Winter Fun

Today’s outing is a bit of a precursor to the resumption of real adult exercise. It'll be nice to hopefully do a bit more skiing this winter!

This is where we go xc skiing. It’ a road closed to vehicles, groomed for and used mostly (but on the right days and times not very much) by snowmobiles. We wear reflective clothing and avoid busy days. We need to fashion some great visibility vest for Ian and the dog. Really, though, it’s a small spur that leads to the parking lot. People don’t “recreate” on this road, just go to and from 150 mi of groomed forest service roads. And it’s in view of our house, so we know if it’s busy and we can get there in 10 minutes or less.

Ian had such a fun time, of course, with one of us pulling him at high speed. I figure this will help get us used to some cold weather exercise!

This video didn't focus, but Ian loves to watch it over and over and over. He giggles and giggles and giggles and says "WHEEE!"

Atlanta Trip

We had such a nice time in Atlanta seeing Grandma. Unlike the MN trip, this was relaxing and we weren't packing a million things into a short trip.

We hung out with Christine and her girls for much of the weekend, and that was really fun.

We went to the zoo with Christine and her girls and with a group of gals I correspond with online. Way fun to meet up with them! Very cute babies toddlers too!

I love this pic - don't they look like old men talking about the weather? Or talking about nothing at all?

Remnants

That doesn't sound very nice, "remnants" but I wanted to post a few pics that I hadn't gotten to.

More Yoda.

Visiting Guy's Guys

Our quick trip up north

New webcam!

Now there's more travel to talk about!

Trick or Treat!

Today was "Halloween Observed" here in Utah. We can't have something like this on a Sunday, you know. Ian went as Yoda and he had a great time with the kids.

Here, we're at the "before party" where adults try to get a bit of food into the kids before they stuff their faces with candy.

Ian is ready to go, bucket in hand. He got the hang of going up to houses and holding out his bucket!


He's practicing his "Jedi Mind Tricks"
"I am so cute you will say. Hmmm. Candy I like. Candy you will give to me, Yes?"

Snow!

I know! Three posts in two days! Crazy person! Ian was finally feeling well enough this afternoon to go play in the snow. The snowsuit we got him last year fits well, and has room to grow. Thanks to a wonderful neighbor, there are boots to go with it! 

Of course, a boy knows that the finest snowman work is done bare handed. He knows that from watching Mama. Bad Mama.

Look who came to see what we were doing!

Could you tell that Ian is tired? Mr. AntiNap has slept a whopping half hour today, in two 15 minute sessions. He falls asleep on the swing, but won't be asleep when you stop it!

Um, Mom? Remember that nap we were talking about on the swing? Can we go inside now? And by "we," I don't mean to include Mr. Snowman here. He's just fine outside.

More Words!

I will get a picture of Ian watching the birds but haven't yet. Ian loves watching the birds. He begs me to make them come back. That Mommy cannot control the birds is a concept we're working on.

But he squeals when they visit the feeder, and he's now learning the birds! Today his favorite thing to say is "dit-dee-dee" for "chickadee-dee-dee"! I think it's fabulous that he's learning the birds!

He has more words he regularly says now, namely "doh" for dog and "he-wo" when talking at the phone (only when it's off), and "hi!" for anyone he meets. "Dadada" is one he uses frequently, too! He's learned the signs for cookie and Grandpa and uses them more frequently, along with lots of other ones. We're lucky to recognize them sometimes!

A favorite sign: Help!

Minneapolis Trip

Have I mentioned we have a busy fall planned? We were in Minneapolis for a short week. We attended Chad's wedding,

Hung out in Mankato,

Played with Piper, Heather, and Jack,

And more to come when I get the rest of the pics uploaded!

Heat! Fire!

I gave permission for the temps to drop and did they ever. It's been chilly the last few nights. John procured a winter's worth of pellets and neatly stacked them in the garage. We got the fire going, and Ian loves it. It's warm. He points at it and signs, "HOT!" and loves to watch it. I also couldn't resist putting his sweater on one chilly morning. This is the sweater that his wonderful great aunt Mary made for him. It's quite big yet. But oh, so snuggly.

Yes, clothespins are the favorite toy. He is regularly pinched and comes to us for assistance every time. My current computer desktop photo:

The Zoo

A belated post. Our first trip to Hogle Zoo. The story in captions.

Look at all of the ducks and swans!

Think I should jump in?

Water (there was a waterfall behind him)

Look Mom!

Elephants!

Look at ME! I'm the main attraction!!

Very cool carousel. Lots of different animals! Ian would have no part in riding one except on my lap.

"That is not a leopard. It's a dog!"

Long shadows. It's time to clean up the grounds.

I found a leaf! It's for you!

After a well-deserved nap, The Pie.

Fall can come now.

We've been wanting to get a gate for the fireplace so that we can use it. We've got that taken care of and I'm formally giving permission for the weather to turn cold. If it needs to. I'll take the warmth for as long as I can, but it's ok if the weather follows the lead of all of the leaves!

The view from a few weeks ago: The photo doesn't come close to doing those leaves justice.