I'm going to take a brief interlude from posting about our trip to Winnipeg. I want to do my best to stay at least somewhat consistent and post our meal plan for this week.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Marc: Ate somewhere in Chihuahua, Mexico (Marc was out of town on business; he's back now)
Sarah and Luke: Ate at Subway
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Taco Salad
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Original Ranch Pork Chops
Mashed Potatoes
Vegetable
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Easy Cheesy Chicken over noodles
Friday, November 18, 2011
Original Ranch Beef & Noodle Skillet
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Lunch: Rummage
Supper: Navajo Soup
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Lunch:
Marc will be going to the annual Kansas Ultrarunners' Society meeting....For the potluck, I will make (so Marc can take) tortilla roll-ups and a fruit salad
Sarah & Luke (for lunch): Rummage
Supper:
Our Community Life Group from church is having a full Thanksgiving dinner together....We are taking a layered vegetable salad and strawberry whip (a strawberry salad)
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Winnipeg -- Days 1 and 2....
This post will be the first long post of a series of posts.
I mentioned in my PREVIOUS POST that Luke and I had just returned from a trip to Winnipeg -- a city in the province of Manitoba in the country of Canada.
"Why are you and Luke going/did you go to Winnipeg," is a question I have been frequently asked.
WELL, my very good friend, Tammy, her husband, Reynold, and their two boys, Caleb and Jesse, live up there. We were LONG overdue for a visit. Marc and I were last there in the summer of 2006. (Tammy and I met during our freshmen year at Bethel College....getting close to 20 years ago).
Anyways, this trip involved Luke's first trip on an airplane. Yep, he was excited. And yep, he did VERY WELL on an airplane. I'm very glad I waited until he was 3 to fly with him (by myself) because he can definitely understand and execute simple directions I give him. PLUS, he is not a kid to run off from me.
**As a SIDE NOTE -- we flew on Delta Airlines. I fully am aware that it's really not a "picnic" anymore to fly. BUT, I want to very publically compliment Delta Airlines. They were EXCELLENT in assisting me with a child. AND, all of the flight attendants and pilots (that Luke talked with) were EXCELLENT with Luke. Luke asked a couple of the pilots some questions, and they answered them at his level in a very friendly manner :)
Moving on.....
We left on Thursday, November 3. My dad took us to the airport. I purposely did not schedule an early time to leave; therefore, Luke was wide awake and ready to go.
A V.E.R.Y. serious boy -- ready to "go up high."
The taxi out to the runway...VERY long for a 3 year-old who didn't fully understand the whole process....
After fairly loud squeal (a happy one) during take-off and after we were told "we could use approved electronic devices," I pulled out the DVD player....borrowed from my friend, Lori.
The highlight for Luke -- getting to have juice and cookies on the flight (didn't get a good pic of that one).
Luke did very well through the remainder of that flight, during our layover, and on the second flight. He never once tried to take his seatbelt off. He wasn't loud. In fact, I was complimented once we arrived in Winnipeg when another passenger approached me and told me how she was sitting 2 rows in front of us and didn't even realize there was a small child.
Once we arrived in Winnipeg and went through customs, our friends were waiting on us.
That evening, it was kept low-key. Luke was MESMORIZED by new and different toys than the ones he has at home. These "different" toys kept him pretty content most of this trip.
Ooooohhhh...LEGOS....
*****
After a good night's rest, we began Day 2 of our trip.
In the morning, Caleb had school (he's in kindgergarten), and Reynold was at work (he's a pastor at Bethel Mennonite Church in Winnipeg).
SO, Tammy, Jesse, Luke, and I took a little trip to Canadian Mennonite University -- where Tammy works. She showed us her workplace as well as introduced us to a few of her coworkers.
In the afternoon, after Caleb was finished with school, we took a little trip out of Winnipeg to a farm. This farm belongs to Reynold and Tammy's brother-in-law, Eric, and his family.
Let's just say that this farm was a HUGE hit for the boys.
First, Eric backed out the BIG John Deere combine.
Luke immediately wanted Eric to lift him up into the combine....
They sat up there for quite awhile. I'm sure Luke was asking Eric quite a few questions.
Then, we moved into the BIG shed and saw another little tractor....probably prepared to move some snow very soon.
This is Caleb on the tractor....
And, this is Jesse on the tractor....
In this next photo, you'll see 5 boys....Jacob, Caleb, Levi, Luke, and Jesse....
(Jacob and Levi are Eric and his wife, Sandra's, two boys).
Did you notice which boy did NOT have a hat on? If you noticed, Luke, you'd be correct. It was a rather blustery day. The wind was blowing rather hard. In fact, I thought I was in Kansas because of the wind. Luke started out with a hat on. He then told me his "hair was hot." So, he took his hat off. I find it humorous that the one boy who was NOT from Manitoba is the one who wasn't cold. On the other hand, those other 4 boys, I'm sure, are WAY more used to wearing hats than Luke.
We then headed outside to the big blue tractor.
I personally really like this pic of Caleb in the big tractor wheel....
And then, we moved to the old farm truck....really fascinating to the boys.
(This is Luke and Jesse, though neither would really look at the camera for me).
Eric and his dad have approximately 4,000 chickens on this farm. They collect eggs daily....and yes, it did stink.
Each day, either Eric or his dad hand collect the eggs. Eric says he can collect all of the eggs himself (remember -- eggs from 4,000 chickens) in a little over an hour. I was IMPRESSED! Then, they're stored in a large walk-in cooler until they get picked up from a local company who distributes them to local grocery stores.
Lastly, we saw the horses.
Eric pulled out a bucket of carrots to feed the horses.
This pic is of Jesse and Tammy...Jesse was not at all afraid of feeding the horses.
On the other hand, Luke did not want to at all feed the horses -- even with Eric's assistance. BUT, he did watch closely.
And, that ended our very FUN farm experience. We drove back into the city....on the drive, we saw a couple of John Deere implement dealerships. Yep, the boys were mesmerized by that.
Also, Winnipeg is about to get an IKEA store (bet you all want to visit now)....SO, Tammy drove us by the construction site where seriously, we saw about 12 excavators all MOVING! That completely excites two 3 year-olds boys and a five year-old boy.
That evening, Reynold had a "function" at church to manage. So, he wasn't home. Tammy and I did our best to keep the boys occupied with a bit of crafting. We had them make (or we made) a Thank-You note for Eric showing us the farm.
Promptly at 8:00 P.M., the boys were in bed and asleep. Tammy and I were then able to stay up and catch up without being interrupted by children.
Stay tuned for more of the trip!
I mentioned in my PREVIOUS POST that Luke and I had just returned from a trip to Winnipeg -- a city in the province of Manitoba in the country of Canada.
"Why are you and Luke going/did you go to Winnipeg," is a question I have been frequently asked.
