Happy 3rd Birthday Carter!!!!

Tomorrow will be my baby boy's 3rd birthday. It is hard to believe. He has blessed our family in so many ways and has been to perfect addition. He is a very happy boy who naturally is spoiled by his parents and sisters. He is "all boy" as some may say and it is hard to say whether that is nature or nurture do to our excitement to have some trucks, dinosaurs, and trains take the place of the ever so loved princesses.

I am proud to say that he was potty trained well before his 3rd birthday and that his speech has improved a great deal in the last six months.

Carter we love you more than you even know and pray that we can watch you grow into a strong, healthy young man.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!!!!

Grandpa and Grandma Vis with all 10 grandchildren
Mallory and Hailey

Taylor working on her second piece of pie that Auntie Julie made.

Mariah reading Carter his books before nap time.

The kid table at Grandma Miedema

Finally Our Turn To Snuggle Kensie

All the girl cousins dressed up for church
Michael and Kensie

Taylor loved holding Kensie

Hailey and Kensie

It took a long time and some patience but the Miedemas' finally got their turn to snuggle and hold baby Kensie. Kensie had to spend two weeks in the Nicu in Sioux Falls, SD and then got to go home with her mommy and Daddy. She is thriving and doing well, but it has been torture knowing that everyone has gotten to see and hold her. We were so looking forward to Thanksgiving so that we could have our chance. The weather and our furnace did their very best to keep us apart, but we finally made it to Leota on Wednesday evening.

(There is no picture of Carter with Kensie because he was not a fan. Maybe he was upset that she has moved into his territory).

Church is cancelled?

The Miedemas' are not morning people. We are also training our children in the same way. Today we received a phone call at 7:15am informing us that church had been cancelled due to icy roads. It is a rare occasion where we have no where to go. We were treated to a big brunch by Mike around 10:30 and at 11 we broke out the kid's Christmas trees. They were so excited!

Comptons

Carter Dean and the upside down pizza technique.
Taylor and her impressively tall tower.

If you were to look back to the very beginning of my blog, you would see us back at Como Student housing where we were having to say good-bye to our faithful friends: the Comptons. It isn't rare to say "good bye"at student housing for it is a place that is temporary for all of the residents. The Comptons were headed out east with their three girls and I was feeling quite certain that our paths may never cross again. But God always has plans for us that my surprise us in so many ways. We kept in contact with the Comptons after their move. We were surprised to learn that they were soon expecting twins after their move and later that they were returning to the twin cities! How exciting! Our kids now have been able to have playdates since their return and it is just fun to see how we all can just pick up where we left off.

Chicago

Mike and I were able to take advantage of a quick get-away to Chicago last week. Mike was invited by the American Heart Association to present some research at the conference. Our hotel was conveniently located on Michigan Ave where I had full access to lots of shopping and sight seeing. A very nice trip.

The kids were at our home being spoiled and well cared for by my parents. Carter had an entire list of movies that he wanted to watch with Grandpa and Grandma. If they had any questions they would just ask Taylor.

Happy Halloween!

Above is the Newton Ave. Trick-or Treat group. They are getting more and more fun each year to take around the neighborhood.

All dressed up for the Beckering Pumpkin Party!

Taylor's Preschool had a fall party parade where they got to show off their costumes!

Welcome Kensington Jane!!!!!!

Kesington Jane was born to Ginnie and Wil on Thursday Oct. 21st weighing 7lbs. 5oz.
Kensie had respiratory distress immediately after delivery and was admitted to the NICU where they discovered that she had bilateral pneumothorax.

She is an absolutely beautiful baby with a very calm,

sweet nature.
Kensie required oxygen for 3 days and antibiotics.

She has now working on feedings and needs to slow down her breathing before going home with Mommy and Daddy.

Day 3 required a bili blanket for an elevated bilirubin count giving her an early halloween costume.

While we were in Sioux Falls waiting for baby Kensie we did lots of fun things! The kids were not allowed to see baby Kensie, but were well entertained by cousins in the NICU waiting area.

HOTEL

Sioux Falls Great Plains Zoo

We made ourselves at home at Aunt Julie in Tea.