Gramma Visit

Adam's mom got to visit for 3 weeks to take care of things while I recovered from the c-section. It was such a blessing! She cooked and took care of Caleb and Hannah. It was wonderful. Because of it, I think this recovery was quicker than with the other two.

Movie Date

I meant to put this up a while ago, but things have been, shall we say, busy in our house for the past couple months. On October 20th, Caleb and I went on a date to the Safari Movie Theater in Moorhead to see Ratatouille. It was Caleb's first time seeing a movie in a theater.

I think his highlight was the video games in the lobby. There was a game involving pistols, one involving rifles, and the one pictured above. Caleb loves guns a bit too much.

Timothy's Baptism

November 4th was Timothy's baptism. It was at Hope Lutheran Brethren Church in Barnesville, MN where we have been attending for the past four years. Pastor Rich Iverson led the service.

Janice and Steve Flude are Timothy's godparents. Pastor Rich made a joke about their commitment being that they didn't fly in from Albertville, France for the baptism. We all laughed. We were glad that Adam's mom was able to be there. Hannah stole the show by talking (rather loudly) while Pastor Rich was talking.

New Ekelund

Welcome, Timothy Thatcher Ekelund!!
Born at 8:06 AM
7 lbs 8 ozs
20 inches long

Belly Pics

Ok, you sick people. Here they are. I am 37 weeks in these pictures. By the way, stretch marks are beautiful (at least that's what I tell myself to make myself feel better).

Anyway, can you tell who is going to be jealous in 10 days?

Some Specks of Joy

So, I have been praying lately that I will see specks of joy amidst my seemingly depressing state. I have been getting overwhelmed lately with taking care of two active toddlers and being HUGE (I will get some belly pics up before it's gone) and tired all the time.

Here is one of the specks...
Hannah, Caleb, and I have been sick with a cold for a week now. We are on the upswing finally, but for a while it was torture. We ran the gamut of symptoms. I won't relay the gory details. Caleb and I get asthmatic coughs with colds/allergies. So, sleeping is difficult. Anyway, one night I was so sick and laying on the couch. Caleb came over and prayed for me that I would get better soon. Then, he prayed for himself. Lord, thank You for being Caleb's ever present help in trouble.

On a side note, a couple days before he prayed that I would have 10 more babies. Lord, You can ignore that one. :)

Caleb's 1st & 2nd Day of Preschool

Well, the day has arrived that I must give up control of my little boy.

Monday was orientation at Eisenhower school here in Fergus. Mom & Caleb went to meet the teacher, find his locker, check out the classroom toys & snacks, and ride the school bus around the block. When we got there, we learned that there was another student moving to the area that was 3. So, since Caleb was the oldest 3-yr old, they asked if he would be willing to go to the 4-yr old room. That meant that he would be the youngest AND go to school 4 days a week instead of 2. I had to call Adam on that front because I just got over the fact that he would be gone for 2 mornings a week. Adam said we should go for it.

Dreaded Tuesday arrived. It would be the first day of school without mom. We got up at 7am to get ready. Caleb, Hannah, and I piled into the minivan wiping the sleep out of our eyes...ok that was me. I was worried that Caleb would cry, and in turn, make me cry and not want to leave him. We went into the school. Caleb found his locker and showed it to Hannah. We went into the classroom where Caleb signed it, and he said, "Bye, Mom." He gave me a kiss and went to play with puzzles. Honestly, that was the perfect drop off. I didn't cry...maybe I was too tired to know what was going on.

The bus was scheduled to drop him off around 12:20pm. I went out on the step at 12:05 with my camera. My big boy arrived home, and the first thing out of his mouth before he even got off the bus was, "MOM! I had the most fun day at school today!!"

Praise the Lord! I made it...I mean, Caleb made it.

My Little Magician

Ok. I am gonna start writing these in a blog because I am too lazy to write them other places.

Another Calebism (as we call it) occurred today. When asked what he wants to be when he grows up, he says, "Chef, firefighter, doctor, builder, magician, and musician." Yay maybe he won't have time to get married and leave his mother. What did I say that out loud?

Anyway, he comes up to me and says with a dejected look and a sigh, "Mom, I am not a good magician." I said, "Don't worry sweetie. Sometimes people have to go to school to learn all those tricks." He said, "I just don't know how to "majish."

That's my 3 1/2 year old...conjugating made up verbs like his dad. "Morpholate" Greek sem students?

HappySad Day

Today is a HappySad day. If I could deny my selfish nature, it would be a happy day, but as Paul says, it will always be a part of us.

Today the Flude family leaves to start their exciting missionary adventure. They have an awesome story about how the Lord called them to be missionaries. You should ask them about it. Anyway, they are leaving for France tomorrow for language study, and then they will be heading to Chad, Africa to serve Him overseas in the Welcome Center in Ndjamena.

I am happy because it has been a long journey for them to actually get started. They went through the process of applying for visas this summer, and didn't get them until yesterday. God gives us what we need when we need it. It may be frustrating for us because we don't see the whole picture, but God does, and He is in control anyway. I am happy because I know what it is like to feel like you are right where God wants you. I am happy they get to feel that comfort and joy.

I am sad because I am selfish. They are our closest friends here in Fergus at the moment. Going to school somewhere is tough because friends come and go. And although we are permenantly bonded in Christ, and we will see them in heaven, it is like a death in the family. The relationship changes like you wish it wouldn't.

I will miss Steve's engineer (short and to the point) emails (although I am sure those will continue). I will miss how jealous I am of how laid back, pretty, AND supermom Janice is. I will miss how beautiful Alex is while reading a book or sketching in a corner. I will miss calling Payton "Master Flude" and getting our lawn mowed. I will miss Gracey being a chick I could totally hang out with even though we are 19 years apart, and what a great wife and mom she will be one day. I will miss Emma's athleticism and toughness. She reminds me of myself when I was her age. I will miss the amazing drawing talent of Keturah, and how cool I think her name is. I will miss Liddy's smile. Here is a girl that can cheer you up no matter how mad or sad you might be. I will miss Ethan because he was such a great friend for Caleb. Caleb had someone to look up to that was tons of fun. I will miss Tawnee because I have always wanted a red haired little girl. I hope she forgives Caleb for the Lincoln Log scar on her forehead when she gets older. I also hope she is an Ekelund some day. I will miss Esther's adorable unicorn horn on the top of her head, and here is another Flude with a gorgeous smile.

We love you guys a lot, and hope we see you before we get to heaven.

Surprise Trip to Duluth

Adam had a vacation week July 23rd, and I thought we were just going to enjoy having him home in the evenings, but on Monday morning at 9am he said, "Priceline a hotel in Duluth. We are taking a surprise vacation."

I have been surprised only twice in my life before this; one was a surprise party in high school and two was Adam's proposal. We had never been to Duluth, but wanted to see something new. We stayed two nights at a less than stellar hotel, but all we needed was a good swimming pool for the kids. Who cares if the moulding on the door separating the adjacent room was cracked and falling off? Who cares if my kids get splintered or we get slaughtered in our sleep? :)

We walked in the Leif Erickson Rose Garden, down to the shore of Lake Superior, and to the Great Lakes Aquarium in Duluth. It was very fun. I am going to try to post some pictures later. I don't have them on the computer yet.