Packages Galore!

Lately Anthony has hit the mother load when it comes to packages. Every package that is left on our doorstep gets this big smile and complete excitement in the anticipation of opening it and finding out what's inside.
Let me recap A's after-day-care-coming-home-to-mail delight:
Package #1: This package was sent all the way from Arizona and included his Halloween costume in it. Unfortunately, the outfit was a bit too small (although completely adorable!) and the fabric about put him over the edge. We were sad to see he wanted nothing to do with it. (Don't fear - keep reading!)
Package #2: The following package is the one in the picture. (Yes, I'm dorky enough to get rid of the addresses. Safety first!) Anthony's great aunt Gretch from Oregon does a wonderful job of remembering him and sending fun, unexpected and wonderfully thoughtful gifts even though she has yet to meet him. (Although we are hoping that will happen soon!) The last package included a book he loves and a whistle he cannot get enough of. That being said, he was really excited to open this one too. To his delight he found yummy marshmallows and a new puzzle.
Package #3: Because package #1 didn't work out the seamstress, thankfully, made Anthony another costume that is roomy enough and in a comfy, Anthony approved fabric. On Friday he opened his new costume and to the delight of Mark and I couldn't wait to try it on. He wore it around and was once again excited to go trick or treating with Ry and Cam next weekend. (Pictures will soon follow!)
Package #4: This one was delivered today during nap time and ended up being the most revered of all. Last weekend after our time up north we, unknowingly, left Anthony's blanket at my parent's house. He did fairly well, but then ended up getting sick throughout the week. Of course he woke up crying one night and all he wanted was his brown blankie that was three hours away. Luckily, Grandma and Papa Johnson came to the rescue and sent it express for a mere $16.30. THANK YOU!

This auntie-to-be is EXCITED!

Simply irresistible!
Touching and looking at Manda's belly is amazing!
My little nephew is in there and will be out with us in a matter of months. How amazing.
I am now a firm believer that her belly is the most beautiful sight.

I cannot help but to copy these pictures from Manda's blog and post them on my own. This weekend we headed up north for a long, MEA break to celebrate our five year anniversary and spend time with family. Although I talk to her almost everyday, I haven't seen my sister since Anthony's birthday party back in August. Needless to say, it was a delight, as always, to spend time with her and to see her ever growing belly. Baby Tuttle sure is getting bigger and kicking up a storm. The most precious moment was when Anthony took his hand and tried very seriously to feel his baby cousin kick. It was just too cute. I'm looking forward to the next couple of months - baby showers, Thanksgiving celebration, baking goodies weekend, Christmas celebrations with family and friends and then, finally, Baby Tuttle's arrival. :)

Fire Station Open House

Today we were invited to go to Monticello's Fire Station's Open House with the Feierabends. Even though it was a chilly day outside we had a great time! Usually Anthony is very serious when it comes to things like this, but he was excited, smiling and spent lots of time exploring the station and vehicles with Ry and Cam.

Right away Anthony was all smiles and in love with the big ladder and all of the trucks.

Goofy pose!
(There were lots of those today! He was being quite the ham.)

Anthony became an official Fire Chief with his new hat and lots of generous goodies - batteries, stickers, a ball, coloring book, cup and candy. Whew!

Cam-a-roo!

The boys were able to check out the ambulance as well as all of the other emergency vehicles.

Mark and I just had to stand back and watch. Ry and Cam had moved on, but Anthony was in love with sitting in back of the cop car.

Cookies too? This fire station is AMAZING!

Even though it wasn't planned we ended up spending the rest of the day with the Feierabends. We had lunch together and then went over to their house for nap and play time/go Gophers and Twins game viewing/baking with apples/eating yummy chili for supper and visiting with other friends that popped by too. Today was a great and much needed day --- thanks for a wonderful Saturday!

Super Luke!

Super Luke, Wonder Jenn and the boys all decked out in their Vikings gear ready to celebrate and have some fun.

Check out my new shoes! Anthony loved them so much that he wanted to bring them home and asked to wear them days afterward.

Peterson and Chrebet having some fun in the arcade.

Last weekend we celebrated Luke's 30th birthday with some morning bowling and then the Vikings game back at the Feierabend's house. Anthony had a great time bowling for the first time, but quickly lost interest. However, he had plenty of friends to keep him entertained and busy. We all had a great time being with our amazing Becker friends and celebrating a friend we are proud to know and be a part of his life.

Welcome, Adele!