WELL, my very good friend, Tammy, her husband, Reynold, and their two boys, Caleb and Jesse, live up there. We were LONG overdue for a visit. Marc and I were last there in the summer of 2006. (Tammy and I met during our freshmen year at Bethel College....getting close to 20 years ago).
Anyways, this trip involved Luke's first trip on an airplane. Yep, he was excited. And yep, he did VERY WELL on an airplane. I'm very glad I waited until he was 3 to fly with him (by myself) because he can definitely understand and execute simple directions I give him. PLUS, he is not a kid to run off from me.
**As a SIDE NOTE -- we flew on Delta Airlines. I fully am aware that it's really not a "picnic" anymore to fly. BUT, I want to very publically compliment Delta Airlines. They were EXCELLENT in assisting me with a child. AND, all of the flight attendants and pilots (that Luke talked with) were EXCELLENT with Luke. Luke asked a couple of the pilots some questions, and they answered them at his level in a very friendly manner :)
Moving on.....
We left on Thursday, November 3. My dad took us to the airport. I purposely did not schedule an early time to leave; therefore, Luke was wide awake and ready to go.
A V.E.R.Y. serious boy -- ready to "go up high."
The taxi out to the runway...VERY long for a 3 year-old who didn't fully understand the whole process....
After fairly loud squeal (a happy one) during take-off and after we were told "we could use approved electronic devices," I pulled out the DVD player....borrowed from my friend, Lori.
The highlight for Luke -- getting to have juice and cookies on the flight (didn't get a good pic of that one).
Luke did very well through the remainder of that flight, during our layover, and on the second flight. He never once tried to take his seatbelt off. He wasn't loud. In fact, I was complimented once we arrived in Winnipeg when another passenger approached me and told me how she was sitting 2 rows in front of us and didn't even realize there was a small child.
Once we arrived in Winnipeg and went through customs, our friends were waiting on us.
That evening, it was kept low-key. Luke was MESMORIZED by new and different toys than the ones he has at home. These "different" toys kept him pretty content most of this trip.
Ooooohhhh...LEGOS....
*****
After a good night's rest, we began Day 2 of our trip.
In the morning, Caleb had school (he's in kindgergarten), and Reynold was at work (he's a pastor at Bethel Mennonite Church in Winnipeg).
SO, Tammy, Jesse, Luke, and I took a little trip to Canadian Mennonite University -- where Tammy works. She showed us her workplace as well as introduced us to a few of her coworkers.
In the afternoon, after Caleb was finished with school, we took a little trip out of Winnipeg to a farm. This farm belongs to Reynold and Tammy's brother-in-law, Eric, and his family.
Let's just say that this farm was a HUGE hit for the boys.
First, Eric backed out the BIG John Deere combine.
Luke immediately wanted Eric to lift him up into the combine....
They sat up there for quite awhile. I'm sure Luke was asking Eric quite a few questions.
Then, we moved into the BIG shed and saw another little tractor....probably prepared to move some snow very soon.
This is Caleb on the tractor....
And, this is Jesse on the tractor....
In this next photo, you'll see 5 boys....Jacob, Caleb, Levi, Luke, and Jesse....
(Jacob and Levi are Eric and his wife, Sandra's, two boys).
Did you notice which boy did NOT have a hat on? If you noticed, Luke, you'd be correct. It was a rather blustery day. The wind was blowing rather hard. In fact, I thought I was in Kansas because of the wind. Luke started out with a hat on. He then told me his "hair was hot." So, he took his hat off. I find it humorous that the one boy who was NOT from Manitoba is the one who wasn't cold. On the other hand, those other 4 boys, I'm sure, are WAY more used to wearing hats than Luke.
We then headed outside to the big blue tractor.
I personally really like this pic of Caleb in the big tractor wheel....
And then, we moved to the old farm truck....really fascinating to the boys.
(This is Luke and Jesse, though neither would really look at the camera for me).
Eric and his dad have approximately 4,000 chickens on this farm. They collect eggs daily....and yes, it did stink.
Each day, either Eric or his dad hand collect the eggs. Eric says he can collect all of the eggs himself (remember -- eggs from 4,000 chickens) in a little over an hour. I was IMPRESSED! Then, they're stored in a large walk-in cooler until they get picked up from a local company who distributes them to local grocery stores.
Lastly, we saw the horses.
Eric pulled out a bucket of carrots to feed the horses.
This pic is of Jesse and Tammy...Jesse was not at all afraid of feeding the horses.
On the other hand, Luke did not want to at all feed the horses -- even with Eric's assistance. BUT, he did watch closely.
And, that ended our very FUN farm experience. We drove back into the city....on the drive, we saw a couple of John Deere implement dealerships. Yep, the boys were mesmerized by that.
Also, Winnipeg is about to get an IKEA store (bet you all want to visit now)....SO, Tammy drove us by the construction site where seriously, we saw about 12 excavators all MOVING! That completely excites two 3 year-olds boys and a five year-old boy.
That evening, Reynold had a "function" at church to manage. So, he wasn't home. Tammy and I did our best to keep the boys occupied with a bit of crafting. We had them make (or we made) a Thank-You note for Eric showing us the farm.
Promptly at 8:00 P.M., the boys were in bed and asleep. Tammy and I were then able to stay up and catch up without being interrupted by children.
Stay tuned for more of the trip!
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Weekly Meal Plan and Halloween....
Yep, I'm LONG overdue for a post. Luke and I took a little trip up to Winnipeg (Manitoba) to see our friends, Tammy and Reynold, and their two boys, Caleb and Jesse.
I'll post more on that trip later....
But first, here's our meal plan for this week....as well as a few simple Halloween pics (I didn't go nuts with the camera this year for Halloween).
Monday, November 7, 2011
Marc: Long John Silver's
Sarah & Luke: Ate at Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Marc & Luke: Sloppy Joes, Chips
Sarah: Ate at Mom 2 Mom at church
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Chicken Fajitas
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Baked Chicken (with some sort of dipping sauce)
Salad
Friday, November 11, 2011
Grilled Hot Dogs
Salad
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Lunch: Rummage
Supper: Tortilla Roll-Ups, Salad
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Lunch: Rummage
Supper: Will be at our small group with church
**Will be taking "Hot Bacon and Swiss Dip" to small group
**********
For Halloween this year, Luke was a construction worker. Nope, he wasn't specifically Bob the Builder....just an "ordinary" construction worker (even though we certainly know that Luke is anything but ordinary).
He was actually quite cranky that evening. My parents had come for the evening to eat supper with us and briefly go Trick-or-Treating with us. Because Luke is ONLY 3 years old, we stuck to our neighborhood (7 other houses), and we drove to a friend's house. We figured he didn't need all of the candy, and we know he has many more years with which to get into the fun.
Because of the crankiness, we let him take his little blanket with him. It kept him happy....
It didn't take him long to "figure out" what he was supposed to be doing.
Ignore the date on this first pic....
I'll post more on that trip later....
But first, here's our meal plan for this week....as well as a few simple Halloween pics (I didn't go nuts with the camera this year for Halloween).
