The New Milton and the New Miltons

Running on the Beach

2009-08-18T15:45:00.000-07:00

Photos are uploading again....Okay. We have quite a backlog, then.
This is on the Oregon Coast--Lincoln City. More later. I was just testing to see if it worked.

Several months

2009-01-25T06:57:00.000-08:00

I know it has been some time since I've posted here. Periodically, I try to upload pictures, but it still doesn't seem to work. I just give up at that point.

Everyone is doing well. Not even all that much sickness so far this year. We haven't gone anywhere or done anything particularly unusual. We had a nice, if quiet, holiday season. Went to Seattle with the Lewellen's to go ice skating. The best part of that was watching Miranda ride the ferris wheel. In other words, ice skating is not my strong suit. Neither was it Jackson, who went around twice and cheerfully said, "I can't do this." Indeed, he couldn't, though he wasn't any worse than I was. Miranda did great with this little device, like a walker, that helped you keep balance...until they took it away from her. She was too tall to be using it, apparently. Sandy probably likes skating the best, but she didn't even go...was tending to Peter.

We're humming along a lot like that.

???

2008-11-21T19:15:00.000-08:00

For some reason, I'm not able to upload photos lately. That's the reason for the dearth of posts.

All are doing great here. We've all been sick some. Sandy pretty badly a couple of weeks back; I with laryngitis (I know, I know, finally a break for those around me); and the young Miltons mild colds.

Anyway, maybe someday soon the photos will upload again.
A

Delicacies

2008-11-02T06:26:00.000-08:00

I hope he's not allergic to peanuts.

Sandy, her mother, and I went to see Bill Cosby last night. Mim has always liked him, so we took her for birthday. Maybe this eating sequence reminds me of his goofy pudding ads.

He was charming, maybe even quaint. Funny, if somewhat predictable (he did a bit about dentists that I remember hearing when I was a child).

He made a few comments about sociological issues--he's become very controversial in the black community for his diatribes against general irresponsibility, especially absentee fathers--but kept saying, "I'm not being political about this." Pity, I think I'd rather have enjoyed that. See his now famous "pound cake" speech.

Of course, it wasn't really the audience for that--I think I saw 8 or 10 black folks. And Sandy and I were well below the average (median, mode, and mean) age.

One year

2008-10-22T21:47:00.000-07:00

Thursday, October 16

The celebration of our homecoming with Peter.

Auntie Fawn & Peter before the dinner celebration.

Some days later...a sweet moment after getting home.

Tomorrow

2008-10-15T21:04:00.000-07:00

October 16, was the day we picked Peter up in Atlanta.

Peter, about a week old.

It has been quite a year.

He has been a delightful addition to the Milton family.

And he looks good in hats, doesn't he?

Wanting a private moment...?

On October 2, we celebrated his birthday. Sorry, all the picture's were grainy.

An unbelievable surprise...or surprisingly unbelievable?

He looks pretty surprised, too.

And he has been the delight of his mother's heart.

But I didn't have to tell you that.

Bye...for now

2008-09-03T21:58:00.000-07:00

We'll be taking a little hiatus from this blog. Starting back up at school is taking a lot of time--new building, new technology (I have to do a class web page, for instance), etc.

More later,
The Miltons

7 legs, 3 eyes

2008-09-01T14:58:00.000-07:00

We've been talking about getting a friend for Zach. (We tried a couple of years ago, and it didn't work out.) Well, Jackson, Miranda and I found Squint at the Humane Society, so we all trooped over there to see if everybody (most of all, Zach) got along with her. Everybody did, so now she's ours--for a month now.

It has worked well so far. They get on well, and she is great with Peter. He can pound on her, get in her food, and such, and she licks him with joy.

Oh yeah...she only has one eye.

Time for school to start....

2008-08-27T21:56:00.001-07:00

We got to move into our new building Friday afternoon, and school starts tomorrow (Thursday).

It has been a little frantic, especially for our administrative staff.

My room would never have looked this good without Sandy's help. I arranged the desks, she did just about everything else.

You probably can't see it all that well, but this room has a lot of technology--a Smartboard (a touch screen white board that acts like a computer monitor, with a finger as the mouse), a document camera (replacing the old overhead projectors), and more.

My particular room has a wide variety of old and current maps, and a general "world travel" motif--maybe, worlds of learning?

It also has last year's Starbucks cup from Lithuania. Alex, one of the 2007 LCC-SLI students, made it after I complained (jokingly, of course) about the lack of Starbucks in Lithuania. You can see the frame on the top of the first photo, then up close below that.

Walking, clear evidence

2008-08-22T19:32:00.000-07:00

The walking series. It's sort of like a little flip book, so I guess you have to look through the set fast.

Can't you almost see him taking those steps? Oh, there is a video...the uploading isn't working out too well. We'll keep trying.

Canoeing

2008-08-22T19:21:00.000-07:00

Yet another first (or several firsts). First time on the water, first time in a canoe, first time in canoe in Gig Harbor, first time in a canoe with "Aunt" Ellen, first...I think you get the idea.

He did fine, for much of the trip. The last few minutes were not to his liking, though.

We met Ellen at the marina in Gig Harbor while the kayak team, of which her daughter Amelia is a member, practiced.

The best plan...Ellen does all the work, and we relax.

By the way, how many other English words have 'oei' in a row?

