school's (sort of) out for summer...

hi everybody. it's hard to believe our last blog entry was nearly two months ago. don't take this silence to mean there's been nothing noteworthy happening in our little corner of british columbia—it would actually be more accurate to say that there’s been so much going on, that we just haven't had a spare moment to write about any of it.

i finished up the semester just about two weeks ago. the last month of school ended up being an extremely intense time for me, as i wrote over a half dozen papers, worked my way through a couple hundred pages of course reading, and took a couple final exams. needless to say, i was ready for a little time away from the classroom.

since then i've been hanging out with karen and jeremiah as much as possible, playing some video games with my buddy severin, watching a little baseball, and reading some good books on marriage and parenting. tomorrow i’m going salmon fishing in the pacific!

what’s next for school? i’m taking a few classes this summer (the first one begins next monday). some of the courses are on prayer, the old testament book of proverbs, and social ethics/social justice. i’m really looking forward to them! i'm also in the process of lining up an internship for next fall—it’s a program requirement that i have one year of work experience prior to graduation. in that time, i’m hoping to be able to work for a local nonprofit organization that provides services for the poor and homeless of vancouver.

as for karen, she continues to work a lot of long and hard hours at starbucks. we just bought a new espresso machine, so she's even been pumping out the drinks left and right when she's at home. she's doing really well as supervisor, and was just named partner of the month for april (her third time in seven months of employment).

when not at work, she's been busy hanging out with her folks (they're in town right now for a three week visit...can you say free babysitting?).

she's also planning on taking a course at regent this summer. she hasn't decided on one just yet, but nevertheless is extremely excited about the opportunity.

jeremiah has been an extremely busy little boy too. he has four new teeth, bringing the total now to twelve. his vocabulary has expanded quite a bit over the last couple weeks and now includes head, nose, ear, mouth, eye, shoe, plane, water (this is by far most frequently said), ball, bubble, spider, and amen (when he knows we're about to eat, he'll walk through our apartment shouting it over and over again).

his passion for the written word still burns strong, with his favorite books being "snuggle puppy" and "jesus and the twelve dudes who did." he also has become quite the music lover, with his favorite tunes ranging from "head, shoulders, knees, and toes" to anything by the beattles. when not reading or dancing to music, he likes to talk on the phone. he walks around our apartment with his cell phone to his ear talking up a storm!

he also loves to be outside and play. his routine always seems to be the same and includes going for a swing in the backyard, playing in the landlord's flower bed, throwing rocks here and there, falling on the sidewalk and getting a boo-boo, and crying when mommy and daddy tell him it's time to go in.

hope you are doing well. it's been fun to hear from some of you via phone calls, emails, instant messenger, and even an occasional letter or two. hope you know we think of you often!
p+k

4.06.06- jeremiah and mommy putting graffiti on the landlord's driveway
4.29.06- jeremiah and daddy spending some time alone together over a mcdonald's ice cream cone

4.08.06- jeremiah and daddy while mommy's at work

4.08.06- jeremiah dancing to some beattles music

4.09.06- jeremiah with all his gear on while watching a cubs game with mommy and daddy

4.25.06- jeremiah with his toy frog hanging around his neck

4.17.06- jeremiah and mommy talking on the phone together

4.25.06- jeremiah with his book of nursery rhymes (anybody up for a good ole round of "row, row, row your boat?")

4.09.06- jeremiah helping mommy and daddy make cookies