Monday, November 7, 2011
Marc: Long John Silver's
Sarah & Luke: Ate at Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Marc & Luke: Sloppy Joes, Chips
Sarah: Ate at Mom 2 Mom at church
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Chicken Fajitas
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Baked Chicken (with some sort of dipping sauce)
Salad
Friday, November 11, 2011
Grilled Hot Dogs
Salad
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Lunch: Rummage
Supper: Tortilla Roll-Ups, Salad
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Lunch: Rummage
Supper: Will be at our small group with church
**Will be taking "Hot Bacon and Swiss Dip" to small group
**********
For Halloween this year, Luke was a construction worker. Nope, he wasn't specifically Bob the Builder....just an "ordinary" construction worker (even though we certainly know that Luke is anything but ordinary).
He was actually quite cranky that evening. My parents had come for the evening to eat supper with us and briefly go Trick-or-Treating with us. Because Luke is ONLY 3 years old, we stuck to our neighborhood (7 other houses), and we drove to a friend's house. We figured he didn't need all of the candy, and we know he has many more years with which to get into the fun.
Because of the crankiness, we let him take his little blanket with him. It kept him happy....
It didn't take him long to "figure out" what he was supposed to be doing.
Ignore the date on this first pic....
Sunday, October 23, 2011
What all is the Friesen Family Eating This Week?
In case you're curious....
Monday, October 24, 2011
Spaghetti & Meat Sauce
Breadsticks
Vegetable or Salad
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Chicken Parmigiana
Vegetable
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Tender Pork Chops (in crock pot)
Au Gratin Potatoes
Vegetable
(Also -- taking a family from our church a meal -- they have a new baby at home)!
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Marc & Luke: Guys' Night (Will be eating Little Caesar's Pizza)
Sarah: ???? (Will be getting some things done on my own that evening)
Friday, October 28, 2011
Sloppy Joes
Chips & Dip
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Lunch: Rummage
Supper: Bread Basket with Marc's parents (a belated birthday celebration for Marc's birthday)
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Lunch: Rummage
Supper: Will be eating with Community Life Group from church (I will be taking a birthday cake for a certain group member's birthday)....
Monday, October 24, 2011
Spaghetti & Meat Sauce
Breadsticks
Vegetable or Salad
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Chicken Parmigiana
Vegetable
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Tender Pork Chops (in crock pot)
Au Gratin Potatoes
Vegetable
(Also -- taking a family from our church a meal -- they have a new baby at home)!
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Marc & Luke: Guys' Night (Will be eating Little Caesar's Pizza)
Sarah: ???? (Will be getting some things done on my own that evening)
Friday, October 28, 2011
Sloppy Joes
Chips & Dip
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Lunch: Rummage
Supper: Bread Basket with Marc's parents (a belated birthday celebration for Marc's birthday)
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Lunch: Rummage
Supper: Will be eating with Community Life Group from church (I will be taking a birthday cake for a certain group member's birthday)....
Sunday, October 16, 2011
What will the Friesen Family Be Eating This Week?
Here's the answer -- or at least what's planned for this week....
Monday, October 17, 2011
Chili Fundraiser Supper -- In Support of State Representative Marc Rhoades
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Chicken Enchiladas
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Chicken and Biscuits (recipe from a friend)
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Tracey's Italian Meatloaf (new recipe out of one of my favorite recipe books)
Caesar Salad
Friday, October 21, 2011
Taco Soup
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Lunch: Rummage
Supper: Grilled Burgers and Fries
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Lunch: Rummage
Supper: Rummage
Have a great week!
Monday, October 17, 2011
Chili Fundraiser Supper -- In Support of State Representative Marc Rhoades
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Chicken Enchiladas
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Chicken and Biscuits (recipe from a friend)
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Tracey's Italian Meatloaf (new recipe out of one of my favorite recipe books)
Caesar Salad
Friday, October 21, 2011
Taco Soup
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Lunch: Rummage
Supper: Grilled Burgers and Fries
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Lunch: Rummage
Supper: Rummage
Have a great week!
Friday, October 14, 2011
Another Mower Ride....
If you know Luke (either in person or through reading this blog), it is NO secret that Luke REALLY likes (loves) lawnmowers. It doesn't matter whether they're push mowers or riding mowers, big mowers or little mowers, mowers with pull starts or electric starts, Luke LOVES lawnmowers.
Our friend, Joel (a.k.a. "Regular Joel" to Luke), works for our city's park and recreation department. In Luke's world, it means that "Regular Joel" drives a lawnmower.
(And, many of you know this, but Joel and Kendall's little girl, Lily, hangs out with us here on Wednesday mornings).
SO, a few weeks ago, Joel let me know that he'd be mowing at the park near our house that next day. Lily was scheduled to be at our house, and so, I could bring both kids via the wagon to the park for a ride.
To say that Luke was excited would be an understatement.
When we got there, Joel was already mowing. I forced Luke to show some kindness and "gentlemanness" and let Lily go first. Fortunately, Luke did this without any sort of tears or fit.
SO, Lily rode first.
THEN, after much anticipation and very patient waiting (relative to a 3 year-old), Luke got his ride with "Regular Joel" on the big red mower.
(And yes, Luke has his "e-phones" on...remember, he doesn't like loud noises)....
It was at this point that Lily was most definitely ready to be done with lawnmower rides. She wasn't scared riding with her daddy, but I could tell she just wasn't NEARLY as interested in it as Luke. In fact, Lily said to me on the sidelines, "Let's go play now at the park."
Oooohhhh...how kids, how boys and girls are different -- VERY INTERESTING!
BUT, Joel came back with Luke, and he said he'd go out one more time with both kids on his lap. Lily did agree to that.
Joel took them down by a nearby creek. Apparently, they saw a rather large snake. Thankfully, I missed that :)
Thanks Joel for giving Luke and Lily rides! Luke still talks about it!
Our friend, Joel (a.k.a. "Regular Joel" to Luke), works for our city's park and recreation department. In Luke's world, it means that "Regular Joel" drives a lawnmower.
(And, many of you know this, but Joel and Kendall's little girl, Lily, hangs out with us here on Wednesday mornings).
SO, a few weeks ago, Joel let me know that he'd be mowing at the park near our house that next day. Lily was scheduled to be at our house, and so, I could bring both kids via the wagon to the park for a ride.
To say that Luke was excited would be an understatement.
When we got there, Joel was already mowing. I forced Luke to show some kindness and "gentlemanness" and let Lily go first. Fortunately, Luke did this without any sort of tears or fit.
SO, Lily rode first.
THEN, after much anticipation and very patient waiting (relative to a 3 year-old), Luke got his ride with "Regular Joel" on the big red mower.
(And yes, Luke has his "e-phones" on...remember, he doesn't like loud noises)....
It was at this point that Lily was most definitely ready to be done with lawnmower rides. She wasn't scared riding with her daddy, but I could tell she just wasn't NEARLY as interested in it as Luke. In fact, Lily said to me on the sidelines, "Let's go play now at the park."
