IttyBitty Blog

I took part in planning a trip to Disney Land for my Best Buddies group, as most of you know.  Throughout the planning, I told my kids that we didn’t have enough money to go with them and that “just momma” would go with the buddies.  They were sad.

Secretly, Joey and I were planning to surprise them with the trip, just like the commercials on TV.  We were set to leave on Tessa’s birthday, so it seemed like a great plan. 

We woke the kids up at 4:00 am and told them that mom wanted to see Tessa open her presents before she left for Disney Land.  When Tessa reached into the bag, she pulled out a t-shirt.  Nate read what it said, “It’s my Birthday…”  and then the back, “and I’m going to Disney Land”!  She also pulled out $50 from grandma for spending money.  Nate then started to cry…an ugly cry.  Then, we pulled out his t-shirt and money.  (His birthday is a week later)  We then went straight to the airport and flew to California. 

Needless to say, the kids had a great time.  They were especially cute with my students.  They had a lot of fun “showing” them around and riding rides with them.  I think they were better “peer buddies” than the actual peer beddies.  I think it will be a birthday they’ll always remember. 

When I was a teenager, I attended a leadership conference at Snow College.  They took us up in the mountains there where they have developed a “ropes course”, which is a sadistic torture chamber for people like me.  The torture was compoundedd by a lot of peer pressure. 

The very most challenging part of this ropes course was called the “Eagle’s Nest”.  It’s a 50 foot pole with a lazy susan on top.  About ten feet away from the pole was a trapeze bar.  Each person was to put on a very uncomfortable harnass, climb to the top of this pole, stand on the “Eagle’s Nest” at the top, and then jump to the trapeze and hopfully hold on to it. 

I am not only scared of heights, but I’m also extremely clumsy.  I still haven’t gotten over this experience…obviously. 

I climbed the dang pole, I even stood on the top of the “nest”, and then I jumped.  Too bad I closed my eyes, or might have grabbed hold of the trapeze.  Instead, I fell, until the harnass caught my fall. 

I did NOT feel like an eagle.  Just saying. 

Last week, we had the opportunity to see some real eagles nesting at Farmington Bay.  It was “Bald Eagle Day”, so we thought we’d check it out.  It was a fun little outing. 

Nate did not appreciate the fact that these birds were out in the open.  He wanted to see a caged one…up close and personal.  Perhaps next time, we’ll bring some binoculars for him.  They did have a few telescopes to view the eagles, but neither of my children know how to close the correct eye.  They kept closing the eye that was looking into the telescope!  Then, they complained that they couldn’t see the birds.  They were un-impressed and wanted to leave.  I took their picture first:

The kids felt better about the whole experience once we found our way to the visitor’s center.  Tessa made an eagle finger puppet and Nate got to stretch out his arms to measure them against an eagle’s.  We finished off with a little nature walk where Tessa complained and complained about walking. 

Despite my children’s unamusement with this free family outing, I still have to say that it was a lot better than my first experience with an eagle’s nest.

I’ve had the privilege of having this little boy in my life for the last 365 days.

And I might add that those 365 days FLEW by!  It’s hard to imagine that little Miles could be a whole year old already.  But, it’s equally hard to imagine life without him.

As many of you know, Miles was a little “accident”.  We were just planning to have two children.  I always kind of “felt” like I needed three, but I resisted that feeling and we decided that Joey would get himself “fixed”.  And so he did.  Get fixed.

Joey was still sitting on frozen peas when I found out that Miles was on the way.  His fix was too late.  Miles had snuck in there, under the wire.

I don’t know if I believe in “meant to be” or not, but if there is such a thing, Miles is it.  He completes our family and I love him so much. I feel so lucky to be his mom.

Miles is a happy, healthy, and crazy one year old.  He is pretty wild and every diaper change is a WWF challenge (or so it seems).  He hates to sit still, to get his nose wiped, and napping for very long.  He loves to climb, crawl, stand, dance, and wrestle. He likes to growl and knows how to wave.    He has eight teeth, but not a lot of hair.  His favorite food is sweet potatoes.  Some of his nicknames are Milo, Milosh, Miles D. Diles, and Suebick (Tessa’s).

It’s been a very fun 365 days.