Prayer Request

I usually don't post prayer requests, but now that I've been through 2 pregnancies that went really well I my heart is aching for an unborn baby and the family. Yes, a couple about our age is pregnant with their 2nd baby, however, she is currently on bedrest as she is 2 cm dilated and 50% effaced among a few other items that don't add up to being good at all when being only 29 weeks pregnant! So please keep this family in your prayers, that God is only giving them a bumpy road and that the baby will wait to be born.

A variety

Miriam taking an interest in the Berenstain Bears.


Joshua talking on the phone to his aunt Tessa (for real!).


Our hair stylists. Mallory doing her mommy's hair and Joshua holding onto some of his hair.



Miriam being silly one day... She climbed in, turned around and came back out all on her own. It was a sight to see!

"Tub" time

Our kids love baths. I actually just gave them one this morning (late morning). Here's a couple bath time pictures from a while ago.

Mr. Helper getting Miriam's hair wet to wash it. One problem... she's not in the tub!


Mommy, Joshua got me wet! Can I get in yet?

Costumes

Here is my post about Halloween... my attempt at picture with the kids in costumes... hmm didn't work so well. The 31st we were in Mankato for the night and part of saturday so that morning I dressed them up and tried to get a good picture of them, but it didn't quite work as planned. We went to Mankato for our first PALS meeting, it's kind of a continuing ed time and support group for Pastors & their family just out of the Seminary. We have the option to be a part of it and those of us who join can be in it for the 1st 3 yrs out of Sem. Since it was the first time meeting Adam & I didn't know how much sitting was going to be required of Joshua and the group had decided to try it the first time without a babysitter (there are other little kids) so we chose to leave Joshua at with friends where he could run, jump, play and farm all he wanted plus lots of attention. Here are my attempts at the costume pictures.. we borrowed a duck costume from my friend Becky for Joshua, but he was a little too tall for it and it didn't fit very well. Joshua didn't want to have the costume on at all, he kept trying to get it off.

9 Month Baby Girl

Here are some pictures of Miriam and Joshua playing on her 9 month birthday, October, 30th. At her 9 mo. check-up she was 17 lbs 3 oz (25%), 27 1/4 inch long (50%) and her head measured 17 cent. (25%). Yeah, we've got a little squirt, but we've already been over this. She's a crawling pro and maybe a month ago (I can't remember anymore) started walking along furniture. She has her two bottom front teeth and just on sunday I noticed her top left lateral incisor has come through (a "fang" tooth). So she'll look kinda silly for awhile until her top front teeth come in.

More of Joshua the Helper

Whenever I get the Puffs out for Miriam Joshua insists on wanting to feed her. She's fine with it as long as she gets fed, and besides she just LOVES her big brother. Brenda was over yesterday and thought Miriam might be small like she is because she burns all her energy chasing Joshua around. I guess that could be part of it.








Joshua offered to rock his daddy...

A quick trip to G'ma & G'pa Hanson's

Adam was asked to preach for Mission Festival (and conduct the whole church service) on October 19th at the church he was baptized at, attended through second grade and the church his dad first served as Pastor, so we went up there to the rural Lidgerwood area and had a good time. Since we were up that far anyway and Adam has mondays off, we decided that after church and dinner to make the rest of the trip up to Hillsboro for a little visit. The kids not only got to see grandma & grandpa, but we met Tessa in Fargo for supper Sunday night so she could see them Joshua & Miriam too! Here are a few pictures from that weekend.

Miriam wasn't afraid of Buddy at all, she went and sat right next to him.


"Where you going Buddy?"


Helping grandma put a corn cob up for the squirrels.


Feeding the birds with grandma.


Trying out the tricycle with grandma's help.


Visiting grandpa in the field... after being in the tractor with grandpa Joshua decided he wants a tractor too.

Joshua likes feeding Miriam, but I only let him with Puffs or cheerios.


Joshua wanted to hold Miriam, doesn't look like she was quite for it that time.


Sneaking in some time with Joshua's football.


The beginnings of a toothy smile... can you see one of her two bottom teeth?

Sugar Cookies

Every once in awhile I talk about my friend Becky and her kids Brynn & Sophie, well I babysat both girls one morning while she was at a funeral and decided something fun for Brynn & Joshua to pass the time would be to decorate cut out sugar cookies (inspired by my sister). I pretty much had the dough ready when they got here, Sophie & Miriam both took naps while we made cookies. I let them each decorate (with sprinkles) a couple pans each and I frosted the rest later. It was fun, except that Joshua wanted to help with everything, I almost needed another person to help keep him at his station... not to mention keeping him from moving or eating the cut out dough on the pans before they made it to the oven!

Joshua decorating his pan of cookies


Brynn creating her masterpiece pan of cookies

8 months old


Having a snack


Looking cute in this dress


Being silly


Not one but two dishwasher helpers!

On our way back from Fort Wayne we stopped in Moline, IL and decided since we were right there to take some time and check out some John Deere. After finally finding the Headquarters we decided they need better signs for people like us who had never been there before. Here are a few pictures from that.

Fort Wayne trip

Just after our trip to the lake we drove out to Fort Wayne, IN to visit G'ma & G'pa Harvala after they just relocated to the Seminary there (this time mainly to teach, not as much to learn). Here are a few pictures from our stay there. Joshua & Miriam did really well traveling, the key is when you stop somewhere it's to do EVERYTHING - make sure the gas tank is full, feed everyone and change the diapers/use the bathroom, then get back on the road again!

Visiting Grandpa in his dorm room office - Joshua was helping him... with something.


Feeding the ducks at the seminary duck pond.




Playing under the table.




Getting a piano lesson from grandma.

Our vacation at the lake

At the end of August we took some vacation time, spent a week at the family lake cabin on Big McDonald lake (MN)and then went out to Fort Wayne, IN to G'ma & G'pa Harvala at their new house on campus at the seminary. Here are lake pictures, Fort Wayne pictures are yet to come.

Taking some time to see Phelps Mill, an old flour mill in Minnesota.


Adam, Joshua fishing off the dock. Grandpa Hanson helping Joshua


Joshua's 1st fish!


The line's back in the water, let's try for another fish.


Adam untangling the line caught in the reeds


Adam and Joshua went fishing out in the boat and came back with supper in the live well!


Miriam trying to get into the excersaucer


G'pa Hanson would be proud.. Joshua ate the last of the Kuchen like a piece of pizza!