3

Well, folks, Miles is 3. Get ready for the blow by blow.

We got back from Coeur d'Alene late Wednesday night just in time for Miles' birthday on Thursday. He slept in that morning and we had to wake him up at 7:50. He was pooped. Usually, Miles wakes right up and is chip cheery and ready to play, but he was a little sluggish waking up on his birthday. We had to tell him about his red presents to get any life out of him.

Then he wanted to take of his pajamas and lay in the bed we sleep in and roll around and be cute.

After we dropped Dave off at work, I took him to Safeway so he could pick out a donut for his breakfast. You can guess what kind he chose:

He had loads of fun looking at his messy face in the mirror.

Next stop: the Library.

Party hearty at the library. He really loves it there. The only way I got him out of there was by telling him he could open his presents.

Meal #2 in the car: Lunch.

And the opening of the red presents.

For weeks, when I would ask Miles what he wanted for his birthday, he'd say "a red present." Then I'd say, "what do you want to be inside?" and he'd always say "a ball. A red present with a ball in'n it."

He did get a ball in'n it and some bubbles. Before you go thinking that we are ultra cheap, first understand: a) we are ultra cheap and 2) we couldn't get him a lot of stuff for his birthday because we have to fit everything in our car on the way back to MN at the end of this Salem escapade.

The orange cone came with the ball and Miles was laughing so hard in the car putting it on his head and tossing it around.

His birthday was basically the same stuff we always do every day, but we tried to make him feel special and got him red presents and he loved it. Kids are the best.

Dave took off work early and we took Miles to get his favorite food: "rice and beans" from Chipotle. Then we went to the park to play with Miles' new ball and have cake.

It was a little breezy, so it was quite challenging to get the candle to light. It did light and he did blow it out. Hooray.

Again, we took him to Safeway and let him pick out a piece of cake since my car is not equipped with a baking station. It's all the same to Miles, though. Like I said, kids are the best.

Happy Birthday, Miles. You are the most fantastic, sweet, fun, easy going little boy of all time and we feel so lucky to have you.

To Salem

I am so glad we've been out in Salem this summer. Even though my mom life is pretty different and can be a little bit of a pain, I've been loving it. Although, I'm remembering, I was feeling a little tired of the 11 hour days and meals on wheels and pushing the swing. It's been a nice change here at my parents' house and I'll be refreshed and ready to do it again when I go back.

I decided one day to take pictures of our walk that we do every day. Literally, every day. It's been such a memorable summer, and I want to remember it!

This is the Union Street Bridge in Salem. It gets you over the Willamette river from downtownish to West Salem. There are parks on either side of the river, after a bit of a walk. I wonder how many miles I walk each day...

This is the progression of the goofy smile Miles has been giving the camera:

Oh Miles.

The view on the bridge:

This way.

That way. A special thanks to that bird for flying by just as I took the picture. I like him in my picture.

On this particular day, there was a group of teenage kids going around one of the parks asking parents if they could tell their child a story about Jesus. At first I told the especially nerdy looking girl "no" in more words ("uhhhh... he's not even 3 and he's playing right now. We're religious. He knows about Jesus."), but then I felt bad, so I took him over to her when he was done playing and he got this neato little felt book out of the deal.

Miles thought it was pretty cool.

Hand crafted. No pictures or words, but the color of each page has something to do with something. Like gold is supposed to be like the streets of heaven. And black is sin. White is perfection? Red is Christ's death on the cross. This concludes your felt book lesson.

Yep, that's the bridge.

This is along the river on the way to one of the parks:

This way.

That way.

I like the way the arches in this bridge line up every time we walk by. When we drive Miles will recognize his surroundings and say, "That's where we walk" when we drive by our library route or this route.

Another place we walk and play is Bush park. I've mentioned it before... it's the one with the wood car and house. This park was so fantastically beautiful with blossoms and flowers when we first got to Salem and I wish I would have taken pictures. I didn't.

It's a big park with lots of walking/running paths and parks.

I love the trees there. They are all moss covered and wiggly and cool looking.

Mr. Miles just hangin' out, patient as ever while I bore him to death and take pictures.

Pretty Bush park. I went here the first few days while I was still learning my way around... it's across the street from the hospital where Dave works so it was pretty easy to find. I walked all around the whole thing and got sore calves from walking the hills and pushing the stroller and being weak.

BFF

I know this tall grass stuff is all over the place, but it makes me think of Salem and this summer.

To Salem. And Amsterdam.

The Times

I'm at my parents house for a bit and came across a picture of Dave on slideshow screen saver and couldn't resist. Dave often gets told how young he looks. Well, in case you were wondering, he has actually aged since we got married. Check out 14 year old looking Dave back in the summer of 2005:

Here are some fun facts about Dave at this time in his life:

• Home from his mission for 9 months before we got hitched.
• 21 years old.
• Was single (aka not married, but still dating other girls or me/engaged to me) at school for 1.5 semesters.

Yowza!

We joke that his making the decision to get married as being the only big decision he has made without getting paralyzed from his over analyzation skillz. So far, so good!

The Hat and The Cheese

About a week ago, Dave was off gallivanting in Arkansas for work. He went to the Walmart Spark headquarters and found out that they have tiny business cards and smaller than standard toilet paper! Crazy, right? Save on cost=everyday Walmart Spark low prices. Anyway, since we didn't have to take him to work, we had a couple days off of the daily grind of meals on wheels (aka eating the food I prepare ahead of time in the car), parks, the library and loads of walking. We were gearing up to go outside on a particularly sunny day-- sunscreen, hat, the works. When I put Miles' hat on, he instructed me, "No, this way" and put his cute little chubby hand in some awkward position. Then he set me straight and turned that hat around:

Cool Miles and The Hat

Somewhere between here and there, Miles started smiling like a goon for pictures. I think it all began when we started "taking pictures" in the mirror after bath time... saying "cheese" and "stinky feet" (I think of you every time, Linz). So he especially tries to smile and it ends up a little something like this:

Getting there.

There. Goon. Miles and The Cheese.