Skiing

After three years, I finally figured out how you can get functional ski gear without having to spend a fortune (at stores I would be in otherwise). Step one was to ask a friend of mine who had been skiing for a while to find out what I actually needed (and what all to look for in general). Step two (oh you crucial step two) was to go to a ski swap. I knew I was where it was at when I showed up 30 minutes early to the swap and was already 100th in line... It was like the member picnic at the Willy Street COOP (Madison, Woot!). Anyway, I was "focused like a lazer beam" (thanks again Mark Minett for the phrase) when the doors opened and I dodged some elbows to snag boots, skis and poles for Ethan to the tune of $24. More over, after some lengthy perseverating (the black pair or the gray pair... enh... the gray pair or the black pair) I finally got a pair of cross-country ski boots that work the the skis I took from the trash 2 winters ago.

I went cross country skiing for the first time last Saturday and I just loved it. Below are some pictures of Ethan on is 2nd or 3rd time out on his skis. I thought he did a really good job. He had fun, but he also got cold and few down a few times. I took him out later that week and we skied a little bit together.

Thanksgiving, 2011, big day for a little guy...

I had hoped to make a bigger post out of this, but time has gotten away from me and it is already 2012.

This past Thanksgiving Ethan past a big mile stone and had his first sleep over without his mama and papa.  We drove to nana's house in Center Barnstead for some of her famously good turkey and then Jody and I left and Ethan spent the night with nana and pappy.  

Jody and considered it a date and we went to see the 4th Twilight movie and had a great time.  We also had a WONDERFUL breakfast the next day and Lou's and then I drove out to pick Ethan up in Concord nana (in her new blue Honda CRV).

Everyone had a great time and I was happy that Ethan got to a more intimate part of the canvas of his nana's daily life.  I grew up 100 ft from my grandmother's house and I saw her almost everyday.  Being far from family is something tugs deeply on my heart and to see nana be such a big part of Ethan's life brings me great joy.

More Favorite Books

The Little Rabbit books by Harry Horse
Mayday Mayday, Firefighter A-Z, and Hot Shots by Chris Demarest
Wacky Wednesday by Dr. Seuss
DinoTrux by Chris Gall
Animals Home Alone by Loes Riphagen (this book is SO FUN)
The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry and the Big Hungry Bear
Wendel's Workshop by Chris Riddell
House in the Night by Susan Marie Swanson
Three Pebbles and a Song by Eileen Spinelli
Tuesday and The Three Pigs by David Wiesner
Merry Christmas, Big Hungry Bear! by Don and Audrey Wood
Press Here by Herve Tullet