There may be no more long hair blowing in the wind, but this 4 wheeler salvaged from a friend is still in constant use.  It sure is nice having a Daddy who can fix so very many things.

As if the attitude wasn't enough, the addition of a $.50 yardsale Gameboy had furthered our preview of the teenage years.

He hath lost his lovely locks!  But I think there just may be an even sweeter face underneath.

This is what happens when the most stubborn boy I know (that is the time out chair) is also the sleepiest.

It's a girl!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So good to get out of Dodge and experience city life briefly.  Also so good to come back home again.

Capturing pawns.  Blockades.  Bonus for doubles.  It's all coming back to me.  Riley was just as impressed and excited as I had hoped.  Nathan, not so much.

Today was filled with many cycles of tears and redemption.  And none of them had to do with this rip stick.

I remember standing in the driveway on Armington St. as a small girl with my umbrella.  I can still hear the sound the rain made as it landed on my little roof.  Today he took  pleasure in that rhythmic noise and the coziness of staying dry in his own little world.  Kind of makes you want to go for a rain walk, doesn't it?

Why, yes, that is a baby goat on David's lap!  In our house.  Wearing a diaper and a onesie.  Never thought I'd find myself goatsitting.

Brattleboro Hockey Association players Riley Rupard, left, and Alex Hirbachuk battle for the puck during an exhibition game before the Grey Hawks - Enforcers benefit game at the Nelson Withington rink on Saturday.

Opened up the Reformer this morning and there was Riley on the front of the Sports section!

Things are going great, and they're only gettin' better.
I'm doin' alright, gettin' good grades.

The future's so bright

I gotta wear shades...

How big, and responsible, and in charge he feels while holding that leash.

Little Nina sure is getting a workout from these two. She is amazingly tolerant of their demands and general ignorance in the ways of dogs.

Supposedly hockey season ends next Sunday...

He is oblivious to the gender association with high heels. He only knows they are really fun to parade around in. Stilts of sorts. But, seriously, it's like he's working the runway!

Finally! A beautiful snowfall (19 inches!!). We just won't talk about how a wet slushy world has taken its place.

Some days its just having somewhere to go that makes everything okay.

Guess who set the table for dinner tonight? I'll give you some hints... his favorite colors are pink, purple, blue and white... he feels it necessary to argue about most everything... his favorite expression is "I know that!"... he believes that putting summer pajamas on over winter pajamas makes him run "super fast"...

A little lunch date with Davey. He mostly ate ketchup.

Nathan's 33rd birthday found us with the largest lobster I have ever cooked. So large, in fact, the actual cooking had to wait until the next day. With Davey home... sick, humbled, and sweet... we proceeded to turn this poor fellow bright red. I suppose this lobster's death was not in vain, though, for along with providing sustenance, he instigated great dialogue about death, what happens after death, and what living means.

Happy Valentine's Day!!! We love you.

Even the fresh dusting of snow wasn't enough to keep him away from the water streaming down from the roof. If only there weren't that huge glacier just waiting to slide off and crush such curious little boys. Who designs a house in Vermont that way, anyway?

Their enthusiasm was enough to subdue my frustrations. Well, almost.

Sometimes I like to sit in my car until the last minute and spy on his playground time.

Piffy Returns! For those of you who had the pleasure of meeting Piffy (Epiphany) on Christmas, you may like to know that she came over last night for a spot of babysitting while DonDon and Norma went to see Avatar. You might also like to know that she is actually a normal baby. That perfect Christmas performace of smiles and laughter was replaced by teething and ear piercing screams. For 2 1/2 hours. Hello reality check.

He really did build the most amazing towers. He mastered that well before walking. Now, at 7 he still savors the feeling of being fully in control of his body and movements.

I love the little bits of boyhood I find in his pockets.

While walking out of Riley's room, arms filled with dirty clothes, this caught my eye...
(Click on image to enlarge.)

He is the best laundry companion I have ever had.

I am not a Buddhist, nor am I a Christian. I am not a Jainist, either. Yet, I ponder the universe in all its complexity. I do not seek ultimate answers, but mere reminders of my small place in this vast existence. Reminders of the importance of being a good person and the power of love and energy. That is how this White Tara found her way into my home 8 years ago. I visited her in the store on SE Hawthorne Street many times for the better part of a year before finally bringing her home. Sometimes she goes unnoticed for long stretches. But, then she'll catch my eye, like she did today with the snow squall swirling behind her, so I dust her off, and remember what she stands for...compassion, wisdom, and healing. And then I go on with my day.

This photo is only acceptable because the throwing up incident had already occurred. He is just practicing, you see.

Came upon this while searching through old photos for Riley's school project. Nathan took it last summer and I couldn't resist posting it.

Causing pain in order to relieve pain is a pretty big life lesson, if only for a splinter.

I think we may have outgrown our house.  It is getting way fancy around these parts.

Once in a while a Daddy Double Bedtime leads to this...

January 17, 2003 was unseasonably warm and gorgeously sunny in Portland, OR.  It was the perfect backdrop for the surreal experience of driving baby Riley home from the Birthing Center.  Seven (7!!) years later I have this intelligent, sweet, funny, strong, sensitive, crazy big boy.  How the days slip one into the other to arrive here, I don't know.  But I am immensley grateful for the journey and the company! 

Yesterday I got a call from school saying Riley had fallen on his face skating.  I found him sitting behind the front desk waiting with Melissa and an icepack.  After stories of his bravery and a closer inspection we ended up at the denstist an hour later.  Amazingly, by then the swelling had already gone down considerably and he didn't even need an x-ray.  One front tooth is still a bit loose...but that's okay.  Thank goodness for babyteeth!

I'm sure glad that my babylove is a strapping handsome boy, but he actually would make a sweet little girl, no?

For today I've enjoyed not being able to cook.  Talk to me in a few days and we'll see...

"Sure, Mom, you can take my picture.  Ready...now!"

'Twas a rather grand exit for a wee little gingerbread house.

(**I meant to post this yesterday, but forgot!  So, it's an encore for today.**)
I went down to the Meadows, are you ready for this?  All - by - myself.  I had this wondrous place to myself also, except for the lone man and his dog a ways away in their ice house.  I hiked through the wind blown snow out to the shoveled path around the island.  Glinding off I went.  Around and around and around.  Until a body cringing sound of cracking  ice left me slightly shaken.  There really was no danger.  Only the shifting of the ice plates settling into a new position.  Still, I sought safety in a new location.

Friday.  Some sledding at Memorial in the snowfall...the whole hill to ourselves.  A little thrown together dinner.  Some guitar playing and singing. A lot of crazy running around and screaming joyously and LOUDLY.  A little pre-bedtime reading.  And finally into bed.  A fabulous afternoon and evening, if I do say so myself. 

Toe Pick! 

After all the excitement, food, drink, family, friends, music, skating, midnight revelry, fireworks, and fun...
today feels blissfully boring, ordinary, and rhythmic.