Same thing with videos!

I'm sorry, it had to be done.  Some of my favorite recent videos:

Extreme Blogging (or last big photo dump before 2013)

And just like that, I'm suddenly 3 months behind in my blogging.  Thank goodness I felt a little pressure with 2013 breathing down my neck.  Thought it might be good to start the new year with a relatively clean slate and get caught up with blogging at least.  Oh procrastinating...some habits just die hard.  

BIRTHDAY

Miles turned 3 on October 29th!

Presents with Nana (who lives here now!!)

Hex bugs!!  One of the hit toys this year.  Tiny little motorized 'bugs' that vibrate and then run around on a track.

HALLOWEEN

Miles must have some Libra in him because for Halloween he wanted to be: nothing, a bat, a ghost, nothing, a lumberjack (he was steered in this direction by me b/c the costume essentially existed in his closet), back to a bat.  haha. drumroll please.....lumberjack won.  Not sure it was exactly a democratic decision, but he was happy, and the costume was cheap and warm!

First time trick or treating!!  Unfortunately (although I rather like it), a very nearby house always has big decorations and super loud, spooky music booming from their speakers.  Needless to say, this made Miles a bit nervous and he wanted NOTHING to do with going up to houses to get candy, beloved candy.  Thankfully, Archie and Penny live close, so we just walked on over there-familiar territory, familiar faces and wait, what's this?? They put candy in my bag?  Game on!  The rest of the way home, Miles was a pro at walking up to people's houses and saying 'trick or treat.' He got a fair bit of loot and also enjoyed devouring it the rest of the night.  I doubt it will be as hard to convince him to go next year.

SNOW!

Enjoying the first big snowfall of the season.  I thought it was so cute that he was so enamored with watching the flakes come down.

THANKSGIVING IN HERMISTON

Grandma Julie had Marbleworks!  Miles was obsessed with this game and played morning, noon and night the entire time we were there.

And, the continued obsession with Angry Birds.  

Unfortunately, my pictures that include Grandma Julie are on my phone. boo!

TREE DOWN

Big windstorm once we got home took out the entire middle section of the tree on our park strip.  So bummed.  We knew it was dying, but hoped to get a couple more seasons out of it.  Our house is going to get hit with a lot more sun this summer.  As soon as the city gets this one removed, we'll replant in the spring, but of course, trees take awhile to grow.

CHRISTMAS 

Started with Christmas tree shopping.  Yes, Miles is completely unwilling to turn his face toward the camera these days.  I delete A LOT of photos! I get some nice shots of the hat I knit though.  so there.

Failed attempt at a family photo for a Xmas card.  We laughed a ton trying to get everyone in the shot though, so all was not lost.  :)

Another failed attempt at trying for a Xmas photo. Maybe I should have taken away the headlamp?

Actually, I was wondering why we hadn't given him that before.  He played with it for a L O N G time. Completely absorbed in the magic of a portable, shining light!

Just a little light reading before bed.  This is the scene Craig found after he told Miles to pick out some bedtime stories.  :)

Seriously?  Another attempt at some sort of Xmas card picture.  Bah Humbug!

A little fun with Dad.

Dad scored a smiling picture!!

Looking away from the camera while enjoying the lights at Temple Square.

Same deal.  Lights at Temple Square.

For those of you from Salt Lake who might remember:  the candy windows are back!  yay!!

"Helping" me make treats for the neighbors.  Basically, this just involved Miles licking the leftover chocolate and sprinkles off the parchment paper.

Christmas Eve dinner.  See the trend?  I love this outfit though.

Family photo in which I used Angry Birds as a bribe to get Miles to look at the camera.  sigh.

Christmas Eve.

Wheeler Farm

Because this NEVER happens!

A photo of the two of us.  Together.  In the same place.  Out on a date.

Here's to more of that!

Snacks

Oh you know.....just hanging out, drawing on the chalkboard and snacking with Dad!

