Miles' Kindergarten Report

Miles in halfway into his school year and here is what his teacher's report said:
"Miles is a very intelligent, capable, sensitive, and articulate young boy. He has a very inquisitive nature and is very interested in the explorations we have taken. His knowledge and awareness of the world around him is really quite remarkable. He is very aware of himself. When motivated, he is a self-directed, responsible, and focused worker. He is working on his fine motor skills which will support his handwriting. He is gregarious and expresses his needs and feelings honestly and directly. His friends are very important to him. He is friendly and playful. He is a beautiful child. Thank you for sharing him with us."

It's interesting b/c early school reports describing a child's personality are often pretty consistent with their later character. We have recognized many of these things in Miles for a long time. We think this teacher "gets him" and sees him for how he is.

More Christmas Vacation Pictures

These are our more professional pictures from Jeff's camera. The beach shots are from our local spot at Powerhouse. Miles was climbing a tree and Max was delighted by a passing train. The pool pictures are from Palm Springs.

Pre-Christmas Festivities

Miles' Christmas performance

They performed the 12 Days of Christmas

Santa came to Miles' class

Miles made this Who hat at school to commemorate his class trip to see the Grinch at the Old Globe Theater

Miles and his teachers

Miles had some great cultural lessons about Christmas around the world

Miles made this gingerbread house at school

Decorating the tree


Grandma and Grandpa Mann made a special trip to celebrate Channuka

We spent the weekend before Christmas in Torrance. We visited Venice Beach.








We played at Rocket Ship Park with Aunt Fancy and Grandma Shirley. Grandma Shirley prepared a great picnic lunch.


Uncle Jeff came out a few days before Christmas. Here we are at the zoo.

Christmas and Vacation

At the zoo with Uncle Jeff

We played at an art village at Balboa Park



We made gingerbread cookies







Grandma and Grandpa Mann and Uncle Jeff were at our house for Christmas morning. Miles received the Nintendo DSI that he's been wanting. He also got a great I SPY computer game and talking globe. Max received a play kitchen and art easel and a Dora video that he'd wanted. He also received a great motorcycle.







We drove up to Palm Springs with Grandma and Grandpa Mann and Uncle Jeff on Christmas Day for vacation


Although the weater was a bit chilly for swimming in the upper-60's, it didn't stop the boys. The water itself was warm. Max began by going down the slide with Ron or Uncle Jeff, then graduated to going by himself, and on his last day of swimming he went completely without his water wings! There are some great pix on Jeff's camera of this, and of Max and Miles going down the slide together.








We attended Snow Days with Miles school friend, Maddux (in the striped shirt). Snow was brought in for the Southern California kids to experience the white stuff. Afterward there was a fishing derby. Here are the Miles, Max, and Maddux in their fishing hats.
Max met Santa! Miles proclaimed that this was the real Santa (unlike the one that visited his class that had a fake beard)

Miles charged on the big sled run all by himself. He was a natural!






Max enjoyed tasting the snow


Snowball Fight



Max enjoyed seeing the trucks on site


There was a fishing derby and Max and Miles each caught a fish



Children's Museum in Palm Desert