Every year, Bryce's Grandma and Grandpa Knutsen create "Turkey Notes" for all of their many grandchildren. I thought I'd share the Turkey Notes written for Bryce, me, and Poppy. (Don't read into them-they usually don't make a ton of sense...:) )
Bryce:
Turkey's not a Sophie
Turkey's not a Bradley
Turkey's overwhelmed
He is a Daddy!
Kim:
Turkey's not a Chester
Turkey's not a Tommy
Turkey is much better
She is a mommy!
Poppy:
Turkey is a Kicker
Turkey is a hoppy
Everyone loves you
Because you are Poppy!
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Friday, November 21, 2008
Happy Engaged Anniversary to Us! :)
Tomorrow will mark the two year anniversary of Bryce and my engagement. It was a cold and rainy night...Bryce told me we were going out to eat in Philly with friends, who all of a sudden "couldn't make it" at the last minute. We had a nice dinner, and then headed out on the town. We walked around a bit...as the rain had stopped for a little. And we stopped at the stairs of Tenth Presbyterian Church. This church had been the first place Bryce and I travelled to together, and probably when I knew for sure I would be with him, one day. It ended up also being the church we were married in. It was pretty special for us.Bryce sat me down on the stairs, and took out a poem, and began to read it to me. He then added his own lines...he was nice and smooth, I assure you. And out came the ring. It was a really wonderful and special evening.
I think we have learned so much in 2 years...most of all-how tough marriage is! Things I have learned through being married.
My advice for a good marriage/things I am learning about marriage:
Appreciate coming home to your best friend.
The things that drive you crazy about another person will probably always drive you crazy-so don't waste too much energy on trying to make them change.
You have to make a little time for just each other.
2 stubborn people=soooo many conversations that lead to not a whole lot of change in the end-but keep being willing to have the conversations!
Give in once in awhile.
Think of the other person, and what you can do to make them happy.
Play together, even if you're competitive.
Don't make big decisions by yourself!
Don't wait until something terrible happens to remind the other person how much they mean to you.
Say "thank you" and "I'm sorry"--and mean it!
Have secrets that only you two know about one another.
I think that's all for now. :)
Thursday, November 13, 2008
4 Months Pregnant
Well, we went to the doctor today, to check on Poppy. We will be 4 months by Monday! I think part of us wonders where the time has gone, and are freaked out by having a child in 5 months, but I think the other part is wondering if this baby will every get here!
The baby is doing well, heart is beating nice and strong, and I am feeling good, so I guess these are all good signs.
I had to buy my first pair of maternity pants...I was at the doctor, and when the ob checked me out, she noticed the large indent in my skin from my jeans button..."Um...have you considered maternity pants?" She asked. Crap, I thought. But I caved, and bought a pair--and they feel really good actually. I am quite pleased.
In a month we could potentially find out the sex of the baby. Bryce has been wanting to find out, while I have definitely been wanting to wait. I am really liking the idea of a "surprise", and I kind of have these dreams of delivering the baby and Bryce saying, "It's a girl!" (or boy--I really have no preference either way) So, I think we will be waiting, however, I/we are willing to hear your arguments on the matter if you have a preference to finding out vs. not finding out.
I know everyone wants to see a belly picture, so I'll make sure to take one of those in the next couple days too.
Oh, and I am pretty sure I felt the baby for the first time the other day. It was very quick, and very subtle, yet noticable. It kind of felt like the nervous butterflies, but just one big butterfly-fluttering across my stomach very quickly. Any hoot--if I did feel it, it was pretty cool, but I'm anxious for it to happen again!
Well, that's the update on Poppy--make sure you talk to her/him when you see me next--I want her/him to know all of my wonderful friends and family right away! :)
The baby is doing well, heart is beating nice and strong, and I am feeling good, so I guess these are all good signs.
I had to buy my first pair of maternity pants...I was at the doctor, and when the ob checked me out, she noticed the large indent in my skin from my jeans button..."Um...have you considered maternity pants?" She asked. Crap, I thought. But I caved, and bought a pair--and they feel really good actually. I am quite pleased.
In a month we could potentially find out the sex of the baby. Bryce has been wanting to find out, while I have definitely been wanting to wait. I am really liking the idea of a "surprise", and I kind of have these dreams of delivering the baby and Bryce saying, "It's a girl!" (or boy--I really have no preference either way) So, I think we will be waiting, however, I/we are willing to hear your arguments on the matter if you have a preference to finding out vs. not finding out.
I know everyone wants to see a belly picture, so I'll make sure to take one of those in the next couple days too.
Oh, and I am pretty sure I felt the baby for the first time the other day. It was very quick, and very subtle, yet noticable. It kind of felt like the nervous butterflies, but just one big butterfly-fluttering across my stomach very quickly. Any hoot--if I did feel it, it was pretty cool, but I'm anxious for it to happen again!
Well, that's the update on Poppy--make sure you talk to her/him when you see me next--I want her/him to know all of my wonderful friends and family right away! :)
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Some days, you gotta dance!
