Confirmed! First Communion!

Today was Nathan's Confirmation and First Communion day! He was pretty nervous about it, although everything went off great. Mass was at 5p.m. and last about 1:45.

Grandma & Grandpa Steffan came to town early to take us out for lunch to celebrate (cudos to G&G Steffan...they were in GF on Wednesday night for practice for this event, again on Friday night for Hannah's recital dress rehearsal, and now again today...wow!). Uncle Gary, Aunt Annette, and Cousin Darek came to GF from Devils Lake. Uncle Brian, Aunt Latana, and Cousin Chay drove up from Fargo for the event, too (yes, Bri/Latana/Chay were in GF last night for Hannah's recital, too...road warriors!).

Nathan picked St. Michael the Arch-Angel as his patron saint and was thrilled with the statue Sandy found for him (see the pic of Nathan with his certificates). The statue created some discussion with the kids, specifically the devil under St. Michael's left foot (not quite in the picture).

Nathan: Cool! St. Michael the Arch-Angel defeating the devil!

Tyler: Why is the devil naked??

Me: I guess St. Michael beat the pants off him.

Hannah: And his shirt and socks, too.

Nathan's pretty happy being a confirmed member of the Catholic Church and able to take communion.

He's also a tired boy. All three kids are. Been a long weekend and tomorrow is the first day of the last week of school. Hard to believe that Nathan is going to be a 4th grader and Hannah is now finishing kindergarten! They're growing up too fast!

Deja Tutu

Last night was Hannah's Spring Dance Recital. The Pasley Ballet School practices all school year long for one night of recital. Hannah was in three dances this year: Ballet ("Somebody come and play"), tap dance ("Twist and Shout") and Jazz ("Sugar Sugar").

I was amazed at Hannah's classes and their development. This really struck me when I saw one of the 3-year old classes dancing. They are really cute in their tiny tutus, but none of them really know what they are doing. In one case, a little girl just stood on the stage with her arms crossed and a mad look on her face. The entire dance she just stood there, mad and upset. If anyone was dancing, they weren't dancing in time with anyone else on stage. They're really cute, though! That was Hannah's class a couple years ago.

This year everyone was trying to stay in time and dance along with everyone else. Everyone danced and most of them actually remembered the steps. I was impressed.

When Hannah danced her jazz dance, no one on the stage swung her hips more! I was so proud.

I used my new smartphone to take a video of her first dance...then I accidently deleted it.

I used my new smartphone to take a video of her second dance, too. I wasn't sure if Hannah could see us (Uncle Brian, Brother Nathan, and myself) sitting in the front row. She made eye contact a couple of times, but there didn't seem to be any recognition. I waved. Hannah got a big smile on her face and then blew me a kiss, right in the middle of the dance! Wow! She could see me after all!

I didn't take a video of the third dance due to memory limits on the phone.

For some reason I cannot find the video of the second dance. I don't think I deleted it and I hope to find it. I'll post it as soon as I do. I think the phone might be smarter than I am...

Special commendation to Sandy: Sandy listened, over and over, to Hannah's dance tape, writing down the dance steps and running Hannah through practicing them countless times to make sure she knew her stuff. Sandy also sewed alterations on Hannah's costumes, suffering a number of finger pokes (Sandy really, really doesn't like sewing). Sandy also volunteered to be a "backstage mom" for Friday night's dress rehearsal...a tough job of organizing all the girls in the class to be on stage on time, ready to go, providing snacks, taking little girls "potty," etc. (I didn't even mention how many times Sandy spent over an hour each time rolling Hannah's hair in curlers.) Sandy really knocked herself out.

PIRATES!!!

On Sunday, April 19th, the Grand Cities Children's' Choir held their Spring Concert. Nathan sings in one of the choirs. I am amazed at how well the GCCC takes these little kids and turns them into a singing unit. I remember my father telling me how many really bad concerts he went to when I was in just starting out in band (he waited until I was older and in bands that sounded good before telling me this...otherwise I may have become too discouraged to continue...). The kids of the GCCC sing really, really well.

