An Image I Will Treasure

Once again, I missed a great photo opportunity. This morning I wanted to get to the store before the holiday rush. Being New Years Eve, I wanted fancy appetizers and champagne. I didn't know Dave had the night off until yesterday. A bonus night is cause for celebration any night of the year. It seemed like tons of snow had fallen overnight and it was still coming down. When out starting up the van and attempting to clear off snow, I heard the inner door open. I looked up to see Sam sporting his perpetual grin, plowing through several inches of fresh snow wearing only socks on his feet. Smiling to myself, I called him a knucklehead and told him to go inside. He looked so cute, grinning while he strutted through fresh snow without winter gear and only socks on his feet. He's definately a Vermonter.

"Daddy, Santa is trying to get that guy."

A quote from Sam as we watched the movie "Elf", starring Will Farrell. Here is an example when changing the channel is best. Will Farrell plays a human that was raised by Santa's elves. When confronted with a department store Santa he is indignant about the impersonator and conflict ensues. Dave caught the scene in time to find a distraction, I think he succeeded. I've been worried about this topic. I want to be honest with my children. I also want them to be open to magic that exists in everyday life. If Santa introduces this notion to them, we appreciate him for doing his job. Thank you Santa. At the Deweybarn, we believe.

Pretty Scary

More of Sam's pictures from Christmas. My husband insisted they be blogged.

My Son Took This Picture of Our Grammy on Christmas Day

Of all the photos taken today, this is my favorite. When I called her this morning to wish her a Merry Christmas, she told me my Uncle was coming for her to spend the day at his house. I thought, "I'd like to go to Uncle Buster's house." Dave was between night shifts and would be sleeping all day; it's only a two and a half hour drive; so I spontaneously decided to pack us up and go. I told my Uncle we were coming, but not Grammy because I thought it would be fun to surprise her. It was a wonderful visit! My kids were great, not perfect, but who is? Mae decided to strip after only an hour and insisted on being topless. Sam was good. He of course had to taunt Mae a little and sass me a few times, but overall he impressed me. I love this photo because he caught a smile in her eyes.

Okemo Update

She seems to be doing alright. The blood drawn by Dr. Thompson came back normal, I haven't heard about the fecal sample yet. Dave rolled his eyes when I told him how I felt tonight doing the llama chores. I've been tending them for a week now. Okemo continues to rule the pasture, she is smart, proud and beautiful. As I cleaned the shelter I wondered if she resented needing me. I've been focused on her, peering out the window at her, touching her, hand-feeding her grain, and frequently speaking reassuringly to her. My concerns disolved tonight when I fed her grain. As she ate from my hand, she allowed me to rest my forehead on hers. I'm glad to be primary again. I've loved watching them from the window, but it's nice being among them again.

Essex Police is Outside Writing the Accident Report Now

Just added the photo for visual interest.

Here is my all time favorite curse word: Cocksucker!!! I don't even know where to start. After the van window incident, Dave was out of town for the night so I sneaked out to do llama chores when Mae napped and Sam was at school. Okemo, our white llama didn't look right to me, and she let me touch her, which she never does without complaint. She felt skinny and didn't look very hardy. Dave had been doing the chores since I was 8 months pregnant with Sam. He rarely notices when the animals don't look good. We both feel terrible. The vet came today and confirmed my suspicions. He boosted her with vitamins, anti inflammatory, acupuncture and a dewormer. Dr. Thompson then collected blood and fecal samples screening for other problems. I've felt sick about this since last night. I spent time with them tonight, and sneaked some grain to Okemo. Something I plan to do daily until she fattens back up.

Here is where the Essex Police comes in. As Dave was on his way home from getting the van's rear window fixed and thinking, "What else can go wrong?" Wham! He hit a deer. The poor thing got up and fled to the woods, leaving my van needing more body work. There goes another $500. deductible. I won't even mention what I paid for Okemo today.

Humor is Difficult to Find Some Days

On Dave's way to the academy this morning he had trouble getting the cruiser unstuck. After fifteen minutes of toil and spinning tires he headed south, unaware that his tire spinning tossed a rock through the back window of the van. We are becoming glass repair experts at this rate. A $100. deductible is not a welcome thing around the holidays, nor is the hassle to deal with it. I really let the pity party happen when I saw Elmo and Allison Kraus on Sesame Street this morning. They were encouraging us all to do something we loved every day. I thought, "I just love cleaning up glass."

Thankfully the mom of one of Sam's school friends is able to bring him to school. Though this is a pisser, things could be worse.

She Was On To Something

At least six or seven years ago my mother confided she bought Dave this five foot long fish for a Christmas present. This news came after a series of odd gifts. I told her if she sent the fish, it would go in our next yard sale. What the heck were we going to do with an ugly, five foot long, stuffed fish?

After her death four years ago we found the fish as we were cleaning out her apartment. Feeling terrible about scolding her for buying it we decided to give it a home. Four years we've shuffled this thing around. The other day Dave used it to stop the draft under the door. In the ten winters we have lived here, nothing has done a better job squeezing out the cold.

We Were So Close...

...to having high speed Internet today. It's taken a year from signing a contract with Adelphia, (which is now Comcast) to get cable at our end of the road. I hate to say it, but today I missed a good photo opportunity. I feel badly because we all liked the guy. The pole nearest our house is on a slope. He had concerns about his ladder reaching high enough to connect the cable to our house, but was willing to try. He gave up after three or four attempts. As he dragged the heavy ladder back up a snowy, slippery hill, he fell several times. The first time we giggled, but after a while, "Dave, you need to help the poor guy!". If we had been connected to high speed internet today, I might have uploaded an amusing video clip.

Lessons One, Two, Three and a Bonus

Lesson One: It is best to live in the moment. Early in the day I caught my son about to throw a dog toy at his sister's head. I assumed this was the type of day we were to have and braced myself accordingly. Then, later that morning I caught him sweetly holding her hand while helping her practice walking skills.

Lesson Two: It takes two to tango. We four attended a birthday party for one of Sam's classmates this afternoon. Being Sam, we prepared to keep a close eye and a tight leash on our son. The tension between us increased as the hours passed. The final hour of the party whenever Dave or I tried keeping him in line, he barely acknowledged us. On our way home Dave I discussed how we feel when someone observing us assumes the worst. Our son is a handful. Our work is to find balance between discipline and allowing a chance to do the right thing.

Lesson Three: Christmas is magic. Tonight we watched "The Polar Express" that aired on ABC Family Channel. Though we've watched it with Sam the past three years, this year he really saw it. As credits rolled, Sam paced. He explained to us that when he hears the rumble, he will come downstairs to board the train. The train will take him to the North Pole and he will meet Santa. Upon his return, there will be a toy train under our tree and a bell from Santa's sleigh wrapped just for him. Children can help us rediscover the magic of youth.

Bonus: At the party this afternoon Mae Dewey decided it was time to start walking. At 22 months it is a concern that she's not walking independently. We've begun Physical Therapy and have an appointment with an orthopedist on Thursday. It's funny, she achieves the next step on her own at the precise moment we arrange services to assist her. Isn't that typical?