Camping

2008-08-17T04:30:00.000-07:00

Kopachuk State Park is about 20 minutes from our house, so it's an easy overnighter. We've been taking Hope and Travis along on a camping trip of some sort for three summers now. (You can start singing, "Tradition, Tradition, Tradition....")

There were, however, many firsts for Peter. In the post below, you can see first steps.

And there's first time in a tent. He did pretty well for only one night there. (Usually, he has one adjustment night before he settles in at a new place.)

Then, of course, first photo taken through a fire grate-- (shot in a badly self-conscious effort to be "interesting") .

Peter had the appropriate fascination with the fire.

I guess this would be first group photo at Kopachuk...?

The Pitter Patter of Petite Peter Feet

2008-08-16T12:28:00.000-07:00

I know this photo is about as substantial and substantiatable as one of those bigfoot pictures, but

it really is a photo snapped as he was walking. (He being Peter, not Sasquatch. You can SEE that "he" is walking.)

The photo was actually the second time he walked. He never seems to do it when we're ready, so this almost accidental photo is all we have...so far.

Officially, first steps, August 13--Kopachuk State Park.

We're back

2008-08-06T20:41:00.000-07:00

If you want to see some other photos--some professional photos--of Jackson, Miranda and Peter, click here. There are a few on the main page, and if you click here, there are dozens more in her flickr site.

More photos to come, including some of our new one-eyed dog.

We Leave 6/28

2008-06-27T20:27:00.000-07:00

We're off to Lithuaniaagain...
So watch for us some time next week at http://www.miltonsinlt.blogspot.com/

May the Lord bless you and keep you.

Birthday

2008-06-27T09:51:00.001-07:00

Today is Jackson's 13th birthday.

Happy Birthday, young drummer man.

I should have mentioned Miranda's birthday on the 7th.

She's 9 now.

At the Pierce's

2008-06-26T22:04:00.000-07:00

Peter's cousin, Elizabeth, took these photos. She's something of a photographer, by avocation. Next fall she heads off to UC Berkeley to study language, art history, politics, and so on.
There was much discussion about this gazebo, focusing mainly around whether to keep it. If they had torn it down, we wouldn't have been able to get this picture.... Seems like that oughta end the discussion, doesn't it?

Ron (Elizabeth's father) and Peter.

That's Elizabeth there in the back on the left. Thanks for the exquisite photos, E.

The All Face Team

2008-06-26T08:42:00.000-07:00

The best faces of the week.

Nice jacket

2008-06-24T12:32:00.000-07:00

There's Reagan, surveying the environs of the RR Library in Simi Valley. More later on the library--for now, I'll just say that "meeting" the president here may have been the best part. Well, besides the air conditioning.

Swimming, a redux

2008-06-24T12:26:00.000-07:00

Aahhh, the pool--very nice for our trip to Southern California. It was 108 degrees where we were staying. Yes, it was a dry heat, but it was HEAT. We left 60 and drizzle for 108 and dry mouth.

So the pool is enough to make you jump for joy. Or be thrown in the air for joy.

The Natural Backyard

2008-06-18T11:03:00.000-07:00

By Miranda (I think)
For about 15 years now the Kirns have slowly, but methodically, created a very localized "jungle" on their property--trees, shrubs, flowers cover nearly every foot of ground. It is quite lovely.

Oh yes, and my glasses are lovely, too, aren't they?

The Wine Glass Series

2008-06-18T10:43:00.000-07:00

By Jackson
I don't know what motivated this, but I thought they were sort of fun.

Graham's Graduation

2008-06-16T06:00:00.000-07:00

Graham (Jackson, Miranda and Peter's cousin) graduated from the University of Washington Saturday, and we all had a little dinner celebration Sunday. This is just a sampling of many good photographs.

Happy Father's Day

2008-06-14T21:48:00.000-07:00

Jackson made me this little "film" for Father's Day. It's sweet--be sure to read his little overview.

Sound to Narrows

2008-06-14T11:19:00.000-07:00

Sandy and Peter ran the Sound to Narrows this morning. Well, Sandy ran, Peter strolled.

Unofficial results: 7.4 miles, 1 hour, 25 minutes. Place among stroller-pushers: 1st (I don't know if she even saw any others.)

There she is straining to the finish.

Sorry, this shot was blurry, so I left it small. Those times are for groups who started earlier than Sandy and Peter.

Running 7 1/2 miles can wear a guy out.

Peter has run Sound to Narrows every year of his life.

It's all coming together

2008-06-14T06:43:00.000-07:00

The details for Lithuania are coming together. We go Monday morning--in person--to get Peter's passport. You have to call an automated program to set an appointment, but you can't call until you're within 14 days of travelling. Sandy had the stroke of genius to try at 9:05 our time, wondering if they counted it from Eastern time, and they did. So, we didn't have to stay up until midnight, and we got precisely the appointment time we wanted.

School's out for summer

2008-06-13T16:55:00.000-07:00

It's Friday, June 13. I'm done for the year, so I came home and took a nap while Fawn stayed another hour with Peter. Then she said, "I'm going to rush home and look at your blog." So, I thought it would be nice to post this picture.

Jackson saw the title of this post and starting doing his best Alice Cooper rendering. Mmmm.

China

2008-06-11T16:47:00.001-07:00

For the past 13 years I have responded to issues, especially tragedies, involving children with significantly more anxiety and distress than I ever thought I would before Jackson was born.

