Two parties ...

What a week ... just when I start thinking, "Hey, I haven't been sick in awhile!" a cough comes up and I lose a day at school. Oh well, there are worse things than a three day weekend and Monday home with Mom means one thing ... trash day! Tuesday everything was back to normal and I got to see my friends at school and check out progress on some construction work being done next door. The guys and I spend recess supervising and the construction workers seem not to mind. I also got to turn in my art homework. This week's project? An umbrella. Thurdsay was a big day for Grandma Maggy. She retired! Mom said that means that she never has to work again ... a lot like Grandma Kathy. Anyway I got out of school early and Mom, Dad and I headed to a retirement reception at the Des Moines VA. There were lots of people there and I got to give Grandma a big hug then enjoy some cake.

Oh, by the way, I'm "Butterfly of the Month" in April. Snap!

Fast forward to Saturday. Uncle Chris flew in from California for a visit before he finishes classes and heads to China so Mom, Dad and I had everyone over for lunch. Not only was it a celebration of Chris's upcoming trip it was also Grandma Maggy's birthday! (I'm a little jealous as she got to have two cakes this week.)

Because I'm a helpful guy I volunteered to pick up potato salad at the store for Mom. She was appreciative.

The gang's all here!

Happy birthdaytirement, Grandma!

Hurry up, Mom!

Weird, but after lunch and a piece of cake the size of my head I had some energy to burn off.

Uncle Matt called via Skype and we got to talk to our favorite Texan. I'll be visiting the Austin crew in a few weeks.

Today was church. Grandma sang in choir and Uncle Chris joined us. I was proud of he and Dad ... they didn't cause any disruptions at all! Big boys!

Home we go ...

Grandma Maggy had Dad help her buy a car seat so she would always have one ready in her car. I think she and I are going to have fun this summer. Zoo trips? Yep!

Bye Uncle Chris. I love you. Have a great trip to China. Be safe and learn lots. Tell Katie hello for me!

Mom, I'm hunnngggggrrrrrryyyyyyzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Wow. Nothing like a mommy lap to put a boy to sleep. I didn't even finish my apple sauce!

The final thing on the agenda this weekend was drawing for the Miller family majors pool. Four tournaments. Five players each. Big money. Big pressure. Lots of trash talk.

Seriously Dad, I think David Duval is due for a win.

Much love to all.

Pierce

Couch

I slowed things down this week. Not only was I still recovering from my visit to Denmark last weekend, I started coming down with something on Friday. After school we invited Grandma Maggy over for family movie night. She seemed to like Despicable Me and I liked sitting on her lap on the couch. Saturday was a slow day. I didn't even get out of my jammies! My nap just wasn't happening in my bed so I talked Mom into cuddling on the couch and I feel asleep pretty quickly!

After my nap Chelsea from school came over as Mom and Dad had a wedding reception to go to. I'll admit, though I really like Chelsea I just wasn't in the mood. (I plan to apologize to her at school tomorrow.)

Today was a most lazy day. Again, a nap on the couch ...

... followed by loading cookies onto the baking sheet ...

... and quality time watching them in the oven.

A quiet week capped off by a lot of couch time. Not bad, I guess.

Love to all ...

Pierce

Lots to see and do ...

Hi, everyone!

I hope y'all had a fun St. Patrick's Day. Mom went all out with my breakfast and there was a lot of green in our house.

After school Grandma Maggy came over and game me a green cookie. Yum!

Friday after school Mom, Dad and I headed from Grandma Kathy and Papa's house. We got there late and I was really sleepy. Good thing I got a good night's rest as Saturday was busy!

It started out with a great breakfast by Grandma then I headed outside to farm with Papa. I inspected his friend's semi truck ...

... then we headed off to see what I really wanted to check out ...

... Papa's new tractor!

Isn't she a beaut?!

My seat is very comfortable and has great visibility.

We took a drive and I showed Papa a few things about how to run her. She's going to do great in the fields for him this spring!

After our drive we headed over to the other farm so I could help level level lanes with the box scraper. First I got to tour the new barn. Nice!

Fast forward several hours and I spent time working with an old favorite of Uncle Eric's. Papa made this years and years ago ... some fresh paint and some TLC and it's good as new!

Next on our list of things was a visit to Mom's favorite restaurant in high school, Sub Arena. What a trip down memory lane.

Clayton! With lunch behind us the group visited a great friend. Our visit was good ... we had a lot to catch up on.

