Thanksgiving Evening

12 (of the 14) grandchildren, ranging in ages from 6 weeks to 25 years.

Namesake

Uncle Paul holding Peter!

Then moving in to eat off Miranda's fork.

I am my father's son

For Kent Rohe, Jackson Andrew and Peter Melvin Paul

I am my father’s son, the saying goes.
Precisely what that means,
I never did quite know.

How right, though, to so describe
The man who leads and shapes
Your days, your heart, your tribe.

My honorific, to be sure
That he would embrace
This bond so deep and pure.

Yet, here the imagination strains--
This laurel he wins
When my sonship he gains?

For how, as son, don't I spurn
This birthright grander
Than any I could earn?

And what, as father, is he pondering
That he might have done
To keep me from manhood wandering.

So when I stop to reflect,
My own fathering blossoms
In knowing him imperfect.

Finally, I see, when my race is run
I hope my boys--become men--will delight to say
I am my father’s son.

Thanksgiving

I'll spread this out over several posts...
First, the "Holding Peter" series.
Everybody and his brother (and in this case, that expression seems right) wanted to hold him.

Of course, his grandmother held him a lot.

And his Aunt Catherine, and his Aunt Laurie.

And Aunt Pat, with Uncle Paul.

And Aunt Patty, with Uncle Matt.

And a cousin (Elizabeth).

And another cousin (Bethann).
His cousin Brett (to the left) held and fed him at Friday night's dinner, but we forgot the camera. Sorry Brett and Peter....


And another...Jen.

Hot Dog Man Cometh

Miranda fattening the hot dog, then trying to eat the hot dog.






Well we five are off to California tomorrow to celebrate Thanksgiving and my father's 80th birthday. I think about 26 or 27 of the 29 (I think it's 29) immediate Kent Miltons will be there. We are looking forward to a delightful time together--we don't all get in the same spot at the same moment that often, though this is the second time this year. Last June, we were all in S. California for Greg Pierce's wedding.

We pray Thanksgiving will be a blessed time for you and your family.

Peter at his first birthday party...his dad's.

Peter's grandfather turned 80 today, and his father turned 42.
He wanted that cake, but, alas...


Happily, everbody else got some.

Scenes from a shower

Sandy telling Katy and the assembled group about the adoption process.

Sandy listening to Joanne tell how to develop character in a child while also having fun.

Hey, nice Danskos, Sandy.

Is Rebekah so excited that she's trying to moderate her breathing?

Peter and Mrs. Paist

Mrs. Paist is a dear and long-time friend of Sandy's who lives near Olympia. She has been a model of contentedness for the more than 20 years they have been friends. Her frail body is ravaged by osteoporosis and she lives in substantial pain, but she has a kind and generous heart. We are both pleased that she had this opportunity to meet Peter...maybe a little of her gentle goodness will have rubbed off on him and us.

Peter and Some of the Mylars

Debby, Rachel and Rebekah came for the shower, which was Monday, 11/12.

Debby happily took over Peter's care at some crucial times...5 AM.

Rachel helped with Peter quite a bit, and was terribly sad to have to leave.

All had a good time--all weekend, and at the shower.

While they were here, we celebrated Mim's birthday, too.

The cat preferred to coolly enjoy the holiday lights, perched high above the dog's reach.

Can't start pre-reading early enough

Peter and Jackson enjoying a good book together.

Starbucks, not Peter

A photo of the notorious Alex, my former LCC student--the very same one that drew the Starbucks logo on the cup (a couple of posts down). Now she's studying German in Berlin, and apparently enjoying Starbucks.

I see her there and am amazed. A young woman from Lithuania learning German in a faraway place sending pictures of a familiar "spot" in a locale faraway from me, one of her English teachers from America.

Grüß Gott, Alex.

A Zebra and a Monkey

...that Jackson and Miranda gave him.

Miranda wanted to put him in the crib with these two. She has been very sweet with him--eager to hold him and feed him. The other morning she fed him and held him while Sandy slept and I cleaned up.

Jackson has been attentive, too--happily helping out when we need him.

That monkey knows where the camera is, doesn't it?