The earthquake last month in China struck that same anxious chord for me (and many others--thanks to Jayne for pointing me to the Sugimoto's blog post). The Sugimotos, friends from church who are living temporarily in Switzerland, adopted two boys from China in the last few years. The second was from an orphanage that was damaged in the earthquake last month. You can see more about that here.

That got me to thinking about my small contact with China. Earlier this year, I had my 8th graders write letters to a class of 13-year-olds in Wenzhou, on the Pacific coast. Sandy and I (and my friend and colleague Patrick) met an American author--Peter Hessler--while we were there 4 years ago. He had taught English at a teacher's college in Fuling, Sichuan province. Most of his students are from the region most devastated by the quake, and many are now English teachers. He then wrote two excellent books about his time living in China.

Peter Hessler put me in touch with one of his former students--Willy, in Wenzhou. My class sent letters to his class, probably in about February. Having heard no response by May, I e-mailed to ask about the letters on what turned out to be the very day of the quake.

Below is his side of our e-mail conversation.

May 14, from Willy

I am sorry it takes long to write you. My hometown is also affected by the earthquake. And the situation there is bad. It took me 2 days to contact with my family and friends there. My family are fine there, but there are quite a lot of aftershocks which also have affected the regions, I still can not talk to several of my friends in Sichuan, but Fuling is not badly affected. I sent the letters (our letters--AM) to my friends in Chengdu in Sichuan. He received the letters a couple of weeks ago, his students are so interested in the program, but the earthquake occurred and his students are also badly affected. 20 students in his school were killed, and 3 were in his class. So this quake is a tragedy to all of the students there. I think it takes time to recover, what's more, the school is still closed, and when to begin class is unknown. I am really sorry for the delay. I hope all will be fine soon. I will keep you updated as soon as possible.

May 15, from Willy

I don't know why bad luck comes one after another. The death toll in the quake-hit region reached 20,000 and it is estimated that it will reach more than 50,000. I sent the letters to the teacher (I gather he got two--or more--of his former school colleagues involved--AM), her school was completely destroyed and 200 students died and there are still a lot missing. So I think it takes long time to recover. I called the teacher, also Pete's student 3 days ago, she was fine then, for the past few days, I have not kept in touch with her. I will try to contact her. These days transportation, mail service, phone communication are all in bad service.

June 9, from Willy
When I am thinking of the letter exchange project between us, I cannot help being upset. I am really sorry for what has happened. It is such great idea to do something for both our kids. I would like to say sorry to your kids who wrote their letters twice. They wrote beautifully and they are really nice and creative kids. Please do say hello and thanks to all your kids there. I was intending to build a bridge between you and the kids in the place where Peter Hessler taught for 2 years. No one could expect that such a big disaster could happen there where it is such a amazing place. The letters were given to one of Pete's former students in Sichuan. Unfortunately, the earthquake occurred there, which left millions of people homeless and children schoolless. Currently the schools there are closed , they are (not--AM) supposed to be reopen until Mid-august. Anyhow, I will keep our project in mind. It just take a little time. I was told the letters would be returned to me soon, so there is no problem for us to start the exchange again. Andrew, do please say sorry to all the kids who dedicate to the project.
---
What is there I can say to this? A man whose country, family, friends and colleagues (and their charges) have been devastated beyond my imagining wants me to apologize to my students that he wasn't able to respond to our letters?

I did not. I want my students to do some perspective taking, but then, I can't really get a sense of perspective in this case, so...?

Adoption Party

2008-06-08T18:00:00.000-07:00

Karen, Lauren and Mark Travis, Andy Sullivan

Nancy Miller, lamenting, "Where do I sign this guest book?"

Jill Nelson, Peter's future pre-school teacher?

Janet Jack, Peter's future 3rd grade teacher?, Jennifer Boydston, and Rachel Jack, creator of that photograph below.

Suzanne Strozier

Jerry Savage--are you kidding me...I can get on the blog, too?

Dorothy Proctor

Steve Triller, Ron Boydston, and Kim Triller

Do it like this, Mr. Sullivan.

Then you can join the drum circle we're having.

The downstairs group.

What a whirlwind of a couple of days. Several dozen people came over to celebrate Peter's adoption--Our cup overflows.

Elegant Peter

2008-06-08T17:57:00.000-07:00

Rachel Jack took this for her photography class, and then gave it to us.

Thank you, Rachel.

Michael and Peter

2008-06-07T13:20:00.000-07:00

Michael is Ann & Brad Willcockson's son. Ann is a long-time friend of Sandy's, but they moved to Helena, MT a couple of years ago.
But not before Brad put in our wood floor...see it there behind Peter?

Okay, that was a shameless ruse to allow myself to put this picture on.

"Whadaya think, Peter, did my dad do a good job on the floor?"
"He did a great job, Michael. Let's eat."

Please Welcome...Peter Melvin Paul Milton

2008-06-06T10:17:00.000-07:00

We were in court this morning, and it's official!

Judge Frank Cuthbertson found that it "would be in Peter's best interest to be adopted into our home," and so decreed.

We are blessed to have a wide variety of friends and family that encourage us and pray for us. These are the ones were able to come to the hearing to show their support.

Probably hard to see, but that's Fawn, Peter's nanny; Marsha, Sandy's sister; Michael, of the Willcocksons'; Karen, an old friend and colleague of Sandy's'; Jane, Margaret Anne, and Will, of the Lewellens; Katy, Catherine, Paige, Steve and Janet, Joanne, Mary and Ted, and, of course, Peter and us.