Oooohhhh...how kids, how boys and girls are different -- VERY INTERESTING!
BUT, Joel came back with Luke, and he said he'd go out one more time with both kids on his lap. Lily did agree to that.
Joel took them down by a nearby creek. Apparently, they saw a rather large snake. Thankfully, I missed that :)
Thanks Joel for giving Luke and Lily rides! Luke still talks about it!
Monday, October 10, 2011
Weekly Meal Plan and a Pic....
Here's our meal plan for the Friesen Family for this week....
Monday, October 10, 2011
Pigs in a Blanket
Tater Tots
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Navajo Soup
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
"Pizza in a Pot" over pasta (a NEW crock pot recipe for us -- we'll see how it goes)
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Savory Chicken Squares
Vegetable
Friday, October 14, 2011
Marc's campout with our small group's guys...Marc is to take pop, chips, and Strawberry Whip
Sarah & Luke: Pizza Hut with small group women and kids
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Lunch: Rummage
Supper: Will be eating at Sarah's parents' house...we're to take Buffalo Chicken Dip as an appetizer for family
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Lunch: Rummage
Supper: Chicken Alfredo with Linguine (a Macaroni Grill meal)
*****
Late last week, we actually made a quick decision to cut out Luke's naps. He was still taking them nearly 98% of the time. BUT, when he did take a nap, he was staying up way too late. We'd put him to bed around 10:00....many times, I'd hear him still talking in his bedroom until after 11:00....NOT a good cycle to get into.
ALSO, because he was going to bed SO late, Marc and I had virtually ZERO time together in the evenings. It was becoming very evident in the communication department.
SO, Luke's done fairly well without his nap. He's been going to bed around 8:00 in the evening. I've been hearing him talk for a whopping 5 minutes, and he's very quiet until morning.
I have instituted a "quiet time" in the afternoon. He doesn't have to be in bed, but he does have to be in and stay in his room for at least an hour.
He has stayed in his room and with the exception one little "poop" incident (where Luke threw poop out of his room into the hallway -- GROSS), it's gone O.K.
TODAY, however, after his quiet time, I was baking cookies in the kitchen while he was watching a tractor video. It suddenly was VERY quiet.
I walked into the family room to see this....
Yep, he had fallen asleep on the couch -- which I don't think he's ever done.
SO, Luke's still adjusting his little body and brain to a new sleep schedule, but he'll get there!
Monday, October 10, 2011
Pigs in a Blanket
Tater Tots
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Navajo Soup
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
"Pizza in a Pot" over pasta (a NEW crock pot recipe for us -- we'll see how it goes)
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Savory Chicken Squares
Vegetable
Friday, October 14, 2011
Marc's campout with our small group's guys...Marc is to take pop, chips, and Strawberry Whip
Sarah & Luke: Pizza Hut with small group women and kids
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Lunch: Rummage
Supper: Will be eating at Sarah's parents' house...we're to take Buffalo Chicken Dip as an appetizer for family
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Lunch: Rummage
Supper: Chicken Alfredo with Linguine (a Macaroni Grill meal)
*****
Late last week, we actually made a quick decision to cut out Luke's naps. He was still taking them nearly 98% of the time. BUT, when he did take a nap, he was staying up way too late. We'd put him to bed around 10:00....many times, I'd hear him still talking in his bedroom until after 11:00....NOT a good cycle to get into.
ALSO, because he was going to bed SO late, Marc and I had virtually ZERO time together in the evenings. It was becoming very evident in the communication department.
SO, Luke's done fairly well without his nap. He's been going to bed around 8:00 in the evening. I've been hearing him talk for a whopping 5 minutes, and he's very quiet until morning.
I have instituted a "quiet time" in the afternoon. He doesn't have to be in bed, but he does have to be in and stay in his room for at least an hour.
He has stayed in his room and with the exception one little "poop" incident (where Luke threw poop out of his room into the hallway -- GROSS), it's gone O.K.
TODAY, however, after his quiet time, I was baking cookies in the kitchen while he was watching a tractor video. It suddenly was VERY quiet.
I walked into the family room to see this....
Yep, he had fallen asleep on the couch -- which I don't think he's ever done.
SO, Luke's still adjusting his little body and brain to a new sleep schedule, but he'll get there!
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Greater Andover Days....
I feel like I haven't blogged much lately. And, it's not because we haven't been busy nor has it because I don't have anything blog worthy.
Sooooo, in an effort to sort of catch up, I'm going to make some random posts with some random pics. Here's one of them :)
*****
If you know me in person, you might possibly know that I grew up in Andover, KS -- just east and outside of Wichita.
Truth be told, the town is quite different from when I lived there. I don't mean that in a bad way...it's just experienced phenomenal growth. It's a very different town than what I remember. And, though I only live roughly 35 minutes away now, Andover is COMPLETELY different than Newton (where we currently reside). It actually amazes me the two towns are both in Kansas.
Because I believe I'm a different person now (and I mean that in a good way), another truth be told, I don't have that much of an emotional attachment to Andover. In fact, the ONLY thing that truly takes me there is the fact that my parents still live there, and I do enjoy going to visit with and spend time with them.
Blah, Blah, Blah....
BUT, each year, I do make an effort to go to the parade during Greater Andover Days -- the town's "fall festival."
This year was no exception as Luke and I were able to make it to the parade with our nieces and my parents (Marc, my brother, and my sister-in-law were all working).
(And remember at the beginning of this post, I said I had random pics....here they go)....
I was a "band geek." I played clarinet from 6th grade through 10th grade....in concert band. I played bassoon for the 11th and 12th grades in concert band as well as in the Wichita Youth Symphony. I also played basson for three years in college. (PLEASE don't ask me to play as I don't own a bassoon, and my clarinet needs some work)....
Soooooo, I have quite a few years of marching band experience.
Going to the Greater Andover Days Parade does bring back those memories. I truly do enjoy seeing the marching band. AND, I LOVE the fact that Luke enjoys watching the band -- mainly the drums :)
(And, this pic would be the ONLY pic of the actual parade I took -- see what I mean by randomness)....
BUT, I did take some shots of Luke at the parade. So, if you don't mind seeing our kid, here goes:
During this parade, a TREMENDOUS amount of candy is thrown out (in fact, it's too much, in my opinion). My mom brought plastic bags for each of her grandkids to collect candy.
ALSO, Luke absolutely doesn't like loud noises. He occasionally wears "e-phones" (as he calls them) when he thinks something will be loud. I remembered to take his "e-phones" along. Needless to say, they were worn. It's pretty cute, but I know I'm biased :)
In this pic, Luke has his "ah-dah" (his beloved blanket). You might also notice that his face is a bit red. This would be because he bumped his head rather hard on the corner of a mailbox. He cried for a bit...AND, he even has a gash on his head from this incident. So, though I am really working on not letting him have his blanket all of the time, I did let him have it at this point for comfort.
