Entertaining Michael

It's been a fun week around here, with Michael's first swim lesson of the season, family adventures in Peoria, a date night, playing with Issac, and the end of JD's basketball season. Here are some pictures from our visit to the Bass Pro Shop Saturday morning. Michael loved all the animals there!

 Afterwards, we went to Monkey Joe's to get rid of some energy. It worked.

I'll put up some pictures of Michael's swimming next week. It's been fun and busy around here lately, but we sure do miss our families. We feel like we're at the cusp of all kinds of important decisions, but we must be patient and wait for God's timing. I'm antsy, and I'm ready for some change. For now, I'll have to settle for focusing on our toddler, a dissertation, an impending graduation, and the coming of Spring! Oh yeah, and teaching. JD, meanwhile, is quite content.

Basketball Season

Basketball season is coming to a close for JD and his team, the Miners. Even though the team has not had the best run, they are having lots of fun! Lately, they have been testing JD's creativity by demanding individual nicknames. Michael and I got to go to the game this past weekend.

 Saturday night, we got together with the Morrisons and McClinticks for a pizza and game night. Michael had lots of fun with his buddy, Issac. Issac is almost 16 months old and lets Michael play with all his toys!

JD and I are also looking hard with the Liberts to find a preschool for Michael and Miles to attend in the fall. Michael will be 2, so it's time to socialize with somone other than me! I can't believe we're already looking into schools.

Now I read a lot of books, and I almost never post about them because there is so much to say. But I also have to take a moment to advertise my new favorite book, The Night Circus, by Erin Morgenstern. I just finished it and am so sad that's it's over. It is wonderful, and I highly recommend it to anyone who likes magic and mystery.

Michigan Valentine's

We had such a wonderful time in Michigan this past weekend. Kim and Andrew agreed to watch Michael for a night, so JD and I got to get away a little--even if it was just in the same town! We had never both left Michael before overnight, so it was a new experience, but I think everyone had a good time. Michael got to hang out with his cousins and go to hockey games and have lots of boy time. JD and I had three (3!!!) meals all to ourselves and got to explore downtown St. Joe for the day. We also saw a movie and stayed in a bed and breakfast. The weekend was made even more exciting by a heavy snowfall that transformed the town into a winter wonderland. Fun and romantic!

 In town, there was an ice carving competition going amid the blizzard wind and snow. There were some really amazing sculptures created.

Michael cried when we had to leave, but he's been having extra separation anxiety since the weekend. That means he had a great time, and he missed us! I feel the same way.

Family Time

Getting Through Winter

It may be the beginning of February, but it feels more like Spring around here. But we're still stuck indoors most of the time, hiding from cold wind or wet snow. It's a nice hibernation season for all of us, and we manage to stay pretty busy anyway. As you can see, there's always lots of work to do!

Michael is learning new words every day, although he still only uses them sporadically. He mashed his finger this week under some canned goods, and we had to go to the doctor to let the blood out from under his nail. He's been a trooper about it--better than me, for sure. I'm trying to get through dissertation revisions so that I can graduate by August at the latest. JD's coaching basketball at the church each week, and although the Miners may not win the most often, they sure do have fun! Now for the hardest month of the year to get through in Illinois: the long, cold, dark February. Sesame Street will help us through.