Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Oh-Ma-Ha

This past weekend we took a family trip to Omaha! After spending Friday night at Grammy's house (it was Mom and Dad's six year wedding anniversary) I was picked up and whisked away on I-80 West.

Mom brought me a new tractor to play with! It has a John Deere bucket which is fun to play with (and has the capacity to hold two Goldfish crackers). I didn't want to act like I didn't like my new toy but was disappointed that it didn't have a Westendorf loader which I believe would have held three Goldfish.

Upon arriving in Omaha we headed right to their children's museum. Very, very cool! There was a boat I could steer ...

... water exhibits to get really wet with ...

... a "tractor" to drive (I tried to find a manager to tell them their tractor was lacking but got distracted) ...

... by a slide!

There was a cool hand thing which let you make designs ...

... and a fire truck too!

(I think I wore Mom and Dad out ... Mom had to sit down and Dad's eyes got all glassy.)

In another room there was a cool compressed air maze that you could get balls to go through but I didn't really get it or enjoy it much ...

... because there was a drinking fountain to play with! Wholly cow! Drinking fountains are awesome!
Before leaving I picked up some things for the hotel room from the grocery store.

After the museum we headed to our hotel. There was nice park with very cool bronze sculptures that I got to touch and examine.

Our room was high in the air and I liked the elevator and looking out the window.

The next day (Sunday) the Omaha marathon was right by our hotel so we watched runners and cheered on our friend Aaron Kennedy.
There also was lots to climb and run around (and look cute) while folks came by. After watching the race we headed off to the Omaha Zoo. Not only do they have a "regular" zoo there is also an aquarium! We watched some divers clean the penquin tank and that was a lot of fun.

There was also a tunnel that let the fish swim all around you. Some of them were really, really big!

Yeah, us!

While walking around the zoo we saw a very cool steam engine. I made Mom stop with me and watch.

After that it was on to see the bears. They like playing in water too. (I bet they would like the children's museum.)

There was a petting zoo and a dairy information center we stopped at. Dad felt like he had to teach Mom and I how to milk a cow by hand. It's good information to know.

So tired. So, very tired. Ugh.

The cool thing about vacations is getting to hang out and relax in your hotel room. Jammies? Check. Bug? Check. Snacks? Check.

On Monday we headed to the biggest pumpkin patch ever. There was so much to see and do that we didn't even see everything. One thing I liked was the corn play area.

I know it isn't safe to play in the corn at Papa and Grandma's but this wasn't deep and it was set up for guys like me who just like to roll around and enjoy myself. (Mom and Dad pulled 11 pieces of corn out of my shoes, pockets and diaper afterwards.)

They had fun peddle cars and we went for a family ride. (I didn't even have to peddle!)

Little did we know how true the sign was. Get lost? Yep!

Corn. Some people call it maize. Mom made a good observation ... shouldn't this be called a maize maze?

Are we through this yet? We've been walking for days!

After the maze we took a hayrack ride. Since we were riding on a wagon and the whole thing felt just like a "real" farm I borrowed Dad's hat.

Yep ... that's MY pumpkin. Not your pumpkin. Piercy's pumpkin. Mine. Mine. Mine.

The happy family. This was a cool thing where everyone had their own little wagon and we got pulled around an old farmstead.

Drive. Drive.

Towards the end of the visit Mom and I took a seat and watched duck races for awhile. I tried to find a betting window to catch some wager action but none could be found. I did get a couple of bucks from another kid who didn't seem to understand what was happening but that was like taking candy from a baby.
I sure like pumpkin patches!

That's it for now! Have a great day, everyone ...
Pierce

Monday, September 20, 2010

The weekend that was ...

This last weekend was Beaverdale Fall Fest. The weather was lousy but the parade went on. I watched it for awhile even though it was cold and wet.

Grandma Maggy was there ...

... as were the Dillons. I learned a lot about parades from Maguire.

Saturday night we went to hang out with the Fletchers. The adults were all busy with dinner so I helped Nolan out with his pacifier. He seems like a good guy.
Later I got to spend time with Karlin. She's a sweety.

