Author Archives: April

Aug 31 2007

graduation day – on to the Spruce Room

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Today was your last day in the Linden Room – a sad day for all of us.

You gave Bonnie and Becky cards and gifts, and both got a little teary-eyed. It has been a fantastic year in the Linden Room. You love your friends (levi, marlie, apryl, elsie, maeve, maya2, raine, and others). You often don’t want to leave at the end of the day. In many ways, I think your friends have become like siblings for you – wonderful playmates, inspiration for mischievous behavior and sometimes, arch enemies (but that doesn’t last long). Becky and Bonnie will still be teachers at your daycare, but next week they will be moving down to the infant room. Bonnie promises that she will be watching you grow from no on – she has made a significant investment in you and wants to see the wonderful little person you grow up to be.
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Highlights from the year in the Linden Room:

Your daily schedule included breakfast at 9am, group time between 9:30 and 10am, muscle room or outside from 10 – 11:30; lunch and nap after that; snack at 3pm, and outdoor play until we picked you up.

Your favorite songs:
* Fly, fly butterfly
* I’m bringing home a baby bumble bee
* Hello, how are you?
* Slippery fish
* Is Maya here today?

Some of your favorite activities:
* The “picnic sandwich puzzle”
* Wooden blocks
* Dolls and doll houses including changing doll clothes and feeding the babies
* The big playground
* Sand boxes!
* Painting
* Shaving cream
* Corn starch and water
* Dressing up in fancy dresses and dancing (I love watching you do this!)

What I wrote on both Bonnie and Becky’s cards was: “Though we realize you will always be a part of Maya’s “village,” we will deeply miss seeing you each day.” Bonnie and Becky were very good to and with you and us. We are so very grateful for the wonderful care they have given you!!

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So next Wednesday you start in the Spruce Room… What adventures do you think are in store for us there? I can hardly wait to see!
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God is so good, Baby Girl. God is so good.
Love you to pieces,
*mommi

Aug 30 2007

blogging catch-up… a trip to the zoo

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I’m going to try to catch up a bit on the blogging I missed out on this summer. You did so many fantastic things that I don’t want us to forget!

So the focus for today’s blog is our trip to Seneca Park Zoo. You and your daycare friends had a wonderful field trip to the zoo on June 22. You and I drove separate and met your friends there, and we had a fanTAStic time! At the end of the day, you rode back on the BUS!! You LOVE the bus! [Mommi gets a bit nervous about the safety of the bus, but that is a whole ‘nuther story ; ) ]

Here are some picture highlights:
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Maya S, your teacher Bonnie, Marlie and you!

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You absolutely LOVE the bus!

Aug 25 2007

today – some normal saturday things…

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Hey there Peanut –
We hung out together today – how wonderful… We didn’t do anythign special, but sometimes that is special in itself. The morning was a bit of a bomb- we tried to check out a gymnasitcs studio for you, but the person we were supposed to meet didn’t show up. Then we were supposed to buy flowers for my graduate student (her birthday is Monday and she has been going through a hard time) but after we found a parking spot, we learned that the florist went out of business and was replaced by a hardware store… looked around a bit, but we realized we didn’t really need anything from the hardware store… so we took the free popcorn and headed on our way. Then we went on a search for a new diaper bag and cereal bowls – also with no luck. We ended up sharing mac & cheese and hot dogs at Friendly’s and headed home. We took a long nap together which was very sweet. When we woke up, so did Daddy!! (What a treat!) We shared ice cream together and went to the play ground before Daddy had to head back to work for one more night.

Aug 24 2007

my beautiful bruiser

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We had a playdate, a picnic and a mishap.
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We met Judi and Jim for a playdate and a picnic. While we were eating, you decided to climb up on a neighboring picnic table, and you slipped and fell head first to the cement floor. You cried a short bit and then you were off playing again.

Isn’t it amazing how beautiful you are even with a few bruises?

I love you to pieces Peanut. You are such a strong, happy girl! What a joy you are to me and everyone you meet!

*Mommi

Aug 9 2007

back at it…

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Hey there Peanut –

Please forgive my lack of writing to you these past 6 or 7 weeks. It has been an especially crazy summer! You’ll understand later, but the bottom line is I had to submit my early career grant proposal (which I’ve worked on for 4 years now) along with five different manuscripts while teaching a very intensive summer class. In addition, I had to fly to Chicago for Knowles Foundation research and teaching meeting at which I had to give a presentation, and I have been helping two graduate students get the findings from two different research studies ready for submission to two different conferences.

We’ve still had fantastic summer adventures in between these work-related things, but I just didn’t have my Sunday evenings to blog to you like I like.