We gave testimony that we knew we were accepting a lifelong responsibility.

We listened as Judge Cuthbertson congratulated us. Then we talked--he wanted to know some of our story about getting him. It was all quite moving, touching, and even fun.

I probably had the most fun, though...he left me pound the gavel.

Hot

2008-06-01T06:42:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago it was hot enough to go out and buy this little pool. That was then, this is now--currently it's cloudy and 50. But it's early yet. We're supposed to get to partly cloudy and 63.

Unrelated--we are set to go to court to Friday, June 6 to finalize Peter's adoption. (We were set for May 23, but some foul-ups at one of the agencies yielded an incomplete set of the necessary documents.) That means he will legally and fully ours, which he is not yet. Following this, we can get him a passport as Peter Milton, and we 3 can go to Lithuania.

Hey, all y'all!

2008-05-29T21:20:00.000-07:00

Finally, a real southern accent! Here's Peter's with Lee Lackey, a South Carolinan, now married to my (Sandy's) long time friend, Hollie. This was Peter's first time to meet the Lackeys and you can see that all three are enthralled with each other!

Big Animals

2008-05-29T21:10:00.000-07:00

Those Memorial Day Activities (mentioned below) included some horseback riding. I didn't participate. I don't much care for animals that weigh more than I do, as they can hurt me. Miranda's now saying she wants to do more horse stuff. Hmmmm.

This horse was great, actually. Very manageable...even allowed a flash photo.

This one was nice enough...more skittish, though.

Close in Country--Port Orchard

2008-05-29T19:14:00.000-07:00

On Memorial Day, we all went out to visit some friends in Port Orchard, about half an hour up the road from our house--across the (in)famous Narrows Bridge, you know, the one that failed in the wind.

That's Marc Samsen, who is very sweet to and with Peter.

A Man in Uniform

2008-05-29T19:12:00.000-07:00

What more is there to say?

Doesn't like Fried Matzoh?

2008-05-26T21:24:00.000-07:00

Most Thursdays, Peter's cousin, Melanie, comes over to have fried matzoh for lunch.

I dunno...looks like he's pushing it away, to me.

Miranda's Turn

2008-05-26T20:53:00.000-07:00

When I was about 6 years old, my father bought 6 or 8 Kodak Instamatic cameras in a State (of California) auction of surplus property. I got hold of one and wandered around snapping all sorts of pictures...without any film in the camera. Well, with digital, you can do it all (well, at least you can actually take the pictures, but not "waste" any film).

So here's some of what Miranda shot yesterday.

The dining room table, set for Sunday lunch.

That whole "bowl of cherries...pits" thing.

Emily working at the adding machine.

She also took some fun shots of Peter.

Miranda and Morality Play

2008-05-26T06:52:00.000-07:00

Miranda replayed the Cold War on her floor.

Ever intrepid, Freedom stands at the ready.

Further from the camera, Commie is isolated, seemingly hesitant, and (we know, given the distance) about to be vanquished.

Was it Freedom's Horn of Plenty, or Capitalist Hooves of Opportunity that did Commie in?

Oh, I forgot to mention, Miranda decided that Commie actually represented Canada. I'm not quite sure why, but mine is not to question why, and so on.

A couple of hoods

2008-05-26T06:40:00.000-07:00

Two who like the camera pretty well.

Jackson is honing his directorial talents, too. He made a short film for his social studies class. It's more title cards than live action, but with Microsoft's Movie Maker, you can do some quite fun things. I hope we don't have to start reading Cahiers du cinéma.

Someone's in the kitchen....

2008-05-26T06:29:00.000-07:00

with Miranda. She made us a batch of snickerdoodles...

all by herself.

Peter thought it was fun...until he didn't.

Sorry for the blurry. I tell myself it enhances the mood of the shot.

He likes the camera; he seems to respond happily and easily when it's around. Then again, he responds well to most anything--well, not so much the underwater dunk he does at the Y swim lessons, but he gets over it quickly.

Washington, DC, redux

2008-05-24T05:34:00.000-07:00

I finally got around to downloading the pictures from Jackson's camera, and he had some nice shots from the Washington trip in January.

This truly is a redux.... 30 years ago the same principals (with Jackson--the same age I was then-- standing in for me) struck this same pose in front of the Custis Lee mansion on the grounds of Arlington National Cemetery.

Jackson took several shots of the Washington Monument. These are my favorites.

I find this photo curious and interesting. That's the Vietnam Veterans Memorial--"The Wall." I've always found the wall a strangely moving experience. Moving because you can't escape its intensity. Strange because I can't quite fully understand everything I'm seeing, thinking, or feeling.

I knew nobody who died in service there, I even "disagreed" (after the fact) with the war, and yet when I look upon each name, engraved in the shiny black granite, I feel an acute sense of loss. I find it a perfect monument to an event that still has not been fully apprehended in the national consciousness. If you do a google search of "Vietnam syllabus," you'll see just how much we think, talk, and feel about this war.