It apparently got loud again because the "e-phones" went back on with the blanket still in tow.
AND finally, I believe this pic epitomizes a parade with a little kid like Luke....he has a sucker in his mouth (one collected from the parade)....It apparently had gotten loud for his ears again, but Luke didn't want to put down the sucker to get his "e-phones." So, Luke resorted to this....
That's all for this post....stay tuned for more randomness :)
Sooooo, in an effort to sort of catch up, I'm going to make some random posts with some random pics. Here's one of them :)
*****
If you know me in person, you might possibly know that I grew up in Andover, KS -- just east and outside of Wichita.
Truth be told, the town is quite different from when I lived there. I don't mean that in a bad way...it's just experienced phenomenal growth. It's a very different town than what I remember. And, though I only live roughly 35 minutes away now, Andover is COMPLETELY different than Newton (where we currently reside). It actually amazes me the two towns are both in Kansas.
Because I believe I'm a different person now (and I mean that in a good way), another truth be told, I don't have that much of an emotional attachment to Andover. In fact, the ONLY thing that truly takes me there is the fact that my parents still live there, and I do enjoy going to visit with and spend time with them.
Blah, Blah, Blah....
BUT, each year, I do make an effort to go to the parade during Greater Andover Days -- the town's "fall festival."
This year was no exception as Luke and I were able to make it to the parade with our nieces and my parents (Marc, my brother, and my sister-in-law were all working).
(And remember at the beginning of this post, I said I had random pics....here they go)....
I was a "band geek." I played clarinet from 6th grade through 10th grade....in concert band. I played bassoon for the 11th and 12th grades in concert band as well as in the Wichita Youth Symphony. I also played basson for three years in college. (PLEASE don't ask me to play as I don't own a bassoon, and my clarinet needs some work)....
Soooooo, I have quite a few years of marching band experience.
Going to the Greater Andover Days Parade does bring back those memories. I truly do enjoy seeing the marching band. AND, I LOVE the fact that Luke enjoys watching the band -- mainly the drums :)
(And, this pic would be the ONLY pic of the actual parade I took -- see what I mean by randomness)....
BUT, I did take some shots of Luke at the parade. So, if you don't mind seeing our kid, here goes:
During this parade, a TREMENDOUS amount of candy is thrown out (in fact, it's too much, in my opinion). My mom brought plastic bags for each of her grandkids to collect candy.
ALSO, Luke absolutely doesn't like loud noises. He occasionally wears "e-phones" (as he calls them) when he thinks something will be loud. I remembered to take his "e-phones" along. Needless to say, they were worn. It's pretty cute, but I know I'm biased :)
In this pic, Luke has his "ah-dah" (his beloved blanket). You might also notice that his face is a bit red. This would be because he bumped his head rather hard on the corner of a mailbox. He cried for a bit...AND, he even has a gash on his head from this incident. So, though I am really working on not letting him have his blanket all of the time, I did let him have it at this point for comfort.
It apparently got loud again because the "e-phones" went back on with the blanket still in tow.
AND finally, I believe this pic epitomizes a parade with a little kid like Luke....he has a sucker in his mouth (one collected from the parade)....It apparently had gotten loud for his ears again, but Luke didn't want to put down the sucker to get his "e-phones." So, Luke resorted to this....
That's all for this post....stay tuned for more randomness :)
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Weekly Meal Plan AND State Fair -- Part 2....
It's only a couple of days late, but better late than never, right?
Here's the Friesen Family Meal Plan for this week....
Monday, September 26, 2011
Eating Pizza with Friends
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Marc -- Eating at work (had a dinner he needed to attend)
Sarah -- Eating at Mom 2 Mom at church
Luke -- Rummage at Home
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Chili Cheese Dogs
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Chicken Alfredo with Linguine....A Macaroni Grill meal
**This meal was on our plan last week. Last week, Marc had to spend one night out of town, unexpectedly, for work. So, we didn't get this meal eaten.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Beef Stroganoff
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Lunch: Rummage
Supper: ???? That evening, the Cloverton concert is at church....my parents are watching Luke....we'll figure out supper at that time.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Lunch -- Rummage
Supper -- Marc: Will be eating at the "Guys' Fried Night Part" at the Smith's house
Sarah & Luke: Will be eating out with our small group women and kids (location TBD)
*****
And now, if you missed my on our State Fair, visit, go look now. (It's two posts ago)....
For Part 2....I really don't have too many pics.
But, I wanted to share a couple of cool Kansas things.
As in probably other states as well, the prized pumpkin gets displayed. This year's pumpkin didn't weigh near as much as last year's. I'm guessing it's because of the lack of rain.
If you can see in this pic, you'll notice past years' weights.
Also, there's always a butter sculpture. Here it is...completely out of butter. I actually don't really know what it is. If somebody local saw it, please interpret.
AND, the highlight (at least for Luke and Marc)....but first, a little background....
Many of you know that Marc really likes weather. It fascinates him. He also does daily temperature and precipitation readings from our home, and he reports them to the National Weather Service.
Marc's favorite local weather is Channel 12 -- our local CBS affiliate.
Marc has taught Luke to identify, by first name, all of the meteorologists on that station.
Channel 12 ALWAYS has a big spot at the State Fair.
So, we made a visit on our second night there.
Ross, the meteorologist, was there. Many of you locals know that Ross nearly always has his dog, Millie, with him. That evening at the State Fair was no exception.
Soooooo, here's what we saw.
Yep, we saw Ross and Millie.
Luke went right up to Ross...seriously, here's how the conversation went. And, if you know Luke, this will NOT surprise you.
Luke: "Hi Ross. What color's your lawnmower?"
Ross: "What color is my lawnmower?"
(At this point, I stepped in and told Ross that Luke is very obsessed with lawnmowers).
Ross: "My lawnmower is red and silver."
Luke: "How do you start it?"
Ross: "I have to pull it, and I like to mow too."
**This whole conversation made Luke's day as well as this mama's. It was cute to see a local celebrity really get into Luke's conversation about lawnmowers.
The funny thing is that I just checked Channel 12's website (I was going to link it to this post, but my linking is stinking tonight...I'm giving up on that task).
Anyways, on their website, it states that one of Ross' hobbies is mowing.
Check it out for yourself!
Here's the Friesen Family Meal Plan for this week....
Monday, September 26, 2011
Eating Pizza with Friends
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Marc -- Eating at work (had a dinner he needed to attend)
Sarah -- Eating at Mom 2 Mom at church
Luke -- Rummage at Home
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Chili Cheese Dogs
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Chicken Alfredo with Linguine....A Macaroni Grill meal
**This meal was on our plan last week. Last week, Marc had to spend one night out of town, unexpectedly, for work. So, we didn't get this meal eaten.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Beef Stroganoff
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Lunch: Rummage
Supper: ???? That evening, the Cloverton concert is at church....my parents are watching Luke....we'll figure out supper at that time.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Lunch -- Rummage
Supper -- Marc: Will be eating at the "Guys' Fried Night Part" at the Smith's house
Sarah & Luke: Will be eating out with our small group women and kids (location TBD)
*****
And now, if you missed my on our State Fair, visit, go look now. (It's two posts ago)....
