Camera Issues

Well, I write in attempts to create more of a word picture since our camera is on the fritz! These past 2 weeks have been pretty eventful! Barnabas got a new job working as a consultant for a company called Digineer (www.digineer.com) he is very excited and busy. His first contract is with Boston Scientific. I have no idea what he is doing there (for his credit he has tried to tell me but I cannot articulate it myself) but he is enjoying himself.

The kids and I are doing our best to survive the heat wave. According to the weather folks it is supposed to get up to 110 degrees (that temp includes the "Heat Index" the heat version of "Wind Chill") so we have been hanging out in our back family room watching movies and playing waiting for the heat to break.

As Zeke's birthday approaches he is trying to get caught up with other kids his age. Within 12 hours he cut 2 teeth and 2 more are on the way! He is pulling himself up on anything that will hold still long enough for him to try. I can't believe he is going to be one!

Grace is getting excited to start school in the fall. I will be starting a homeschool curriculum with her and she more than ready. She gives herself homework to "get ready" for the real thing. I guess according to the MN laws I need to come up with a name for "the school" that will be here, so if you have any ideas let me know. The more creative the better!

Asa is well...Asa. Still running about on his "horse" Gordy and saving the day when ever and where ever he can. The heat has been a little rough on his asthma but he is taking it in stride as always. He is getting so tall too!

This fall I will be attending VLI (Vineyard Leadership Institute). Its a course given through our church that is for training folks for leadership within the church-mainly like pastoral staff kind of stuff. I am looking forward to it but a little intimidated because I haven't been in any sort of school type setting for about 7 years now! But I think it will be fun challenge, I am looking forward to using that part of the brain that seems to go into hiding when one becomes a stay at home parent. If you'd like more info you can check out this web site www.vli.org.

Well, its getting to dinner time so I must go. Hopefully our camera will be fixed soon and you will se more pictures posted!

Hot Time, Summer in the City

This is Asa getting ready to get in the pool, it's only about 4 inces deep but at least he is always prepared!

This was Zeke's first time in the pool. You can't really tell by the picture but he is so excited he is kicking up quite the whirlpool! Everytime he gets excited he legs start kicking!

And my bathing beauty in blue!

My friend Kristina had mercy on us the other day and brought by her swimming pool (there isn't one left in the whole Twin Cities I swear!). The kids had a great time. As you can see our yard is still part gravel. The garden place told us to wait to seed till end of August. But they promise that by Fall we will have grass! Well I am going to go turn on the AC in the back room-stay cool y'all 100 degrees here we come!

Gummy Grin

I had some pictures sitting in the camera so I thought Id post 'em. Zeke is heading for his first birthday with no teeth!

Baby Bath Time!

A Little Daddy Love...

Super Asa!

The goggles are for his high speed riding!

He Can Do It!

Well kinda. It's really a modified army crawl (or Marine crawl Uncle Jed?). He gets to all most a push up pose and kinda drags himself about. He is on his way!

Oh yes, that is my friend Cristin trying to lure Zeke forward. Good job Cristin!

Whats Wrong With This Picture?

Absolutly nothing! Asa is free of his allergy to wheat and soy! In this picture he is enjoying his soynutbutter (he did grow a peanut allergy) and jelly sandwich on plain old standard whole wheat bread. Asa was at my parents place and when asked what he wanted for dinner he said "Ummm how 'bout something wheatish!"

Summer Adventure!

Grace and Asa just returned from a week long "parent" vacation to Duluth where they stayed with my Mom and they "chewed gum everyday, went swimming, played at nanny's with their day care buddies, visited great grandma and had cookies for breakfast"!

Today Grace and Asa continued their adventure and went to "Treasure Island" Vacation Bible School at a Luthran church 2 blocks away from our house. When asked what she did grace said "We played very nice games, found Chester's diamond, and tomorrow it will be in bucket 3."

The kids are modeling their newest creations from "Treasure Island!"

This One is for Jed and Molly

Barnabas introduced Asa to Napolen Dynamite the other night. Now everything is "Oh my gosh!" If you ask him his favorite move he'll tell you "Mongolaindynamin". He's too funny! Below you will see some action shots of Asa dancing like Mongoliandynamin!

Same Child Different Age!

Zeke at the MN Zoo.

Asa last summer at the Como Zoo.

Trip to the MN Zoo Part II

Ok so this posts backwards, what are ya gonna do. Feel free to scroll down and work your way up or what ever works best for you ;-)

Asa, Grace and their friend Amilie on the tractor to the petting farm.

The Dads. Barnabas and Paul with matching back packs (and outfits!) althouth Barnabas' pack has Zeke and Paul's has our lunches (Amilie wanted to walk).

Paul, Amilie and Desiree are our new friends from down the block. We had a great time at the Zoo!

A day at the MN Zoo!

Zeke is wearing Asa's sunhat from last year, too cute! He has his own but it has run off to vacation someplace!

This was at the tiger exibit. Forget Jane Goodall Grace Howard is on the stage!

So I told Asa "Hold still so I can get a good picture of you and the dolphins." He was still for a milisecond. At least he is still in the frame!
Princess Grace and the dolphins.
Again withe the in ability to hold still. Such a boy!

I love these pictures!

My Dad the music man! Too sweet.

I love this picture! I think it captures that time perfectly. The hair, clothes, and the closeness of friends and family. Thats my Dad holding my cousin Tony. Good job getting such a good looking guy Mom!

Just the Begining...

Grace has decided to change her name to "Marylou" and Asa has colored himself blue. All before 9am!

Deep Thoughts

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God.
Your playing small doesn't serve the world.
There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that
other people won't feel insecure around you.
We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give
other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear,
our presence automatically liberates others."
-Marianne Williamson, A Return to Love

Snow Day in May

Oh my son. Yesterday was, well, trying to say the least. While I was working on reading with Grace, Asa was playing in the living room. He was quiet-I should have known something was up. He walks in the computer room and says "I've been cleaning Mom!" And before I could turn my head I was thinking..."Mmmmm I like that smell....baby powder" and I turn and see Asa covered from head to toe in powder. He smiles I instantly get up and walk into the livingroom which has been transformed by a econo-size cotainer of baby powder (it was new too!). The empty container was sitting on the radiator. Walls and carpet were as white as the driven snow......

I wish that was the rest of the story. Asa later decided that my cell phone had issues with dry skin. It was charging up in our bedroom, and when Barnabas came home from work he found it in the middle of the Boy's room covered in lotion....

I wish that was the end of the story. He wanted a snack. I told him "Just a minute"...I came down stairs and he had poured himself a bowl of Katsup and was eating it with a spoon!

That's the end of the story...at least for now.

King Kong!

The story begins with my Mom sending Asa a box of fifty (yes, 50) fruit snacks all shaped after things from the King Kong movie. So while we were at the Como Zoo yesterday the kids simataniously scream "King Kong!" so I took a picture of them next to the big Hollywood star. Check out Asa he's still not too sure if he is nice or not! And Grace well she is just impressed to be next to such a movie icon!

The Tantrum

Rainy Day Photos

Happiness is an open mouthed baby


Asa riding his horse "Gordy"




Grace and her ever unique sense of style!