A Christmas experiment

A few years ago I made a Christmas countdown calendar for Miles out of toilet paper rolls and put little prizes in each tube that he opened each day in December. Last year was a bit of a cluster with two kids wanting to punch open the tube and trying to get them to share was a bit of a fight.

So this year I made 2, one for Miles and one for Alice. I think they turned out rather nice and I found lots of little trinkets to put in the tubes. I believe this is the year for miniature. I found tons of miniature toys in the store perfect for this project. I remember struggling last year to find stuff to fit in the tubes. So this year they are getting a lot fewer Hershey's kisses and more trinket toys to aggravate Aaron!

In addition I have taken on a certain challenge to spread Christmas cheer in our household. It was spurred on by a Facebook post of a friend of mine who was dissing the "Elf on the Shelf" phenomenon. Now, I'm not into "Elf on the Shelf" but this particular friend decided to drag Beanie Babies into his argument and I just couldn't stand for that. So I have started a whimsical parade of Beanies that I think the kids are really going to have fun with.

It started with a mysterious present under the tree that showed up on December 1st. Miles, loving presents and surprises was immediately drawn to it.

"It doesn't have a name or anything on it!" he said. "Well it is a mystery I guess," I told him. All day and that night he was constantly asking me if he could open the present and when are we going to open the present. It really occupied his thoughts to the point of when he woke up this morning the first thing he said was, "can I open the present?"

Well....I told him, why don't you go check it out. This was his reaction (sorry the video is so dark, it was early in the morning)

We were awesome Christmas presents once, weren't we?

They played with the Beanie Babies all morning until it was time to go to school/work/day care. It was fun to see them so excited about these toys, even though they have seen and played with them before. Maybe I should just do that for Christmas this year, wrap up all the toys they have now and put them under the tree.

See how happy they are!

Getting ready for the holidays

We are a busy family with little time to sit down. But we need to make sure the loved ones in our lives are up on what we are up to.

Miles and Alice both wanted to be Scooby-Doo for Halloween. (Miles is the taller one)

Aaron and I got the opportunity to attend an award ceremony at the Playboy Mansion!!! in Los Angeles. The Grato is right behind us.

Alice got her first hair cut on Monday. She sat so well for the stylist.

She has bangs, now she can see. Miles got his hair cut too.

I got a new hair cut too.

New layers

Miles finished up a swimming lesson session and I'm going to sign him up again in January. He is progressing, but not quite swimming without a flotation device yet. His swim instructor assures us he will get there.

Our cinnamon roll morning

I attended a Lamaze Childbirth Educator seminar in Madison last October and am working toward my Lamaze certification. I will take the certification exam in April, and right now I am building a curriculum and working some connections to see where I might be able to teach.

On my drive back to Jamestown I met up with my friend Melisa who was traveling through. We crossed paths at the wind turbine outside of Valley City.

Aaron is getting all the hunting in he can these days. I'm a little sad that I haven't been able to get out this year, but as it gets colder I'm more apt to forgo sitting out in the cold.

This is us on Halloween. I was a sparkler and Aaron was a Price is Right contestant.

Grandpa Sam and Nana Linda are coming for Thanksgiving and we are cooking a great meal to give thanks and celebrate.

Kids playing in the first snow of the year.

Some sad news, we lost Aaron's Grandmother Mary Lou early this month. We traveled to Kearney, Nebraska to attend the funeral and be with family. Grandma Lou has a large family and there were many people who came out to say goodbye and share stories of their fond memories of her. We will all miss her dearly.

Miles and cousin Carter playing in the snow outside the church where Grandma Lou's service was held.

Summer time fun time

We have been having lots of fun this summer. It seems like every weekend if filled with things to do. We love being outside and we have had more sunny days than rainy ones it seems. We have been up to Grandpa Sam and Nana Linda's farm, we have been to the outdoor pool, we went to the Dakota Zoo, to Storybook Land,  and on a big road trip vacation to Colorado.

