connected again

we finally got internet, cable and phone hooked up this weekend so hopefully i will post more often again. i'd love for you to post comments so i know someone is reading it.

after a week and a half in our home, we're gradually getting settled. it's so much work! both cars were parked in the garage last night for the first time. most of the pictures and wall hangings are up on the main level. the extra shelves are up to organize the boys' closets. i'm tired of shopping and spending money. our wish list grows as quickly as items get crossed off after shopping. i love making our house a home.

here's what else our family has been doing:
Michael:
-turned 12 on the 3rd!! he chose to go to a 2 story classy mcdonald's nearby. it was strange to eat cheap burgers with chandeliers overhead
-also celebrated his birthday with the movie pink panther 2 on saturday and banana cake last night (it took me that long to get ripe bananas because of course i could only find green ones in the store when i wanted to bake it)
-took more tests for gifted classes at school
-went sledding during school last week and another time with dad, tim, pastor dan and his son eric-that's 4 times so far!
-had an overnighter friday at church with about 20 other 3rd-6th graders
-registered last weekend for club spring soccer
-was asked to be in jazz band
-is home sick today....

Tim:
-finally caught up on homework last night after getting internet
-stayed home sick from church this past weekend and almost did today from school
-went to winter jam featuring toby mac, brandon heath, newsong, hawk nelson and others
-registered for high school classes
-spent the super bowl pregame at church for a family extravaganza and the game at pastor brent's home for youth party
-registered for club spring soccer and plans to do school track too
-chose to participate in a "true love waits" ceremony with 30 other youth this coming weekend at church and will have a new ring to wear
-loves his new king size bed and having his own room

Kraig:
-still trying to meet everyone involved in the worship ministry
-loves conducting the 40 person choir every week
-feels pulled between the "honey do" list at home and getting ahead with service planning
-is exhausted on sunday afternoons (he has 3 services plus rehearses choir during 1st message and rehearses worship team during 2nd message with sometime in there working with the orchestra)
-is beginning plans/ideas to add a video venue within the next year on sunday mornings since 2 of the services are quite full
-is also tired of shopping for the house
-loves spending time with pastor dan and developing relationships with the other pastors and support staff here
-enjoyed relaxing last night during the show 24

Kristin:
-is still amazed by the food pantry shower the choir gave us
-has enjoyed a break a few times a week from cooking thanks to families bringing us meals
-shoveled 5 times in 24 hours last week when we got a foot and a half of snow (we have a huge horseshoe driveway and there was already over a foot on the ground from before so the piles were above my head)... not much unpacking was done then
-can't wait for the temps in the 60's tomorrow!
-finally got my hair cut after over 3 months
-wants to be organized again
-needs a chiropractor and would love a massage
-also enjoyed the superbowl party (won 3 prizes) and chaperoning winter jam (especially toby mac)
-was encouraged at the high school registration meeting (which was the night we moved into our house) by the high caliber teachers and expectations for the students
-got several books on cleveland from the library while the boys were using the internet there for homework and is making lists of places to go and things to do