AJ has started school! We have a preschool at our church, Lake Area Discovery Center (http://www.ladcfamilies.org/), that AJ is attending. We went last year to Families First at LADC, a parent/child class, but this year he started Terrific Two's. Every Thursday for 2 1/2 hours I drop him off and he attends school- BY HIMSELF! It wasn't hard to leave him, but when I got home, I was a little sad. He had his first school pictures taken and they turned out great. He participated in his first Bike-A-Thon to raise money for LADC and he even asked for pledges on his own (well, maybe with a little help from mom). He did a wonderful job riding, although he doesn't quite get the peddling part, he just pushes off with his feet. He even went on a pony ride at the event as well! We also are continuing our music class and swimming lessons at the YMCA on Fridays, so we will be busier now! He is just getting too big.
Speaking of big, my nephew Gage is growing like a weed and getting more adorable by the day. He is now 4 months old and I am a very proud Godmother! And since my last post, I found out I am going to be an Auntie again. My brother John and his wife are expecting in January 08. We are very excited to meet our new little niece!
More exciting news for us, Joe is no longer an employee at IBM. He accepted a job at US Bank leading the network configuration team. It is a big step for him, he has been with IBM for 8 years, but it's a great opportunity for him and it means I can quit my morning hours at the YMCA! It is an office job, so no more working from home, but now AJ and I can visit him at work and take him out for lunch! It will be hard not having him here to "bail" me out when I need it, but we are so excited and PROUD of him!
And still more exciting news, we are so proud to officially welcome Katie into our ever growing family! Joe's brother Dan proposed last weekend and they are planning a Fall 08 wedding! We couldn't be happier, Katie is a wonderful person and AJ loves her bunches and is already calling her Auntie Katie.
Joe also rode in his first Century Ride (100 miles to clarify) on the 22ND of September (our 6 year anniversary) from Park Rapids to Itasca State Park and back. He has been training for a while and and it paid off, he finished in 7 hours and 40 minutes (even after a little detour, he is a little directionally challenged)! I think he is enjoying this even more then he did running and it's definitely easier on his body.
I am really enjoying not getting up at 3:30 am anymore. I have had more energy and we have been doing a lot more fun stuff! We meet the Jankowski/Taufen side out at the apple orchard for some fun and are meeting them again in a few weeks for pumpkin picking. We are heading this weekend to Iowa for my grandparents 60Th wedding anniversary. My Aunt and her kids are flying in from CA and everyone else should be there too. It should be a lot of fun seeing everyone!
Well, that is probably enough for now, I will try and be a better blogger now that I have more free time in front of the computer!