Jeans!

Adorable outfit from Aunt Penny.  She bought him those jeans possibly before he was born, we can't remember!  Anyway, they finally fit!  However, Miles calls them his 'tight pants', so it's not always easy to convince him to wear them.  Stay tuned, this will also be featured as his Halloween costume.  :-)

Computer Seeds

This is absolutely my favorite word right now.  Miles calls cucumbers, 'computers.' Cracks me up every time.  I was able to capture him talking about it since he had just planted some 'computer seeds' somewhere in the yard.  So, we'll see what happens this spring, as they are in a mystery location....although, I sure wouldn't mind a new laptop!

We did it!

Family photo after the Kokopelli triathlon.  What a great event and great trip.  Craig's brother, Chris,  came up from California to visit with us and my mom was able to come down too.  She watched Miles while Craig and I swam.  Yes, Craig participated too.  He was the swimmer on his relay team, a relay team which took second place!  It turns out we were in the same heat in the water, so we actually swam together.  Although I didn't have a top three finish to claim, I did make it out of the water 30 seconds before Craig, so that will have to do...for now!  

Uncertainty

In true form, Miles is assessing the water park near Grandpa and Grandma Evans' house in St. George.  We were there September 15th for the triathlon.  Unfortunately, Grandpa and Grandma were away, but they generously let us stay in their new house.  Miles is so careful and concerned.  I love that he is sizing things up before running through anything!

It's actually fun!

In the end....we have a winner!

Symbiotic Relationship

The perfect situation:  Miles gets to pull tiny pieces of cardboard off the box and Jobey gets to eat them (he loves cardboard)-I think these two will go far together! And, it might just make up for all the times Miles has chased him around the backyard with the squirt bottle.

Aunt Stephanie

Aunt Stephanie stopped for a visit in early August.  She had helped my mom drive out here from Florida.  Yep, Nana is now a resident of SLC, she's sold her house, rented a new one here and is working as a hospice nurse.  It's so nice to have her this close!  Stephanie was able to stay for a couple days  after the trip and it was nice for her and Miles to reacquaint.  It didn't take long and if you let him squirt you with the water bottle, even better!  He did learn a new word while she was here..."goofball." Curious to see when that will show up again.  :) 

Cedar City

Cedar Breaks

Secret hiking spot

Went to Cedar City August 24th-25th for The Shakespeare Festival.  We camped out for the first time down there and had an amazing site full of pine trees.  We shared the site with another friend, so it wasn't too lonely.  Got a little site seeing in at Cedar Breaks Monument and found an awesome hike at the end of a crazy, bumpy dirt road.  We were the only ones there, so it truly felt like we were trekking around in the wilderness!

East Canyon

End of summer trip to East Canyon-back in August I think.  We were still training for the triathlon, so came out here to get an open water swim in.  Miles was not a fan of the muddy reservoir bottom (who can blame him...it's gross!), but he did love throwing rocks in-of course!

Helping Dad

Craig was working on my bike in the back yard and when he paused, Miles took that opportunity to do a little tune-up of his own.  I just love how serious and focused he is.

"Mom, I have something on my forehead."

Me:  "yes, yes you do!"

Miles was helping me make a b-day cake for a friend.  This happened in the time it took me to walk to the sink and turn on the water.  Hahahaha, that's what I get for handing him a beater to lick and then leaving the scene!  He did actually say the blog title to me, so how could I not laugh?

First Fireworks!

Aunt Angie, Auntie Mary and Miles

Catching up on the news

A Jig

Grooving to the Mozart Cube!

Solitude Nature Trail

Cheese

Awesome face he makes when we ask him to smile for the camera.

Visit with Nana

Cousin Ben

Nest

I came into Miles' room in the morning and found him snuggled up on the floor with all his bedding and friends (Shamu, Fuzzy Guy and Turtle).  He had pulled everything off the bed to make a little nest!