Gymnastics

 Jacob started gymnastics this week!  This was something that as parents we wanted to get him involved in something to expend some of his built up energy and learn something new.  We have had him enrolled in music classes, which he loves, but we decided to try something new, his love of music won't go away, that's for sure!  He seemed to like his first session.  I wish I could go to his next class, but I'll be tutoring instead.  It was quite comical to watch the children interact and so very sweet too.  Be still my heart! 

 warm-up running - he said this was his favorite part because he won the race like Lightning McQueen.

Working on stretches

Forward roll!

Getting ready to backward roll.  

Walking forward on the beam

Walking backwards

Monster Jam

 I feel like I'm the wrong one writing this blog entry, as I wasn't there!  Jacob and Nate went to Monster Jam in Council Bluffs with the boys on my side of the family.  They had a great time and the girls went shopping - even better!  It's been a long time since I had been shopping without a 3 year old to entertain.

See this book that Jacob is holding...it's maybe 60 pages long full of monster trucks and other monster truck 'stuff' - he knows almost all the truck names in it and loves flipping through the book naming them and talking about them.  Some where along the line Nate taught him what a QR code is and Jacob asked me today if he could "do QR codes".  Oh. My. Word.


Despite his somber looks, he really did have a great time and continues to talk about it.  I think he plays monster trucks a little differently now.

This truck is Maximum Destruction (Max D as Jacob calls him).  He also likes to watch Monster Jam on tv.  Oh, and let's not forget that when he grows up he wants to be a monster truck driver.  He's the student of the week next week at nursery school and one of the questions asked what he wants to be when he grows up.  We tried suggestions things like a teacher, doctor, firefighter....nope, monster truck driver it is :). 

Warm January

We've had such warm days lately that we just have to get outside and take advantage of it!

The forecast for tomorrow of course is snow and cold with temps around 50 degrees cooler and then windy and cold on Thursday.

When we were playing outside this afternoon I had to take a close look at my garden because it didn't look right...sure enough, the irises were coming up!!!! Not sure what will happen to them over the next 3 months!

Also this is my first time using the blogger app with pictures from my phone. Sorry for the most likely poor quality!

"Christmas Jars"

Yesterday, our family was incredibly blessed (for several reasons, but I'll focus on one right now).  It was a day of back to work, vacation time was over, ho hum, right?! 

Nate called me on his way home from work (normal) and we chit chatted for a moment and then he said, I have something very important to tell you and it can't wait, I have to tell you!  So he read a note, which was in his mailbox (?) at work - I guess I don't know, which referenced "Christmas Jars" and that this family (anonymous) have been saving their change all year long with the goal to bless a family at Christmas and they had chosen to give the gift to our family as we anticipate adding to our family!  (that's my summary, I don't have the note in front of me right now)  Then, Nate proceeded to tell me how much money was in that card...I'm not going to tell you, but it blew me away and brings tears to my eyes again as I type at the generosity of others! We wish we could personally thank the anonymous family, so if it's you reading THANK YOU!  Simply amazing!

I had never heard of "Christmas Jars" before, so I googled it, and this is what I found:  "Christmas Jars"
Click the link to find out about Christmas Jars.  Perhaps this is something you can do around your home this year - perfect time to start!

We continuously talk about how God put us on this adoption journey for a purpose and that he would provide everything necessary to make it happen.  We know and trust this and believe God will.  It's truly amazing though to see God at work through is people.  God not only is teaching us about trusting and believing in him, but I feel like I am also learning what it means to be the body of Christ, to show love to others.  I cannot wait for when we can pay this forward and be a blessing to another family.  

Visit to Michigan

 A trip to Michigan was overdue for our family.  We had not been to the great state for nearly 3 years and some of the relatives it had been longer since we had seen them.  It was a jammed packed visit, but we enjoyed it immensely!  Going to bed later (on time at home) and sleeping in was fabulous, not to mention the nap or two we snuck in!  

Jacob had not had a dentist visit yet and with one of Nate's uncle being one, that was our first stop!  Jacob passed with flying colors!  He got his teeth checked and cleaned.  His love for floss has already increased.

It had also been too long since we had seen and visited with Gram.  It's always hard to leave because you don't know God's timing and if you'll get another visit before God calls one home.  We were thankful for our visit with her.

Lake Michigan is beautiful.  It was an okay day for a visit in winter - windy and cold - but this boy didn't care!  He was still able to toss sand into the water, dig in the sand and run on the beach.  Just not quite the same as in the summer!  

It was good for him to have unstructured play time without limitations of walls and people.

 We were also blessed to spend time with Nate's other grandparents.  We received the grand tour and all the minute details grandma gives about how the unisex bathrooms aren't - the men use the one on the left, while the women use the one on the right!  Must be an unwritten rule as the sign outside the door says "unisex".  :)  Jacob enjoyed the tour and even once we were home he remembered the grandma and grandpa who took us on a tour! 

 Not sure who the bigger love bird is, grandma or Jacob?!  She gave him a lot of kisses and it was so sweet.

 And Jacob wanted to walk around holding her hand!   PRECIOUS!

Can you picture Nate 60 years from now?!  I see some similarities. 

Again, we cherished our time with our grandparents as we just don't know God's time.  We feel blessed to have spent time with them, despite the thermostat being set at 94 upon our arrival.  I think that will be me if I make it to be that old...as cold as I get now!  Can't blame them, can you?!

Merry Christmas!

 MERRY CHRISTMAS!

We had a busy Christmas time, but enjoyed it and had a lot of fun as well.  Jacob and I did some cookie decorating - he lasted long enough to decorate two cookies!

 We celebrated Christmas Eve as a family of 3 by going to church and opening our presents - some for the 2nd time :)!  I like to get a family picture in front of the tree to compare from year to year and see how we all grow and change in one way or another whether its in height, weight, spiritual, emotional, or possibly even some gray hairs that snuck in during the year.  Some of these may or may not have been true for 2011. 

 Jacob really enjoyed his presents and opening them.  He recently told someone about his gifts and said how he liked ALL of them :)  I guess we did pretty good.  The bonus is that his gift opening for the season isn't over yet as we get to celebrate with more family this weekend.

The gift that he is currently most excited about he cannot use yet.  We got him his first bike - Nate and I worked on putting it together last night, everything is workable except the handlebars, which we either don't have the right tool for or just aren't strong enough to loosen a piece.  I'm hoping we'll get it together soon as we could hit record high temperatures later this week!  That will be excellent.

I have more posts to post, I can't believe over all of Christmas break the only thing I got posted was a video!  

Christmas program video #1