So, this past weekend we went to our friends/old roommate's, Andy and Lindsey's wedding. It was a lot of fun, and it was good to be able to spend some quality time with friends, and to join in on their special day. It was very special-and custom to who they are both individually and as a couple, and I liked that.
I think the best part was just letting loose to dance though. I've decided that we all need a reason to dance. We didn't take a whole lot of pictures...mostly because we rocked the dance floor all night, but we really had a great time. Here are just a couple, of us, and our friend Randy.
Good times. I thought you might like to see.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
house show
Some of you prefer that I use CAPS when I post so I'll try to accommodate you.
Kim, Poppy and I are looking forward to the holiday season. This year we're hoping to develop some of our own traditions with family and friends. Here are a couple of ideas we have...
For some time now I've wanted to follow the Christian liturgical calendar through Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany. Advent starts on the fourth Sunday before Christmas and continues through Christmas Eve. The 12 days of Christmas begin on the 25th and ends on the feast of Epiphany. You all know the song that goes with the 12 days of Christmas, right? Well this year I think we'd like to pay a little more attention to each of the days. You might have fun doing this with us. Does anyone want to dialogue with us so we can explore together?
Kim and I are also planning a breakfast for all of our friends at our house. My mom's "Warm Grapefruit w/Brown Sugar" has made quite an impression on Kim. We hope to share the love.
December 13th we're hosting (which means it's at our house) a House Show for John Francis. He's a local musician we know through the Circle of Hope Network. This will be for anyone we know in the area. We're looking forward to the warmth of seasonal cheer, good music, and people we love. I wish our house could hold more than 35 people!
What are you doing for the holidays? Maybe we could share some ideas...
Kim, Poppy and I are looking forward to the holiday season. This year we're hoping to develop some of our own traditions with family and friends. Here are a couple of ideas we have...
For some time now I've wanted to follow the Christian liturgical calendar through Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany. Advent starts on the fourth Sunday before Christmas and continues through Christmas Eve. The 12 days of Christmas begin on the 25th and ends on the feast of Epiphany. You all know the song that goes with the 12 days of Christmas, right? Well this year I think we'd like to pay a little more attention to each of the days. You might have fun doing this with us. Does anyone want to dialogue with us so we can explore together?
Kim and I are also planning a breakfast for all of our friends at our house. My mom's "Warm Grapefruit w/Brown Sugar" has made quite an impression on Kim. We hope to share the love.
December 13th we're hosting (which means it's at our house) a House Show for John Francis. He's a local musician we know through the Circle of Hope Network. This will be for anyone we know in the area. We're looking forward to the warmth of seasonal cheer, good music, and people we love. I wish our house could hold more than 35 people!
What are you doing for the holidays? Maybe we could share some ideas...
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
this election season...
Kim and i have been wading through this election season with steps seeped in amazement. so many notable things have surfaced in these last few months. I'd like to make a few observations that express this amazement.
within the lifetime of my coworkers and some family members African-Americans have secured the ability to vote and now know the next president will be one of their own. this change has come with painstaking determination. some of you don't face racism everyday. since i moved to NJ/Philadelphia my attempts to understanding the deep seeded racial tension Kim and I live in has changed my view of the world. i wonder what it feels like to overcome suppression. this amazes me.
many of the Christians I know believe God's choice for president ran under the slogan of "country first". McCain said in his speech last night that he has no higher loyalty than to the country he loves. this romantic nationalism should have no support from Christians who claim their allegiance and citizenship are to Christ and his kingdom. this amazes me.
through the recent microscopic inspection of the candidates and their policies, a relatively few number of people have taken a step back to look at the larger picture of historic liberal politics of which both modern "conservative" and "liberal" politics are a part. the differences between Obama and McCain are minute in comparison. both candidates want to continue the foreign policies that have come back to haunt us such as supporting the Taliban in Afghanistan to fight the Russians in the 1980's and then dropping them when our purposes were served. both candidates support these policies. this shortsightedness amazes me.
the accusations of socialism thrown at Obama are very disturbing. socialism would entail the government taking all of your money and redistributing it evenly. taxing the very richest Americans to help the very poorest Americans may, at a glance, look socialistic, but it is far from socialism. these accusations amaze me.
in many center-left Christian circles Obama was praised as if the kingdom he preaches was the kingdom of God. the kingdom of God as described in the gospels does not have a commander-in-chief that is willing to "switch focus" from Iraq to Afghanistan. this delusion amazes me.
a couple of thoughts...if Americans spent half the energy they used in this election on loving their neighbors, we'd be the salt and light Jesus has called us to be. government is not our savior. Jesus, who has beaten sin and death on the cross, is in the process of turning wrong to right and evil to good. if we believe in his program of redemption we cannot buy either candidate's policies.
hope all is well with you. feel free to tell me what you think.
bryce.
