So long

I wish I had another excuse that would explain my horrible attempts at updating this blog earlier...but alas, I've just been too busy. Trying to sit down at the computer to upload pictures (which always seems to be an issue with my computer) to share, write about the lives of my growing-all-too-fast children, while managing a zillion other things seems overwhelming at times. I want to promise to do better. So...in a nutshell, here is the low down for the past 7 weeks or so.

• We dressed up as Goldilocks and the 3 Bears for Halloween.
• Owen is potty-trained! (After needing to write a social story for him about the pooping process...we finally managed to figure out going '#2'!)
• Connor turned 1!!! I always think that the first birthday is so much of a bigger mark/celebration for the parents than the child. Looking at Connor and all he can do and how he's grown blows my mind. I feel like I can hardly keep up with him and all of his new tricks. He is just turning into a little boy before my eyes, and I don't think I can hardly stand it. I continue to hold him longer each time I put him to bed, knowing that too soon, he will be too big to do/want me to do so.
• Connor is 95% for height and 25% for weight. Can't you see he takes after his mom? HA!
• We had a LOVELY Thanksgiving in Minneapolis with Shawn's family.
  
• Shawn turned 33.
• Connor enjoyed turkey cupcakes for his birthday cake. Chocolate, of course!
• Rachel is gluten-intolerant, and is staying away from all things wheat, rye, and barley related.
• Rachel applied for a CITL (Center for Intercultural Teaching and Learning) grant and was awarded with $1000 to put on a Las Posadas event for the campus. Las Posadas means, "the inns" and is a Hispanic Christmas tradition enacting the journey of Mary and Joseph seeking shelter in Bethlehem. It culminates with a fiesta when shelter is found, and celebrates the birth of the Christ child. I adapted/wrote the service where we walked through campus by candle light seeking shelter from the cold. It was also contextualized to today, inviting reflection on "who are the Mary/Joseph's today in our society, seeking a home, unable to find shelter?" For the party we had 240 tamales, bunelos (a traditional Xmas cookie), ponche (hot dried fruit punch), Mexican hot chocolate, pinata, and goodie bags for the students that came. Needless to say, this event OVERTOOK my November. I am glad we did it. And, I am glad it is done.
• Coming up: Shawn and Rachel are getting ready to leave to go on their anniversary (10 years!) trip to Puerto Rico, next week! OH YEAH. Seriously. Cannot. Wait.
• Connor and Owen will be with Rachel's parents in Pennsylvania for the week.

I'll be out of state/country for the next 3.5 weeks, but I will try to update as time allows. Much love to you!