Merry Christmas!

Studying For Finals

This Saturday past, I had a few hours at home so I was able to get in some more studying for my final in Ancient and Medieval Church History for my class at Covenant Seminary.  As Gideon was at Christmas program practice, I buckled down and studied.  Hope came up with her notebook and asked if she could study with me.  So up she came and joined me in the fun.  I do believer, however, that my studying was a bit more stressful than her's.  However, we both did great work together and was her first study date.

  

I took the test last Sunday, after many hours of study, and hope the results of the test reflect the amount of learning this semester!  

First United Presbyterian Church Christmas Program

After two weeks of practices (for Gideon), and just showing up for Hope, 2/3 of the Terwilleger kids participated in this year's children's program at church.  Gideon got to be one of the shepherd's and Hope was one of the angels.  Gideon's favorite part was walking up the center aisle at church (and around the other side) telling each pew that, "Jesus is born in Bethlehem."  And Hope starred as an angel by having her thumb in her mouth almost the entire time on stage!  

This is a picture with most of the kids at the end of the program.

Hope had cute pigtails for the program.

I think she had a bit of stage fright.  Either way, I thought she was pretty cute up there.   

After the program, all the kids were up on the stage so family could take pictures.  

Once Gideon saw me taking pictures of him, he had to give me a look.  

Tummy Time

Well, Kathee has been working with Esther on "tummy time."  With the help of two older siblings, both of whom just dote and dote, tummy times seem less traumatic than for our elder kids.  Although Esther doesn't necessarily love tummy time, she handles it better than is expected.  

The part that is bittersweet is the fact that it seems like once she figures out how to roll over, that in no time she'll be up and walking and bounding around.  That being said, I think Gideon and Hope are ready to have a little one chasing them around.  This, too, shall come.  

Esther

While the older kids sleep on Sunday afternoons, Esther gets some one-on-one time.  She is such a sweet little thing, all smiles and big eyes!  We are blessed.

Gideon Had His First Concert for school

Hope and Vada

Vada's mom, Tara, texted me this picture while the girls were playing during church.  Loves these two princesses.  Daughters of the King!

Bubble Bath Whirl Pool at Grandpa Smith's

Exersaucer!!!

Our friends Matt and Katie Lange gave us this apparatus when Gideon was a baby!  All three kids have loved this thing.  So do we!

She's Batman

Gideon and Esther

He loves his sister, and she loves him, she just always looks scared.

The Long Bus Ride

Back when I was in kindergarten, I would walk the mile to school each day with my brother Aaron.  Since I went half-days, I would ride the city bus home each day.  The bus driver was Frannie Specht.  He looked out for me and was really nice to me.  I really liked him.  Now, one Tuesday a month, Gideon and I ride the bus home from my work.  I am currently training local youth pastors each month, and we meet close to Gideon's school.  That means I drop him off at school in the church van (super-cool for him), go lead the training, come and pick him up, and head back to church.  The city bus stops across the street from church, so we climb on the bus and head home.  Each Tuesday now Gideon asks if we can ride the bus home.  Each time I ride on the bus with my kindergarten-aged son, I remember those rides I took so many years ago.  

Husker Game at Grandpa Smith's

Each Husker game that has been on TV, we have watched down the street.  We love watching the game at Grandpa's and I think he loves having us!

Missionary Friends As Supper Guests

Roman was a translator for me on my first trip to Moldova.  He was also my translator for the youth trip.  When he married Emily (a Bethel College graduate from Eldridge, Iowa, who attends the church that I teamed with for all three trips), I was asked to participate in their wedding.  This week we had them to our house for supper.  They are raising funds to return to Moldova as Converge missionaries (the new name for the BGC).  They are living in Bettendorf (so I am lame for not having them over more).  We had a blast together!  

Brunch with Yim and Yulie

Our friends Jim and Julie Quandt invited us out to their house last Saturday for brunch.  Food was great and we had a great time with them.  We had waffles, omelettes, fresh fruit, the whole nine yards. The best part was that Hope got to help.