So, let’s see if I can try to get caught up a bit.
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Let’s start with the most exciting and most recent event – We went to Ada, MI (near Grand Rapids) to be a part of your cousin Niklas’s baptism in the Grand River!!
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It was such a very special day and event. Pastor Dave did such an incredible job talking to Niklas and the rest of us about how we are all part of an ecology that God gave to Niklas and his parents to help take care of and love baby Niklas as he grows. While Niklas was being baptized you said to me “Maya’s turn. Maya be baptized.” Very sweet.
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We were there with Oma and Opa from Minnesota, Auntie Amy and Elisabeth from Seattle and of couse, Mark, Bi and Niklas. The whole Luehmann clan was there except for Uncle Hakon. In addition, we had the wonderful privilege of being with Auntie Bi’s Mom and Dad, Mara and Francisco who came ALL the way from Brazil!! There were a number of other friends of Mark and Bi’s as well. What a wonderful celebration!!baptism8
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Here are a couple more pictures of your beautiful baby cousin:niklas2
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When we arrived in Ada at 1:30am the night before, the car broke down in the hotel parking lot. Long story short, but it was very difficult to find anyone open on the weekends to service the car, and even those people did not have access to the parts. SOOOO, even in the midst of craziness like that, God blesses us richly. We were “stuck” in a place where we were surrounded by family in a warm and loving home. Not such a bad deal, eh? Unfortunately, I had to rent a car and drive back to Rochester because I had to teach Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, but you and Daddy stayed in Michigan and waited for the car to be fixed. You got a 3 more days to play with your cousins, grandparents, aunts, uncles and even Buster the dog! You went to the fair…
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You went swimming…
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You climbed rocks and caught turtles…
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You had a fantastic time!! And the car was fixed just in time – You and Daddy left Michigan at the same time as Auntie Amy and Elisabeth left for the airport and just a bit after Oma and Opa left for the ferry. What a blessing indeed.

You came home safe and sound to me about 6:30pm on Wednesday. It was SO GREAT to see you! You were clearly as happy to see me as I you. We snuggled and giggled and hugged each other. That night (last night actually) you asked me to rock you to sleep in my arms… you hugged me with both arms while I rocked you until you fell asleep… A memory I will always treasure. Thanks Peanut.
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I love you Peanut Butter.

Jun 15 2007

SIBS (sisters in boston)

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Hey there Peanut –

This week I am hanging out with Auntie Amy at this year’s Ebay Live conference in Boston. Though we miss our babies and their daddy’s very much, we are having a fantastic time! Laughing, learning, exploring, relaxing – reconnecting.

Here are some pictures to let you see what we’re up to:
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Jun 15 2007

more picts from the neighborhood

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We have such a wonderful time running around the neighborhood after dinner most nights. On this night, you first helped Joe and Martha water their plants.

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While you were at it, you “watered” our neighbor Alan after his run in the hot sun.

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Then we played a bit with Hannah and Timmy before heading to bed.

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Check out the videos from these events: watering help and watering Alan and rolling with Hannah and rolling, rolling, rolling.

Life is good. Thank you God!

Jun 10 2007

some pictures from today…

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We SOOOO wish we could’ve been at the Friedrich Family Reunion today, but we just couldn’t figure out the logistics. We had a rather typical day today –
* Church with Jimmiqua. You, Jimmiqua and I sang together in the Gospel Choir. Hannah and her family came to church today.
* Lunch and hanging out at home including your new favorite pasttime, playing in Daddy’s car – you and I cleaned it for him. Even that is SOOO much fun with you!
* And after a VERY brief nap, you and I made sugar cookies and fruit salad together. You were a big help!
* Then you, Daddy and I went for a walk and played at our closest playground. We bumped into and played with our friends Steph, “Higgy” (Camielle) and her baby sister “Mooky” (You sat in Mooky’s baby car seat… how silly!)
* After dinner, you and I went to Raffaella’s house for a picnic for families of small children that I work with… How fun!

Here are some video highlights from today: “Bombs Away” and “Take Time,” and “Move please.” Enjoy Peanut!

We spent a lot of today giggling together, snuggling and exploring. Thank you for the joy you bring to my life, Sweet Pea. I love you.

Jun 9 2007

a wedding, a playdate and a dance

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We had a VERY busy day today!

First, I sang at our friends’ Jen & Cory’s wedding with the Gospel choir. While I was there, you and Daddy went to Gymboree and the playground!
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I came home after the wedding to pick up Daddy for the reception. Aunti Judi came over to play with you a bit and put you down for your nap. Here are a couple pictures from Jen and Cory’s reception:
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After a THREE & A HALF hour nap (at which time I woke you up… maybe it was a growth spurt), you and I headed out to meet our friends Marlie and her Mom for a playdate at the playground:
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Daddy met us all for a picnic in the park before he headed off to work for the night.
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Then you and I went to Jimmiqua’s 8th grade formal to take a few pictures for her. While we waited for her to arrive, you danced in the middle of the floor to the music the DJ was playing. Jimmiqua looked absolutley BEAUTIFUL!! Can you believe she is 14 already?!?! She really enjoyed introducing you to all of her friends as her niece!
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Highlights of the day for me?
* Using my new camera (Daddy bought me a new camera, becuase my old one broke last Friday… I’ve had to use my cell phone camera in the meantime.)
* Watching you share your strawberries so generously with Marlie. Listening to you help her use her “please” and “thank you’s” cracked me up!
* Watching you dance.
* Giggling with you before bed.
* Watching you sleep during your 3.5 hour nap!
* Being part of Jen and Cory’s very special day!
* Pushing you on the swing.
* Knowing you and Judi had time to play together.
* Watching you hang out with neighbors Joe and Martha on their front porch.
* Having a date with Daddy – We met new friends at the reception- Su & Justin. They might come have ice cream with us in a couple weeks.
* Getting to start and end my day with you.

*whew* After reading all of this, I am ready for bed! : ) Thank you, Peanut, for an awesome day!! I love you to pieces, and I am so proud of you!
*Mommi