Train Up a Child

Zane likes trains.  Actually, he LOVES trains.  He was staying with us during and after the time his little brother came.

We came up with a new game that involves both trains and being outside. I surely get some sort of beneficial exercise crawling around on the cement drawing train tracks and roads with sidewalk chalk.  

I don't know how soon he figured out that this stuff washed off with water, because he had more fun washing the tracks off that driving his train on them.  Eventually, it got to the point that all he wanted to do was have me draw, he wash off, rinse and repeat.

I only let him do that twice a day.  

On another note:

Zane growing up so quickly.  He's 32 months old today.  I love to listen to him talk, since he uses complete sentences now and I can understand what he is getting at most of the time.  I love to hear the words he uses and the way his grammar is shaping up.  What I especially noticed this time is that not only can he recognize what a real sheep looks like (have you seen what kid's books sheep look like!), and that when you are talking about more than one thing you add an "s" on the end of the word, thus, sheeps.  Too bad he picked the first word I get to hear him use as a plural is one that doesn't.  He'll find out soon enough.  I was impressed that he even knows things need to BE pluralized   

That's My Boy!! 

We Have a Baby!

 Barry Thomas Miller born August 27, 2011 weighed 7 pounds 4 ounces and measured 20 1/2 inches long. He has a lot of brown hair with blue eyes and is very alert.  He's eating and sleeping normally and giving his parents as little trouble as any child of less than a week old will do.


(That last little bit comes sort of verbatim from something I read somewhere in some novel that I wish I could remember right now, but I can't, and I don't have time to go looking for it since I have big brother Zane here and his nap only last so long and I have dishes and laundry and ..... to do.)

Mom and Baby

Isn't he CUTE!!

Proud Dad

Zane meets Barry

Happy Family

Flying Away

My daughter has been wanting to take a trip to Italy, but we wouldn't let her.  So, when she was invited to fly up to Wisconsin to visit her auntie, she jumped at the chance.  We found her a non-stop flight to Milwaukee from Omaha, and drove three hours to put her on a flight than took less than an hour and a half.

The last time Jim and I flew (and the only time for that matter) was 24 years ago on our honeymoon.  Things have changed a lot since then.  Now, there are a lot of rules and regulations.  Like the one about any liquids in your carry on have to be 3 oz. or less and fit all in a quart plastic bag.  Try THAT one with a teenager. She could have carried on all her luggage except figuring out bottles and plastic bags defeated me and I paid for the checked bag.  And then the security....We got gate passes so we could see Lynette to the gate, which meant we had to go through security just like everyone else.  I didn't have much, but Jim forgot to leave his pocket knife in the van, so we left minus one pocket knife.

It was fun to watch people go through security.  There are the business men, who quickly and methodically put their things in the baskets and go quickly through.  Then there are parents of children, taking off everyone's shoes.  And, there was also one dad in a hurry, rushing through, dropping things on the conveyor, having to take shoes off at the last minute, discovering the baskets and rushing back and forth.  I hope he made the flight.

We allowed plenty of time, so we had plenty of time to sit. It is just as well, since a steady stream of people went through the security checkpoint the whole time we were there.

She wouldn't admit to feeling nervous and walked right on the plane like she'd flown many times before.

Her window is on the other side of the plane. 

And away we go!

on camera, too, especially when I'm not paying close enough attention. 

Like I said, we haven't been in an airport for about 10 years, (Jim's dad flew once while he lived with us), but that day, my dad flew out of that airport in the morning, and those two kids we know that spent 8 weeks in Finland were coming in in the evening with a special family member.  And we didn't get to see any of them.  

August 2009

Okay, so it is really this time TWO years ago.  But I love the following photos so much, that I want to look at them again, and share them.

I'm not great on photography, but once in a while I get some I really like.

I tried to take Zane everywhere I went.  I know he got dirty in the garden, but what fun is it to stay clean!

These photos are taken at the front of our house.  Zane is wearing a romper that my dad wore when he was a toddler. I took photos of Nathan and Lynette in this little romper also.   Dad's initials are embroidered on the front, "TFB". Zane is 7 months old.

Just a little looking and here is Lynette at 9 months in the romper.

Lynette at the same time, just cute. 

All the kids in September 1994 (oops, how about October 1996)

And Nathan at 8 months in the romper.

July 2009

I drank too much tea today.  I wanted to be alert when my son comes home from the fair tonight, but I'm beginning to be afraid I'm going to be alert until time to get up.

So I'm sorting photos on my computer.  I'm remembering how cute Zane was when he was a baby.  I'm remembering I won't have time to remember very much longer since #2 in the family is coming along soon.  In a month, we will have another grandson.

So, this is what Zane looked like two years ago.  I love this little outfit.  He looks so good in earth tones.

Sitting up so nice and playing the piano.

 And, we have achieved mobility!!  The next month it was the stairs!

And this is what his uncle does for entertainment, tempting him with pop.  It is NOT open.  (Thankfully, for my carpet).