Travumentaries Flashback: "The Greatest Story Never Told"

As we travelled between Pella and Sully over the holidays through not-so-pleasant weather I was reminded of this little episode from the mid-90's.

The suggestion of exaggerations was mostly a cover from parents who might be reading and stunned by our ignorance when I posted it on my former website. It was truly a heart pounding experience and happened on this day a decade-ish ago.

Funny thing is Rachel (the high school girl causing my delusional decisions) was working in Pella and not due to arrive at the festivities until much later in the day. I stayed behind to wait for her after the incidents and later took a very long and slow ride to Sully that killed most of the time left in that New Year's Eve day.

December 31, 1994...or 95

It was a treacherous day in the Midwest. The eve of a new year with an ever increasing blanket of snow falling over field and road. A good day to stay cozy inside, to be sure. No reason to challenge the elements. No reason except the most powerful force in the lives of two high school boys…two high school girls.

It was early in the afternoon of the 365th day of the year. Our itinerary included a slow trip to the rural hills for some sledding, a slowing of the not-so-gentle snowfall and a safe return home in the early morning of a new year. Or not.

This story involves all the great elements of the grandest of adventures. A car chasing itself down a hill, deer in large quantities, innocent (but ignorant) young men cheating death and shear uninhibited terror. And perhaps a small bit of exaggeration. It has been some time since the day of the actual events. It all seems so fresh in my mind, but stories do seem to grow over time.

Our first error of the day was the choice of our getaway car. Snow all over and a choice to be made: Do your drive your own rear-wheel drive vehicle or the front-wheel drive chariot of your best friend? Error number one came in our conclusion in that selection—rear-wheel drive. Errors number two and three? Temporary insanity mixed with loud music.

When the elements prevent you from seeing the road you choose to travel, one might choose to slow their journey. One might not be two high school boys undoubtedly sliding (we’ll get back to that) along a winding rural road with the radio far too loud. When signs on curves read 45 it’s a friendly suggestion to relax the gas pedal while navigating the turn. When a blanket of fresh snow lies between the tires of a rear-wheel drive vehicle and a curving country road, 45 is 25 too many. When tires start sliding and the road is winding you must learn to steer while looking out the back window of the car.

Two full rotations of the car and two glances out of a front-facing rear window later we sat stationary at the bottom of the curve. We had navigated the corner, stayed away from the drop off on the left lined with trees and a steep incline and the drop off on the right lined with razor sharp fence posts a rocky crag and a mysterious man who lived in the hills (it might have been less menacing, my memory escapes me). Our front bumper stood a sneeze away from the concrete wall of a bridge crossing the frozen river. At that point we were creeping ahead so slowly a meeting between the car and bridge might have ended with a nervous chuckle…if we could catch our breath. A sturdy SUV passed safely on the left having navigated to corner much more proficiently than I (he must have had front-wheel drive).

“Do you want to go and get my car?” suggested my trusty compadre. “It’s front-wheel drive.” Such wisdom from either of us might have been more useful a half-hour earlier. So we traveled to an intersecting road, turned around and journeyed back toward civilization. This wild story had just begun.

We successfully returned to the top of the curve at a much more reasonable speed. A slow, steady straightaway stretched out before us. Our breath returned as we recounted the events of just minutes earlier. Knowing certain details (all of them) must never reach the ears of our parents.

But suddenly, there was danger up ahead! An unassuming deer stood centered in the road before us glancing curiously at our approaching vehicle. I gently nudged the brake and carefully adjusted the wheel as my navigator suggested softly (or maybe much more strongly) that our four-legged friend might choose to remove himself from our path at his earliest convenience. He did. And then…

Just when the road looked clear and my foot returned to the accelerator, no less than a half dozen additional deer approached at lightening speed appearing mysteriously from what seemed to be a vacant ditch. I struck one with the front left side of the vehicle, one not-so dead on (there were no casualties) and at least two struck the passenger side of the car including one staring through the passenger window at my frightened friend. The other two may have leapt the car in a single bound. My mind raced trying to comprehend this calculated team attack. Had Santa’s tiny reindeer just crossed our path without warning?