Our garden is growing so we have been eating a lot of chard. The tomatoes and green beans aren't ready yet. But the RASPBERRIES are getting ripe. We are picking them every night. It may be time to start canning.  

Here is just a glimpse of what we have been doing with our weekends. 

Two in the bed

Miles and the cucumber he grew

Walking in the park

Slide time

 

Swinging with Dad

Yes he is in his pajamas at the park

Sunday Dinner with Mom's culinary experiments

Sunday dinner!

Shaking up our routine

Well, the kids keep growing. That's what they do right? We had a bit of a shake up last week when our daycare closed down. She told us on Wednesday that we needed to find a place by Monday. VERY short notice, but that's life in the child care business I guess.

Warmer day in January we got outside to play in the snow.

Snow flower.

So we had to find new daycare which is always a chore and automatically trusting someone new with caring for your kid is nerve wrecking. Luckily, I have this great friend who has always given me great tips on finding daycare. She helped us find our previous provider too. We found a place for now for Alice, but I am exploring a few other places and keeping some options open if the current place doesn't work out. Bonus though, it is just one street over from us.

Miles on the other hand will start preschool early. We were planning on sending him in June, but with this development I called and luckily they have an opening now. So next week he starts at the Learning Center, going all day. I hope he can handle the transition. I think as parents we worry about that stuff, but kids are more resilient than we may give them credit for.

My pre-schooler

We had a wonderful weekend outside last week. The sun was shining melting off the last of the snow. We played outside pretty much all day on Sunday. Spring is here! We took down Christmas lights, set up the swings, cleaned up the back yard (i.e., picked up dog poop), and trimmed the dead flowers and raspberry bushes.

We got out to play this day in March, it was beautiful out. Alice rode her tricycle and didn't want to take her helmet off when she came inside. (Hayduke in the back there)

Dad and Alice taking a snooze after a fun day outside.

We watch YouTube videos every once in a while and we do have some favorites. The Muppets top the list. "Mahna mahna" is a big favorite but this one is quickly rising to the top. Alice is so funny, she says "I'm a bunny" in her best monster voice. I haven't been able to capture it on video, but I'll keep trying.

In February Aaron and I went to Mexico with some friends to get away from winter up here. Grandpa Sam and Nana Linda came up to watch the kids. It was 6 days of full throttle children for them. I think that was just enough time to bond and be exhausted by them.

Our time in Mexico was great. We loved spending time in the sunshine, salt and pool water, and at the swim up bar. 

Mexico! This was an eco-park we went to. It was amazing! We loved it!

They made us do silly poses with these birds. They seemed harmless enough.

We are anxiously awaiting spring. Although last weekend was beautiful, this week has been filled with random snow and cold. It has been hovering right around freezing temperatures. Arg!

This was March 14, the Running of the Green. It was a beautiful day. After this weekend, the weather turned on us.

We like to have fun together.

So here is hoping for warmer temperatures and lots of good walking weather. Until next time...

Freedom? Are we really?

I'm going to use my "Miles Ahead" venue to discuss something that gave me pause when I read an email from the director of the company I work for today. It was a Thanksgiving message to everyone in the company. I must preface that this person is a white male and I believe he has a military background (although I can't be sure) or he could potentially have children who have served/are serving in the military.


The message started out benign enough, we should be thankful for our health and salute our military who are fighting on the front lines to fight for our freedom. Then it just got...well, I can't say I wasn't incensed by his description of the freedoms we have in the U.S.

"The freedom to live our lives the way we choose is quite possibly the greatest gift this Country has given us.  Thanksgiving is a dedicated time to reflect on our freedom to pursue love, happiness, creature comforts, joy of family, safety and the ability to worship as we please without fear of reprisal or government dictation." 

Is he blind to what is going on in this country? Do we really have these freedoms? In light of recent events in this country I have to ask are these statements true? Are we really and truly free to do these things without persecution or discrimination because of our race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation.

