The Dance Is Here

The Sundance Film Festival that is. Hollywood takes over our cute little town for 10 days every January, and throngs of PIB's (People In Black) wreck havoc in the form of LA-worthy traffic jams, insanely bad driving by people who have no business behind the wheel when the snow is falling, making it impossible to get a reservation at any restaurant within a 20 mile radius, making a stop at the grocery store for some milk a harrowing experience and clogging up the line at my favorite coffee shop and then taking all the good seats.

Although the coffee shop line is the best place to check out the clothes. They are my absolute favorite, a sight to see. To the lady in the 5 inch stilettos and mini leather jacket, "Did you happen to notice that foot of new snow out there?". Or the chick overdoing it in the head to toe puffer jacket with the aviator fur hat, "Oh yeah, you blend." Or to the guy in the matching tasseled fur boots, hand muff and Russian trooper hat, "Really?. . . Really?" The PIB's also have an unwritten rule to never, under any circumstances, remove their sunglasses. No matter that its dark and storming and, oh yeah, we are indoors.

But my local barista did slide my usual toward me once she glimpsed me through all the weirdos and whispered, "This one's on me." I wanted to hug her, it really is the small things that can make a person's day.

And OK, I'll admit it. I have some movie tickets and am pretty excited to see some of the amazing movies that are in town. I'll be there, but I won't be wearing black, you can bet on that!

The China House

"Hey Mama, where Robyn go?"

She went on a trip.

"Were she go Mama?"

She's away at school, honey. It's very far away and we miss her soooo much, but she'll be back soon.

"Bat soon. . . Hey Mama, go see Robyn."

We can't go see her right now, she went to China. It's really, really far. She got on a big plane and flew in the sky, but she'll be back soon to see you.

"I see Robyn, Mama." "Hey Mama, where Robyn go?"

She's in China at school, but we can call her later, OK?

"Hey Mama, I go see Robyn."

She's far away at school, she's in China on a trip. We're going to Grandma's house, though!

"I go trip Mama." "Hey, Mama."

Yes, honey?

"Hey, Mama. I go to China's house Mama. Go China house now see Robyn."

No, sweetie. We're going to Grandma's house.

"Hey Mama. Go China house right now." "Hey Mama."

Yes?

"Want tooties mama."

China house? China's house? Not sure what his little mind is thinking. Beijing, China apparently is just someone's house down the road that I refuse to take him to, mean Mama that I am.

It's going to be a really long three months.

Kind of feels like this. Everyday. All the time. Constantly. You get the idea.

Do You Remember Your First Time?

Skiing I mean. Get your mind out of the gutter, there are children present.

It was finally warm enough weather to test out the tiniest skis you have ever seen. 'Nama Penny and Princess Rachael joined me and the crazy redheads to witness the munchkin's first time on skis other than on the driveway.

Here we are, trying to smile for the camera so we can capture the moment. The munchkin just keeps sticking out his tongue, so I tell him to show us his teeth instead.

Hmmm, maybe thats not much better either.

Skiing with Grandma Penny. He just kept yelling, "Weeeeeee." A good sign.

After a number of little runs on the side of the hill where we all took turns hiking back up the hill with him, we decided to give the chair lift a try. He absolutely loved it, and as soon as we skiied off at the top of the hill, he yelled, "Do it again!"

Not the skiing, just the chairlift. Of course.

Like my sticker Uncle J?

At the end of the day he could barely keep his eyes open or his head upright. The girls and I took a few more runs after the boys left, but his Papa told me he was out before the car left the parking lot.

Maybe this is how we will get him to sleep more. . . ?

My luck, probably not.

It was incredibly fun, and I was happy (though somewhat shocked) we didn't have any tantrums or breakdowns. He liked it so much, he talked about it all night. Which was a nice change from, "Where Robyn Go?" "Hey Mama, Where Robyn Go?" "Mama, go see Robyn now."

We are in withdrawals from Auntie Bob. She has left us for some school on the other side of the world and won't be back for months. Miss you Bobbie, wish you could have been there!

Take Me Out To The Ball Game

The munchkin and I stopped by the community field house to meet up with the big redhead who was there playing soccer, and ended up staying for hours. The little guy kicked the ball around with his Papa for a bit, but then noticed a few 6 and 7 year olds playing baseball with their dads and decided he wanted to play too. Of course this was in his usual redheaded fashion involving lots of stomping.

He "borrowed" a bat and a tee from one of the little boys, and began copying them by hittting balls over and over again off the tee.

Did I mention he is only 2?? It was pretty incredible to watch, as I had no idea he could hit it so well. If I didn't know better I would think Grandma Penny has been out there with him practicing on the sly.

On second thought, that may not be a far stretch. . .

OK, we may have a lot to work on here. He refused to stand on the right side of the tee. Or hit the ball in the right direction for that matter. He thought that big white square was a great place to aim for.

I just really want to know what happened to my tiny little boy. He has disappeared and this small little man-boy person who yells, "Hey mama, look me! Hit bessbolls! Hi-ya!!!!!" has taken his place. And when he hit a particularly good one into the tarp, he turned to us and yelled, "Goooooooaaaaaaaaal!"

We may have our sports mixed up, but we sure are having fun.