The story ends less dramatically than it began. A quick call to the police to mention our encounter with the deer ended with them asking if I was requesting tags for our attackers. Not a consumer of venison, I declined knowing also that they had all scampered away safely. I simply did not want to find my picture posted at the North Pole post office as a suspect in a hit and run.

The passenger door required a little repair and the heart rates of both in the vehicle eventually returned to the normal pitter pat. An epic adventure? Certainly! And this one lingering question…

I wonder what the deer’s version of the story sounded like as they gathered around the television watching Dick Clark that eve.

VIDEOS: Basement Entertainment

In this edition of new videos to entertain Kellen (and the rest of you I hope)...the dangers of mixing toddlers and bean bags, Kellen "reading" one of his favorites, high impact Ring Around the Rosie and Aidan and my new guessing game.

"Attack of the Bean Bags"

"Scoop stacks hay, hey, hey!"

"High impact 'Ring Around the Rosie'"

"Name That Food"

PHOTOS: Easily Entertained

Default Measurements

Aidan had his once upon a time, now Kellen has two of his own…

Widdle bit: Used as a measurement of volume; often spoken in hushed tones of reverence toward his favorite beverage. “Dada (whispering), widdle bit of meewk.” This request is accompanied by the widdle bit finger gesture (thumb and pointer finger almost touching). This expression of measurement occurs nearly every hour as he begs for more milk than I will allow him to drink.

A couple weeks: This stems from our anticipation of the Iowa Christmas journey when we began saying we were leaving in a couple of weeks and then told the boys we were staying for a couple of weeks. It is now Kellen’s assumption that all measurements of time are “a couple weeks”. Today, with Rachel back at work Kellen informed me, “Mama at work a couple weeks.” I was expecting her back around 6:00 but apparently I should be thinking mid January.

Kellen is also pronoun-ing (that’s a word, right?). “Me” is used as “my” as he points around the room identifying people…”Me dada, me mama, me Aidan”. He even took ownership of Rachel’s grandmother and her dog…”Me Grandma, me puppy”. The round of identification most often ends with him pointing proudly at his chest proclaiming “Me Kellen!”

Ready For Next Season

I’m not sure Kellen really understood my Sunday conversation with Aidan that the Bears season was over. Aidan sensed my frustration with the Bears loss yesterday and consoled me saying they’d win their next game.

Today Kellen is walking around the house singing the “Go Cubs Go” chorus…"Everybody what do you say…the Cubs are gonna to win today” (We say “everybody” rather than “Hey Chicago” because everyone should be cheering for our favorite baseball team).

I’ll be watching college bowl games, NFL playoffs and a little hockey but Kellen is evidently ready to move on and ready for baseball.

I’m sure his Papa D knows exactly how many days it is until pitchers and catchers report to spring training.

PHOTOS: Merry Christmas!

VIDEOS: Christensen Slopes

We hit the slopes in Sully yesterday once again using a variety of items to get down the hills.

I took a camera down the slower route for an "in sled" perspective of the trip down the hill...

"Gingerbread" Houses

We've moved the Christmas party north for the second week of our holiday visit.

For the second year, we are constructing gingerbread houses out of graham crackers. Here's a look at some of the participants and Aidan's final product.

The tools of the trade

Aidan and "Uncle Buv" (Dave)...someone's been in the frosting

Aunt Andrea and Rachel

La Casa de Aidan

Pool Table

As we wind down week one of our Christmas visit to Iowa we're squeezing in our favorite things at the Deur house one last time. Aidan and Kellen are quite fond of playing "pool table" in the basement. Kellen "rolls" the balls (we try to avoid significant divots in the felt) and Aidan rolls the balls or uses a shortened stick to poke the balls around the table.

Childhood Christmas Tradition

Since a time when I was very young my siblings and I would countdown the December days to Christmas on the fancy felt creation above. Aidan inherited the 25-flip Christmas counter as the oldest grandchild and we've been guessing what's behind each number before he goes to bed each night. With the whole family together this week we've all been in on the nightly guessing.

VIDEO: Deur Sledding

Kellen didn't make it into the snow last year and had his first snow experience yesterday. We had a great time sledding in mom and dad Deur's backyard.

