thrifty acres

its been a couple years, but its time once again to get a real live summer job. the past couple summers i've been able to help diana's mom and david with a bunch of fix-up jobs and stuff.  this year though, we decided that i needed to apply to a few places for a summer job.  i filled in a few resume's figuring that nothing would really pan out, but a few days after filling one one, i got a call back from meijer!  over the next week or so i stopped in for a couple interviews and training, and now i work at meijer.  i've been keeping busy working three-four days a week stocking  in the grocery department.  its been good so far, i've done the whole grocery stocking thing so often (3 years in high school and 2 summers while teaching), that it took about 10 minutes for them to teach me and then i was off on my own like i had been working there for years!  its been going pretty good, the only struggle has been trying to help customers.  the last stocking job was 3rd shift when the store was closed, so its been different working while there are shoppers!  i havent been much help to customers with questions either.  i guess after a few more days i'll actually know where stuff is so then i can help!  all in all though, its been good to get out there and do a bit of manual labor, it gets me moving!

big boy hat

my mom gave us this hat.  i remember when ledger was first born she gave us this hat, i put it on him and it fell all the way down to his chin!  now, it fits perfectly.  i guess its time to admit that our little guy is getting bigger.  everyone always comments at how small he is.  sure, he is small, but i still remember him when he was only moments old- now that was small!  thinking about this hat that now fits will hopefully be a reminder to me of these two facts:  that our little guy is going to keep growing and isnt going to be little for long, i best make sure that i enjoy him as he is because he is constantly changing. and also to recognize what he is now and not try to hold on to the past.  i'll bet that if i keep these two things in mind i will be able to better love and appreciate our son.

morning lounge

the weather finally broke and its been a lot more comfortable lately!  every morning i get up with ledger and give the wife a break for a few hours, payback for the hours of sleep that i got during that night while she had to take care of his crying in the night.  well, its been so nice out that ledger and i have been going outside, right on the front walk of the house.  he does pretty well out there as long as the sun isnt too bright (our trees help a lot with that!).  he might be getting bored with the sights in the living room, so this is a nice change of pace.

toy jungle

diana decided that ledger needed a play gym so we went to the second hand store and found this one for pretty cheap.  there are a bunch of different hooks that you can put hanging toys on, so i scavenged through his different toys and put on as many as i could find.  we set it up and put  him under it.  oh my!  the look on his face was priceless- its like he had gone to heaven!  his eyes were as big as saucers and he was left silent and motionless- excitement overload!  the play gym has lights and sound that come from the top of it as well and ledger just could not take his eyes off of it!  he stopped sucking on his hand and just tried to take it all on, it was as if he were suddenly submerged into a jungle of play things.  i think it was actually too exciting for him, he began whining after a couple minutes from sensory overload!  since then i took off all but one of the hanging toys and he does a lot better now.  i guess there can be too much of a good thing...

hugs!

those are the moments i love the most.  its so wonderful to make him laugh, heart warming to hold him while he sleeps, but when he nestles his head into your neck or wraps his arms around you and pulls you in?  those are the best parts of being a parent.

grandpa time

diana's dad stopped by for an afternoon while we were in town- he wanted to spend some time with that cute little grandson of his!  it was so much fun watching her dad play with him.  its obvious that he so loves babies at this age, but its also funny because he doesnt quite know what to do with a baby boy.  he had two girls, so this is a bit new for him!
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date night!

with grandma and grandpa more than willing to watch ledger, diana and i took full advantage and went out on a bit of a date night!  we drove up to niles, michigan and took in a flick.  it was so much fun to just enjoy some time with my wife, with no child related responsibilities!  after the movie we took a walk behind the theater.  the theater is right next to the beautiful niles city park.  we took a little walk (it was about 146 degrees, so we didnt walk too far...) and stood out by the river for a while, just enjoying the quite time together like we were back dating again!  it was a beautiful night with such a beautiful girl- i am so blessed!

the lake retreat

we got the opportunity once again to go to south bend and see diana's mom and david.  for some reason they always seem to want us around lately...  we got to stay three days this time and had a total blast!  its such a nice treat when grandma takes ledger in the morning so diana and i can sleep a couple extra hours.  it was a ton of fun, david made some great meals, as usual, and diana even got to go out and enjoy the lake and go swimming while i stayed inside with ledger in the cool air conditioning.  we both got to do exactly what we love!
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falling off

um, maybe its time to start using that seat belt that comes with the swing, huh?  i love his totally innocent face!  there's a reason you got in that position, buddy, and it wasnt because dad put you like that!

