Taits' Weblog

Milo at 8 Months

'Tis the Season: Breakfast with Santa at the Portland Children's Museum, Winterhawks, and Yacolt Christmas Train

For my future reference, this was too much for one weekend (particularly since I wasn't feeling that great), but still a lot of fun.  We started at the Portland Children's Museum's Breakfast with Santa, which was a great way to get to see Santa without the crowds (they assigned private Santa time upon arrival; we were no. 4):

Afterwards we got non-crowded time with the Lego exhibit before we joined the regular Saturday morning group to visit Fergus' favorite places (he put on a show in the theater, got applause).

We went home in the afternoon and Milo and I grabbed a nap before heading out to the Winterhawks annual Teddy Bear Toss (Milo's first hockey game):

 

Thankfully, the Winterhawks scored in the first period so we could toss the bears fairly early this year (last year it was very, very late).  Fergus was very happy (he loves yelling "go, Hawks, go!)until he realized he couldn't get his teddy bear back; then there were many, many tears.  Shortly thereafter, he fell asleep, so we left after the first period, but it felt like a full night, and a good family night out.

Sunday we went to Yacolt, Washington (about 70 minutes away) to the Chelatchie Prairie Railroad's Christmas train ride:

 

We rode in an open car (by choice) through a rock tunnel, saw waterfalls, had hot chocolate and cookies by a fire, picked a Christmas tree, saw Santa again (the kids received a teddy bear and a Dale Jr.  Nascar car from Santa), and rode inside a decorated car on the way back.  A fun time (except for Milo's visit with Santa) was had by all, until Jason couldn't find the (my) keys when it was time to leave.  The volunteers at the train were fantastic, and kept looking all over the place for the keys until they were eventually found about two hours later while we waited in the warm train station.  We're planning on making this an annual trip, hopefully without the keyless drama.

A tip to remember for next year--we picked out a pre-wrapped tree (with string) that we were able to put inside our car for the trip back.  It's beautiful  (now fully decorated, but I'm too tired to take a picture), and it was much easier than tying to the top of the car.

More pictures here.

More School (YMCA) Pictures & Other Stuff

 
 

More pictures on flickr.com. We went on the Holiday Express train at Oaks Park last night so we could see the train all lighted up.  Santa came by with helpers who handed out candy canes.  Fergus ate his all up, and Milo had a few licks before the mess became too much.

Saturday I took Ms. Elizabeth Night to the vet's, who estimates that she is somewhere between 4 and 5 years old and confirmed that she has been spayed.  No chip found, though, so we promptly put one in so we can track her.  Not that she seems inclined to stray far from her food source and warm laps.  The vet also (re)informed me that Clackamas County does not license cats, which seems bizarre to me.  I must have known this before with Cleo, but it didn't sink in somehow.

Milo's been going through milestones like crazy.  I'm going to have to go back and look at some notes for dates, but he's quickly progressed from pulling himself up to stand (so we had to lower his crib, I think sometime around 6 months of age) to crawling to walking with his push-cart toy (also on flickr.com) to standing unsupported for a few moments in time.   Of course, that means he's now a wigglewort that doesn't want to hold still long enough for you to change his diaper.  He'll follow me from room to room, really wants to eat big people food all by himself, still thinks Fergus is incredibly funny and no longer goes easily into sleep.  If he sees a bottle, he lunges after it; still has an appetite.  For Thanksgiving, he had Grammy's mashed potatoes, yams, and a mixed fruit puree. Plus milk.  I thought he would burst.  He is, however, according to his 6 month checkup, still skinny (and tall, about 75% for height).

After a lovely Dundee Thanksgiving (here's Jason teaching Fegus videography skills on that day:

  and Milo with Hoppy:

,

we went up to Tacoma to see Grammy Sue:

 .  Jason has decided to adopt a little kitty that in currently residing with Sue (who has adopted the mother cat):