Back to a Routine

The fall semester has started up again and we have tried to get into a weekly rhythm once again after the busy summer and various trips away. Jim takes the bus to campus 4 days a week to work/study/write at the library (in the school of education), and spends another 1-2 days at a coffeeshop or working from home. Go, dissertation, go. He is hoping to get the majority of the dissertation written and into revision stages by the end of this semester.

And Gemma and I continue our weekly pattern of grocery shopping, library time, play dates, park time, walks on the trail, plus a mom's group at a local church that we have just joined this year. Oh - and doctor's appointments and getting ready for baby brother!!

However our life pattern right now feels more like a "routine" than a routine. There is a lot of uncertainty about what the near future holds. Our condo is for sale and we are hoping for a buyer in the next month, while there is still some activity on the market (before colder weather hits and the market goes quiet). And Jim is of course still looking for a full-time job, and we are wondering where we will be and what our lives will look like a few months from now.

Some Sundays after church a few families with young kids will gather for a picnic lunch at the park across the street. Here are a few pics from two weeks ago. It has been fun this summer to watch Gemma grow in her physical abilities and - in particular - conquer a lot of climbing on park equipment (slides, ladders, and monkey bars).
 

Gemma with Pierce and Blythe, some friends from church (and small group)

Here's Gemma holding her beloved Possum, a hand puppet that Margaret Gunn sent back (from Australia) with Jim as a gift for Gemma. The possum (a much cuter species than our American ones) is a new favorite for cuddling with books and at nap-time and for taking along on car trips.

A Rare Date Night

It's a rare Friday night that we get out for a date - hurrah!!!! Special thanks goes to our new babysitter, Kyrsten, a senior at IU who we know from the church nursery (and who Gemma adores). 

So where did we go? To an IU men's soccer game, of course! For starters, we love soccer and we enjoy the pep band that plays at the games, and we get in to the games for free with Jim's student card. The men's team is currently ranked #15 and won this game 2-0 on two nice goals, including a sweet one from Caleb K., senior captain & defender (whose parents, Paul & "Nonna Donna" (as Gemma says) we know from our church).

We even splurged on take-out falafel pita sandwiches to eat for dinner at the game. Somehow the foot-long hot dogs at the concession stands don't tempt us...  And we brought our own chocolate and thermos of tea for later; it was pretty chilly during the 2nd half. It was fun to spend an evening watching a soccer game together, after all the games we have attended together over the years.

 

The past few days - and 32 week update

Gemma's hair is getting longer, still with lots of cute curls at the back...this week for the first time we were able to put a hair clip in!! Which she now personally requests and calls a "pink hair cut". Phew, thanks Aunt Katie B, for your faith in her all the way back to last Christmas when you made this cute barrette for her.

eating a blueberry muffin which she helped Mommy make

Baby boy at 32 weeks is going strong! (And now 33 weeks today: Thurs, 13th Sept.) Actually this pregnancy has gotten even smoother than with Gemma, even while that pregnancy was also great (minus gestational diabetes, of course). I haven't been able to swim like I did with Gemma, but my back is holding up well and we have only a month-and-a-half to go! My biggest complaint so far are the Braxton Hicks contractions throughout the day and which even wake me up at night. But it's all good preparation for the real labor and then life with a newborn, right?

believe me, this photo is a bit deceptive. My belly feels so much bigger than this may look!

Jim's birthday present this year: an Ice Cream Maker!! Here we are in our first attempt, chocolate frozen yogurt. Only four ingredients: vanilla yogurt, milk, dark chocolate and a bit of sugar. Blend it up and pour it in the machine; 25 minutes later it is ready. Oh. So. Good.

yes, can you tell who is REALLY excited?!

And the birthday weekend continues

On Sunday afternoon (the 2nd) we had a celebration for Gemma, complete with cake and ice cream and balloons and birthday hats (all things that Gemma had personally requested for the day.) and a few relatives and friends. "Happy Birthday, Gemma!" she proudly and happily announced whenever she saw a balloon all weekend. Thank you, Mom G, for making this an Amazing Weekend for Gemma.

the cupcake cake that Nonna made - so cute!

 She tried...but decided the candles were "hot", so in the end her friends Owen and Sasha and Cora and Neal helped her blow them out.

The family cheering her on; can she blow those candles out? (And how cool is this: how many 2 year olds get to have 1st cousins-once-removed & 2nd cousins & a great-uncle and grandparents at their birthday party?!)

Cousin Carol with fiance Tim, now living in Wheaton - only a few weeks to go now until wedding day

our good friends Tad & Amber, whose 4 kids Gemma absolutely loves to play with

"more cake and ice cream", Nonna!

