February Visit

We had so much fun this weekend with Michael's visit!! It was cold and snowy, but not cold and snowy enough to go sledding or cross-country skiing. But that didn't hold us back; it just allowed for more game-playing and relaxing. When Michael got in Saturday night, we had some dinner at home and caught up on all the latest family news. After church and brunch on Sunday, we outfitted ourselves in some snow gear and took a slushy walk down the Constitution Trail. Of course some snowball fights ensued.

Sunday night was game and pizza night. Danielle and Beth came over for Monopoly, Trivial Pursuit, Buzz Word, and Scrabble. Add to that 2 pizzas, black forest cookies, and root beer cake, and you can imagine what a fun night it was!

Yes, Michael is pointing at Baby Michael and laughing.

Monday, the boys went rock climbing at a nearby climbing gym that is inside these huge grain silos. It was really fun to watch them race around and exhaust themselves!

Oops, Michael fell off.

Michael left this morning, and I am feeling sad. The plagiarism trial that I had to attend this afternoon didn't help things. A student of mine from last semester is undergoing review for plagiarism that I detected, and the case went to trial. I was the complainant; she was the defendant. We had closing statements and were allowed witnesses. It was horribly uncomfortable for me, and I wasn't even the one on trial! I'm glad it's over.

Michael and His Room

I got another ultrasound on Wednesday. Michael is growing right on schedule, and his features are so much clearer! The top picture here is his face straight on, looking at us. The second is his profile.

We have also finally finished the nursery! JD did an amazing job on the beadboard!

Here's our new rug for the room too.

Status Quo

Well, I was hoping to post some pictures of our newly painted nursery today. JD finished the beadboard last weekend and painted it beautifully this weekend. I cleaned the room, put down the rug, and hung the curtains, but when I went to touch up the paint above the beadboard, we quickly realized that I was using a glossy paint over a matte paint. Oops. So now we have to paint the upper wall too. The pictures will be a bit longer in coming.

In the meantime, I leave you with a snow dinosaur that God made outside our office window and a Valentine's picture of JD and I and our possessed cat. I don't know how she does it, but there she is.

Looking Forward

Really, life is pretty quiet right now with winter keeping us indoors. JD did finish the bead board in Michael's room this weekend, and I'll post pictures as soon as we've painted it. But I'm spending a lot of my time looking forward to the spring and summer when so many fun events are planned; they keep me motivated (somewhat) through the cold days.

Big Mike, or Uncle Mike, whatever, is coming to visit in two weeks! I'm kinda hoping for a heavy snow right before he gets here because he and JD want to rent cross-country skies for the Constitution Trail. We also have game night planned, as other activities will depend on the weather. JD and I appreciate so much the effort that Michael keeps making to come visit us up here. He experiences our lives in all seasons and stages, making us feel loved.

Two weeks later, I will be heading home for Spring Break with three Illinois friends: Emily, Beth, and Danielle. I have so many plans to introduce the girls to the South that I don't know if we'll have much free time for sleeping. We're thinking of the Coca Cola Museum, the Aquarium, the Sundial, pottery painting, high tea for lunch, the premier of Alice in Wonderland with Johnny Depp, and to top it all off, a family baby shower. Mom and Vickie have been working hard to prepare the most beautiful shower I could imagine! It will be such a memorable event having my Atlanta friends, my Illinois friends, and my family all in the same place at once.

Of course, Baby Michael's arrival in June is a much anticipated event around here. The Moms are planning to stay for shifts after his birth, and the Dads and brothers and grandparents will pop in and out throughout the summer. My family plans to return in July, spending our annual summer vacation in Normal, IL! (See you next year, Hilton Head). Trips to Chicago, the nearby lake, and local summer events will provide a great family vacation.

All this family time will be followed by our annual Labor Day trip to Michigan, visiting with JD's family, capped with another Uncle Mike visit in September. Before we know it, it will be Thanksgiving and Christmas again! Maybe I should stop all this planning and settle down to the homework that's due tomorrow. :)