We're Moving!

For about three years, Nathan and I have been thinking about the idea of moving to the edge of Sioux Falls, maybe on a little acreage, preferably something near the water.  We've looked at dozens of properties online and looked at quite a few in person.  Two years ago we actually made an offer on a five acre property right on the river, but the deal fell through due to the inspection.  We've kind of discovered that the places we like are out of our price range, and the places in our price range are not places we like.

Anyhoo . . . about two weeks ago one of Nathan's colleagues brought a new property to our attention.  It was way too expensive, so neither one of us thought anything of it until our friend mentioned the owners might be open to renting.  Nathan did a little digging online and then called the owners, and it turned out this was true.  After some negotiating, we have signed a lease and will be moving to our new place in two weeks!  We'll be there for at least a year, maybe longer.  We're keeping our current house and renting it out for the year.  The new house is quirky (it's round) but also charming, but best of all it's on a five acre lot right on the river with fantastic river access.  It really is quite beautiful.  Eden and I have big plans to hatch ducklings and adopt turtles next spring and summer.  It's at the end of a paved road, which means good driving during winter but not much traffic, and (one of my favorite little details) it's right across the street from the Sioux Falls Polo Club.  Actual polo is played there during the summer.

If you'd like to see pictures, check out this site.  And if you want to help us move, just let us know!!

Sleepy Talk

I just went downstairs to check on the kids.  They've been in bed for about an hour.  Eden, sound asleep, was wrapped up in a fleece blanket and getting sweaty.  So I unwound the blanket and covered her with a lighter blanket.  Just as I was kissing her, she started to talk, but I don't think she was really quite awake.

"Mama, I like your . . . I like your . . . I like your . . . "

She rubbed her face and tried again:  "Mama, I like your . . . I like your . . . "

She paused to gaze into my waiting face.  One more try:  "Mama, I like your . . ."

Pregnant pause, and then,  "I like your . . . I like your brain."

And all quiet.  Sleepy girl.

Happy Birthday Dear Yaya!

Nicknames

Last night we went out for dessert with Amah (Nathan's mom).   This is the conversation we had in the car.

Eden:  What's my nickname?
Me:  Well, sometimes I call you "Sweetness."
Eden:  I think you should call me "Sucker" because I suck my thumb.
Z (yelling):  Yes!  Suckerrr!
Amah (trying not to laugh): Or, maybe we could call you something else.  Like maybe "Bright Eyes."
Eden (contemplating this suggestion as she sucks her thumb): No . . . I think you should call me "Sucker."
Z (absolutely delighted):  Sucker!  Eden's nickname is Suckerrrr!

2nd Grade

Z's 2nd grade school picture.  I like it!

Fashion Plate

I found this picture today and can't resist posting it.  It's from a year ago.

Fossils, Legos, and Doctors

Z participated in his school's Hobby Fair this year.  He and Nathan worked very hard on a display/game in which Z showed off rocks and fossils and other things from his collection, and kids had to identify what each thing was: a rock, a fossil or an "other".  Anyone who played the game got a piece of candy.  It was a great success (except for the fact that I didn't take a single picture of the event).  Kids were lined up to play the game and try to figure out the difference between rocks and fossils.  Z did a wonderful job of explaining the game, explaining the difference between rocks and fossils, telling kids the correct answers, and then handing out the candy.  His display was so busy he had almost no time to look at all the other hobbies on display.  But he did manage to see a couple, one of which was a display of lego figures.  We asked the kid which one was his favorite, and he pointed to a little lego nurse.  He said it was his favorite because his mom is a nurse.

Eden, meanwhile, was having a fantastic time roaming around the room with Amah.  There were quite a few displays of the Lego Friends (legos for girls).  She particularly liked the lego set of a veterinarian's office.  (I don't know why these lego sets have to be called "Lego Friends."  Why can't they just be called Legos, and whoever likes them, girls or boys, can buy them and play with them??).

On the way home, the three of us had the following conversation:

Z:  Why did that kid like the nurse lego figure the best?
Me:  Because his mom is a nurse.
Eden:  His mom is a nurse?
Me:  That's what he said.
Z:  But you're a doctor, right?
Me:  Yes, I'm a doctor.
Eden:  But not the kind that helps people.
Me:  That's true.  I'm a doctor of theology, not medicine.
Z:  But you help people learn more about God.
Me:  That's true! (feeling happy to be understood and appreciated!)
Eden:  But you're still our mom, right?
Me:  Yes, I'm your mom, and I'm a doctor.
Eden:  Is everyone's mom a doctor?
Me:  No, not everyone's.  But yours is.