World History

Blogging Again

Wow! I'm going to attempt to begin this again... we'll see. I'm now busier than ever including:

Henry Carl was born March 28
I am working full time as a Language Arts teacher with immigrants and refugees
I am trying BSF this year-- every Monday night, and real Bible homework besides!
Samuel has started Wednesday night Awanas; he's a little Cubbie

Life has gotten busier, but better. :-) Anyway, hopefully I will be able to also add this blog for those of you who don't get to see us as often.

Christmas!

Rachel's Wedding

Rachel got married to Pete a few weekends ago. Miriam took a nice picture of us-- finally a family picture!

Moving

Daddy and Samuel.
Before we moved we took a picture of Samuel next to our huge tree in the backyard. He looks so little next to it! And, Grandma and Samuel. She is the one who reminded me to take the picture.

Camping with Bryants and Wiggins

Taking a walk with the fam.
Aaron spinning the cousins around.

At the State Fair

Minnesota State Fair pictures:Samuel was "planting" some plastic carrots in this picture. Here he taking his tractor with the bale of hay around the track.

At the Cabin

It has been too long since we've had pictures. So, here are a bunch of them!
At our cabin. It's Samuel's first canoe ride ever and he was so excited to be in the boat. Debbie and and Mom.

We're Back!

We are finally back online. We have moved in with my sister and brother-in-law to try and save money and Joanna will be watching Samuel every day while we are at work.

So, give me a few days to get settled and I will post some pictures. It's been too long.

Oh-- we are pregnant! Due on April 3.

Happy Birthday Debbie!

I'm trying to post a little video that Samuel made for Aunt Debbie, but am having technical difficulties. I'll keep trying.

It's about time!

It's been so long since I last updated the blog and it's because we don't have internet at home any longer. Here are the most recent pictures. Enjoy.

This is Samuel laughing while trying to get a nice picture with Grandma. He calls her "Goo-ah".

Aunt Joanna and Autumn (Ah-um) come over quite a bit and this night they got into the stickers. Little copy cats.

Playing with Nana.

I just thought this was cute-- no special significance.

One Saturday we went downtown St. Paul to look at the ice sculpture contest at the park. Pretty incredible.

Here we are watching the parade. Actually, I think Samuel was the only one with the good view until we were able to move a little closer after some people left.

If you're looking for something fun to occupy your children in the midst of cold days and no sunshine a friend gave me a wonderful idea. Squirt a little hand lotion onto a cookie sheet and let your child swish it around and squeeze it in between his fingers. Samuel was occupied for over half an hour and had a tantrum when I told him we were all done.

Just a few weeks ago, Samuel transitioned to a big boy bed, after having crawled out of his pack 'n play. We didn't want him attempting to crawl out of his regular crib with our hard wood floors. So, this picture is after his first successful night in the bed. He made himself comfortable in the corner the next morning and waited patiently for us to come and get him. (He's not quite so patient anymore!)

Just a 2008 kid with his ipod (really it's Daddy)

Visiting Grandma and Grandpa

We visited the Heads on Sunday and here are some pictures.

Aunt Jolene

Aunt Sherah

Great-Grandpa Head, Aunt Debbie, and Aunt Rachel

Jolene, Debbie and Rachel

"Uh-uh" (Samuel's name for Grandpa Head)Aunt Debbie came to babysit Samuel for the day and he had a grand time with his aunt. He hasn't seen her since he was four months old because she has been attending NEGST in Nairobi, Kenya for the last year and a half. It's been great having her here for the Christmas season.

Waiting for Mommy

Aaron took these two pictures. I burst with joy every time I see Samuel's face plastered to the screen door as he waits for me to walk up the sidewalk to our house after work each afternoon. It is so bittersweet. Couldn't money just grow off of trees? Then I would give my little boy as many hugs as I wanted throughout the day. I would kiss him every hour.

Talking on the phone

Samuel loves to talk on the telephone, when there is no one on the other end! He has a couple of our old cellphones that he carries around and chats to his favorite relatives. But, every time we hold the telephone up to his ear, he listens intently and doesn't utter a word.

Finally, Aaron had the idea of actually giving him the telephone rather than putting it up to his ear. It did the trick. In this picture, he is talking with Nana, having a little conversation with her. He still doesn't babble, but at least he responds now and talks a little. He likes to pace and imitate the same things we do while talking! (-:

Apple Orchard and Pumpkin Patch

When we moved to Denver, we thought it would be fun to go apple picking. It's a huge tradition in Minnesota to go an orchard and pick apples in the fall. I was given such strange looks when I asked where the nearest orchard was, "apple picking? I've never heard of that!"

Well, we're back in Minnesota now and Aaron, Samuel, Cousin Autumn, Aunt Joanna, and Nana all went up to pick apples and have fun at the pumpkin patch. I was at work. )-:

Eww, kisses!

Having fun with Nana!

It's a heavy one, Autumn.

Proud Nana!

Getting started on chores early...

Finally, a few pictures.

We stayed with my parents for a month and Samuel had a grand time with the tupperware caps that were at an easy reach in the cupboard.
This is camping at the end of September with Aaron's family. Samuel would run up and down the ramp into our little cabin.
Just this week, Samuel and his cousin Autumn, went to the Children's museum.

It's been a long time!

I apologize for not updating this blog! We have officially moved into our duplex close to downtown St. Paul. It's a great old house, built around 1910. We have the downstairs unit and love the extra space, the hardwood floors, old fashioned windows (minus the drafts...) and the neighborhood is so quiet.

I love work. Love working with the international community and have definitely found my niche there. I do miss my two boys dearly though and 3:30 can't come soon enough each day.

Aaron has just started up classes at Hamline and has taken over Samuel full time during the day. They've been having fun visiting his little cousin, going to the park, and just getting used to a new house again.

We just got an internet connection up and running after much hassle, but no pictures downloaded again. (-: Actually, it's been awhile since we've taken any. I'll have to take a few in the next few days and post them up.

First Day on the Job

I just started a new job today. I will be teaching Language Arts. I'm very excited, nervous, but mostly excited. The staff seem wonderful: passionate, dedicated, and very helpful. Take a peek:

http://www.lighthouse.charter.k12.mn.us/

Finally some pictures...

I finally figured out how to get some pictures of our move. These are just a few of the things we have been up to in the last month or so. An apology in advance-- I'm doing this quick and my CD drive is a little quirky, so I didn't rotate the pictures that should have been rotated. Enjoy.

Samuel barely made it into the car on the way to MN!

We arrived in Chippewa Falls with Nana and Poppa. Here Samuel and his cousin, Autumn, are enjoying some icecream in town.

Samuel loves water. We are staying with my grandparents for the month and Samuel discovered the water coming out of the hose in "sprinkler fashion." He loved it!

A trip to the water and sand park with his cousin Autumn. He would have stayed in this car driving his cousin if I had let him.

Already a Twins fan!

Us with Aaron's Grandmother Carol at her 70th birthday party in northern MN.

We brought our quilts that Grandmother had made to decorate the walls and the tables. This one is Samuel's and he is sharing it with his cousin.


We visited Aaron's Grandma Jo in Cumberland, WI and we were able to get a family picture outside.

You can tell Samuel has Italian in his blood by the way he loves the Pitzels (spelling?)

Here is the best attempt at a picture with great-Grandma Jo and the kids.