For Part 2....I really don't have too many pics.
But, I wanted to share a couple of cool Kansas things.
As in probably other states as well, the prized pumpkin gets displayed. This year's pumpkin didn't weigh near as much as last year's. I'm guessing it's because of the lack of rain.
If you can see in this pic, you'll notice past years' weights.
Also, there's always a butter sculpture. Here it is...completely out of butter. I actually don't really know what it is. If somebody local saw it, please interpret.
AND, the highlight (at least for Luke and Marc)....but first, a little background....
Many of you know that Marc really likes weather. It fascinates him. He also does daily temperature and precipitation readings from our home, and he reports them to the National Weather Service.
Marc's favorite local weather is Channel 12 -- our local CBS affiliate.
Marc has taught Luke to identify, by first name, all of the meteorologists on that station.
Channel 12 ALWAYS has a big spot at the State Fair.
So, we made a visit on our second night there.
Ross, the meteorologist, was there. Many of you locals know that Ross nearly always has his dog, Millie, with him. That evening at the State Fair was no exception.
Soooooo, here's what we saw.
Yep, we saw Ross and Millie.
Luke went right up to Ross...seriously, here's how the conversation went. And, if you know Luke, this will NOT surprise you.
Luke: "Hi Ross. What color's your lawnmower?"
Ross: "What color is my lawnmower?"
(At this point, I stepped in and told Ross that Luke is very obsessed with lawnmowers).
Ross: "My lawnmower is red and silver."
Luke: "How do you start it?"
Ross: "I have to pull it, and I like to mow too."
**This whole conversation made Luke's day as well as this mama's. It was cute to see a local celebrity really get into Luke's conversation about lawnmowers.
The funny thing is that I just checked Channel 12's website (I was going to link it to this post, but my linking is stinking tonight...I'm giving up on that task).
Anyways, on their website, it states that one of Ross' hobbies is mowing.
Check it out for yourself!
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Happy 37th,Marc!!!!
Tomorrow (Sunday, September 25) is Marc's big 37th birthday! Let me be the first to publically wish him a Happy Birthday!
In honor of his birthday, I typed out 37 things about Marc.
The first 6 are the most important, listed in order of important.
The remaining 31, though important, aren't as important, and they're NOT listed in any particular order.
Here goes....perhaps you can learn a thing or two about Marc....
1. Marc is a Christian, and he strives to become more Christ-like each day I know him.
2. Marc is not a perfect husband and I am certainly NOT a perfect wife, but I love the fact that on many occasions, it’s been quite clear that God put us together…I feel that, most days, we balance each other out fairly well.
3. Marc is not a perfect father (and I’m not a perfect mother), but I do think that he is the best earthly father FOR Luke. Luke adores Marc, and Marc knows to and does look to our PERFECT Heavenly Father for guidance.
4. Marc is honest in all that he does.
5. Instead of complaining about his job, Marc chooses to see his job as his “mission field.” From what I can personally tell, he works his job like Colossians 3:23 commands. (And, just for the record, Marc does actually enjoy his job; I just really appreciate his attitude toward his job).
6. In previously mentioned job, Marc doesn’t just work to expand his career. He diligently keeps Luke and me in mind when making decisions about this job. Through this job, Marc is an excellent provider (not just in the monetary sense) to his family, thus allowing me to stay home full-time with Luke – a decision we feel is best for our family.
7. Marc runs a lot (it’s not a big secret). While sometimes, admittedly, the hours he spends running frustrate me, I truly appreciate the fact that he takes care of himself through exercise. I also really ADMIRE his dedication to the running sport. Here’s a little secret from my heart: On our first date, we talked a lot about running. Though I certainly didn’t and certainly still don’t understand all of the miles Marc runs, I respected his loyalty to it to the point of realizing (even on our first date) that Marc is a person of commitment.
8. Before Luke (and subsequent my leaving my job at International Dairy Queen), Marc was most supportive of my job and the travel that it required. He had NO problem accompanying me on a business trip to Hawaii. Seriously, though, Marc NEVER complained about my travel (I was the one who complained). He understood it was necessary for my job description.
9. Though Marc was raised by “older” parents (his dad was 50 and his mom was almost 42 when Marc was born) AND he was/is an only child, Marc does not live his life complaining about the life circumstance that wasn’t ideal in the “world” we live in where everything has to appear perfect.
10. Marc shows a tremendous amount of respect to his previously mentioned parents – even when he and I definitely don’t understand their reasoning for some of the things they do.
11. As a child, Marc took organ lessons because his mom wanted him to. We joke about it OFTEN now, and no, I would not deem Marc as musically gifted (he has other gifts instead).
12. During childhood, Marc and his mother were making a decision as to whether Marc should be in Boy Scouts for 4-H. His mother said he needed to be in 4-H because it was less physically demanding (Marc’s mom is not one to get much exercise). This truly is comical now because of Marc’s intense running hobby.
13. Marc knew from a young age he wanted to be an accountant. He’s stuck to that.
14. Marc has earned a Black Belt in Taekwondo.
15. Marc will most likely, within the next year, reach his 100th marathon/ultra-marathon in running. We might have to have a party for that one. You can believe that food and Pepsi will be involved.
16. Marc is a STAUNCH Republican. If you hang around him for any length of time, you’ll know that by his subtle or sometimes not so subtle comments. Because of this fact, he and my dad and my brother nearly ALWAYS have something to talk about at the dinner table. Fortunately, they’re all on the same page. There are no arguments.
17. Marc, I think, is more tender-hearted and more sentimental than I am.
18. Marc really enjoys an ice cold Pepsi. He’s not afraid to ask somebody for one, and he’s been most appreciative when various friends have brought him Pepsi when a) I was in the hospital after surgery in July, 2007, AND b) Luke was born in July, 2008. He shares his love of Pepsi with my dad – also a Pepsi lover – as well as various “Pepsi Friends.”
19. Marc likes it most when I cook simple meals…he needs nothing fancy. He’s very content with Sloppy Joes and Tater Tots.
20. Marc enjoys traveling AS MUCH as I do. Pre-Luke, we did a fair amount of traveling. Though we’re currently on hiatus from BIG trips (because of a small child), we know we will take BIG trips again someday. In fact, we have a world map at our house with “goal” places to visit in our lifetime.
21. Marc does not drink coffee at all (I think it’s a rebellion from his parents’ addiction to coffee), but he really enjoys the smell of coffee. So, he doesn’t mind it when I make coffee each morning.
22. Marc’s not what I would call a big reader. However, he does strive to read in his Bible daily. And, he does read what’s needed for our small group’s Bible studies/Sunday School. And, I’ve witness him reading a political book or two. And, I don’t want to forget that he does read the “Wall Street Journal” most days.
