Telford Family Christmas party

Since Patty was still on the mend from her cold and didn't have much of a voice I read her M&M story and Nolan and PJ helped demonstrate all that the m could stand for.

Bad Parenting?

What is worse, that I let him and his bear Close (the ending pronounced like Jose) wear plastic bags or that my almost four year old is wearing size 18 month pajamas still? To redeem myself I have since cleaned out his drawer and packed away all 18 mth-2t clothes.

Surprise from Dan

I found this lovely photo of Dan on my camera. Nice work on the self portrait and thanks for putting up drywall in the storage room.

Big Pool

At least he spent a few minutes in the big pool before going to the hot tub. I can't remember how I got a shot of him without the death grip around Dan's neck.

To be Nolan's friend

All Done is the name of Nolan's koala. One evening he was playing with him and asked for some tape. Dan asked what was going on when he taped the toy rock to All Done. Nolan said it was a rocket and Dan tried to explain there is a difference between a rock and rocket.

Why settle for one costume?

Nolan had fun this week... he wore a different costume every day. My favorite was the rocker but he settled on the frog for trick or treating. He was pretty excited that he got to go to 10 whole houses and he even scored a pomagranate at one of them. (It was a friend who knew that it was one of nolan's favorite fruits)

TAG...YOU'RE IT!

Sorry Marolyn, I am slow.

1. Where is your cell phone? DRESSER
2. Where is your significant other? RIGHT NEXT TO ME
3. Your hair color? BROWN
4. Your mother? SELFLESS
5. Your father? LOGICAL
6. Your favorite thing? FOOD
7. Your dream last night? PARTY WOES
8. Your dream/goal? WORLD PEACE
9. The room you're in? HALL
10. Your hobby? GUITAR HERO
11. Your fear? SPIDERS
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? ALIVE
13. Where were you last night? HOME
14. What you're not? TALL
15. One of your wish-list items? ROLLING PIN
16. Where you grew up? IDAHO FALLS
17. The last thing you ate? HOMEMADE PIZZA
18. What are you wearing? PJS
19. Your TV? ROCKS
20. Your pet? DEAD
21. Your computer? MAC
22. Your mood? EXASPERATED
23. Missing someone? NO, WE ARE ALL HERE
24. Your car? SEDAN
25. Something you're not wearing? A SMILE
26. Favorite store? TAI PAN
27. Your summer? TOO SHORT
28. Love someone? FAMILY
29. Your favorite color? BROWN
30. When is the last time you laughed? RIGHT NOW
31. Last time you cried? TODAY

I TAG THE CHEESE WIZZER

Idaho, Idaho, Idaho

Here is Nolan with the snowman that he built this morning. Yes, this photo is from today and not last winter.  It was snowing when he went to bed last night. First thing this morning Nolan jumped out of bed and ran to the window to see what wonders awaited him.  His wish had come true there was snow and  lots of it.

Not much would get me out the door to run on a 25 degree Saturday morning with 25 mph winds out of the north.  But thank you Miriam and Nate for inspiring me to run for a great cause.  We dedicated our run to our Grandma Ransom who passed away 24 years ago this month from breast cancer and to my Aunt Leeann who is a survivor!  

 

More Nolan...what a suprise

I took Nolan to Freeman Park and before long we were over by the creek. It was a cool afternoon but that never stops a determined little boy from getting wet. The willow tree behind him has a branch that is horizontal and runs parallel a few feet above the creek. It also has a branch that crosses the creek. After I told him he couldn't use the tree branch as a bridge he decided he could play on the parallel branch since he has balance beam skills.

So soon I was in on the action and we had a great game of 'grumpy old troll from under the bridge' going (thanks Dora). After at least five or six rounds we were switching places and it was my turn to be the troll. I looked up just in time to see Nolan go off the branch backward into the creek. I looked over the tree branch and couldn't reach him because the tree branch was blocking me. He was sitting in the water screaming with arms frantically trying to grab the slick rocks on the bank. So I went a few feet up and ducked under the branch and helped him out. He was pretty startled and went into a full out wail. I was trying to calm him down and wring him out at the same time and after I told him I didn't give him permission to swim he was able to laugh about it.

Baseball season is a big event to someone in our household. I didn't realize how much Nolan had watched of last year's world series until this summer when Dan was watching some game highlights on ESPN and Nolan identified Manny Ramirez. So we gave him the chance to see Manny play. Too bad everyone at Coors field booed when he was up to bat. When we went to get snacks Manny was up again so we stopped to watch. As you can see Nolan couldn't handle the anticipation and unfortunately he didn't get to see him hit a home run (he struck out, multiple times).

Hopefully we will get to see Manny and Big Papi (Nolan's other favorite player) in the World series again only this time he will have to choose between the two.

I was getting ready to go to the park and heard Nolan in the kitchen. He had taken a bag of McDonalds toys he has scored from an evening with his Grandparents and wrapped them in saran-wrap so they would be safe on the way to the park.

When we were in Colorado I found Nolan and Sydney stirring up some burnt wood soup with their bamboo poles. Nolan had a great time and Sydney was kind enough to entertain and endure three days with her crazy three year old cousin. I would say that he is preparing her for Dexter in a few years but that boy seems pretty mellow.
We joined the Pfunders for some swimming at Little America in SLC. As soon as Nolan saw the hot tub he, Adelyn, and Morgan ditched the pool.

We got spirit, yes we do...we got spirit how 'bout you?

Gymnastics is one thing, but teaching Nolan spirit fingers is too much! He does seem to have some mad male cheerleading skills though. Who knows maybe it will pay for his college.

Wanna Wrestle?

Long hard days working in the dirt hole has led to Nolan's chiseled physique this summer. He may not be big but he is wirey!

Preschool begins!

Nolan had his first day of preschool Friday. It was a weird feeling to drop him off and drive away. He seemed to have a great time and was ready to go back again. Dan is about 90% recovered from his tonsillectomy. Now he has to build up stamina to stand all day after laying on the couch for over a week.

Summer Time

Here are a few pictures to sum up most of our summer.  Even though it isn't fairly represented Nolan did wear clothes, most days anyways.  He is pretty excited to start preschool on Friday!

I sent Nolan outside to play and this is how I found him a few minutes later.


Summer has flown by but Nolan received a pretty good dose of mud throughout, man that brings back many memories. 

Oregon

This summer I was finally able to take Nolan to a few of my favorite spots.  It was fun to live right at the mouth of the Gorge and less then two hours away from Cannon Beach, hard to believe that was over a decade ago. We stayed in downtown Portland for a night and I think I blew my chances of ever getting Dan to move there when we walked the streets that evening, better to hang out there during the day.