Big Ten Stadium #5

We, along with our friends Amy and Brian Boelk, road triped to the Michigan State v Iowa game the first weekend of October. My folks met us there and despite horrific offensive play calling resulting in another Hawkeye defeat it was a great time.We couldn't get enough of the Herky Darth Vader helmet right near us.

This is our 5th Big Ten Stadium that we have visited. Only 5 more to go (Ill, Ind, Purdue, OSU and Wisconsin)

These are our friends the Boelks. They are Hawkeye crazy and named their twin boys, Carver and Kinnick after Iowa's basketball and football stadiums.
My folks broke dress code by not wearing black.
I was able to visit my ailing grandmother after the game and tell her about our baby. She was so excited and the look on her face was priceless when I shared the news. On Sunday morning we ran at 5K on campus called the Dinosaur Dash to benefit MSU's Natural History Museum. It was a beatiful race through campus which is surprisingly really picturesque. Bill had a weird bout of supraventricular tachycardia (which runs in his family) about 1/2 mile into the race and had to stop long enough for his heart to convert back to normal sinus rhythm and even with that he missed placing in his age group by like 6 seconds. Scary- one more episode like that and he is headed to the cardiologist. Me and half pint had a nice slowish run but I still averaged under 10 minute miles. I won't be breaking any land speed records for a while.

Our latest endeavor

Well the word is out and most of you already know. I'm knocked up. Got a bun in the oven. And this is our latest and perhaps greatest endeavor. I took 'before' stomach shots and think I'm just that un-modest enough to keep posting pics as I get fatter and fatter. My due date is April 20th and right now I'm calling him/her Half Pint.

Bill's First Place

Bill ran a race in Kalona which is a small town right near us a few weeks ago. He placed first overall; that's right, kids, Bill won the whole stinkin' thing. He was really proud of himself (as he should have been) and his reward is this sweet but yet highly disturbing bobble head trophy. He said it was really weird being in front and 'didn't know what to do'. I think you just keep running like you're being chased but then again I've never led the pack before.

Mexico revisited

I just love this picture from our day in Dona Chonita.

Homecoming Dance

So I finally have started my long awaiting blogs. Here are the pictures from Gabby's homecoming dance. I lost track of her date's name... she was going with this one guy who goes to the public high school but went to Gabby's school last year but because of something some girl said or something the group changed and all of a sudden that guy wouldn't know anyone so Gabby decided not to go with him (she swore he wouldn't care, I wonder what his true feelings were) and then was dateless up until about 48 hours before the dance and then went with his fella. When all the kids arrived back at the picture house after dinner, the boys looked like they were being led to slaughter and looked so uncomfortable in their ties and dress shoes. All the girls were chatting away. Apparently Gabby's date and a bunch of other freshman boys left the dance because 'they're lame' but Gabby reports a great time anyway.
The Kodak moment of her first of many wrist corsages.
Pretending to put it on; none of the girls were brave enough and the boys' mothers ended up helping

the pop and gurgle

Last night I heard the pop and gurgle of our heat spurting back to life. It was going to get under 40 degrees overnight so Bill and I knew it was time. I hate it being time. I don't mind winter and love being cozy, but I hate the heating bills and long for spring when I can turn off the heat. I live in a creaky old leaky house full of character and the trade off is gi-normous energy bills in the winter and irritation as I write Mid American Energy their checks.

the promise of future blogs

i have been delinquent in blogging. i have a lot to update on but it will have to wait. i'm just blogging now to dangle that carrot of funny, informative and sarcastic blog posts to come....

i will at sometime in the next few weeks blog about

1. gabby's homecoming dance with pictures
2. our trip to watch the hawks blow it at Michigan State with pictures
3. Bill's first place win in a local race
4. exciting plans we have for 2009
5. a tribute to my late friend and colleague, Dr Ben Pardini
6. my trip to London for my friend Lizzie's wedding with pictures

that is all the enticement i think you can handle. i'm off to london in the morning and will blog when i get back. i know you can hardly wait. talk amongst yourselves until i get back.

Mexico Pictures

Here are some pictures from our trip to Mexico courtesy of Stephen. I did take some but haven't even unpacked my camera yet.

Here is our outreach team... Bill and I, Dave (full time missionary), Cam

Antonia and her daughter Sue, Stephen and Megan (mission intern)

Here is our team of 4.
Cam's dream come true- drinking from a fresh coconut.
Some kids in clinic
Ahh. what a sweet shot of Bill and I :-)