It is a fact that women in this country still don't get equal pay for equal work.Women in the work force are chastised and experience career detriment when they take time to have babies and tend to them. This country's maternity policies are ridiculous! Women who don't have family close by rarely receive the help and support they need with raising a baby. Especially single moms.

Racial profiling still goes on to where a young black man can't walk the streets for fear he may be shot down for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. There is no deigning that racism still exists in the U.S. and people confront it every day.

Voter ID laws exist where a person who can prove who he/she is and where he/she lives is still denied the right to vote! Is that freedom? To be prevented from voting in a democratic election? These voter ID laws by the way discriminate most against women, minorities and young people (read university students).

I don't have first hand experience with religious dealings, but I know of stories of Muslims in the U.S. being discriminated against for their beliefs. Where protests and heavy handed redirection have been employed in regards to the location of a Mosque. Other religions face their own forms of persecution should they not fit the Christian standard ubiquitous in this country. Plus, you are expected to have a religion and worship a God. 

A woman is not free to do what she wishes with her own body! I heard of a law passed (I forget the state) where if a woman is raped and becomes pregnant she is forced to keep the pregnancy. Medically necessary abortions where the mother's health is at stake are becoming more and more restrictive. Adoption options for adoptive parents can be limited and extremely expensive. Birth control is a constant fight with insurance companies. According to some laws women must buy additional insurance to be covered for standard health care procedures associated with women's health. Birth control, medically necessary abortion, pregnancy and birth of a baby, mammograms, pap smears. Not having equal access to health care? Is that freedom?

There is a perpetuating rape culture in this country. There is a story from University of Virginia about a woman getting gang rapped at a fraternity. THEY BLAMED ALCOHOL FOR THE ASSAULT! NO! It was the men who rapped her! A woman should be free to wear, act, and socialize however she desires without fear of assault or harassment.


A person is not free to die how they desire.


"...we will thank the Creator that has given us these gifts, pray for those voluntarily in harm’s way so we can continue to enjoy them and ask for help for all those around the world who look at the United States of America as the great beacon of freedom but find themselves oppressed and persecuted by their governments." 

I commend Mr. Director for his praise of our military and their sacrifice, but I have to ask, what is your definition of Freedom? Is it military freedom from the oppression of other governments? Well the U.S. may have that. But as far as these other freedoms you speak of Mr. Director, I think you need to think about that for a while. I am sure that the U.S. is far from the "beacon of freedom" to most other nations. We persecute anyone who tries to come into this country, i.e., immigration. When did that become a dirty word? 

I must also say I am not a religious person, I don't go to church and I don't pray to a God. I consider myself agnostic and put a lot of my faith in science and things that can be proven through evidence. So, that being said, I have never agreed with people who "witness" to me thanking "the Creator" or other deities for the glories and good fortune bestowed upon them.So, sometimes general messages like the one sent by Mr. Director that assume I pray or worship or have a similar faith as the purveyor often turn me off. I am not saying this is severe discrimination, but some consideration would be nice. Throughout life I have just shrugged these messages off and thought that the beliefs that people have are their own and it brings joy to their lives. So if it makes them happy so be it, just as long as they don't force it on me and they can understand (or maybe acknowledge) that my beliefs also make me happy.

Despite my criticism of this message from Mr. Director I must commend one of his final statements.

"Many criticize us because we bear open for all to see our disagreements and debates. But I submit that this openness is our strength and our love for freedom will, with the help of God, always bring us together when it counts the most."

And that is why I feel free to discuss my thoughts and concerns in this open forum. This is one freedom that I know not everyone feels comfortable exercising for fear of repercussions. But here, I do this to vent a little about my current frustrations with this country and to acknowledge there are problems that we must continue to fight to truly be free.

This Thanksgiving, I will be reflecting on the things that I am so fortunate to have and the love I am surrounded with. My health, my family's health, a warm home, loving pets, wonderful friends, a career, there are many. But I will also be reflecting on the oppression in this country and how there are people here who do not know true freedom and who fight against oppressors every day.

Halloween Time!