Of course my real buddy is Grant. He showed me his football uniform. I was impressed.


Sunday morning Dad and I went to the grocery store then I helped put things away when we got home.

That afternoon we went to Every Family Rocks. They had a puppet guy, bands, a coloring contest and lots of other stuff to do.

Curious George was there!

Flynn Wright had a booth and I got to see my friend Sarah. Dad helped other kids color for awhile while Mom and I hung out.

I made a crown!

It was a fun day! When I got home I took a big nap and then played even more!


Later!
Pierce

Sunday, September 12, 2010

A quick post ...

Well, my team didn't do so well Saturday.

That's okay. I got to go to the park! Grandma Maggy and I took a walk and ended up at our favorite park. I played on the digger toy ...


... then practiced drinking from a big boy cup back at her house. A good Saturday! (Oh, and Mom, Dad and I got our church directory photo taken. It will be awhile before I can post it, though.)

Today we went to Chariton. Dad helped Grandma work on the house while Mom and I explored the farm. Here we are playing tractor!

We also visited Great Grandma Margaret and Great Grandpa Jack. They are great fun! (Unlike Grandma Kathy, she has a bell and compass on her walker so I think Great Grandma sprung for the delux model.)

That's it.
Enjoy your week everyone!
Much love ...

Pierce "I scare the crap out of small dogs and house cats" Miller



Friday, September 10, 2010

Go Clones!

I think it's pretty clear where I stand.

Enjoy the game tomorrow, everyone!

Pierce

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Like a kid in a candy store ...

This past weekend Mom, Dad and I went to Denmark to check in on Grandma Kathy and help Grandpa Dave around the farm. We arrived Friday evening and went to bed knowing that we were in for a full weekend. Saturday morning Grandpa and I worked on our plans and "to do" lists.

The first thing I wanted to do was check things out and make sure everything was okay. Here I am on one of Grandpa's Case IH tractors.

Next I moved on to his pickup truck.

Then came an Allis Chalmers in the shed.

Then I looked at some corn ...

... and talked shop with Grandpa and Joel Bobb. It was good to hang out with the guys and catch up.

Grandpa thought he heard a knock in his lawnmower engine. I didn't hear it but told him to replace the plugs and make sure his timing was set properly.

I'm thinking about asking Grandpa if we could fix this tractor up together. I think it would be a good first project as there isn't much body work to do and it runs well.

Maybe, if we worked together it could look like this one some day!
Mom wanted me to take a nap after a busy morning and a good lunch. I wasn't in the mood so I took the time to practice some gymnastics and work on my flexibility.

Back at it! To humor Dad (who is a "green" guy) Grandpa took he and I to Danny Miller's. He has a great collection of John Deere tractors and I closely inspected several.

Staying with the green theme, here I am with Tim! He let me drive his lawnmower to get warmed up for the highlight of the trip ...


... the combine! Grandpa got it out of the shed and we took it to the other farm and his shop so he could get it ready for harvest. I had my own seat in the cab!

The combine is REALLY big!

Once we got it to the shed I got to ride the four-wheeler ...

... then Grandpa and Dad loaded up the slide and brought it over to the new house. Weeeeeeeeee!

(I know what you're thinking. This is only Saturday, right?! Well, let me tell you, I heard more than once, "How can he still be going? I'm exhausted!" Adults get tired fast.)

Dawn came quickly Sunday morning but there was still much to do. Dad wanted to go for a ride so I took him on one of Grandpa's tractors. (He got so excited.)

Sunday afternoon Ali and Jill came over so Mom and Dad could go to the old house for awhile. Here I am telling them about Grandpa's cows and reminding them not to play on the gate.

There weren't as many pictures Sunday but it was a very busy day! Once it was done I gave Grandpa ...

... and Grandma a big hug and went to sleep. (There weren't many pictures of Grandma taken this trip. She's doing well but doesn't find her way into too many photos.)

Monday morning, before we left I made sure Grandma's walker was working properly ...


... then fell asleep 10 minutes after leaving Denmark.


Thanks, Grandma and Grandpa! I love you!
Pierce.