Rebel Fans

More Photos

Gopher's Game

Emma Claire and Brad went with Harrison and Jonah to the home opener for the Gopher's. They got to sit in Harrison's box seats.

All Emma Claire could talk about was getting a pom-pom. She learned the M-I-N-N-E-S-O-T-A cheer.

Not to worry - we are still Rebel fans. Unfortunately, neither team is winning.

More Photos

Junior Jogger

I have been meaning to post this for some time now. Mom brought it to me when she was here for Arnold's birth.

I guess my love for running started at this point in my life... (although, I don't look too enthused in this particular shot). Thanks Mom!

Ducklings in the House?

Emma Claire: Mommy, there are ducklings in the house!

Me: How many are there?

Emma Claire: Four.

Me: How did they get here?

Emma Claire: In a car.

Me: Who drove?

Emma Claire: The mommy duck.

Uff da!

Emma Claire after school the other day: "Uff da!"
Me: "Emma Claire, where did you learn that?"
Emma Claire: "at high school."

First of all, when did I start dropping my baby off at high school?... Secondly, it hit this southerner at this moment that my little girl is a Minnesotan - born here and to be raised here. This is my personal favorite "Minnesota" word. The first time (and most every time since) that I heard it, I just have to giggle. For my Southern readers that are unfamiliar, I took the liberty to Wikipedia it...

"Uff da is often used in the Upper Midwest as a term for sensory overload. It can be used as an expression of surprise, astonishment, exhaustion, relief and sometimes dismay. For many, Uff da is an all-purpose expression with a variety of nuances, and covering a variety of situations. The expression has lost its original connotation, and it is increasingly difficult to specify what it means now in America. Within Midwestern culture, Uff da frequently translates into: I am overwhelmed. It has become a mark of Scandinavian roots, particularly for people from North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota."

Give You Peas

At the end of bedtime prayers each night, I always say with Emma Claire the verse "may the lord bless you and keep you... etc. " It ends with "...and give you peace". She now tries to say some of it with me and always says the "give you peace" part. Last night, she said this, followed by "we have peas at our house! - I like peas" (she, I guess, was remembering that we had peas for supper).

Manners

We have made some progress in the manners department with Emma Claire lately. She is by no means perfect and it is A LOT of work and repetition that makes my head spin, but dinner tonight was exceptionally enjoyable. Nobody was screaming or saying "I don't LIKE that". Brad even thought the meal was good (a new shrimp spaghetti recipe). Anyway, at the end of supper - without prompting - Emma Claire says "thank you mama ... thank you for the good, good supper". Warms my heart. There is hope...