Where is Spring?

So I am sure many Minnesota bloggers have been blogging this same message, but it is really cold here. Wow! As I am typing this, it is -26 F with a wind chill of -45 F. I think this is a record for the Ekelund family. I can't remember living here for the past 4 years when it has been this cold. I haven't ventured out of the house in three days. Adam has taken Caleb to school though. Thankfully we have an engine block heater on one of the cars. We aren't even attempting to start the other one.

This is one of my favorite things...

I am humming the song from Sound of Music right now.

Caleb's Birthday

That's right my big boy is 4!! Happy Birthday, Bug!

We had the Paulson, Pribbenow, and Taguchi families over to celebrate. We played Thomas the Tank Engine DVD Bingo (thanks, Nana!) and had chocolate and white cupcakes. The cake in the video was made with the leftover cake mix.

Christmas Eve 2007

As mentioned in my letter, Timothy was asked to be Baby Jesus in the live nativity program at Pioneer Retirement Community.

Adam and I sang Mary Did You Know during the program as well.

Christmas Letter 2007

So, this is the first year I will put this letter in our blog. That way the environment smiles and you don’t have to read a lengthy letter if you don’t want to. You can just look at our beautiful faces.

Adam continues to work at UPS driving and in the warehouse, as well as a CNA at Pioneer Retirement Community. He took this fall semester off from seminary because he didn’t have any more fall classes. This enabled him to work more at Pioneer, and he loves it. He has been helping with the Best Age program which is a voluntary exercise program for the residents. Because he’s been working there more often, he has become more involved in community life. He volunteered us to sing, and Timothy to play baby Jesus in their Christmas program. He has also picked up another preaching Sunday at Riverview Assisted Living. Every 4th Sunday, he preaches to the residents that can’t make it out to a service. On a sad note, we said goodbye to our church family at Hope Lutheran Brethren Church in Barnesville. We will really miss worshipping there with our friends. It became difficult for our growing family to travel out to Hope, so we are currently looking for a church family closer to home.

I (Rebekah) have become a mommy to three as of October 29th. It is definitely busier, but I so enjoy staying home with the kids. It is so fun to watch and cheer on the milestones each of them go through. I also just finished teaching my 4th semester of chemistry online for MSCTC. This year they changed my course to a more basic (non major) class with a laboratory. How do I do a lab online? I have a virtual lab program on the web that the students complete. It was really fun adding that to the development of the course. I am still involved with the leadership of the Seminary Women’s group. We had a fun time at the SWEET retreat at Inspiration Point Bible Camp this past September and are planning a low-key sleepover at a lake house in January.

Caleb began preschool this year. He goes to Eisenhower School right down the street four mornings a week. It is a great time for him to be with friends, go on field trips, and play outside. He will turn four on January 7th, and his vocabulary is increasing exponentially. He said that seeing Santa at Elbow Lake this year was “spectacular” and “stupendous.” That’s my boy!

Hannah is 1 ½ and is increasing her vocab too! I always like writing down my kids’ “Primers.”
Blaleb or Baleb = Caleb
Timeeth = Timothy

Orser = Orange
Mallow = Marshmallow
Bursch Teeth = Can I brush my teeth, Mommy?
She is loves to put her blankie on her head and be “Mary” and push her doll around in the stroller. She is learning how to be a big sister. She alerts me when Timothy is crying, and she NEVER lets the pacifier hit the floor when he spits it out.

On October 29th, we welcomed Timothy Thatcher Ekelund into our family. He was 7lbs 8ozs of love. He is growing like a weed and is cooing and smiling at the moment (my favorite stage to date). He is doing everything he can to try to keep up with his siblings.

We have a Christmas tradition that we started when Caleb was almost one to put certain ornaments on the Christmas tree on the evenings before Christmas. They were given to us by Adam’s mom and are FamilyLife’s Adorenaments. Each ornament is a picture of one of the names of Jesus along with a Scripture verse where the name is found. I haven’t earmarked a favorite yet, but one of them is a crown. The name of Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords, and the verse is I Timothy 6:15. “He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords… It is amazing to me that the King of kings came to us as a vulnerable baby; to live a perfect and blameless life; to die taking all our sins upon Him; and to rise again triumphant over death so that we could spend eternity with Him if we accept his free gift. Praise be to God for His wonderful gift! May the King of kings and Lord of lords reign in your hearts this Christmas and coming year!

Love,

Rebekah Adam Caleb Hannah Timothy

Snow Fun

Caleb got to spend some time in the snow with Daddy last week. We got two storms that dumped about 5 inches each! The sled is from the Fludes. He's my little angel.

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