within the lifetime of my coworkers and some family members African-Americans have secured the ability to vote and now know the next president will be one of their own. this change has come with painstaking determination. some of you don't face racism everyday. since i moved to NJ/Philadelphia my attempts to understanding the deep seeded racial tension Kim and I live in has changed my view of the world. i wonder what it feels like to overcome suppression. this amazes me.
many of the Christians I know believe God's choice for president ran under the slogan of "country first". McCain said in his speech last night that he has no higher loyalty than to the country he loves. this romantic nationalism should have no support from Christians who claim their allegiance and citizenship are to Christ and his kingdom. this amazes me.
through the recent microscopic inspection of the candidates and their policies, a relatively few number of people have taken a step back to look at the larger picture of historic liberal politics of which both modern "conservative" and "liberal" politics are a part. the differences between Obama and McCain are minute in comparison. both candidates want to continue the foreign policies that have come back to haunt us such as supporting the Taliban in Afghanistan to fight the Russians in the 1980's and then dropping them when our purposes were served. both candidates support these policies. this shortsightedness amazes me.
the accusations of socialism thrown at Obama are very disturbing. socialism would entail the government taking all of your money and redistributing it evenly. taxing the very richest Americans to help the very poorest Americans may, at a glance, look socialistic, but it is far from socialism. these accusations amaze me.
in many center-left Christian circles Obama was praised as if the kingdom he preaches was the kingdom of God. the kingdom of God as described in the gospels does not have a commander-in-chief that is willing to "switch focus" from Iraq to Afghanistan. this delusion amazes me.
a couple of thoughts...if Americans spent half the energy they used in this election on loving their neighbors, we'd be the salt and light Jesus has called us to be. government is not our savior. Jesus, who has beaten sin and death on the cross, is in the process of turning wrong to right and evil to good. if we believe in his program of redemption we cannot buy either candidate's policies.
hope all is well with you. feel free to tell me what you think.
bryce.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
I'm All Alone...
It is a little weird being by myself this weekend. Bryce is off galavanting in Buffalo, NY for a work trip, and he has left me here to fend for myself for a few days. Let's see what I've been doing for the past few days without him.
Well, Wednesday I went to my Mommy's and watched the Phillies win the World Series!! Can you believe it? The World Series! I have never seen the city of Philadelphia win a championship in my lifetime--so what an exciting moment! I think I might have had a tear in my eye the moment Brad Lidge struck out the last Tampa Bay Ray. :)
Friday, in order to celebrate, I took a half day of work to go up to the city for the Phillies parade and ceremony down Broad Street. I have never seen anything so CRAZY in my life! There were SOOOOO many people flooding the streets, cheering and celebrating like crazy, it was NUTS! Mom scored me tickets to the ceremony inside Citizens Bank Park so Laurie and I met at the stadium after a looooong, tiring day of walking, trying to connect with one another, etc. But it was definitely cool to see them make some speeches and get some Philly Phan treatment. But it was definitely a long day. I will put some pictures up soon so you can see what I mean.
Friday night I headed out to an annual party in South Philly that is called "Etharween", as it is thrown by a friend named Ethan. We didn't make it last year, but I was glad to go this year. He made it a mustache theme, and I decided to go as a milk advertisement. I packed on some white goop on my top lip, and carried around a glass of fake milk. I was pretty impressed with my simple/yet cleverly-mustached costume. We also did a lot of dancing. I love dancing. I mean, seriously love dancing.
Today I will be doing the necessary house work...fun, fun. Anyway, just thought I'd give an update on the last few days by myself. Oh--and I stayed in our house by myself for the first time--2 nights in a row! I'm so proud of myself. :)
Well, Wednesday I went to my Mommy's and watched the Phillies win the World Series!! Can you believe it? The World Series! I have never seen the city of Philadelphia win a championship in my lifetime--so what an exciting moment! I think I might have had a tear in my eye the moment Brad Lidge struck out the last Tampa Bay Ray. :)
Friday, in order to celebrate, I took a half day of work to go up to the city for the Phillies parade and ceremony down Broad Street. I have never seen anything so CRAZY in my life! There were SOOOOO many people flooding the streets, cheering and celebrating like crazy, it was NUTS! Mom scored me tickets to the ceremony inside Citizens Bank Park so Laurie and I met at the stadium after a looooong, tiring day of walking, trying to connect with one another, etc. But it was definitely cool to see them make some speeches and get some Philly Phan treatment. But it was definitely a long day. I will put some pictures up soon so you can see what I mean.
Friday night I headed out to an annual party in South Philly that is called "Etharween", as it is thrown by a friend named Ethan. We didn't make it last year, but I was glad to go this year. He made it a mustache theme, and I decided to go as a milk advertisement. I packed on some white goop on my top lip, and carried around a glass of fake milk. I was pretty impressed with my simple/yet cleverly-mustached costume. We also did a lot of dancing. I love dancing. I mean, seriously love dancing.
Today I will be doing the necessary house work...fun, fun. Anyway, just thought I'd give an update on the last few days by myself. Oh--and I stayed in our house by myself for the first time--2 nights in a row! I'm so proud of myself. :)
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