Laurel Elisabeth Stevens

Some are happier than others in the snow. Some are better at singing duets than others. You can guess who derailed the toddler duet.

Thanksgiving day started with a 1-mile Children's race for Elisabeth (my warm-up) and a 5-mile race for me. Despite the chilly weather Laurel and Henry came to provide support and cheer us on. WE had plenty of company as about 5000 others participated in that morning's events. Elisabeth completed her first race with a smile and I was pleased to survive my first race in a decade. Family came to our house for Thanksgiving feasting. The kids played, the adults cooked and talked and, as happens every year, dinner was about an hour later than planned. It was wonderful. For the adults the greatest moments of peace came when the kids were sleeping or playing quietly by themselves. For the kids is was the playing together with their cousins that was the best part of the day; Or, maybe the pie for the kids. Credit for the face shots goes to Aunt Sarah - well done! -J

November was a busy arts month for Elisabeth. She participated in her first art show (a homeschooler event), played her first piano solo, and sang a solo in church. Her art show pieces centered on a abstract entitled, "Jazz" where she was trying to, "Paint what jazz music sounds like." Most of the rest of the pieces involved squirrels. Having recently found that she could draw a pretty good squirrel they have been featured in many of her works lately. The piano solo was for a festival. The audience included her teacher (pictured with Elisabeth), the other students performing in her group, and their parents. However, her primary audience was the judges. Laurel and I were impressed with the calibre of judges brought to listen to a group of 5-8 year olds play basic pieces. If I may brag for a moment. Elisabeth did great! She was the only student to have memorized her pieces and she performed them very well. In the end she received a ribbon and a superior rating from th...

After the excitement of a couple of birthday parties (Elisabeth's and Charlotte's) Henry was convinced his turn was coming up soon. At first he would ask, "When is my party." We would say, "in March." Henry didn't really understand - March. So we would explain it was after Thanskgiving and Christmas and President's day and Valentine's day and he still didn't really get it. So finally one evening Henry declared at the dinner table, "I'm having my party today." Laurel jumped into action and thawed two cupcakes from the freezer, melted some chocolate, added some sprinkles and put a puzzle in a gift big. Viola, Henry's B-day party. He sang Happy Birthday to himself and finished before any of the rest of us had time to join in. So, this time around it seemed that appeasement was the best strategy. -J

Getting ready for Halloween the kids painted their pumpkins. I'm fine without a big Halloween celebration. So, little pumpkins were painted. For Halloween we searched the closets, Henry found pirate ware. Elisabeth planned to be some sort of snowflake princess but changed at the last minute to a pirate too. For either costume, the eyepatch was always the problem; neither was able to wear it for very long. The biggest problem with Halloween this year was that Henry was scared of it all. Anything in masks, the decorations in the stores. We couldn't take him anywhere without expecting some fear and crying. This included the mailbox thanks to neighbors that enjoy decorating their yard for Halloween. I am hopeful that Christmas will be more friendly. Henry and Elisabeth's cousins came over to trick-or-treat. So, we had Peter Pan, Tinkerbell, and two pirates. A pretty good crew in a Neverland sort of way.

Elisabeth is preparing to release the butterflies that she received for a birthday present. These kits are pretty neat. Five caterpillars came in the mail and they quickly formed crysalids. About five days later the painted butterflies emerged. They were released another three days later. The animals are more active during the now more common cool fall mornings at the zoo. Here Henry is making a bunch of ducks very nervous. Finally long sleeves and pants. We can play outside without frequent water breaks . The mosquito population is also moving a little slower. I've enjoyed coming home from to work to see several neighborhood kids playing in the driveway and the parents trying to keep them out of the street. Henry and Elisabeth love to be part of these events.

We are visiting Michigan over the Christmas Holiday this year which means that we have to get the kids outfitted for winter. Warm jackets, snow pants, boots, mittens, hats, etc. it is all adding up. I think these winter clothes are much cooler than when I was little. Elisbeth's sizing is a little more predictable so those articles were sent directly to the snow belt. However, we thought that we should try Henry's outfit on. Gladly, he was pleased to participate. I was pleased that everything seemed to fit. I sure hope that there is snow in Michigan for the Holidays.

After the kids took a rest we all headed to the park to play.

The next day family came over to continue the birthday celebration. Presents were opened and more 100yr. old games were played. Below you can observe the postman game where a blindfolded player in the middle calls for the mail to be sent to one city and to another. Those in the circle around represent cities. The two cities called must exchange places witout being caught by the blindfolded mail burgler. Dad also spent time explaining geology to us before he headed off to Poland to look at cores himself. (Note the use of the passive voice. An engineer has written this.)

Elisabeth had a Pink and White Birthday party where "high-tea" was served. I think that means there was alot of sugar and milk in the herbal tea. It was a girls only party which meant that my main job was to save these young ladies from Henry. We played at the park. I believe that the games for the party came from a 100yr. old children's game book. Ahead of the party Elisabeth had a wonderful time just reviewing and selecting which games would be played at her party.

http://elisabethkraftson.blogspot.com/ I'm not sure how to add a link right, but I hope this works. This website is in honor of my Grandmother, Elisabeth Jane Kraftson.

We must really be on vacation--kids having dessert nearly every day, 2 parades in three days, going to bed with sandy feet and hair . . .memories. Henry had his first icecream cone--at Barden's of course. (yes, he's had icecream plenty of times, just not in a cone). If you aren't from Traverse City you'd probably drive right by this ramshackle old place and head for Cold Stone Creamery, but the locals know better. It's a delight. And Elisabeth wants to go there every day. At 8:30 this morning, on the way to the grocery store, Henry calls to me, "I want to go to Gardens." Gardens? "The name of the grocery store is Glens, Henry." "No, Gardens," he says, and points to Bardens. Ah, he catches on quickly. Speaking of icecream, the parent's trick of spelling in front of their children doesn't work anymore. Elisabeth knows what we're spelling, and Henry thinks it is always icecream. "I want some H-N-D!" he cries. "I...

Henry rode a two-wheeler (with training wheels, so I guess it is really a 4 wheeler), but he rode it by himself. I have video to prove it, but don’t have a clue as to how to get it on here. I also have it on my phone. These media crazed parents. Nothing better to do but film their children with various pieces of equipment. Here are some pictures from our hike at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore--Ezra, Ari and Jason joined us for this trip. The kids loved having young companions to encourage them along the trail. We ended with a beautiful view of the dunes, then headed to Empire Beach. Of course, we thought it would be too cold to swim, but it was just perfect. So in they went anyway. But the good thing about being here 3 weeks: we have time to go back! See Dad Stevens helping Henry use the saw? Now I know where John gets his desire to teach Elisabeth about square roots at age 3 and the Periodic Table at age 5. Get 'em started early on what you love. . . .Like reading . . ....

Much to Elisabeth's delight we headed to the Cherry Festival Midway this afternoon. It didn't take long to use up the tickets and get some more! The first ride I took Henry on was an elephant ride. He cried and didn't want to go, but I'd already handed over the tickets. Come on! So we got in and I thought, "What am I doing? He's 2." And we were off. . . and up. I hadn't realized we were going up . . .and down. . . I thought for sure he'd cry, but he didn't. He waved dutifully to Grandma, and Elisabeth who was in front, waved to us, saying, "Hello down there! Hello up there!" The next ride was a zoo train. Elisabeth was the patient big sister--it was obviously not the thrill she expected. But Henry was a serious conductor. Elisabeth's favorite was the swings, Henry's the (less than 2 minutes, I'm sure) motorcycle ride, but my favorite was seeing Henry on the car. He told Grandma, "By myself!" and even though he wa...