Gemma, Cora and Sasha loved playing in the tree house together

Even Joel (a junior at Wheaton) came over!

And now: a few more pics from Monday, our final day in town. Highlights for Gemma was lots of one-on-one time with Nonna while us others went to Jos A Bank to pick out a new suit for Jim. Yikes. Awesome. Bring on the professional world! Soon! (we hope)

Here's Gemma displaying one of her favorite new toys - a fairy barbie doll (I think it's Tinkerbell) and some necklaces from cousin Ruth. Gemma has recently become intrigued by the story of Thumbelina, and so this doll got named "Thumbelina". And sorry, this shot of Granddad was taken just after coming in from yard work.

Gemma sitting quietly and calmly (!) on Granddad's lap during our last dinner

Fun and ROWDY times singing & playing with Nonna

What better way to end a humid day than with a romp through the sprinkler! 

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Gemma's other new favorite toy is from Nonna - baby doll accessories, including this front carrier and baby stroller. She loves to take her baby out for a walk. All good prep for being a Big Sister soon!

yes, that is a turtle! Belonging to Cassel cousins around the corner.

It begins..."Happy Birthday, Gemma!"

September 1st: "Two years old!" 

and she continually makes us laugh with her funny sayings and her constant talking. From the moment she wakes up, we also are awakened by her commentary on the day and whatever is going on - "I see flashing light under there!" (trans: the hallway light is now on, and Dad is going to open my bedroom door and come get me). Then throughout the day we listen as she describes whatever she sees and whatever she is playing with. Last week she set a personal best with a 9-word sentence. Not to mention all the singing she is doing these days! "Music on, Mommy! More music!" she insists as she points to the CD player in her room or requests music in the car. Some favorites: Are you sleeping, brother John; Jesus loves the little children; Baby Beluga; Twinkle twinkle little star; Do Re Mi; and a smattering of lyrics she combines into one continuous song. 

We didn't originally plan to celebrate her birthday with Granddad and Nonna in Wheaton, but since the big day coincided with a "25 years of women's soccer at Wheaton" reunion, we got to Live It Up over a long weekend visit. We're talking balloons and birthday cake and party hats (at Gemma's request) and waffles and soccer games and playing with friends in the tree-house and going for a walk with cousins and long sessions at the piano with Nonna. What a good time.

Friday afternoon we arrived in Wheaton and walked around campus a bit - fun and busy with students since classes had just started two days earlier. That evening was a reception (dinner, short progam, and time to chat) for the women's soccer players. Everyone from the last 24 seasons was invited; there were about 50 players and their families in attendance. It was simply awesome and amazing to see a few old teammates who I hadn't seen since graduation!! (we forgot to take the camera to that event...)

 Saturday dawns... Gemma's 2nd Birthday! A special breakfast of waffles! All for Gemma! Well, we shared.

 

Then off to East McCully field for a Saturday morning romp with former teammates and their kiddos. The alumna women had one side to run around on, while the alumni men had a scrimmage on the other half.

Abi Woody Hardy and her three oldest boys (and now we are related! "Cousin" it is, for ease of explanation to the kids.)

Jul with Fo (Pete's wife. Where would a great coach be without his supportive wife?)

with Rebecca Mouw, also currently pregnant

with Paige and Jamie

Some of the ladies playing small ball. I was amazed at how fit many of the women still were!

The men's team of 1997 also had a reunion this weekend, and all the players on this national championship squad were inducted into the Wheaton Hall of Honor. It was cool to see guys from that team (when we were freshman, Jul playing and Jim doing photography for the men), back in town and playing together. Here's the former, long-time coach Joe Bean with Pete. Two amazing coaches. Joe Bean: men's coach with the 2nd-most wins in NCAA history (all divisions). Pete Felske: in his 25th year with the women, and 8th on the most-wins list in NCAA.

the alumni men in town for the reunion (with current Wheaton president, Dr Ryken, also suited up to scrimmage, back right)

 What makes a birthday more special than helping Nonna make chocolate-chip cookies?

Saturday afternoon and we were back to the soccer field, amidst the wind and drizzle, to watch the women's team and join all the alumna for half-time recognition. We all wore matching shirts and marched on to the field together. Pretty cool.

Still some more summer fruits to enjoy

We are thankful for a few more weeks to enjoy our favorite summer fruits - watermelon and peaches (both from local farms/gardens). Gemma has taken a recent interest in all kinds of seeds and pits, and loves to "find" them in her fruit and talk about them.

preparing to help cut up the watermelon (bib on because it is SO juicy!)

Where's the pit, Gemma?