So there's Jackson, in the yellow sweatshirt, reflected in the wall. He's standing next to his grandfather (blue hat with the yellow dot), and that might be his uncle Paul about to walk in front of them. A 12 year old, who understands the current American wars primarily for their consequence on the individual lives affected; his grandfather, who turned 18 in November of 1945 and served a year helping occupy the South Pacific; his uncle who turned 18 in 1970, a way station between the two, in which the strain between human consequences and grand--if still awful (necessarily evil?)--projects became most acutely felt in modern American life.

The perfect picture, then, of my own practical and moral uncertainty. Nicely done, Jackson.

Peter, by Jackson

2008-05-22T17:49:00.000-07:00

Another photo by Jackson...from his cell phone camera.

Advanced Art Ability?

2008-05-22T09:05:00.000-07:00

Want to see some of Peter's recent endeavors...? Go here.
Okay, there's an artist named Peter Milton, though it's not our Peter.

Peter taking after Jackson?

2008-05-16T19:02:00.000-07:00

Under Miranda's watchful eye.

A little hands-on training.

Aaahhh, that's how it goes. Just about ready for that drum circle.

And some, ahem, bottom-on training?

My school is moving to a new building, so we are throwing away a lot of stuff. One day, this concert bass drum was in the trash. I think we can get some more use out of it.

Peter and Zach

2008-05-14T21:50:00.000-07:00

I don't really know what to say...it's fun to pick between your dog's toes?

Jane and Peter

2008-05-14T21:40:00.000-07:00

Jane and Sandy are old friends from their college days at Auburn. She now lives with her family a few miles down the road from us. (You saw them at Passover.) And we all go to the same church.

What are you looking at...

...my tongue?

What, are you trying to put it back?

Swimming

2008-05-14T21:21:00.000-07:00

Sandy signed Peter up for the Y. Now he can take his swimming lessons under Steve Triller's watchful eyes, right Steve?

He looks tentative, but excited, if you can be both at the same time.

But, of course, the water dissolves all apprehension. (Man, what a bad pun.)

I don't know if you can see it, but there is delight in every fiber of Sandy's being at this moment.

Miss the Cold War?

2008-05-09T19:04:00.000-07:00

Let "Commie" and "Freedom" fight it all over again.

Are they upside down as some sort of Chinese packager's practical joke?

From the toy company web site...

The Cold War Unicorns Play Set allows you to play out the intense struggle between two global superpowers in the majestic fantasy world of the Unicorn! Can the Communist Unicorn’s horn of classless social structure hold up against the Freedom Unicorn’s hooves of capitalist opportunity?

Forget the ICBMs, launch the Unicorns!

Alice

2008-05-09T18:54:00.000-07:00

Peter and Alice, who has been a dear friend to Sandy for more than 20 years.

High Chair

2008-05-09T18:42:00.000-07:00

Peter started in the high chair a couple of weeks ago.

In fast motion.

He doesn't always tilt so far over.

ANZAC Day

2008-04-25T15:41:00.000-07:00

April 25 is ANZAC Day, the anniversary of the start of the attack at Gallipoli in WWI. The slaughter in the ensuing battle was enormous, great enough that Turkey, the target of the Australian and New Zealand attacks, has renamed the beach where the landings took place to ANZAC cove. Turkey, in conjunction with Australia and New Zealand, also holds a commemorative event there each year.

Just pondering....

Sleeping

2008-04-25T15:34:00.000-07:00

Jackson took this....

Something already gone...?

2008-04-22T20:57:00.000-07:00

I have this creeping sense that, in the future, looking at these pictures will be a wistful experience--sad and yearning, but not bitterly so.

These photos seem to me to capture a particular moment, of two people who already aren't quite the same as they were in the picture. When will Peter again wear two hats in such a silly way? How many more times will Miranda hold him like this on her top bunk? How long will they even be this particular size--in body, mind and soul? And how long before their relationship gets a lot more complicated than it is rendered here?

Sometimes I look at photos of youngsters, people about whose lives I might know a little bit, maybe something serious, grave, or even tragic, and I think, "You don't really have any idea of this thing 30 or 40 years down the road." None of us knows, of course, but I "see" it when look at those kind of pictures.

I obviously don't know what will happen for these two, but I've already been through enough with them to understand that very little works out the way I/they/we plan for it to, so I can generally and abstractly imagine the wistfulness of unfulfilled hopes, expectations, etc. I certainly hope and pray against overwhelming tragedy--the small tragedies in life are grave enough--and hope and pray that those inevitable disappointments are surmountable. But when those tragedies--big or small-- come, I suspect these will be two of the pictures I'll reminisce over.

Pesach

2008-04-22T18:00:00.000-07:00

Almost every year we have a Passover Seder. Sandy has been doing them for 20-odd years. That's (some of) us with copies of the Haggadah in front of us.

Miranda and Fawn (Peter's two-day-a-week nanny)

Suzanne S. with Peter; Sandy with Peter.

"Hey, I see what you're doing, taking that picture....Am I in?"

Margaret Anne & Peter

Have to Crawl Before....

2008-04-22T06:35:00.000-07:00

Peter is very close to crawling--he's doing that rocking back and forth on all fours, and he slides himself around pretty well.

And with Miranda's instruction, I think he'll get there a few minutes earlier.

The Walker

2008-04-21T18:09:00.000-07:00

The dizzying array of distracting devices is one of the reasons Peter remains as "easy" as he is.
This one is the walker. If you've paid close attention, you've seen the Peter Pop-up, and the play mat. He also has a bouncy chair, and, of course, the floor. Often you can rotate him through each--maybe 8 or 10 minutes per--and he's set.

