Gift-Crazy

Miles has gotten into the habit of getting gifts--they were pouring in before, during, and after his birthday, but now the harsh reality has hit that the gift days are over. Today he made me a little gift at school, because I told him the expression "good things come in small packages." So he drew a picture, folded it up, "wrapped" it in another sheet of paper, and taped in shut. He was quite excited to give it to me when I picked him up. At bedtime tonight I asked him what his favorite part of the day was. After thinking for a while, he said it was making the small package for me at school. Then he wondered if I would give him a "thank-you gift." He even got the brilliant idea that I could give him such a gift on Thanksgiving, because it's a Thank-you day. Hmmmm. Well, I offered him hugs, kisses, special Mommy-time as possible thank-you gifts, but he was thinking a toy would be more acceptable. Just any toy I think he might like! HA! We're going to have a hard time breaking this habit. He did get some birthday cash in the mail today and decided to put it in his college fund. He hasn't quite figured out that he could use his own money to buy toys, which I am thankful for, at least for now.

Polar Bear Swim

It was such a nice day yesterday that Ruby and I played hooky and visited the zoo. The polar bears were the highlight. Here's some video of them playing in the water.

The Force is With Us

Here you go! (Thanks for the push, Barbara!)
I finally got the computer glitches worked out so I can post our Halloween photos! Here you can see Miles as Darth Vader and Ruby as Ladybug, our pumpkins and milk jug ghosts, the costume parade at Miles' school, and Ruby in her fleece jumpsuit as we headed out for our fitness walk last Friday morning. The kids and I have been battling a cold the last week or so. No fevers or aches, thank goodness!

Sticky Song

Miles had a song stuck in his head last night. He was singing it over and over, and when we explained the expression, he tried to shake it loose. But it stuck. He said it was there even when he wasn't singing it out loud. He finally lost it by this morning.
Ruby is increasing her vocabulary. Last night she had picked a book to read but when we started it, she changed her mind. "Actually, mommy" she said, she wanted a different one.
Halloween has come and gone and I have some cute pictures to share. Somehow it seems, however, that my photo software was deleted from the computer. Thus the delay. We're working on it, and the computer is now secure from little hands!