days in the life of a
Previous POSTS
January 2010
click here to read older January 2010 posts....
January 26, 2010
CHEERING ON THE COLTS
(Before I even start to write about our Colts Sunday, I must admonish you NOT to take the above photo for granted! It takes a good amount of coaxing and promises to get 19-month-old Karter to stand still and pose long enough for the camera to focus and click!)
Isn't this just the most adorable Colts fan you've ever seen?! Karter wore his Colts jersey to church in the heart of Minnesota Vikings country Sunday. Kristoffer and Dana have only been attending there a few months, and it's probably the first time a Peyton Manning jersey has graced through their halls. There were a few comments and many questioning looks, but no one could argue with the cuteness factor!
After lunch, Karter slept through the first half of the big game (I think the Colts pretty much did too!), but after halftime he was rearing to go! Although he had no interest in snuggling on the couch to watch the game with us...
He had too much energy for that!
What? Doesn't everybody watch the Colts game while reading Pat the Bunny?!
Kristoffer is clearly engrossed in the funny antics of Pat, don't you think?
TOUCHDOWN, Colts!!!
Most of the time, Karter was more captivated by the commercials than the game.
Even poor Rascal wasn't allowed to watch the game in peace!
Kristoffer decided to sit on the floor to change the luck of the Colts...and it worked! Not that I'm the superstitious type, but Kristoffer is never again allowed to watch the Colts from the comfort of the couch!
Of course, no Colts game is complete without Kermit the Frog watching alongside.
Mommy Dana corralled him for a few moments so Daddy could watch a critical play.
In the end, the Colts prevailed and we celebrated the big victory!
Super Bowl, here we come!!!
And the Vikings/Saints game? The excitement was just more than Karter could handle!
January 27, 2010
WINNIE'S STORY
Part 13: Five Years and OutPart 14: HomecomingAfter five years in the US Army, Winnie was ready to get out...and determined to go back home to Yugoslavia to see the family he hadn't seen for 12 years. Christmas 1965 was a Christmas Winnie will never forget!
January 28, 2010
SOOOOO READY!!!
If Dana had her wish, here's where she'd be right now.
While her official due date is tomorrow, she is SOOOO READY to have this little fella!
Just in case she went into labor early, I came up to Minnesota last week to help out and stay with Karter while Kristoffer and Dana were at the hospital. While I've loved my grandma-time with Tunkin, I miss Kim terribly, and I think it's as hard for Gramaw to wait as it is for Dana (although not nearly as uncomfortable!).
Throughout the pregnancy, Kristoffer and Dana have talked to Karter about the baby growing in Mommy's tummy. I'm not sure how much he really understands at 19 months, but he does understand this much...the baby makes Mommy's tummy stick out!
When we ask him to walk like Mommy walks, he giggles and this is his response!
Clearly Dana and I got very tickled...too funny!!!
January 29, 2010
WINNIE'S STORY
Part 15: American BusinessmanFresh out of the Army, with just a few dollars jingling in his pocket, Winnie starts looking for a job in New Castle, Indiana and soon finds himself owning his very own business.
January 30, 2010
A DAY IN THE LIFE
Honestly, when I flew up to Minnesota 11 days ago, I really expected to be posting about my new baby grandson by this time.
Baby K has a different timetable than Gramaw (and Mommy and Daddy!).
I'm holding out hope that tonight's full moon will be the catalyst for his birth.
But since he hasn't arrived yet, over the past 11 days I've gotten into the swing of daily life with the Minnesota Grays.
Lacking any great ideas to write about as we await Baby K, I thought I'd share about the exciting daily life up here in the frozen tundra (we're talking BELOW ZERO, people!) they call home.
And...it gives me a good excuse to post some adorable photos of my favorite grandson (a distinction he will very soon have to share!)...as if I needed an excuse!
Karter wakes up somewhere around 7 am, has a cup of milk and plays for awhile, then Mommy fixes him breakfast. He's a good eater and loves to feed himself with regular silverware...none of that baby stuff for him! Here he's doing a great job of spooning up his oatmeal.
Then all morning he plays...with Mommy...
...with Rascal...
...and by himself.
I must add that, for the record, Gramaw has also built countless Lego towers and read umpteen books umpteen times... but since there's no photographic evidence of it, you'll just have to take my word for it.
And we've done "Patty-Cake," "Wheels on the Bus," "Itsy-Bitsy Spider," "Zacchaeus," and dozens of other songs that I haven't sung for years over and over and over again.
Karter is adamant that everyone present participate! No slacking allowed, or he calls out your name or stares you down until you succumb to his charm.
Who can say "No" when Karter grins and says "Pease"? Not this Gramaw!
Mid-morning involves a snack of some sort...usually a healthy snack...but Karter is always ready to clean off the cookie dough from the beater!
After lunch is nap time...for Karter, and for Dana and me too! Karter is such a big boy, sleeping in his big bed.
It's a real treat for Gramaw to go get him out of bed after he wakes up. Good snuggle-time...for a few short moments until he warms up for his afternoon rowdiness!
After Karter's nap until Daddy gets home at 6:15 or so, it's more playing, singing, reading, and sometimes a Sesame Street session.
About an hour after supper, around 8 pm, is bathtime.
Or more precisely, BUBBLE time!
Karter has always loved his bathtime, but the bubbles are a new bonus feature!
Then it's off to bedtime, where he lays right down and goes to sleep so easily.
Very soon afterwards, Kristoffer and Dana crash on the couch themselves! Believe it or not, I have been staying awake longer than they do...and I've been going to bed at 9:30! It's a wild nightlife around here, I'm telling you...
I'm trying to get the routine down so that ANY DAY NOW when Baby K arrives, I'll know what to do to keep the household running while they are at the hospital.
Meanwhile, we're hanging tight...and waiting...and waiting...
Oh, and I thought I'd share another cute video of Karter doing his version of the song, "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes."
January 31, 2010
WINNIE'S STORY
Part 16: Happily Ever AfterNow a business owner in New Castle, a car in serious need of repairs leads to Winnie meeting and eventually dating his future wife Judy.
Judy is my dad's first cousin, and Winnie came into our lives when the two of them began seeing each other. In this final video of the series, Winnie tells about his chance meeting with Judy and their first date.
I hope you've enjoyed hearing Winnie's story. I do have one more short bonus video that I may post later, but that's all for now. I think you will agree with me that Winnie has already led an amazing life, experiencing so many things that most of us can't even imagine.
Thanks again, Winnie and Judy, for allowing me the privilege of sharing your story!
You are very special people!!!
