to Oklahoma a few weeks ago, Miah got it into her head that I should take a picture of the stinky cows for her. Here you go Sweetheart, your picture of the cows. 

Bailey stepped in again and became Miah's favorite during the funeral reception. Miah wouldn't let her go--just like this. 

And this. 

I love this picture. It was wonderful having all the grandkids together with Grandma and Grandpa. 

We hear that Ana might have her angry moments, but like Miah, she's pretty content and sweet when all the family is around.