On our way back we stopped and I got to spend a couple of minutes talking with my buddy Tim. He always makes me smile and it was nice to see him.

Back at home Mom and Dad took naps. (I didn't) So, since I wasn't asleep I thought I'd continue to help Papa. Cows need hay?! Here I am!

Need help on the four wheeler to get gluton? Me, me ... pick me to help!

Those are some good looking calves!

Papa told Mom and me all about the little babies. They were playing and having a lot of fun!

Next came a surprise. Unbeknownst to the Millers the annual Denmark school carnival was that very day! Three generations of Houstons went to the Denmark school and there are rumors that it won't be around much longer. Mom, Dad and I had to go check it out!

Mom hadn't been in the building for years and years and years and years. She was confused at first because she remembered it being much larger but quickly got her bearings. We bought tickets and jumped right into the fun.

Football toss? One ticket. One winner. I rock!

Mom and Dad are trying to get me to not pick my nose so they weren't too sure about this game. (I won a prize from this nose so I guess I have to keep digging to find one in mine.)

Frog thump? One ticket. One winner. (Yep, again ... I've got skill!)

After the carnival we had dinner then Jill and Asa came over. I did my best to entertain them by jumping, riding my toys, polka dancing with Grandma Kathy, showing folks how to play instruments, etc. I think they had fun.

So, to recap. Saturday? Fun! Sleep? None. Adults tired? Yep! Pierce tired? Not so much.

Today everyone went to church and I discovered (thanks to Grandma) that Denmark had great puddles! Maximum shoe wetness and pant dirtyness from just one or two jumps ... not bad!

Next came lunch then a visit to Sherry's home. She was hosting a birthday party for Mom's cousin Justin and I got to play, meet Justin's daughter and son and have lots of fun.

Everyone was talking and laughing when all of the sudden Dad saw something out of the corner of his eye. Nobody could believe it and everyone stopped to take a look.

A pickup truck was pulling a garage down the street! I kid you not! Wow ... that is awesome!

Talon and I sat on the steps for awhile afterwards just talking about what we had seen. (As little boys we agreed that this was about the coolest thing ever!)

After that excitement there was time for one last trip to see Papa's tractors before heading back to Des Moines. I didn't want it to feel left out so I spent some time on Grandma's AC G. It's a cute tractor!

I felt kind of bad though ... it was my turn to watch him and I just turned my head for a minute and Dad ended up climbing into Papa's new tractor. Bad Dad ... Bad Dad!

That's it for now ... have a great week, everyone!

Pierce

The sun will come out, tomorrow!

Well, the week is over and I'm preparing for bed. Before I drift off into a deep, restful sleep on Sunday nights I always try and do the blog so my loyal readers can start their week with a cure for what ails them ... a dose of me!

Mom had a meeting Wednesday night with Grant's mom so Dad and I had boy's night. This usually means a trip to the "golden arches", but instead we headed north to Hyperion. It was a nice, relaxing dinner. I got to catch up on some reading and watch basketball.

Friday brought the end to a long week so everyone agreed that a family pizza/movie night was in order. We were in jammies with pizza and on the couch in a pile by 6:45. Ah, the good life. (Too bad we rented Shrek III. Really ... it was just a money grab from Mike Myers and the script lacked both depth and focus.)

Saturday was a busy day for everyone. Dad went to the office. Mom worked hard. I had a pile of e-mails to go through. Multi-tasking was the order of the day!

Saturday night Mom and Dad went out with the Dillons so Grandma Maggy came over! Again, jammies and couch time were in order. It was very nice cuddling for both of us.

Today Dad and Grandma Maggy went to see Grandma Margaret and Papa Jack so Mom and I ran errands. Here I am testing the firetruck at the mall ...

... and the slide, too. (Both seemed to work fine.)

Yep, this thing seems to be fine. (Nobody could tell me what this particular play apparatus was supposed to be.)

After Dad got home the three of us walked to the grocery store ...

... then Mom made spaghetti. Dad taught me to roll my fork and really load it up with the pasta. Good trick, Dad!

That's all she wrote, gang. Stay tuned for some exciting posts in the coming weeks ... a trip to Denmark, the Miller family majors pool, Gardner and maybe even another airplane ride!

Remember ... if you think your movie franchise needs a third installment go rent Shrek III and really ask yourself, "Do I feel lucky?"

Pierce