Miles , Carolyn and I decided we would try catching frogs at a creek just up the road from the ranch. Miles had a great time driving the ATV, trying to catch frogs with a milk crate (my idea) and sloshing through the mud. 
My sister Niki's 40th birthday was a couple of days ago and as I thought what I ought to get her, a big cold serving of revenge came to mind. Those thoughts passed...
We had a great time at Glen Lake with Gary, Wendie, Josh, Jessica, Sam and Susie earlier this summer. It was a terrific getaway and the first time that Sam and Miles had a chance to hang out. This is a little tribute and thanks for letting me hang with you guys!
When we gave Miles his digger and dump truck with the construction hat, his first reaction related entirely to the hat. When his saw the construction hat, he squealed in delight, took the CUBS hat on his head and tossed it away like it was on fire and then put the construction hat on. I laughed so hard I was crying. It was a while before we could get him to take it off.
Miles and I went outside to play this afternoon. Since we didn't have a specific place to be and because Miles was playing happily inside, I wanted to see how long it would take him to willing agree to put on his snowsuit and boots. I started at 3:00 pm and we got out of the house at 4:35 pm. His last ditch attempt at getting outside without the snowsuit and boots was to grab his yellow blanket (ala Grandma Low) and my hand, walk me to the back door and try to wrap the yellow blanket around himself while pointing outside. He had the desire and eventually gave into the boots and snowsuit. We had a great time pulling him around in a little sled. He also has a little red shovel and takes his shovelling job quite seriously, although with no mittens and "paws" for hands, its not easy. The picture above is of Miles' first attempt at a snow angel. He was pleased to learn he could lie down in the snow.
Miles' first time toboganning was with his friend Simon Allison. We went on the "mini" version of turtle hill just off 45th street. Miles' loved it and now we just have to go buy a tobogan of our own.
Miles with just a few of his friends. Miles loves his stuffed animals and he has this new thing where in the middle of the day he begs to get in his crib with his stuffed animals and be tucked in for bed - ironically he doesn't get to take any stuffed animals to bed and he won't let us tuck him in. We will come back into his room to find him sharing his soother with one of his bears or trying to cover them with the blanket. Its really very sweet.
OOOoooopppps! I was so unhappy with Miles' first haircut that I decided to give it a shot myself. We have clippers that I use for Coy's hair and I thought - no problem, I'll just use the longest guard and away I'll go. Miles was very cooperative with the haircut. He thought it was funny and laughed the whole time. But because Miles' hair is so fine, it basically slipped right past the guard to the actual clippers themselves. So instead of nice cut, he received his first buzz, courtesy of dear old mom. It took us about a week to get used to it. Everytime I'd look at Miles I'd think, "where is my nice little boy and who's this army dude in my kitchen?"
For those of you who know Rong Jia, she stopped by for a visit just after Christmas. She looks great. Her English has improved a lot and she's really enjoying UofA. She wasn't here long, but Miles really liked her.
Okay, no, I didn't plan the red shirts. We spent Christmas at Grandma and Grandpa Low's and we didn't get a single picture of them with Miles. Sorry about that Mom & Dad. I'm not sure how that happened. Miles and his dad on Christmas day.
Miles and his mom on Christmas day.
Miles at this point is more into demolition than construction. I have no idea how Coy was able to get Miles to stand back long enough to build this pyramid. I can't get past 4 blocks high.
Great short story. We invited the missionaries over for dinner (doesn't happen very often). Elder Alexander (above) turned out to the grandson of the man who introduced Coy's parents to the church. He was also Coy's dad's boss. Elder Alexander also found out when he talked to his parents at Christmas that his parents met for the first time when his mom was running some errands with Coy's dad. Small world.
Miles got his first haircut on Tuesday of this week. This is the before picture, taken about two weeks ago.
The after shot . . . looking rather suave and sophisticated. He looks like such a little boy now, but also a little less trailer trash so in the end, the haircut was probably a good idea. Miles was extremely unhappy about getting his hair cut. The women at "Beaners" are a rough looking bunch of hard living women and they're coming at him with a sharp shiny object. Who can blame him.
Okay, Miles can now climb up on the toilet seat all by himself. He did this for the first time on Halloween and after climbing up on it for the second time proceeded to fall and slice his lip on the corner of the counter - ouch. We're hoping that is doesn't scar. Currently he looks like he's permenantly got a piece of strawberry jam dripping from his bottom lip.
Miles is walking everywhere now. He's so curious about everything. On Friday, he figured out how to climb onto the kitchen chairs by himself. I saw him trying and thought - he's going to get this figured out and then are we in trouble. It took him about four tries to get onto the chair and then the kitchen table was a piece of cake. In case you're wondering what he's holding, its an advil bottle, which happened to be open when he initially climbed onto the table. Now that's bad parenting! But in my defense, until that moment the table top was safe - completely out of reach.
Miles 1st birthday. This is the first sweet food he'd ever had and he wasn't quite sure what to do with it. It took him a while to really dig in, but by the end he was face down in the cake trying to eat more.
Delirious and tired after all his present opening. I didn't think he was going to have many presents to open so I wrapped up a bunch of books and things and then all his aunts and uncles were very generous - thank you. The gift highlight of the night for Miles - a book called B is for Bear. We could hardly get him to put it down to look at anything else. Of course since then, every other toy he received has eclipsed the book.
Miles, Carolyn, and Coy on a wave runner. We got some smiles and squeels out of him, even after we went for a long ride at the lake. The ride was a bit of a nail bitter with Coy and me making things a little tippy.
One of Miles new fun activities is to push around our giant closet mirror and walk through all the shoes behind the mirror. This picture was taken as Miles was coming out from behind the mirror. He looks pretty pleased with himself.
Miles' Birthday - hanging out with Grandpa in the backyard.
We went to Don & Susan's on Labour Day weekend and had a great time. Miles spent a lot of time geting pulled around in Susan's wagon. The food was fabulous as always and the fresh produce coming out of their garden was to die for.
I just love this picture of Miles and his Uncle Don.
As usual, I did not plan it, but all three of us are in matching coloured outfits. We're just all destined to dress in the same general colour scheme.
Miles and Grant got to meet this summer. We had a fun time visiting with Clark and Anna and it was very entertaining to see Miles and Grant interact with each other.
Back at the lake - Miles' first time in lake water. He wasn't too happy with how cold the water felt and he wasn't too pleased about splash island either. We did however, have a great time in the dingy and the hammock and just hanging out. Coy was so good to me, hanging out in the cabin while Miles was napping giving me an entire afternoon to read and sleep in the hammock - I could hear conversations happening on what seemed like the other side of the lake and I could hear loons in the distance. It was all good. Thanks Coy!
Miles at the South Glenmore splash park. He loved it!
Notice his soaking wet hat. I think he makes a strong fashion statement with the hat and sun suit.
Why is this in here you may ask? It was an amazing stacking feet. Really! The picture doesn't even begin to do it justice.