I love Halloween! And now that I have kids, it is another reason to get excited. When I asked Miles what he wanted to be for Halloween he said a puppy. Then I asked him what Alice should be and he said a kitty. Well naturally. He also said that Mommy and Daddy should be a house. I didn't take his suggestion on that one.

Me and some friends for our Halloween night out!

Aaron carving a pumpkin! We roasted the seeds and they were delicious!

So off to work I go on a puppy costume. I think it is turned out great, but Miles didn't want to try it on at all before Halloween, so I wasn't sure he would wear it, especially the mask. But he was excited to put it on when the time came and he wore it like a champ! He didn't even want to take the mask off. He wore it all throghout the party we went to and trick-or-treating. 

Miles and Daddy making a Play-Doh monster at the Stepping Stones Halloween party

Me and my little kitty cat

Miles and Murray playing with the monsters

Daddy and Alice listening to stories (or is Daddy telling them?)

Nana and Grandpa Sam came to the party too

Last year I made the poor kid go trick-or-treating with a fever. I was so excited to go and wanted him to be excited about it too. But when we got to the end of the block he said he wanted to come home. I was a little more sensitive this year. It seems like we all have fighting a cold and it hit all of us the week after Halloween but we were all healthy enough to participate in all the festivities.

Ready to Trick-or-Treat with Ruby Red Riding Hood

Our kitty cat in the wagon

Hanging with our friend Lego Batman!

Look at all the candy I got!

We have had really nice fall weather here, but it got cold on Halloween and Miles again got to the end of the block and wanted to go home because he got cold. Alice hung in there a little longer and we made it to a few more houses before we headed home. Our friends Ruby and Murray (and their Mommies) came to trick-or-treat with us. We have a great neighborhood for trick-or-treating.

Brother and sister laying in the leaf pile

Yay leaves!

The Great Pumpkin visited our house and left prizes. "Frozen" puzzles for Miles and Minnie Mouse slippers for Alice. But Miles didn't like his puzzles, he wanted Mickey Mouse slippers (where the heck do I find those?). This took me by surprise because he loves puzzles and he loves the movie "Frozen". He said it "was for girls" which really dejected me. I didn't think he was at the stage where he would be making those gender distinctions. I am doing my best to not reinforce gender stereotypes in our house and I want him to be himself and like whatever makes him happy. But alas he has other influences in his life that I can't control. He goes to daycare with all girls and may feel the need to differentiate himself in certain ways. Who knows!

Early in the fall we took a trip to Pappa's Pumpkin Patch in Bismarck with our friends Janelle and Ruby. It was actually pretty warm out and the mosquitoes were bad! They were bad all summer here and Pappa's Pumpkin Patch is right along the river, so they bothered us a bit. But we had fun anyway.

Pappa's pumpkin patch in Bismarck, Alice peeking through the window.

Miles peeking through the window, don't get stuck!

Me and my little pumpkin

Miles wouldn't stand by the scare crow to get is picture, but Alice did.

You can drive Sis.

The day after Halloween we went to Bismarck again to see Disney Junior Live show. It was a lot of fun! Miles loved it and sang along with the Jake and the Neverland Pirates songs. Alice sat well at the beginning of the show. But as expected it got a little long for her after intermission and she got antsy and needed to get up and move.

We are staying in Jamestown for Thanksgiving and Grandpa Sam and Nana Linda are joining us for dinner. I love having Thanksgiving in our home. Mostly because I have an awesome recipe for green bean casserole and I get to make it and keep all the leftovers! We hope everyone is having a great fall and are able to get out and hunt some ducks or dear or pheasants or whatever you like to hunt. Aaron has taken Miles with him a couple of times, but we don't want him to get too cold out there. Until next time, the Kross-Pearse household.

Sully's Birthday party in August. The Moms and their one-year-olds. It is hard to get Alice to sit still for a photo.

Alice being silly with the dog bowl on her head. That is probably dirt from the garden on her face. She also likes to wear Miles' underwear on her head!