Cabin getaway

We took a little getaway to the cabin this week. We left late Monday night after softball and just came back this Friday afternoon.  It was good to get away and relax for a short time! Here are some pictures to highlight the week!

 Micah and Matt setting up a fire

 Beautiful view of the lake

 Micah played on the slide at the park while...

 Matt fished

Happy to hang out with me waiting for Matt

 Micah was intrigued by one of Matt's trout

 Lovin his brown trout

 Took a ride on the paddle boat

 Micah was convinced he could pull us into shore

 Going on a frog hunt

 Caught one!

 Look Mom!

And an update for Friday, we are 17 weeks today!

SJPS update and first crack at triathlon

It's been another busy few days.  After a second intense interview session with SJPS I spent the better part of the week waiting to find out what their decision would be.  Friday night I heard back from one of the SJ principals that I had been offered a teaching position.  I am still waiting on more details, such as which building and what grade level.  Of course this won't all be official until I have met with the superintendent and he gives his "okay."  Thank God for answered prayer!  I told Jennie on a number of occasions that I could sense the power of people lifting me up to the Lord in prayer.  I am so thankful for all of you!

 

As excited as I am to be a bear again, it will be sad to leave Watervliet, which has proved to be a fine school district.  I learned so much there in regards to my profession and think of the people there as an extension of my family.

Today (Saturday, July 21) was my first venture into the world of triathlon.  I participated in the Sister Lakes Sprint Triathlon (500m swim, 13 mi bike, 3.2 mi run).  It was a great first experience.  The weather couldn't have been better and the course was as enjoyable as a triathlon course can be.  Very scenic.  I know I am sore now, but I'm thinking I may do some more of these before my legs beg me to stop.  Out of 400+ competitors I finished 41st with a time of 1:25.33.  I ended up placing third in my age group.  I am not too proud to admit that I got my butt handed to me by a bunch of girls! 

Enjoy the pictures.  The swimwear shots are more so for my wife's enjoyment!

Thinking, "What did I get myself into?"

Catching up with swim buddy Patrick VanAntwerp.

Other swim buddy, Grant Hart.

Swim Start

Finished the swim and starting to feel like a triathlete.

Transition to bike.

Heading out.  Pit times were of NASCAR quality. 

Finished the bike course.

Transition to run.

Down the chute to the finish line.

Thanks to my fan club - Teague, Finley, and Micah!

Matt's Week

Fun and busy week on my end.  Canada was once again my dream vacation.  I'd be lying if I said I don't feel a bit guilty about getting away for a week and Jennie staying behind with Micah.  I think I will get over it.  I owe her big time though.

The fishing was great once again.  Had a great time with the 7 other guys that went to the camp with us.  Got to spend some quality time with my uncle Norm, Adam, Dale, Ryder, Jerry Aldridge, Dick Murphy, and my dad.  Normally we catch mostly walleye, but this year was a little different.  We still caught plenty of walleye, but northern pike seemed to be the fish that were the most hungry, or willing to strike.  I didn't mind, being that a large northern gives up a better fight than most walleye.  My best pike fishing was Tuesday afternoon when Dale and I decided to try fishing the river between Wine Lake and Wabauskang Lake.  We caught 53 northern in one afternoon.  It was rare for us to make a cast and not get a hit, or have a fish follow the lure to the boat.  We ate fish every day, if not twice a day.  I think I've had my fill of walleye for a while now.  In all, we ended up roughly catching 300+ northern pike, 200+ walleye, a couple dozen smallmouth bass, and a couple dozen jumbo perch.

I got to celebrate dad's 59th birthday with him in a special way.  He and I took the boat over the rapids and fished one of the adjoining lakes (Wine Lake) the whole afternoon.  We saw an eagle take a fish off the surface of the water.  We've done the Wine Lake trip before, but it was the best fishing we've ever had there.  The highlight of the trip might be the fish that we didn't catch.  I was reeling in a 16 inch walleye only to be surprised that once I got it up to the boat a northern pike over 45 inches was stalking my walleye.  My dad tried to net the northern, but there was no way it was going to fit in our net.  It was a moment that reminded me of the line in Jaws where they say, "We're going to need a bigger boat!"  It was easily the largest pike I have ever seen.

My biggest fear about going on this trip was that I might be contacted by SJPS in regards to applying for a teaching position.  Being out of the country I couldn't check my phone messages.  Well, it happened.  I was contacted by one of the principals who wanted to set up an interview.  When we started our drive home I checked my voice messages immediately after we had passed through customs.  I contacted the principal and was fortunate enough to still set up an interview.  To make a long story short my first interview was a very positive experience.  So many friends and family have been praying about this... THANK YOU!  It sounds like I will be hearing back from the principal in about a week and will know more then.  It would be a joy and a blessing to be able to work at SJPS, but I am trying not to get my hopes up.  I am constantly reminded that this is all in God's hands.  He will work things out more perfectly than I could ever imagine.

22 inch walleye at Lost Lake

Fishing at the "Hotel"

Smallmouth Bass

A week without Matt

So if you didn't already know, Matt was gone this past week, fishing in Canada.  Last time he went Micah was only a few months old, maybe 4 months because I remember going to work.  I don't know which time was worse! Haha. It wasn't too bad, we kept busy. I took Micah to the pool twice, we went to the beach once, I had to work two days, lunch at Oma's twice, and we spent some time at my parent's house.  Didn't take any pics this week, Matt had the camera.  He will be posting later about his trip.

We are so glad Matt is home now!  In the full day since he was home, we had a baby Dr's appointment, Matt did something special which he will have to share with you, and even though he spend Monday afternoon at work with Drew, we spent so much time together as a family.

 Cooling off together in the kiddie pool

 Micah being a redneck and streaking in the sprinkler

 Went to the fountain to cool off some more

 He was loving it!

When the canons were going off

13 1/2 weeks pregnant with Jelly Bean

Sadly this is the first belly pic we have taken. Time has really run away from us! With Micah we started pics at 8 weeks or so and took them every 2 or 4 weeks.  I looked back at some of them. I'm already bigger now than I was with Micah at 22 weeks....yikes!!!

Update on the appointment-heard the heart beat via doppler. HR 172, which according to old wives tales, it means a girl.  I don't buy it, I'm convinced it's a boy.  We will see! In other exciting news, we have our big ultrasound in 8 weeks! (August 28 we will find out if we are having  a girl or boy. This is especially exciting for me because we didn't find out with Micah. How did I wait??)

I'm considering myself in my second trimester (even the Dr told me there isn't a specific week because pregnancy can't be divided exactly in 3 trimesters).  I'm starting to ease the worrying. I know its not impossible to lose a baby at this point, but odds have dropped considerably.  We just continue to pray that everything remains healthy and this is the time (God willing) we will have another baby!