23. Marc is an early morning person (it’s when he runs). It’s hard to have a serious conversation with him at 10:00 P.M. I’m just the opposite. It, at times, has been a problem in our 7 years of marriage. Our communication differences based on our circadian rhythms is something we have worked on, are working on, and probably will continue to work on the rest of our lives.
24. Marc stinks sometimes, and I mean that LOVINGLY. And, I’m not talking about stinking from sweat while running. I’m talking about stink that comes from so many guys…I personally think it’s rude and uncouth. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, message me. But, many of you reading probably have husbands who do similar things. So, you know what I’m talking about.
25. Many know that Luke has an intense LOVE of lawnmowers at this stage of his little life. Marc has been willing, many times, to take Luke outside to get the lawnmower out of the shed and start it. It’s been father/son bonding time. However, I also appreciate that he’s able to sometimes say “No” to Luke, and Luke has had to learn that “No” means “No.” Lawnmowers simply don’t need to run each day.
26. 2 ½ months after Marc and I met, we went on our first trip together – so Marc could run in a race he planned on running before we met. We went to Toronto (Canada). He paid for everything. I didn’t know it at the time, but he put that trip on a credit card that was not fully paid off by the time we got married a year later. Ultimately, I ended up paying for some of that trip when we joined our checking accounts. We LAUGH pretty hard about it now, and we also know now that goes completely against our money management philosophy now (putting things on credit cards -- with the exception of Marc’s business travel -- is against our policy).
27. A couple of months before we got married, Marc handed me his income tax papers and asked me to drop them in the mail. I said, “Sure.” He kept on by saying, “Oh, if you could write a check for that, it would be great.” The income tax owed by Marc that year was $800. He cleverly got that paid before we were married and had joined accounts. This is something we now completely LAUGH about now.
28. Marc wants to get a dog in a couple of years for Luke….we’ll see what this will entail.
29. At least once a month and sometimes more, Marc does the lights for our church services.
30. This year, Marc is head of finance for our Judgement House production at church. I think he’s learned a lot about some of the work that goes on “behind the scenes” for Judgement House.
31. Marc is 1 ½ years older than I am. He graduated from both high school and college one year ahead of me.
32. Before we knew each other, we had been at 2 weddings, one wedding rehearsal dinner, a New Year’s Eve Party, and many running races at the same time. We didn’t know it, and we laugh now at how we missed each other at those events. I remind him that one reason was because at many of those events, he was with his former girlfriend.
33. Marc and I look more alike than my brother and I do. Since we both have Mennonite backgrounds, I’m scared that one day we’ll figure out we’re related.
34. Many people think that Marc must eat healthy because he runs so much. Marc doesn’t really take health into consideration when picking foods or making suggestions for meals I make.
35. Marc is a very neat person….with the exception of his clothes. I often find piles of clothes in our bedroom, and they’re not my clothes.
36. Marc’s favorite sitcom is “Seinfeld.” He can quote nearly any episode and can relate nearly any life event to a “Seinfeld” episode.
37. Marc would someday like to bike across the state of Kansas. I wouldn’t be surprised if he bikes across the USA sometime.
In honor of his birthday, I typed out 37 things about Marc.
The first 6 are the most important, listed in order of important.
The remaining 31, though important, aren't as important, and they're NOT listed in any particular order.
Here goes....perhaps you can learn a thing or two about Marc....
1. Marc is a Christian, and he strives to become more Christ-like each day I know him.
2. Marc is not a perfect husband and I am certainly NOT a perfect wife, but I love the fact that on many occasions, it’s been quite clear that God put us together…I feel that, most days, we balance each other out fairly well.
3. Marc is not a perfect father (and I’m not a perfect mother), but I do think that he is the best earthly father FOR Luke. Luke adores Marc, and Marc knows to and does look to our PERFECT Heavenly Father for guidance.
4. Marc is honest in all that he does.
5. Instead of complaining about his job, Marc chooses to see his job as his “mission field.” From what I can personally tell, he works his job like Colossians 3:23 commands. (And, just for the record, Marc does actually enjoy his job; I just really appreciate his attitude toward his job).
6. In previously mentioned job, Marc doesn’t just work to expand his career. He diligently keeps Luke and me in mind when making decisions about this job. Through this job, Marc is an excellent provider (not just in the monetary sense) to his family, thus allowing me to stay home full-time with Luke – a decision we feel is best for our family.
7. Marc runs a lot (it’s not a big secret). While sometimes, admittedly, the hours he spends running frustrate me, I truly appreciate the fact that he takes care of himself through exercise. I also really ADMIRE his dedication to the running sport. Here’s a little secret from my heart: On our first date, we talked a lot about running. Though I certainly didn’t and certainly still don’t understand all of the miles Marc runs, I respected his loyalty to it to the point of realizing (even on our first date) that Marc is a person of commitment.
8. Before Luke (and subsequent my leaving my job at International Dairy Queen), Marc was most supportive of my job and the travel that it required. He had NO problem accompanying me on a business trip to Hawaii. Seriously, though, Marc NEVER complained about my travel (I was the one who complained). He understood it was necessary for my job description.
9. Though Marc was raised by “older” parents (his dad was 50 and his mom was almost 42 when Marc was born) AND he was/is an only child, Marc does not live his life complaining about the life circumstance that wasn’t ideal in the “world” we live in where everything has to appear perfect.
10. Marc shows a tremendous amount of respect to his previously mentioned parents – even when he and I definitely don’t understand their reasoning for some of the things they do.
11. As a child, Marc took organ lessons because his mom wanted him to. We joke about it OFTEN now, and no, I would not deem Marc as musically gifted (he has other gifts instead).
12. During childhood, Marc and his mother were making a decision as to whether Marc should be in Boy Scouts for 4-H. His mother said he needed to be in 4-H because it was less physically demanding (Marc’s mom is not one to get much exercise). This truly is comical now because of Marc’s intense running hobby.
13. Marc knew from a young age he wanted to be an accountant. He’s stuck to that.
14. Marc has earned a Black Belt in Taekwondo.
15. Marc will most likely, within the next year, reach his 100th marathon/ultra-marathon in running. We might have to have a party for that one. You can believe that food and Pepsi will be involved.
16. Marc is a STAUNCH Republican. If you hang around him for any length of time, you’ll know that by his subtle or sometimes not so subtle comments. Because of this fact, he and my dad and my brother nearly ALWAYS have something to talk about at the dinner table. Fortunately, they’re all on the same page. There are no arguments.
17. Marc, I think, is more tender-hearted and more sentimental than I am.
18. Marc really enjoys an ice cold Pepsi. He’s not afraid to ask somebody for one, and he’s been most appreciative when various friends have brought him Pepsi when a) I was in the hospital after surgery in July, 2007, AND b) Luke was born in July, 2008. He shares his love of Pepsi with my dad – also a Pepsi lover – as well as various “Pepsi Friends.”
