11.30.13 Miles' Baptism

For a rare occasion, Thanksgiving 2013 our entire family was home!  I asked Joanna to take a family photo from the church balcony, and although i haven't seen the photos yet, I hope we get a good one for a photo card.  Miles and another little boy were baptised that day.  No matter what your culture or religion, "welcoming" ceremonies are really important.  It is a statement that you welcome this child into your family, your faith community, and you invite God to be part of his/her life.

Father Larry, Matt, Mauri, Miles Jamison

Godparents, Aunt Katie and Uncle PJ

Photo bombing by cousin Matthew Thomas! 

Grandpa Dan, Grandma Stacie, and to the right, Grandma Sherri and Grandpa Phil.

Great Grandmothers, Eleanor, left, and Estell on the right.

Miles was a very good baby during the baptism.  He didn't cry at all, and neither did the other baby.  Father Larry said the secret is putting in really hot water before the mass begins, so after mass, the water is still warm, not icy cold. Father Larry poured entire pitchers of the baptismal water over their heads, 

"In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit." 

Also, he slathered chrism oil all over their little heads.  7 days and several baths later, you could still smell the spicy chrism oil on Miles. 

Welcome Miles, welcome!

12.14.13 Elf on the Shelf

Last year, several of Joe's classmates' families were enjoying the "Elf on the Shelf" holiday tradition, which is fairly new.  Little did I realize that elves come in a variety of ethnic styles, and are very hard to get.  So, Joe got his Christmas day, too late for the elf activity for last year.  This year, when we got out the Christmas decorations, we got out the elf.  Joe was dismayed that I touched him.  If children touch the elf, they "remove his magic".  I said that I had to untie the twisties to get him out of the box.  Each family names their elf, and last year, Joe named his "Funny."  The day the elf went on the mantle, I left for Omaha to help care for Miles.  As I spoke to Joe during the week, he was dismayed that Funny was not moving day to day. Dan was not in the know about the elf magic.  When I returned, I showed Dan the pinterest board on Elf on the Shelf.  Since then, Funny has been moving regularly.  I haven't noted all of his locations, but here are some:

Emily's stocking...

The Lego lizard Aunt Cheryl passed on to Joe...

The woodwork...

and this morning, the ceiling fan.  

Funny probably has more to report about Stacie and Dan's holiday shortcomings than Joe's!

Last Sunday's Argus Leader had a great couple of pages on the Elf in the Shelf tradition.  Included were diametrically opposed parent views.  One father said their family enjoys the fun, and a mother had the viewpoint of "the overachieving parents whose entire focus is elf activites" and that her family "just doesn't have time for the elf."  Both are o.k.  Funny has not been up to any extreme antics here.  We are enjoying his moves and Joe is looking for him each morning.  

11.22.2013 Metals and Paint

3 years ago when I was in Savannah, I bought a ball and chain necklace with a Venetian glass bead.  It was black and copper looking, swirled glass.  I wear the necklace often.  The cool thing about this necklace, is that the part with the pendant unhooks, and you can swap out pendants!  When I learned I was going back to Georgia for work, I told my coworker I have one request...a quick stop at Metals and Paint, because I want to buy a pearl pendant.

Metals and Paint is run by a husband and wife team, and they have hired one other employee now.  They make all their jewelry and sell paintings from one artist. I wondered if they would still be open, and in the same location, after all this time.  And they are!  They do not have a website, because they would not be able to keep up with internet orders.  You can however, go to their facebook page, look at photos, and call them to order. They do amazing work.

Metals and Paint

10.2013 TED talks

Some people made fun of me because of my love of the Blackberry.  It was a sturdy phone, with a full keyboard, and I love that Blackberry compresses their data, so I didn't have to pay much for having a "smart" phone.

This screen shot of a blackberry curve is as close as I can get.  How i miss the freckle button, and the user friendly, ease of function! When Katie and I went to upgrade, I told the sales person that I text, and I take photos, so the Samsung Galaxy S4 had a 14 pixel camera....

There are things I do like about the Galaxy.  It functions more like a tablet, with a full viewing screen, so it's much easier for me to see than the small blackberry screen, and I use the phone in different ways.  I love the Google App Store!  Easy to add apps and shortcut buttons, for pinterest, twitter, etc. However, my favorite and most used app, by far, is the short cut to TED talks. www.ted.com

The link will take you here, to a plethora of topic choices in every range imaginable! They truly are "riveting talks by remarkable people"!  I love the 15 minute inspirational talks.  As I wait for a dental appointment, I can listen to a TED talk! As I wait in the airport...TED talk.  Can't sleep at night?  TED Talk! I encourage you to save the link as a favorite on your desktop, or your mobile device or tablet, so you to can be entertained, informed, or inspired.  Best.Site.Ever!
So basically, the Samsung Galaxy 4 has changed my life.  However...I am tempted by the 41 pixel camera of Zach and Em's Windows phones!

9.2013 Bear Scouts

Another year of scouting activities has begun.  This is a photo of Joe and another scout selling Boy Scout Popcorn.

In addition to going door to door to our neighbors, Joe sold at the indoor farmer's market in the mall, pictured here, and outdoors at Walmart on opening day of hunting season.  People were very generous and happy to support the scouts. Many hunters told us they were former scouts, or their sons were.  Thank goodness this is the sole fundraiser!
We have already been taking field trips...to Miedema Sanitation, to the public Landfill, and to the Daily Republic. One of our scout's grandfather made the pieces for the boys to construct bird houses for one of our winter building activities! Scouting has so many beneficial activities.  Cole, Kobi, Conner, and Joe are nice young men to work with.

11.16.2013 Joe's first crossword

This morning I asked Joe if he wanted to do the crossword puzzle on the Kids' Page.  He loved it!  Grandpa Bill is surely smiling down on Joe today!  Joe and I did all the activities in the Saturday paper.  Joey liked it so much that he went to the recycling bag and started digging for last Saturday's Kids' Page as well. A new discovery!  We have always been "newspaper" readers.  I am pleased to see Joey heading down that path as well.

10.2013 Welcome Miles!

We waited throughout the day for news, knowing that Matt and Mauri were at the hospital.  Matt called to say, "He's here!" and we could hear the emotion in his voice. The miracle of Miles Jameson had arrived, and we could hear him crying in the background.  We went to meet him for the first time when he was 6 days old.

Here is snoozing Miles, all swaddled up, with his happy parents, Matt and Mauri.  Look at his pretty hair!

Miles with Aunt Katie! It was Katie's first visit to Matt and Mauri's home, as well.  She could never take time off when she was going to school. 

Miles with "extreme baby hog" Uncle Joe!

See what I mean?  Baby hog!

Still hogging...

Seriously Joe...let the rest of us have a chance!

Finally, Grandpa Dan and Grandma Stacie get a turn.

One of my favorite things about Miles, was the way he would look for Mom and Dad when he heard their voices.  He also would still when I sang to him, as though thinking, "Who are you?"  

Here's an "eyes open" picture. I see some of Matt, but truly, I think Miles resembles his Grandpa Phil a lot. 

I love his "Sweet Pea" first Halloween costume, with his little newborn face. 

Many more precious photos to come, I am certain. 

We love him already.  Thank you Matt and Mauri, for all you have done to get him here safely.