End of January News

Today finds me (Matt) staying home playing daddy for a boy who has not quite been himself the last couple of days. Micah has started going to daycare, which seems to be a great opportunity for him to interact with kids his age, but is also the best place for him to pick up all kinds of bugs. He was running a 102 temp yesterday and today is too unfit to be able to go back to daycare. This marks the first sick day I have taken in order to care for my boy.

Other news is that Jennie and I are working through our second miscarriage. It's been somewhat surprising and disheartening that we go through this a second time, but we're trusting God through it all. Through this we are reminded what a blessing we have been given in the form of our "healthy" son, Micah. We have been experiencing first hand empathy and compassion by many who have shared similar experiences in their own lives. Be praying for us down the road that we will trust God to work things out, as we are learning this is a matter completely out of our hands.

Jennie has started another round of teaching as an LMC clinical instructor. This means we are in a period of time where we are working many hours. She still has some shifts on her floor for nursing, I of course am teaching, and then coaching after school hours. We are trying to make the most out of every opportunity we have to spend as a family. Weekends are proving to be precious time.

Some pictures / video of the last few weeks:

Lovin' his ball pit.

Then Kramer ate the ball pit!

Snow day. Ready to play!

All bundled up.

Making a trek up the driveway.

... and it tastes good too!

Did another academic "beard" challenge for my 2nd grade students. Got to sport a nice chinstrap-fu manchu-soul patch thing for a day. Not sure what Micah thought of it. Jennie's not too crazy about her younger looking husband either. I think I'm making her feel like a cougar! Hard to believe I had been wearing the beard for about 2 years! Of course my mom didn't even notice it was gone.

Our Cruise!

For those who don't know, we just got back yesterday from a 4 day cruise in the Bahamas!

Packing for our cruise-Micah wearing Matt's goggles! He loved them!

First night of the cruise, at the theatre. I loved how they had a show every night. There was always something to do!


Tuesday night was formal wear dinner night. We had our picture taken in front of the centrum and Christmas tree.

Our stateroom attendant made a pig out of our towels

Wednesday, getting off the ship in Nassau, Bahamas. It was a really chilly day, if you couldn't tell! I believe the high was only 60 or so!

Took a pic in front of this store, mainly fo rAunt Krys! We didn't actually eat here, but we would have if the wait hadn't been so long.

The Hard Rock Cafe in NAssau!

We laid on the beach for awhile, though it was so overcast we didn't swim or take our sweatshirts off!

Yes, that is an ambulance in fron tof Mc Donalds!

The Hilton of Nassau

We ate here instead. It was a little place called Sharkees. Beautiful view of the harbor

View off the balcony at Sharkees. You can't tell from here, but they are absolutely crazy drivers in the bahamas. They all really enjoy honking their horns!

Tried Conch fritters for lunch. We were told they were a specialty of the Bahamas. Fairly tasty. Like a deep fride fish dumpling.

View of Paradise Island, Bahamas. The bulding to the right has the connecting archway. this is called the Michael Jackson suite. It is a 10 bedroom condo that anyone can rent. For $25,000 a night, with a minimum of 4 night stay! Nuts!

We booked a snorkling excursion this day. It was soooo cold!

Thursday our ship stopped at Cocoa Cay, a private island exclusive for the Royal Carribean ship. This day was warmer, highs in the mid seventies. The beach and water were beautiful! We spent most of the day just relaxing in beach chairs, reading in the sun!

We walked out in the water quite a ways. It was very shallow in some places, and a sandbar way out. Matt found these two conch shells, still with the little critters inside!

We went on a nature trail around the island and encountered this huge lizard.

On the nature trail

Took a kayak out in the afternoon. Only for about 30- minutes though. They didn't allow you to go to far from shore :(

A view of our ship from the island. We took little ships in to the island.

We arrived back hom eFriday evening around 7pm, and picked up Micah from Grammy and Grandpa's house. As much frun as a cruise and vacation away from Micah was a good time, we missed him so much! It is so good to be home with him again! Great vacation, but glad to be home!

And here is Micah, we finally blew up his ball pit. He is so obsessed with all the balls. He had them all in his bed with him, and acted like he was swimming in them!