19. Marc likes it most when I cook simple meals…he needs nothing fancy. He’s very content with Sloppy Joes and Tater Tots.
20. Marc enjoys traveling AS MUCH as I do. Pre-Luke, we did a fair amount of traveling. Though we’re currently on hiatus from BIG trips (because of a small child), we know we will take BIG trips again someday. In fact, we have a world map at our house with “goal” places to visit in our lifetime.
21. Marc does not drink coffee at all (I think it’s a rebellion from his parents’ addiction to coffee), but he really enjoys the smell of coffee. So, he doesn’t mind it when I make coffee each morning.
22. Marc’s not what I would call a big reader. However, he does strive to read in his Bible daily. And, he does read what’s needed for our small group’s Bible studies/Sunday School. And, I’ve witness him reading a political book or two. And, I don’t want to forget that he does read the “Wall Street Journal” most days.
23. Marc is an early morning person (it’s when he runs). It’s hard to have a serious conversation with him at 10:00 P.M. I’m just the opposite. It, at times, has been a problem in our 7 years of marriage. Our communication differences based on our circadian rhythms is something we have worked on, are working on, and probably will continue to work on the rest of our lives.
24. Marc stinks sometimes, and I mean that LOVINGLY. And, I’m not talking about stinking from sweat while running. I’m talking about stink that comes from so many guys…I personally think it’s rude and uncouth. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, message me. But, many of you reading probably have husbands who do similar things. So, you know what I’m talking about.
25. Many know that Luke has an intense LOVE of lawnmowers at this stage of his little life. Marc has been willing, many times, to take Luke outside to get the lawnmower out of the shed and start it. It’s been father/son bonding time. However, I also appreciate that he’s able to sometimes say “No” to Luke, and Luke has had to learn that “No” means “No.” Lawnmowers simply don’t need to run each day.
26. 2 ½ months after Marc and I met, we went on our first trip together – so Marc could run in a race he planned on running before we met. We went to Toronto (Canada). He paid for everything. I didn’t know it at the time, but he put that trip on a credit card that was not fully paid off by the time we got married a year later. Ultimately, I ended up paying for some of that trip when we joined our checking accounts. We LAUGH pretty hard about it now, and we also know now that goes completely against our money management philosophy now (putting things on credit cards -- with the exception of Marc’s business travel -- is against our policy).
27. A couple of months before we got married, Marc handed me his income tax papers and asked me to drop them in the mail. I said, “Sure.” He kept on by saying, “Oh, if you could write a check for that, it would be great.” The income tax owed by Marc that year was $800. He cleverly got that paid before we were married and had joined accounts. This is something we now completely LAUGH about now.
28. Marc wants to get a dog in a couple of years for Luke….we’ll see what this will entail.
29. At least once a month and sometimes more, Marc does the lights for our church services.
30. This year, Marc is head of finance for our Judgement House production at church. I think he’s learned a lot about some of the work that goes on “behind the scenes” for Judgement House.
31. Marc is 1 ½ years older than I am. He graduated from both high school and college one year ahead of me.
32. Before we knew each other, we had been at 2 weddings, one wedding rehearsal dinner, a New Year’s Eve Party, and many running races at the same time. We didn’t know it, and we laugh now at how we missed each other at those events. I remind him that one reason was because at many of those events, he was with his former girlfriend.
33. Marc and I look more alike than my brother and I do. Since we both have Mennonite backgrounds, I’m scared that one day we’ll figure out we’re related.
34. Many people think that Marc must eat healthy because he runs so much. Marc doesn’t really take health into consideration when picking foods or making suggestions for meals I make.
35. Marc is a very neat person….with the exception of his clothes. I often find piles of clothes in our bedroom, and they’re not my clothes.
36. Marc’s favorite sitcom is “Seinfeld.” He can quote nearly any episode and can relate nearly any life event to a “Seinfeld” episode.
37. Marc would someday like to bike across the state of Kansas. I wouldn’t be surprised if he bikes across the USA sometime.
Friday, September 23, 2011
State Fair -- Part 1....
Per our usual "yearly calendar," we attended the Kansas State Fair this year.
A change this year, however, was that we actually we there on two different evenings. We're NOT ones to go and spend the whole day at that fair. Perhaps we will do things like that when Luke's older (we're sticklers for his nap...it ultimately keeps us all more sane).
(It's a long story why we went twice....I won't subject you blog readers to the story).
The first evening we went (Monday, September 12), our little family of 3 went by ourselves. The second evening we went (Friday, September 16), my parents joined our little family of 3.
Honestly, for the most part, we ate supper (both nights), walked through the buildings with exhibits (both nights), and ultimately, spent most of our time looking at tractors, combines, and LAWNMOWERS. (This would be mostly for Luke, though I know Marc didn't mind)....
**Luke saw the rides, and he's been on rides in the past. However, since he doesn't really recall what they're all about and he clearly expressed more interest in seeing tractors and lawnmowers, we were able to escape the fair 2 times WITHOUT spending a dime on rides :) (Yay us)!
Soooooo, for Part 1 of our fair visits, I'm going to post mainly pics of Luke, Luke and Marc, and Luke and Papa Andover (what Luke calls my dad)....
(And, you'll notice two VERY different outfits on Luke -- the first evening we were there, it was HOT -- high in the upper 90s that day....the second evening, it was misty, rainy, and chilly -- NOT highs in the 90s that day)....
Part 2 of our State Fair visit will have fewer pictures, and it will be posted (hopefully) sometime next week....
A change this year, however, was that we actually we there on two different evenings. We're NOT ones to go and spend the whole day at that fair. Perhaps we will do things like that when Luke's older (we're sticklers for his nap...it ultimately keeps us all more sane).
(It's a long story why we went twice....I won't subject you blog readers to the story).
The first evening we went (Monday, September 12), our little family of 3 went by ourselves. The second evening we went (Friday, September 16), my parents joined our little family of 3.
Honestly, for the most part, we ate supper (both nights), walked through the buildings with exhibits (both nights), and ultimately, spent most of our time looking at tractors, combines, and LAWNMOWERS. (This would be mostly for Luke, though I know Marc didn't mind)....
**Luke saw the rides, and he's been on rides in the past. However, since he doesn't really recall what they're all about and he clearly expressed more interest in seeing tractors and lawnmowers, we were able to escape the fair 2 times WITHOUT spending a dime on rides :) (Yay us)!
Soooooo, for Part 1 of our fair visits, I'm going to post mainly pics of Luke, Luke and Marc, and Luke and Papa Andover (what Luke calls my dad)....
(And, you'll notice two VERY different outfits on Luke -- the first evening we were there, it was HOT -- high in the upper 90s that day....the second evening, it was misty, rainy, and chilly -- NOT highs in the 90s that day)....
Part 2 of our State Fair visit will have fewer pictures, and it will be posted (hopefully) sometime next week....
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