growing

this little guy just keeps getting cuter and cuter!  ledger is becoming more and more alert as the days go by, it almost seems like he is changing by the day- each morning he wakes up with some new trick to show off to his mom and dad.  what has been so amazing is being able to see and recognize those little developmental steps that he is taking, inching forward little by little.  he seems to recognize people, getting excited when he sees his aunts, or grandmas, or grandpas, or cousins.  he has begun to understand the day's schedule, knowing that after he feeds he gets to play for a while and then its nap time (granted, he fights that one till his last breath!).  one of the things that i find especially hilarious is his constant desire to put his hands in his mouth- and he can get those mitts of his pretty far in there!  i think he he tried hard enough he could get his whole fist in there!  along with those new skills he is showing more and more of his personality, which is so much fun.  every time i see him i get so excited about getting to know him and getting to build a father/son relationship with him.  i know how close i am with my dad, and i cant wait to begin forging that lifelong relationship with my son.
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miranda's grill out

miranda invited us over for her birthday.  she was getting together with a few friends and family at her husband's parents house and really wanted diana and i to come.  ok, really she wanted ledger to come, but knew she had to invite us as well!  it was a good time, we had brats and dogs on the grill, caught up with everyone, had some really yummy cake, and got to sing an off key rendition of 'happy birthday'!  and really, isnt that the best way to sing it anyway?
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can you hear me now?

ha!  from the front, ledger looks perfectly normal- adorable!  but check out those ears from the back.  look at those whompers!  he's going to have the best hearing in the world!

all hail the heat

i have had about enough of this super hot weather!  the thermostat hasnt dipped below 90 in days, and we dont have central air.  we have been trying to survive on a small window unit and an intricate series of fans!  well, recently we got some really strange weather a midst all this terrible heat.  it seems that a storm was brewing, but what came down at first wasnt rain, but rather hail!  i tried to take a picture of it, but i didnt want to step outside too far for fear of one bopping me in the head!  this stuff was coming down hard and was the size of large marbles!  it lasted for about 10-15 minutes and then turned to rain eventually.  fortunately our car was saved from becoming a giant golf ball with all the divots that hail can cause, but it was sure strange!

swinging owls

what is it about those owls?  diana picked up a swing for ledger a few months ago, she found a great deal on it.  it was in great condition, but the little stuffed animals that hang over ledger's head as he swings are just two kinda lame looking owls.  they look pretty boring, as you can see; we figured that we would have to try and find some other sort of toy to put in their place so ledger could have something interesting to look at.  well, it turns out we were way wrong!  these dumb little owls are ledger's favorite things in the world!  when we put him in the swing, he will stare at them so intently, babbling to them, and give them the biggest grins ever!  he doesn't even smile at his mom and dad the same way he smiles at those infernal owls!
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sis' new pad

on the way home from visiting my family we had to stop by sis' place to pick up our stinky dog! she recently moved and now diana has a chance to see the place for the first time! she is not quite moved in all the way, but has repainted the walls and it looks great! while there sis made us a great dinner which we got to enjoy on the top of empty boxes! she said that she will be getting a table soon, she just hasnt been able to bring it over just yet. no problem, i remember what its like moving, and it never goes as quickly or as smoothly as you hope it will! poco had a great time over there, going for tons of walks and everything. thanks again, sis, for doggie sitting for us!

sandy fun

we spent sunday out at the pines, this time with tim and jill and the kids stopping buy for lunch. it had been a while since the kids got to see ledger, so they were excited to play with their newest cousin! it was a fun visit, especially the stay at the cabin! by sunday night its time to go, but we had a blast!

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first lawn

this was one of the first times that ledger got to spend much time at sandy pines. he did a month or so ago, but then he was too little to really realize what was going on. this time, though, he was all about it! he loved looking around at the different sights and just taking in all the amazing new things. well, one of the things that he experienced for the first time was grass! diana and i put him down on papa's front lawn and he was amazed! with extra wide open eyes he took in the rich green color, and even put his feet down in it, wiggling his toes the whole time. it made me remember just how incredible God's creation really is, to see something as boring and mundane as grass through his eyes for the first time, to be filled with such wonder at what is around us! its good to gain that perspective every once in a while, huh?

great new digs

on saturday, before we headed out to sandy pines, diana, ledger and i stopped by jeffry lee's new place!  he had been looking for a different place to live for the past few months and recently found this one.  its a bi-level duplex and is amazing!  he found a really great place: its got two bedrooms, a big kitchen, a bath and a half, a garage, and about 1000 square foot of extra storage and work space in the basement!  diana and i were totally impressed.  as he was taking us on the tour we kept saying 'oh, this is nice', and then he would show us the next level of the house, 'oh, wow, thats great!'  and by the time we saw all four levels were were blown away- 'no way!  this place is amazing!- we're moving in!'
we got the chance to hang out for an hour or so, catch up, and rex even stopped by for a while too!  oh, and jeffry lee showed off his paper wad gun...

middle school reunion, take 2

one of the reasons we came to visit this weekend is because my buddy adam was having the second annual kelloggsville middle school reunion! i had so much fun last year that i couldnt miss out on it this time! it was a much more intimate gathering this year, last year there were almost twenty people there, this time there were only six, most of which were there last year too. it was still fun to catch up with everyone and chat. there was one new addition this year, our old friend nathan! it had been many many years since we had the chance to catch up with him. he is doing well and currently expecting twins! yikes! we had a great time and eventually called it quits around midnight or so. you know, i wouldnt mind if this was an annual event!

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sandy pack up

we were lucky enough to get the cabin for two nights, but that wasnt the end of our trip!  we wanted to stay through the weekend as well, so we packed up and headed to mom and papa's house for the rest of our stay.  in order to allow us to pack up a little easier, mom and papa offered to take ledger for another cart ride while diana and i got everything all set.  thank you so much- it really helped!