Lake Effect

We have been getting snow and it is lovely. We haven't had more than an inch actually accumulate at one time, but it is so lovely to watch it fall. In the last week I saw more snow than I did during the whole 5 years we lived in Virginia! Ethan's reaction the first morning he saw snow was great: "Daddy! They're flying around and chasing each other!" and we have happily watched them chase each other ever since. There have been breaks, it is sunny right now, but we have seen some each day this week. There is very little laying on the ground right now.

I figured it was time for a bit of an update. Jeremiah still enjoys his job very much and keeps plenty busy. He looks forward to Monday and is a little (appropriately little) sad to leave his projects and come home for the weekend. We are gradually working on projects around the house. Two children really inhibit the speed of accomplishing house projects. Right now we are working on painting the trim in our living room white (it was deep burgundy). 

Ethan and Hans are as busy as ever. Ethan still loves his diggers, tractors and tree trimmers. He likes to pretend he is a tree chipper when he is eating. He puts food in his mouth and sticks his arm out across the table as the chute that spits the chips into the truck. He has a VERY creative imagination. He has found a new joy in cutting and gluing paper. 

Hans is progressing towards walking. He will walk all over the house holding on to someones hand and occasionally he will take a step in between objects. He still a very happy little trooper. He is working on words too. He has his own version of a lot of words and he will work at imitating many different things. Nothing besides ma-ma and da-da is easy to recognize though. 

I am doing good. Bit by bit I am learning to know people. One of the moms from our church started a play group at her house and I have been going to that. It has been a great way to learn to know some of the other moms in our church. I am also remembering to value the great friends I have via phone and email. Thank you all for your friendship. It is a very valuable thing. I have started several crafty projects for the long winter months, but I fear they will be put on hold through the holiday season, which I intend to enjoy thoroughly and begin early!! i love our house and I am getting more attached to it as it feels more and more like home. It is a fun home and good place for raising a family. 

The view from my front window

wrestling and tickling!

Happenings

Hans, who continues to grow and learn but is not yet walking. 

Ethan got some play dough recently (thank you Sarah Sauder!) and he really enjoys it. 

We also got Ethan some paper and a scissors. He loves to cut things out and then glue them together, with supervision of course! This is a tractor trailer truck. 

Ethan with his creation.

Showing off his scissor skills. He is learning how to hold it in one hand to cut. I love the face!! 

Hans, who climbs up the stairs quite well (hence the gate) but does not know how to come back down, looking wistfully after some one who went up into the forbidden regions of the upstairs!! He will sit at the bottom and fuss sometimes when he has been left behind. 

today

It is a gray Saturday here. I needed some blue skies and sunshine. I thought maybe someone else might too. This was taken in the Chesapeake Bay (literally!) a year or so ago. I love it. Mmmm, look at that sparkling water!! Want to go for a swim?? 

If you really need some sunshine, click on the picture and it will open up full size. Have a happy weekend!

The Pause That Refreshes

I must say I am thankful we have elected a new president. I haven't even had to put up with all the TV ads (seeing as we don't have a TV) but there as been so much emphasis on division that now it is nice to get on with the program. I am also thankful that the leader of our nation will change in 3 months or so and it will be peaceful. I am thankful that no one will run us out of our neighborhood on finding who we did or didn't vote for. America is a good land. 

As I was mopping the floor this afternoon I took a couple of moments to ponder the historical moment we are a part of. Our nation has just elected an African American man to the highest office in the land. There is a deep sense of satisfaction that swells up within me when I think about this. To think that in a land where slavery on the basis of color ruled less than 150 years ago, Barack Obama will now be sworn in as its leader. It is a sobering moment. Sobering that it took so long;  and sobering that there was so much injustice and innocent blood shed in the process. It is also exciting. Exciting because there are good things happening in America. Just think, people of all creeds and colors joined together to elect Obama. The ability to vote was not based on the color of ones skin! Yes, good has been done here! Good in the sense that such a degree of reconciliation and freedom exists in America today. 

I do not personally agree with all of Mr. Obama's opinions ( I did not agree with all of Mr. McCain's opinions either) however, now that he is the president elect I intend to support and respect  him in that role.