Gotta love the bears...standing guard, ready to serve.

WASL is PHUN?

2008-04-21T10:30:00.000-07:00

There once was a girl taking WASL
Who thought the test was a HASL
But not losing HART
And feeling very SMRT
She found it not so really AWFL

Well, I'm not much of a poet, but it's fun. So fun that we're having another WASL Poetry Night.

My 8th-graders write poems about WASL and we go to a nearby "coffee house" Thursday evening and read them.

Are we WASLniks?

Connection to Peter? I don't know...he likes when I recite poetry, I think.

Jr. Daffodil Parade

2008-04-18T20:14:00.000-07:00

Jackson played snare with the Internationally Recognized Mighty Truman Titans Marching Band (that's how the teacher signed them up).

Miranda carrying the banner for L&L Learning Center, where she goes after school each afternoon.

Peter cheering them on.

WASL

2008-04-18T13:49:00.000-07:00

We're half way through WASL--the Washington Assessment of Student Learning--Miranda and Jackson half way through taking it, I half way through administering it.

(It looks nothing like that photo, by the way. But if anybody put images even roughly approximating the real WASL in any public domain, well, I don't want to think about what would happen. Suffice to say, even the teacher's union lawyer probably couldn't help you on that. I asked Jackson and Miranda to re-enact their taking of it so I could photograph them, but they declined. For an example of a WASL-like 8th grade reading test, click here.)

I don't mind the idea of standardized tests, or WASL per se. It does seem strange in the implementation, though. The tests don't really seem to matter for much--for students--until 10th grade, where I guess you have to pass them to graduate. Except that math is going to be dropped out of that requirement.

Miranda is pretty stressed about hers. 3rd grade is the first year you take the test, and she's been nervous, and then distressed that she didn't finish in the "regular" time. (You have all day, if you need it, but there's a long test-taking window each day. Most kids finish in this window--ours is 165 minutes--and those who need extra time go to the library to keep working.) She was also telling Sandy that they have to put these cardboard screens around their desks so that other kids can't look at their work.

I like that they ask some questions that require some explanation and examples. The type of question they ask, though, seems to fall in a rather narrow range. The questions aren't terribly analytical, and the reading "ability" examined is fairly specific--from what I've seen of Released Items, which are rejected test items, and from what I've heard students say after the test. For all the hue and cry about "critical thinking" (an expression I despise--I prefer analytical thinking), the reading questions don't really require all that much of it.

So, all in all, a mixed bag, in my mind.

Klaipeda in July?

2008-04-18T12:18:00.000-07:00

I know I told a lot of people that we would not be taking any big trips this summer. Well, we just might go back to Lithuania, after all. It seems LCC-International University’s (interesting that the photo on their home page--when I looked--was of the Chinese basketball team, Yao Ming and all, playing the Swedish team) Summer Language Institute still needs a few teachers to fill their roster, so they put out a call for people to come. And we’re reconsidering.

Obviously, it would be a whole different trip with Peter, but we’re thinking the hardest part would be the flights. Once we get settled in Klaipeda, we should be okay. It helps that we know what the place, the program, and the procedures are like…we can more easily imagine Peter and us together there.

Sandy likes this one...better?

2008-04-17T18:57:00.000-07:00

Even though I'm all sweaty, she likes these, so...here they are.

A Father & Son Series

2008-04-16T20:29:00.000-07:00

What can I say...a moment to cherish.

Y Run For Kids

2008-04-12T18:01:00.000-07:00

The best weather of the year, and it was the big YMCA Run. Another first, Peter's first 5K.

Leaving from Harold Tollefson Plaza downtown.

Heading north out of downtown, Old City Hall in the background.

And then, looking out over the Tide Flats.

And next to the grain loading dock.

Then, after a u-turn, we headed back to the same spot, which took us past ______ (name that building--neither Sandy nor I remember what it is).

Then we dashed to the finish...in just under some large number of minutes in the area of 3/4 of an hour.

Uncle Lonnie?

2008-04-12T15:40:00.000-07:00

A fictive kin of Peter's, Lonnie just doesn't know it yet.

More Firsts

2008-04-12T14:54:00.000-07:00

First time watching Andy Griffith.

Infant Pattern Balding!

More important firsts

2008-04-06T13:19:00.000-07:00

Peter's first cereal.

First time on the lap of Jim Price--affectionately known by us as "Adios...Jim," so named by Miranda, who is in the background.

Happy Easter, Heath and Peter

2008-03-25T18:13:00.000-07:00

I've long claimed that whoever said a picture is worth a 1000 words didn't know how to write. I'm wrong, in so far as I can add nothing to this, so I won't try.

These two guys

2008-03-14T10:17:00.000-07:00

sit happily this way, all day. I don't know, but I like them.

Peter does, too, as long as he can put them in his mouth.

Sitting Up

2008-03-14T10:12:00.001-07:00

It may not look like it, but Peter is indeed sitting by himself.

Granted, he's sort of sitting in the little well in the bed, but he's on his own.

Red Dinner

2008-02-19T18:36:00.000-08:00

Every Valentine's we and the Pfefferles have a red dinner. (Miranda and Mrs. P. have their red on, you just can't see it.) This was the 5th annual.
Red dinner means things like homemade pizza with red dough, or spaghetti cooked in red-tinted water; red fruit--strawberries, grapes, etc.; strawberry lemonade; some sort of red jello. That kind of stuff.