Hope and Gideon both love cooking.  Here she is helping Jim with waffles.

After eating, Gideon learned how to play Chopsticks with Jim.

We always have a great time with Yim mad Yulie.  What a great morning.

Sharpshooter

Tomorrrow night is my youth ministry's annual Nerf Wars night.  We will spend 3 and a half hours running around the church (which will be mostly dark) shooting Nerf Darts at each other.  I lead the night, playing many different games that the kids LOVE!  Normally we have between 25 and 30 teens show up to play.  It is, by far, the best outreach event we do!  So naturally I had to get my gun out and get practiced up a bit.  

Gideon wanted to get in on the action.  Hope did, too, but not as much as G.  His first shot went right in to my eye.  Perfect shot.  It scared him to death however as it really hurt.  Like a lot.  Like it could have been WAY worse.  So we had a discussion (again) about not aiming at people's heads and whatnot.  And in reality, his accident took him by total surprise.  

So after we talked about safety and gave it some time, Gideon had a blast with me as we took turns shooting at one of Hope's stuffed animals.  Turns out that I'm a bit better shot, but Gideon was really getting the hang of it by the end!

Smashed

Grandpa Smith stopped by for a quick visit tonight.  We were able to talk him in to eating supper with us.  And anytime Karl gets to spend time with the grandkids, they win.  "They" meaning Grandpa and the kids!  

I'm not sure, but I think Esther is feeling some head pressure as she's being scrunched between Grandpa and Gideon!  

Battalion Chief for Moline Fire Department

This week our neighbor had a house fire.  It was contained to the basement, but man was our block full of emergency personnel.  I was awakened by an ambulance and firetruck screaming down the street.  After the second huge-sounding firetruck passed, I jumped out of bed and threw on some shoes to head down the street.  It turned out that the house was a few down from my father-in-law's house.  When I passed Karl, who was running in to the house to get coats for the neighbors, there were TONS of firemen scurrying around, with police, ambulance, and fire trucks everywhere.  

Everything turned out fine.  It was a dehumidifier that burned up in the basement (the fireman told us that pretty much every dehumidifier is on recall).  While at the scene, the batallion chief came up and talked with the homeowners.  I was taken back with how cool his helmit was.  And I knew that Rhonda McKinley, a close family friend, is married to a retired battalion chief for Moline Fire.  Bill is a great guy, and he and I rib each other a lot.  So, after calling Rhonda and telling her that Bill was battalion chief because he must have had the strongest neck on the force (because the emblem on the guy's helmit looked heavy).  So then Thursday Rhonda brought Bill's helmit over for us to see it.  Gideon thought it SUPER-COOL.  I agree!  As you can see, he's well on his way to being battalion chief!

8 Seconds!

Well, I've noticed that I haven't done, well, really anything with Esther on this blog.  So here's some latest photos of the little sweet one.  Other than sleeping for 20 hours a day, she eats, and hangs out.  She is really a pretty quiet baby, and has recently begun cooing and talking back with me when I try to have some prett serious discussions with her.  

These are pictures right after she woke up to eat.  I don't remember Gideon or Hope waking up so happy as Esther has.  She is all smiles.  Man, I love seeing her smile.  Love the smile!  Anyway, these are the latest pictures of sweet Esther!  

Enjoy!

So It's Been Awhile

So I know this picture is pre-Esther, and is from last summer.  I just got a new device and am thinking I may be able to breath life back into this blog as my new iPad will make it easier to update my blog than using my phone.  I'll keep you posted... so to speak!

Baby Esther's Dance

Esther, although her due date is August 8, isn't waiting until then to familiarize herself with her older siblings.  The other night she was doing all kinds of dancing as Gideon and Hope touched Mama's belly.  The kids loved feeling their baby sister!

I LOVE This Picture

Gideon's New Wheels

Turning five and all, he needed a new bike.  Gideon and I have spent a little bit of time each day since he got it to ride a bit.  He loves it!

Field Trip to the Moline Fire Station