On Satuday the 18th Nathan had a dress rehearsal. I told Hannah and Tyler that after I dropped Nathan off at the rehearsal I would come back and pick them up so we could go to the library. They love books and movies and the GF library has a great selection of each in the children's' department. The children's department has one other feature: a sailing ship. Back in 1999, one of the librarians kids was in Boy Scouts. For his Eagle Award service project he built this sailing ship against the wall: The HMS Eagle. The wall has been painted with a water scene and pictures of mermaid, Nemo, etc. The kids love playing on this ship.

The pictures above show what the two little ones looked like when I got back from the rehearsal to pick up them up.

Yes, I went to the library...a public place...with pirates!

Terri, one of the wonderful librarians, asked me if I minded if she took a couple pictures of the kids. I sighed and said “go ahead.”

A while later, when we went downstairs to check out our books, I ran into Terri again. She leaned over and asked if I minded if they used the pictures of the kids in the monthly newsletter...

“O.K.,” I sighed. “Just save me a copy...”

Easter

Sorry it's been a while since I've updated the blog. Here's the highlights from Easter:

1. Nathan decided he wanted a new bike this year. The bike he chose was $100. We hadn't intended on spending that kind of money on an Easter gift. We offered to split the cost with Nathan and he decided that was too good of an offer to pass up. The picture above is him on his new bike (sorry, the bike didn't make it into the picture too well).

2. Hannah wanted her hair done up fancy for Easter. We're learning that her hair doesn't dry too well in rollers.

3. Tyler likes his new hat that was in the Easter basket.

We headed out to the farm NE of Devils Lake for Easter. I had to come back early so I could work the next day. Sandy and the kids got a ride back from Grandma and Grandpa Steffan (we were down to one vehicle...see the post before this one).

Hey Buddy, can I borrow your car?

Last Tuesday, 3/31/09, I had to drive up to Grafton (approx 45 minutes NW of Grand Forks) to see some clients. There was a bit of bad weather in the area, but Grand Forks was pretty much outside of the bulk of the wet and white stuff. Fargo was expected to get 12 or more inches. Grand Forks was due for only 2 or 3 inches. Since I was leaving after lunch in broad daylight I figured I would risk it.

My first stop went very, very well. Sold a Long Term Care policy to a lovely farm couple. I left their farmstead pretty happy, having picked up a check for the policies, and in plenty of time to get to my next appointment. Unfortunately I ran into a bad patch of road just as I turned out of their farm, swerved around losing control, and ended up with the nose of my pickup in the water filled ditch! By the time the farmer pulled me out with his 4WD John Deere tractor and a really big chain, I had a couple inches of water on the floorboards of the passenger side of my truck. Some minor damage, mostly cosmetic, to the front end. My truck was still drivable and I made it home without incedent (still made it to my other two appointments that evening, just a little late).

Took my truck into the body shop today to get the $969.60 in damage repaired. I had a nice walk from the body shop to work, only a 10 or 15 minute walk while listening to music on my new smartphone.

I had a good appointment at work this morning. Towards the end of the appointment I was interrupted by one of the other agents in our office saying "your wife is on the phone." I asked him to see if it was an emergency...it's kind of an unspoken rule in the office that you don't interrupt an appointment with a client. He said that it was an emergency. I excused myself to answer the phone. It was Sandy. She was on her way to take Tyler to a gymnastics "open gym" time so he can play on the trampolines and gymnastics equipment. They were driving down the street when the elderly lady at the intersection decided not to stop at the stop sign. Total damage: $6400! No injuries, everyone is fine...only vehicular damage.

We have a rental minivan now...

It's embarrassing having to visit the bodyshop twice in one day: once to drop off a damaged vehicle, and three hours later to get an estimate on the other vehicle.