Update

Hi everybody! Sorry that it has been so long since we've updated the blog. It's been a busy summer and it doesn't look like it will slow down any time soon.

Stacy continues to look for a job that will allow her to bring Edie along. Right now she is keeping busy doing hair, editing photographs, and keeping our home in order (no small task with me around). She has resumed her piano playing responsibilities at church and, it appears, just in time, as we are going to two services next Sunday (9/9). She is very happy that she now has a piano at home to practice on, thanks to the Wiebes (for donating) and John Johnson (for moving). I am trying to get her to start blogging, now that we have the Internet at home, so we'll see when she decides to take it on.

I have been very busy at work. I made a trip to Bowling Green, Kentucky August 13th-15th. We are moving our fulfillment center (warehouse) from here in Eden Prairie to Bowling Green. I assisted the Loss Prevention team there with setting up and training on their new metal detector system. With the fulfillment center move, we've been very busy making preparations and making sure everything is ready to go. I've been told that my job is secure, so I'm not too worried. At the same time, I'm taking the necessary steps to be prepared in case that changes.

Unfortunately, Stacy and I haven't made much progress on our home improvements. We now have a functioning dishwasher and we recently acquired a refrigerator, stove, microwave range hood, and sink and fixtures from Stacy's former employer. Our friends, Luke & Michael Miller, helped us move and install the new appliances. The refrigerator was an extremely tight fit and required the removal of some pieces of trim and a little bit of counter top, but we got it in there. The other refrigerator was moved to the laundry room, just off of the kitchen, and will make for a nice backup or overflow. Thanks to our local Hardware Hank, I was able to get the parts I needed to get the stove hooked up. Stacy is very happy with her newer stove. The old one got moved to the garage for now and we'll have to either find a new home for it or set it out by the curb with a "Free" sign on it. The sink and microwave range hood will have to be future projects, as I don't have the time to work on them now. Besides, Stacy wants the bathroom finished first.

Edith is continuing to grow. I don't remember her exact stats from the last doctor's visit, but it was something like almost 12 lbs. and 23 inches long. She's in the 75th percentile for everything, I think. Stacy dressed her in an outfit that she wore as a newborn and the pants looked like Capri's, so she's definitely growing. She's still sleeping through the night and eating really well. She's not very happy with riding in the car. We attribute that to the 16 hour drive to Ohio a month or so ago. Stacy and I are still smitten with her though.

Well, lots of work to be done, so I'd better get to it. We'll work on being more "on the ball" with updating the blog. Thanks for checking in.

Joel & Stacy

At the aquatennial fireworks in Minneapolis.

Edie getting a bath. She likes bath time.

Sporting a funny smile.

Looking serious, but behaving while Mom & Dad take pictures.