Reader's Digest

My mom has boxes and boxes of Reader's Digest magazines. Growing up, I can remember her collecting these, getting them in the mail every month. I think she one day wanted to start a library with them (is that right, mom)? I always enjoyed reading "Laugh," "Life," and "Off Base" as well as the 2-3 pagers on real-life survival and hero stories.

It has been a long time since I've picked up and perused one of these little magazines laying on my mom's coffee table. However, this month, I actually bought a copy of my own...

In May 2010's issue, Scotty's cousin (Cameron Aulner) is featured in one of the "hero" stories! I can remember hearing this story and watching news clips about this true story when Cameron stopped a little girl's assailant. To get all the details, watch the clips below, read an on-line article, or just throw a copy of Reader's Digest in your shopping cart next time you're at Target. At least you can pick up a copy somewhere (say, my mom's coffee table?) and read pages 35-36...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vi92cCIOCls


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vI1LSGgi4D8

Little Lambs

Today was Micah's first day in "big-kid" Sunday school (2 1/2 - 5 yr old class is called "Little Lambs"). This beaming mommy had to take a picture or two for this momentous occasion. :-) He's the little cutie in the clothes g'pa and g'ma Sovilla got him for Christmas (khakis and a green plaid button up with white sleeves).

Shorts can be perplexing to a 2-yr old in Michigan

We've had some unusually warm, but very nice, weather here in Michigan. A couple days of 70+ (with the next day being 40-50 degrees again...that's okay, we Michiganders will take what we can get). :-) With the warmer weather comes a new wardrobe too - I've been seeing more people in shorts and short-sleeves. This isn't new to me, but Micah, on the other hand, is trying to wrap his mind around the concept of "shorts" (I don't think he remembers them from last summer).

The other day Micah got some hand-me-downs (thanks, Pam). He had a fun afternoon of taking the clothes and shoes out, trying on many of the new pieces. He got a pair of shorts on, then glanced down at his bare-skinned shins, a little confused. He stated, "pants broke," thinking that this piece of denim really should go all the way down to his socked feet to be a proper pair of pants.

Micah had another experience with a pair of shorts while I was baby-sitting a couple of days ago. Micah, Joseph (the kid I was watching) and I took a walk down the street to a friend's house. It was a warm day, so Joseph had a pair of shorts on. He dashed ahead of us, and then Micah had an epiphany. Micah watched Joseph run and then shouted, "Joseph has legs!!"

Shredded Wheat and Bananas

We had some coupons for free noodles at Noodles & Company (join their birthday club and you'll get a free meal annually)! While we were out that way, we were near the mall that hosts our only nearby Apple Store. Scott loves it there. Since Apple just released their iPad, Scotty wanted to get his hands on one to see what it was like. While daddy spent some quality time with Apple's newest electronic, Micah and mommy headed over to the kids play area. Larger than life food met us, and Micah had a blast.

Hannah's in Town!!

One of my sisters, Hannah, has been in town since late last Wednesday night. Her time here so far has been more than enjoyable. :-) I haven't been the best at showing her MI sites and sounds...we've just been chillin' out, eating, talking, playing cards, meeting some of my peeps, and celebrating Jesus (He is Risen)!! Here are some pic's for those back in CA who may miss Hannah terribly. :-)

Scotty showing Hannah and Amanda his motorized bike (and Amanda rode it)!


Eating at Houseman's Ice Cream Parlor - yum!!


Decked out in our Easter bests :-)


Micah lovin' his new bike (and helmet, and pads, and gloves...)


Kicking back on Easter (Scotty's family and Brad)


Micah loves and likes his auntie Hannah!

Micah's New Love

On Sunday morning I went out for a run (more like a walk/jog/pant session). I was making my last turn to head home when I saw some toddler toys at the end of someone's lawn that were up for grabs. I picked up a little plastic tricycle, thinking that Micah might like to try it out. I had no idea what happiness this little plastic freebie would bring to my son.

The first day he tried it out, he was in a love/hate relationship. He loved it when he could get some good pedaling in, and hated it when it got stuck and couldn't get it to move anymore. Yet he was up for the challenge and even said, "no thank you, mom" when I tried to help him along. By the end of that afternoon of play, he really got the pedaling down.

We took a couple walks after work on Monday and Tuesday, with Micah pedaling alongside. He had a meltdown when he had to get off his bike. Wow, this kid was really falling in love.

Today (Wednesday), Scotty had the idea to go to a nearby trail in which Micah could ride better on a level path. Micah thoroughly enjoyed himself. He nearly burst into tears again when we were about to load up the car with the bike and ourselves, but he composed himself (when we told him to). :-)

Wow, Micah has really become emotionally attached to this thing! Ask him about his bike sometime, and he'll tell you all about it.

A distinction between cars and people

There is a branch of our bank just over a 1/2 mile from our house. I had a deposit to make last week, and it was a beautiful day outside, so Micah and I ventured out and walked to the bank. What should've taken about 20-30 minutes turned into an hour walk, but it was a ton of fun, and good exercise. We played with sticks along the way, and talked a lot about safety in how to walk on sidewalks and hold hands while crossing the street. I kept hammering the point that "Only cars drive in the streets" and "we have to walk on the sidewalks." However, "when we need to cross the street we HAVE to hold hands." The little wheels in Micah's head were turning. All this talk about cars, streets and people holding hands while crossing the street made him realize something very different between what cars and people do in the streets. He plainly stated, "cars don't hold hands."