Monday, Monday

Well, all is back to normal after the crazy amount of rain we had two weekends ago. I am finally able to take 80/94 to work, knocking my commute back down to around 25 minutes.

Maverik and I have been introduce to a game called Spore and have been having a blast with it. Part of the game includes being able to use the computer to build 3-D models of creatures, buildings, boats, cars, planes, and space ships. It's wonderful to peak over his shoulder and see him work. He makes some wonderful creations, I'm going to see if there's any way to get some of them on the blog for all to see. Maverik and Jaecy are now working on writing their letters at home, Jaecy loves to work on it while Maverik simply puts up with me while I make him do it.

While Kari and I are far from couch potatoes we are very excited about this week because season 3 of Heroes premieres tonight and IronMan is released to DVD next week.

We're talking about role models in Health class, and for years I have exposed my students to Team Hoyt. I once saw this man on TV participating in a Triathalon and was in awe of his drive. Little did I know at the time where the real drive was coming from. As Jayden has been diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy, this video should reach out to anyone that loves him! For your enjoyment, Team Hoyt!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flRvsO8m_KI

By the way, I love the song that plays at the end of the video:

I Can Only Imagine

"I can only imagine what it will be like, when I walk by Your side...I can only imagine, what my eyes will see, when Your Face is before me!I can only imagine. I can only imagine.
Surrounded by Your Glory, what will my heart feel?
Will I dance for you, Jesus? Or in awe of You, be still?
Will I stand in Your presence, or to my knees will I fall?
Will I sing 'Hallelujah!'?
Will I be able to speak at all?I can only imagine! I can only imagine!
I can only imagine, when that day comes, when I find myself standing in the Son!
I can only imagine, when all I will do, is forever, forever worship You!
I can only imagine! I can only imagine!
Surrounded by Your Glory, what will my heart feel?
Will I dance for you, Jesus? Or in awe of You, be still?
Will I stand in Your presence, or to my knees will I fall?
Will I sing 'Hallelujah!'?
Will I be able to speak at all?
I can only imagine! Yeah! I can only imagine!
Surrounded by Your Glory, what will my heart feel?
Will I dance for you, Jesus? Or in awe of You, be still?
Will I stand in Your presence, or to my knees will I fall?
Will I sing 'Hallelujah!'?
Will I be able to speak at all?
I can only imagine! Yeah! I can only imagine!
I can only imagine! Yeah! I can only imagine!!
Only imagine!!!I can only imagine.



Jayden is becoming more and more curious...and I as I see him, see him with his brother and sister, and see his soul through his eyes....I know one thing as sure as I'm breathing air. That boy knows love, knows what it means to love and be loved. Spend 5 minutes with him, it's undeniable. It's a gift that we all need to enjoy because, as a teacher, I see that not everyone has that light in their eyes.

Noah, Where Are You?!?

The last few days were spent inside as Northwest Indiana was hosed consistently with record setting showers. Thankfully the Amazing Nelson Adventure waddled on without much change. I went to the Portage vs. Merrillville football game on Friday with Grandpa Merel, Uncle Doug, and Kale. We had a good time in the rain, and Portage figured out a way to make things much more exciting than they should have been.

As a small gift to us we were all given the day off from school while most were recovering. I'm interested to see how things are at Calumet tomorrow, as Lake County seems to have been hit hard due to rising rivers as a result of the massive rain amounts.

BEST OF THREE

Each fall I have my little ritual. We watch high school football on Friday, Notre Dame football on Saturday, and the Bears on Sunday. I've always figure if two of the three won that weekend that all was good. I've added Calumet into the mix now that I work there. Thankfully Calumet is doing well this season, that makes it fun to root for them.

Maverik and Jaecy worked on their writing a bit this evening. Both can write their name with some help, but I'd say that Jaecy really enjoys it more than Mav.

How Do I Love Thee, Dish Washer? Let Me Count The Ways

Kari and I have happily glided into the twentieth century (no, that's not an error!) with the purchase of a new dish washer! Now, we had a dishwasher while we lived in Washington Township but the well water was so bad that the dishwasher was basically useless! On Sunday I did some hunting around and ended up at Menards (You save big money....) and purchased a new portable dishwasher and outside gas grill. The dishwasher is a champ!!! Kari and I sit around looking at each other now, thinking to ourselves, "Shouldn't we be cleaning something?!?" The dishes are getting washed, and that leaves me more time to spend on my favorite new hobby.....drumroll please...... COLORING!!! I've been doing lots of coloring lately to be a good example for Mackie. Poor Mav is just plain awful right now at staying in the lines, so I'm taking it upon myself to be a good example. I've caught the bug, and I've colored Dora, Diego, Ariel, Flounder, Fairies, Hedgehogs, and lots of trees! I may have to take some pictures of these works of art, you'd get a tear in your eye as a result of the beauty of my work! (Hopefully along the way I'll get Mav convinced!)

Mav was sad last night when he went to bed, so I used Froggy and Cubby Bear (his two stuffed animals) to create a make believe Pokemon battle! He was so impressed that he returned the favor and recreated a very elaborate battle by himself! I'm sad to say that Squirtle and Cubby Bear were defeated, but I was impressed by Mav's detailed account of the battle.

Dink, Dink

Dink, Dink is the sound that you'll get now when you prompt Jayden with a bottle of his favorite drink. It's pretty quiet, but he says it whenever he's hungry and is presented with a bottle. He started it at Grandma's (I thought it was a fluke), but I've heard him say it on several occasions this week during dinner time. This is certainly a great step!

Maverik has homework every Monday that is due on Friday, and thankfully I'm still smart enough to help him with it! :) Seriously, his homework consists of letters (pick out the pictures that start with the letter A), numbers, and basic addition. He still needs some work with coloring and staying within the lines, but he's got his letters, numbers, and basic math down pat!

Jaecy has been enjoying her preschool and is doing well, she certainly looks forward to the days that she visits her class.

OTHER UPDATES:

• Kari's Golf season is wrapping up in a few weeks!
• Kari and I are preparing for another season of basketball!
• We rented Baby Mama the other day and really enjoyed it
• Maverik gets to pick out a library book to bring home and read. This week's choice was called Goodnight Moon by Margret Wise Brown.

The Trifecta!

Jaecy by her cubby hole in her classroom

Jaecy with her pink backpack
Jaecy with her name tag, all ready to learn!

No tears, no clinging to the leg. Jaecy's first day of preschool was one that she's looked forward to for a long time. Mommy helped Jaecy put her backpack away, then Jaecy simply said, "You can go now!" With that, the Nelson family experienced another first: The first day when all three kids went to school!

As you will see by the pictures, Jaecy has a light cast on her right hand. She was at Grandma's house and fell while playing with cousins Kale and Nate. The cast is a preventative measure more than anything and should be on for about two weeks. We take it off before she goes to bed and when she takes her baths.