Year 4, Day 273

In a Thanksgiving first*, we stayed home this year and hosted my parents and brother at our (yeah, still) new home. No lie -- it was nice to NOT drive for once! When I told Miles the day was starting with the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, he immediately asked why we weren't going to the … Continue reading Year 4, Day 273 →

Year 4, Day 211

Relationships with other people are complicated. We can make all our individual plans, have expectations for our day, but the moment you add one other person into the mix, their own opinions become factors. There's compromise involved in any relationship. Toss a small child into this, and things get even more unpredictable. Still, there are … Continue reading Year 4, Day 211 →

Year 4, Day 206

With Jaclyn and I out of town for the wedding, Miles was left with his Aunt Andrea and Uncle Scott last night. Given his...nightly tendencies of late, not to mention his general noncompliance, I was prepared to hear that the evening had been taxing and that sleep had not come easily. Perhaps it helped that … Continue reading Year 4, Day 206 →

Year 4, Day 199

The opportunities the past two years have afforded us to see some of our closest family members have been greatly diminished, which has been difficult for a number of reasons, not the least of which is robbing Miles's aunts, uncles, and grandparents of the chance to see him at various developmental stages. This weekend, however, … Continue reading Year 4, Day 199 →

Year 4, Day 193

Jaclyn's cousin AnnMarie and her boyfriend Chris dropped by this weekend for a brief visit, and while Miles loved hamming it up with them, he also got a rare chance to interact with an artifact from the past. "Cheese!" - Miles, whether he's getting his picture taken or the one taking the picture

Year 4, Day 172

We started the long trek back to Charlotte today, but not before Miles took care of feeding the chickens one last time after Uncle Randy showed him where the cracked corn was. He even managed to get some IN the coop. After that, it was hours upon hours in the car as we slowly crawled … Continue reading Year 4, Day 172 →

Year 4, Day 171

Vacation is obviously a time for relaxation. ...just look at this kid. But it isn't all fun and games, and Miles was once again put to work this evening. This time, he was tasked with picking peaches, and he executed this zealously, darting around amid showering fruit, wholly unconcerned by the potential for getting beaned … Continue reading Year 4, Day 171 →

Year 4, Day 170

Today was the event that compelled us to make the trip to New Jersey this week -- the graduation celebration in honor of Jaclyn's cousins, who recently finished their degree programs. It was a time for revelry, conversation, and exceptional food. Or, in Miles's case, collecting all the corn cob holders necessary for a complete … Continue reading Year 4, Day 170 →

Year 4, Day 169

When we started our vacation, Miles was really only aware of one thing: we were going to a farm. That carried certain expectations with it, and today was the day most of those would be satisfied, as Miles was going to get to interact with a variety of animals. Waiting patiently to head out to … Continue reading Year 4, Day 169 →

Year 4, Day 168

Yesterday, we left Charlotte for the first big family trip we've taken in two years, on a two-day drive that would take us first to Maryland then to Princeton, NJ. At the outset of our journey, almost certainly the last time we'll all be smiling in the car on this trip. After what felt like … Continue reading Year 4, Day 168 →