Clever Boy

Here are a couple of stories from Soda Springs. Seems like Miles is just getting smarter and smarter...

Miles wanted a cookie (one of Beebles' favorite Circus Animal cookies - pink & white icing and sprinkle covered animal crackers), so I asked him which color he wanted. "PINK!" We went over the the cupboard and I put my hand in the bag of cookies and pulled one out.
"Is this a pink cookie?"
"NO WHITE!" (He says everything with tremendous enthusiasm.)
So I reached in and pulled another cookie out. "Is this a pink cookie?"
"YES!" I gave him the cookie, popped the white one in my mouth, and off Miles went proud of his little cookie. He more played with it than ate it for a bit. Tim saw him and said "Miles, is that your cookie?"
"YES!"
"Where's my cookie?"
Miles looked at Tim, looked at his cookie, looked at Tim, looked at his cookie.... "IN MOMMY'S MOUTH!" We were all floured.

Here is another food story. Miles woke up from his nap and wanted a snack. I started asking him what he wanted and he kept saying no to everything I offered. Together we walked back towards the snack cupboard which has 2 stacked lazy-susans in it. I tried to manipulate the spinning of the lazy-Susan to keep towards healthy snacks (and away from Circus Animals) and the following occurred...
"Yogurt raisins"
"NO"
"Dried strawberries"
"NO"
"Whole wheat crackers"
"NO"
"Hmm.... what do you want Miles?"
"TURN MORE - TURN MORE"
I was caught - it's amazing to think that my boy is starting to out-clever me!

Soda Off-Springs

(Full disclosure, Tim came up with that title.)

I feel like Soda Springs has been such a gift to me in my life, that I can hardly wait to share it with my children. I love that we have pretty easy access to my favorite place in the world, and that I can share my experiences with them.

There is amazing joy in dirty feet, rocks in rivers, tickly grass in the meadows, and time spent as a family.

A boy, his air guitar and his cousin's back pack on a walk through "town"

Miles and Tim went for Soda Water one day up in Soda Springs. I just love this little video as Miles looks so much like a little boy, distracted by stones to walk on, curious about noises he hears, and playing his ever-present air guitar.

What a little joy he is.

Squishy Face

...just funny to me...

Music Night with the Fishes

While we were up in Soda Springs, 2 of my first cousins were up there with their families/significant others. The super-fun part is that that side of the family, the Fishes, are wonderfully musical. We had an evening we allowed Miles to stay up late and listen to Allen and Randy jam on the guitar and mandolin. Randy's girlfriend is also a professional flute player, and we had more cousins playing the spoons. Allen was kind enough to allow our little pajama-monkey-hat-clad 2 year old play along on an extra mandolin. What a wonderful evening!

Squeaks

Amelia hasn't found her consonants yet, but she sure has her voice. She is a delightful little lady and it is a joy to hang out with her. I loved the 4 days we had together alone up in the mountains

Cocktail hour...

Life isn't overly stressful up in Soda Springs and we found ourselves greatly entertained by the small things. The amazing part is that Miles doesn't seem to worse for the wear on this one....