late November

Grandma O. holding Mo on his first Thanksgiving.

Winchester feeling better.
The boys with Santa at the Howell tree farm.

Moses' first snowfall. Hans showed Mo how to have a snowball fight.

Bathtime.

Puppy pictures.

Hans' rocket launch for Cub Scouts.

Winchester at Jamie's clinic. His first of two surgeries within a week. Fortunately he's now doing fine, but he gave us a scare.

Hans holding the bow that was wrapped around my new car on Fri 11/28.

October

Wow! it's been a long time since the last post. we've had a busy October. Hunting season has started for Jamie. Widowhood has started (or continued from golf season) for Kaaren. Hans has completed his 1st trimester of 1st grade. Much to my relief, I can report that Hans and Moses are getting along better -- they rough-house, wrestle, and console just like any other brothers.

Hans has joined Cub Scouts and participated in their annual rocket launch. My dad came along for support.

Hans went as Jango Fett from Clone Wars for Halloween. The neighbor gal came over during pumpkin carving that night. Moses went as himself. Next year I think I'll dress him in a robe, beard and staff, maybe carrying a stone tablet, to fully express the Moses personae.

We've added another member of the family: Winchester. He's a German wire-haired pointer puppy. 8 weeks old. full of pee and poo. thank goodness he's cute .... (pictures coming later)

We'll talk to you later. Have a great Thanksgiving! ko

Mo's baptism

We had Moses' baptism on Sun Oct 19th. Pastor Sam and Jonhild were here from Ghana as were cousins Pete and Anne from Colorado. Neighbor Blaire was also a sponsor. The soloist, Kevin Nordmeyer, sang the song "What Now" at the service in March when Jamie realized we needed to adopt Mo, performed that song again to a background of pictures of Ugandian children. Another friend of mine, Neil Mandsager, had taken these pictures during trips to Uganda. He and his brother started a non-profit organization, ChildVoice International. His pictures of these children in need, were the original backdrop for Kevin's song. My father was grateful that we didn't show early pictures of Mo because he can't look at those images without crying. No doubt about it, Mo has come a long way. Hans has also; he's very protective of his younger brother. The kids are so different -- I couldn't have chosen two children more different, but they love each other so much.

Dinosaurs

Wednesday nite I took a few hours off call to go with the family to "Walking with Dinosaurs." It was a techno show at Wells Fargo Arena. Awesome! Hans said it was the "best day ever!" Moses loved it too! We thought he would be scared, but he kept signing "more" whenever the dinos left the stage. Great time with the family!

Moses' baptism is coming up -- Sun Oct 19th after 11a service at Lutheran Church of Hope. We will be having some special music and videos. Pastor Sam and Jonhild, who cared for Mo in Ghana during the adoption, will be here too. They, my cousins Pete and Anne, and a friend Blaire will be the sponsors. please join us if you can. ko

It's been a while

I feel like we've been running crazy lately. I'm not sure that our schedule has been different, but it has just felt wild.

Hans has joined Cub Scouts. He's very proud of his new uniform. Today he is to build a rocket which will be launched at an event in 2 weeks. He is getting along well in school and has joined an afterschool computer club.

Moses continues to be highly energetic. Last week he had a febrile illness and spiked temps to 104.9F. Fevers put me on edge, but it was over in 24 hr. He really is part of the family now. He's been with us for not quite 6 months, but everyone is finding their places.

Jamie's golf schedule is winding down with one last tourney this upcoming weekend, but, of course, hunting season is ramping up. His practice continues to grow given the expansion of the surrounding communities.

I was at Duke University last week for some training, but otherwise my work is pretty steady. I'm looking forward to a couple of upcoming conferences in Oct and Feb.

We'll see ya later!

September 6

Today Jamie mowed lawn, and Moses helped!? Also Mo has a fondness for blondes, and the granddaughter across the street is no exception. He blows her kisses when they say good-bye!

Hans and I went to the AKC dog show at the State Fairgrounds. We didn't stay too long; it's not as good as the Westminster show on TV. Jamie and I are trying to spend specific time alone with Hans, so that he still feels "special". It's got to be difficult being an only child for 6 yr and then suddenly having a brother who garners a lot of attention. However, Hans is adapting better to Moses. He's not as angry, now that Mo gets time-outs too. It sure didn't seem fair when Moses was learning the rules of the house, and Hans still had to be accountable for them.

Tonight is our first night at home as a family since ... we can't remember when! Chinese takeout, a Sponge-Bob movie, and wine. It can't get much better.

That our family happenings....

Hope you all have a great weekend.

Moses on Labor Day

Someone asked me yesterday if I thought Moses was adjusting to American ways. Yep, I think so. Today he was relaxing on the couch with his drink watching cartoons in his diaper. Can't be too much more American than that!

Labor Day

It's labor Day weekend. We've been to the DSM Farmers' Market, swimming at the Club, and watching Meerkat Manor. Hans and Jamie made a stew this afternoon that Hans learned last year in Kindergarten: 6 carrots, 7 ears corn, 8 onions, and 9 tomatoes. Jamie has added some basil and it smells pretty good. Hans is very excited.

I believe we have Moses' re-affirmation of baptism planned for Sun Oct 19th. We'll post the details.

Hans is growing into a polite young man, ready to take on responsibility. He is happy to return to school, and is looking forward to computer club. Moses is an average 2 yo ready for any advaenture. In the past 2 weeks he has colored my white bathroom cabinets with washable (thank you) crayons, thrown away 2 pairs of my contacts, and daily sprays my (sort of) expensive cologne. Just like Mastercard, priceless.

Work has been crazy busy for both of us. Thankfully, the lawsuit against us is finally over. It's been about 2 years in the making. It was appealled all the way to the Iowa Supreme Court, but it was ruled in our favor. Now if we can recover some of our losses . . .

If anyone knows of a van that our friends from Ghana can use when they come to visit in Oct, please let us know. The Dunya family is in need of transportation while in the States.

By the way, Go Obama-Biden!!(from Kaaren only; and Hans and Moses when they see the way!)

24 August 2008

Here are the boys and Jamie at lunch at Mall of America on our first family vacation.

I am currently watching the documentary "Sons of Lwala" about 2 brothers from Kenyan who received scholarship to Vanderbilt and Dartmouth and went on to medical school. In exchange for their villages' support, they built a medical clinic in their home village. Many of the images remind me of our time in Ghana.

Another TV interest of mine has become "Meerkat Manor" on Animal Planet. It's a soap opera for meerkats. Very funny and touching. Stockard Channing narrates.

Finally, Hans has started first grade. The above (sideways) picture is the ceremonious first day of school photo.

I'm just getting started with this. so here it goes...

Hans has started first grade. He likes his teacher, Mrs. Harlan. Several of his K-garten classmates are with him.

Lynn, our nanny, stays with Moses during the day. He likes music, and is playing with toys more. He is learning English and sign language, and uses both very well.

We have won the lawsuit against us as Bunn Properties. The case went all the way to the Supreme Court of Iowa.

Have a good week! Kaaren, Jamie, Hans, and Moses