PHOTOS: Deur Slopes

The boys and I spent some time sledding with their Uncle Ryan and Papa D this morning. It was Kellen's first snow experience.

We'll load some videos later in the week.

Now That's a Cookie!

Last night the boys helped decorate the soon-to-be-traditional Deur Christmas cookie. I say soon-to-be as this is just the second year we've frosted and decorated a giant cookie so we'll save tradition status for the third time around.

And here's the first piece of visual evidence that the seven pounds I lost over the last three weeks is about to ho-ho-ho its way back to my waist line.

Technology Children

I find it funny that Aidan started playing on the Internet a good 16 years earlier than I did. My first day of emailing and web surfing (with much difficulty) came during my first week of college. Aidan's now been bookmarking pages and playing games online for half of his four year old life. Kellen's a technology savvy kid as well demanding to see his videos anytime he spots us on our laptops.

My first phone memories involved the clicking of a rotary dial and a lengthy (usually tangled) cord connecting the receiver to the base. What are Kellen's thoughts on these communication devices? He got a toy cell phone in his stocking and immediately began "taking pictures" with it pointing it at everyone and saying "Cheese-a-burgers!". My first camera had flash cubes and my first cell phone had no frills and came when I was in my mid-20's. Hopefully Kellen won't be demanding a real cell phone for his upcoming two year birthday party.

UPDATE: When asked what he was doing while playing with Kellen's toy phone Aidan quickly responded, "I'm sending an email."

Operation: Bunk Beds

Under the cover of night Rachel and I assembled the boys big gift from us. Shipping delays had the assembling and gifting occurring one day later than anticipated but we were able to get it all in before our trip to Iowa.

We still need to go out and get a second mattress but with Kellen the Climber on the loose we decided the ladder and completion of the penthouse level can wait.

For the moment, Aidan can use the lower level and move on up when he and Kellen join forces in the room...that is not an announcement of any kind. Then when Aidan's feeling very big boy he can perhaps take one of the two bedrooms downstairs.

12 Days of Christmas

We're headed to Iowa today for family and Christmas festivities stretched over the course of two weeks.

Rather than haul our gifts to the boys forth and back, we decided to have our family Christmas morning ahead of time. Yesterday the boys opened their gifts so they could get some play time out of them before we journey south (pictures below).

The itinerary for the upcoming two weeks includes spending time with my sister Allison and her fiance (and all of our wonderful family members on both sides), sledding with the Christensen's, family meals, card games and gift exchanges.

Let the season begin!

PHOTOS: First Day of Christmas

VIDEOS: Morning Edu-macation

Visual evidence that it's not all play time and no education while Rachel is at work.

"Kellen's Colorful Cheeseburger"

"Aidan's Letters and Numbers"

We want to make sure these embarrassing moments are not part of the boys' futures...

Christmas Cookies

Rachel and Aidan worked on some ear-muffed snowman cookies tonight.

Kellen got the honor of making the first cookie disappear...

Season's First Scoop

Aidan's got new boots and snow pants to go along with a new winter coat and hat. Rumor has it we'll need them all over Christmas for some family sledding with the Christensens. Until then, he's a great helper in the driveway. The best part is he's enthusiastic, very thorough and works for cookies.

After the heavy lifting was done who could deny him a little recreational time in the snow? The first snow angel was legitimately spontaneous. After that we trekked around the house, threw a little snow powder at each other (it was not nearly wet enough to pack into snow balls) and dropped for one more snow angel as Kellen watched from the window. We'll get Kellen out in the snow when it's light out and we can properly document the experience.

Aisle 9 Holiday Fashion Show

How do the boys in the family keep themselves entertained while mama is shopping? Why not hold and an impromptu fashion show as we pass through the holiday aisles?

Kellen sports a festive holiday lid by designer Kris Kringle

Aidan dons this stunning headwear from Rudolph D. Reindeer

Toddler Politics

You may recall Aidan's giggly response to the man running for president who he thought was named Bronco Bomb-A (see Pre-school Politics).

Kellen now easily identifies the president-elect. Of course he has a name for him too shouting "Aco Mama!" (rhymes with Taco Mama).

VIDEO: Happy Holidays