Everyone enjoys it, though it's not as "cute" as it used to be. Now, it's more an opportunity to keep a tradition that helps me savor fun moments in a different way (children do get older, and I'm getting older, too, after all), reminisce about joys past, and give me cause to stop and think about how I will need to change the way I delight in and celebrate with my family as we all change over time.

I don't know...maybe I'll have to drop the goofy photo persona?

Tucson

2008-02-16T20:24:00.000-08:00

I'm TDY (that's what my military students taught me to call it, Temporary Duty) in Tucson at the moment, teaching the graduate course that I do at Fort Lewis but at Davis Monthan AF Base.
I don't have any pictures, but if you go to google maps and tell it to search S. Kolb Rd, Tucson, the little green arrow should put you right in the middle of the "boneyard." (If not, the cross street you need is E. Irvington.) Be sure to choose "Satellite."
This is the place where all surplused US military aircraft (and a couple of old Soviet planes as well) are stored. It's real name is the aircraft restoration center, as some of these aircraft will fly again, though probably not for the US. They might be sold or given to another military.

The satellite photo is clear enough to see the planes that have had wings cut off (to show their disabling in order to meet treaty obligations, as I've always heard). If you knew where to look, you could probably see the 3 Soviet MiGs, and the various planes that are sitting on wood blocks after being cannibalized for parts. There are supposedly even some planes that are sort of "quarantined" after their involvement in various Agent Orange activities. Bill Clinton's Marine One is there, too.

It was all kind of interesting for me...sorta like the Soviet missile base last summer (who or what prevailed upon me to wear short pants?).

Anyway, more about Peter when I return.

AM

Peter and "his" social worker

2008-02-14T18:33:00.000-08:00

That's Jeff Clare, Foster Care Director at Youth for Christ, and an old colleague and friend of Sandy's.

He's Peter's unofficial social worker.

Jeff and the YFC group do marvelous work. The bottom of this piece explains what I mean.

Pop-up Peter

2008-02-14T17:55:00.000-08:00

We got out the Johnny Jump-up a couple of days ago...
Just look at him go.

He's in fast motion...

Kinda makes ya wish they had an adult version, doesn't it?

Peter's Worm

2008-02-14T17:50:00.000-08:00

This reminds me of one of my high school photography class pieces of work...too clever by half. But still, that is a happy-looking worm.

Hearts, Bottles, and Dogs

2008-02-09T20:55:00.000-08:00

Peter held the bottle by himself for the first time. I'm so thankful...now I can make phone calls and write blog entries while he feeds himself.

Or maybe I'll have more time to spend with the 3-legged dog.?I dunno...maybe this was enough time with the dog.

Notice the hair...

2008-02-09T14:49:00.000-08:00

as the General in The In-Laws might say.

After washing, it stays in tight curls.

After a while not washing, it gets straigther.
Take a close look at his eyes, by the way. Pretending he's asleep, and doing a bad job of it if I do say so....More to the point, he's deceiving us already.

Debuting at the Mandolin Cafe

2008-02-06T17:15:00.000-08:00

Peter gets another chance to practice the habits and appreciate the joys of good fellowship...this time with the breakfast club Sandy is in.
That's Mary Fischer holding Peter, and Karen Bream across the table.

The Tongue Series

2008-02-06T16:49:00.001-08:00

Peter has taken to sticking his tongue out for extended stretches (of both time and anatomy)...

I told him to enjoy while he can...people don't find this behavior adorable for too terribly long.

Various (mostly) Snowy Things

2008-02-02T14:20:00.000-08:00

The first time in that rolling chair thing...lots to look at.

Everybody taking Sandy breakfast in bed on a snowy morning.

Taking a walk on the same snowy morning.

We weren't the only ones out walking.

And still later, snowman building. Hope and Miranda made Bob.

Jackson made Steve.

Peter's Room

2008-02-02T13:38:00.000-08:00

Here is one corner of Peter's room. That's a bookshelf with doors, covered with a variety of the stuffed animals he's already collected.

I don't know why, I just like the look of all these characters sitting there, almost like they're waiting for Peter--waiting for him to get old enough to notice them, old enough to care about them, old enough to pay them the kind of attention that creates their very meaning and worth.

(I know the picture's a bit blurry, but I really prefer no flash.)

I hope this remains a picture of his room, too--a room of his heart. My heart, also.

I know that none of us needs reminding that very little turns out the way we think it will, and I know some day--when I'm exhausted, or he's fed up with me-- I will look at this picture and remember what we had hoped would be. And somehow, I don't really know how, it will be a reassuring inspiration.

Did I mention that Miranda has a rat?

2008-01-29T19:35:00.000-08:00

His name is Bob.He's a Fancy. (You know, the type of rat. As opposed to Everyday.?) And Sandy absolutely adores him.

Sandy's Uncle Leon and Aunt Sally...

2008-01-29T19:23:00.000-08:00

... came down from PA to see everybody in Washington, DC.

Peter apparently takes meeting them very seriously.

Washington, DC

2008-01-19T13:50:00.000-08:00

I know it has been a while since I've posted...a good part of the break included a trip to Washington, DC. My parents have been going to a conference every January for the last 15(?) years, and they usually take a grandchild. They took Jackson, and since it was the last time, Sandy took Peter and Miranda, so they could get a DC trip under their belts also.

They visited most of the monuments on the mall, went up the Washington, tried--but couldn't--visit the White House, went to the International Spy Museum (I think the favorite of both of them), the mint--to watch money printed--and the Natural History Museum.

Sandy, Miranda, and Peter are home. Jackson remains with his grandparents and Uncle Paul and Aunt Pat. I believe they went to Mount Vernon today.

Merry Christmas

2008-01-06T12:38:00.000-08:00

(on the Orthodox calendar--tomorrow; on the Armenian Apostolic Church calendar--today)

Peter's been smiling a lot lately, so we caught quite a little string of big smiles.

What we count as his first smile actually came on Christmas day (Western Church calendar).

The Year, In White, Gets Underway

2008-01-03T07:05:00.000-08:00

We spent New Year's Eve and Day at Snoqualmie Pass with some friends from church. The snow was deep and powdery, and even though there were several thousand people within a one-mile radius of us, "our" sledding place (we've gone several times), which was about a 1/2 mile drive from our house, was practically empty.

Who doesn't love holiday bowling?

2008-01-02T17:29:00.000-08:00

I know these are a little blurry, but that just adds to the drama, doesn't it?

Jackson and Miranda

2008-01-02T17:25:00.000-08:00

drumming and resting.

Our After Christmas Celebration

2008-01-02T17:10:00.000-08:00

The Mylars came from Utah for Peter's baptism, and Marsha, Glen, Geoffrey, Melanie and Tucker came over the Friday before, so we had a little After Christmas get-together.

Jessica and Peter.

This is the All Hat Team. Everybody is wearing his/her hat, all of which were handknit by Mim.

Peter's Baptism

2007-12-30T21:36:00.001-08:00

Peter was baptized this evening at our church. Pastor DeMass gave a very nice message about Peter and Paul, and particularly Paul's endurance, courage, and godliness.

As you can see, Pastor Rayburn did the actual baptism.

Pastor DeMass reminded us that it was 4 years ago tomorrow night that we before the very same people and made our wedding vows.

Part of the baptism, of course, includes our vow to raise Peter in the "nurture and discipline of the Lord." After we make our vow, the congregation stands up and vows to do their part to help, encourage, support, etc.

I'm always struck by this, standing up for someone's child. It's a serious commitment in a day when I'm more often encouraged to commit to my own needs, hopes, etc.

I've not made many such public commitments before...few of us do. I think we'd all be better off if each of us had to think a bit more often and seriously about our commitment to things civic, social, and spiritual.

Enough...Happy New Year.

Merry Christmas

2007-12-25T17:28:00.000-08:00

It was just the three of us today--quiet and nice. We took a walk around Point Defiance, the big park at the very north of the city, along the waterfront. We baked, ate, listened to hymns and carols, napped, and such like. It was all very relaxing.
The Accidental Table--We just lit those candles, and had a nice table without even much trying...it's left over from earlier decoration.

As you can probably imagine, it was an exciting day--Peter's first Christmas, and all--made that much more fun with a little snow storm.
It didn't stick, but it was enough to get a picture or two.

Jackson collects (sort of) nutcrackers, and Miranda collects snow globes, so these two sit upon the mantle until those two come over tomorrow.

I tried 14 times

2007-12-23T14:48:00.000-08:00

to get that last post to line up the right way. Blogger is not the easy editor for me to use, but the pictures are there, so I hope you enjoy them.

This one is of trampoliners on Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving, a Redux

2007-12-23T14:29:00.000-08:00

It's kind of gloomy in Tacoma at the moment. About 40 and pouring rain, and forecast to be same for the next several days.
So, I thought it would be worth looking back at a few Thanksgiving pictures.

These two shots are of about the same place, from (my brother) Matt's house in Newcastle, CA.

That's Miranda at the start of the Fun Run on Thanksgiving morning...

and that's most of "finishing" the run. (We re-enacted it--that's the finish line, the gold arch behind us.)

Peter and Katie

2007-12-22T09:08:00.001-08:00

Peter is very agreeable to being held by any and all, despite whatever that face is.

Katie came over after her semester at UPS was over, and we enjoyed a little holiday dinner. She's off to her family in Helena, MT. We wish her and them a Merry Christmas.

The Ladies' (and Peter's) Tea

2007-12-21T06:50:00.000-08:00

Sandy and Miranda at tea with two friends and Peter.

Miranda reading to Peter

2007-12-13T20:23:00.000-08:00

Miranda has very sweetly taken on a wide variety of responsibilities for Peter. She feeds him, holds him, swaddles him, reads to him, helps bathe him, etc.. She's doing very nicely with him.

I like that play mat...Peter thinks it's a bit garish and overdone, but he plays happily enough in it.

Peter and the table at which he can't quite sit yet

2007-12-13T20:15:00.000-08:00

Peter in the hat and sweater Grandmim made him.

The table set for our first gathering of the Christmas season.

There is something wonderfully pleasing about a nicely appointed table. Probably one of the biggest benefits to Sandy and our guests is that I behave better at a formal table.

Thanksgiving Evening

2007-11-29T19:47:00.000-08:00

12 (of the 14) grandchildren, ranging in ages from 6 weeks to 25 years.

Namesake

2007-11-29T19:31:00.000-08:00

Uncle Paul holding Peter!

Then moving in to eat off Miranda's fork.