Gretchen and Arnold welcomed their little one, Adele Rufaro Changamire, on Wednesday. Last night Anthony and I visited Gretchen and her beautiful little RuRu at the hospital. She is absolutely amazing and brought tears to my eyes. I cannot wait to watch her grow and share all that comes with motherhood with my dear friend. Congratulations!

"When you get older you get BOLDER!"

Five years ago my Grandma J passed away. She was the second grandparent that I was able to be there when she died, which was a beautiful moment for me. I remember Manda and I feeding Grandma her last taste of ice cream and watching her lick her lips and exclaim how delicious it was; I remember one of the last things she said to me was, "You are my sunshine" and asked me to sing her that song. Every final moment with her was extremely sad, but heartwarming too. Besides being able to say goodbye and giving all my love to her at the end of her life, the best moment was just after she passed away and the nurses had cleaned her up. Manda and I sat beside her singing songs and talking about our lives with her.
Last week right before bed I saw an old book that I hadn't looked at in quite some time even though it remains on my nightstand. It was the only thing I wanted after Grandma passed away --- her Helen Steiner Rice book of poems, "Someone Cares". Towards the end of her life she couldn't see well and could no longer read, which really bothered this word lover. When I would visit I would always spend time reading a letter someone had sent or some poems from this book, which she loved. When I opened the book, moments with Grandma came flooding back along with the passion she felt about living life, making a joyful noise and seeing the good in everything and everyone. Even though I was giving her the gift of my eyes and ability to read all of those times together, she gave me much more. Her zest for life and pep in her step will always be with me.

I always read this poem multiple times to her.
Now it has become a favorite of mine too.

God, Are You There?
I'm way down HERE!
You're way up THERE!
Are You sure You can hear
My faint, faltering prayer?
For I'm so unsure
Of just how to pray -
To tell You the truth, God,
I don't know what to say...
I just know I am lonely
And vaguely disturbed,
Bewildered and restless,
Confused and perturbed...
And they tell me that prayer
Helps to quiet the mind
And to unburden the heart
For in stillness we find
A newborn assurance
That SOMEONE DOES CARE
And SOMEONE DOES ANSWER
Each small sincere prayer.

Her faith was so strong and went beyond church on Sunday. She exuded it in a beautiful, happy and loving way. There are many days that I need to be reminded of this and wish she was still here to cheer me on and exclaim, "Oh, Tonja! What a wonderful surprise!" (I could have used those words this week...)
Thank you, Grandma J, for giving me so much to be thankful for and loving me.

Sarah's Key

Sarah's Key, a historical fiction book, by Tatiana De Rosnay is a book I finished last night and would highly recommend. Even though I am done I know this story will stay with me for quite some time. All of this is not a surprise, though, because stories of the Holocaust always stay with me. Actually, I think it has become a part of who I am. Ever since I took The Anatomy of Hate class at BSU and sat horrified and riveted with a guest speaker who had survived Auschwitz I knew that I needed to remember. From the moment he lifted up his sleeve to reveal the imprinted numbers he was identified by on his arm I knew I would always have a desire to learn more about the survivors and those that had lost their lives.
My heart goes out to all of those who suffered so greatly; my empathy kicks into high gear and my mind immediately thinks of what would I have done. Would I have been brave? Would I have had a desire to fight and survive? How would it feel to be torn away from all those I love and everything I have ever known? Even though I try to put myself in their shoes there is no way I can imagine the absolute horror.

Sarah's Key is the first Holocaust book I have read since becoming a mother. It may sound cliche; however, I read it with different eyes and found myself overcome with emotion several times. This scene was especially hard for me:

"The policemen fell upon them like a swarm of large, dark birds. They dragged the women to one side of the camp, the children to the other. Even the tiniest children were separated from their mothers. The girl watched it all, as if she was in another world. She heard the screams, the yells, she saw the women hurling themselves to the ground, their hands pulling at their children's clothes, their children's hair. She watched the policemen raise their truncheons and bludgeon the women's heads, their faces. She saw a woman collapse, her nose a bloody pulp.
Her own mother stood next to her, frozen. She could hear the woman breathing in short, sharp gasps. She held on to her mother's cold hand. She felt the policemen wrench them apart, she heard her mother shriek, and then saw her dive back toward her, her dress gaping open, her hair wild, her mouth contorted, screaming her daughter's name. She tried to grab her mother's hands, but the men shoved her aside, sending her to her knees. Her mother fought like a mad creature, overpowering the policemen for a couple of seconds, and at that precise moment, the girl saw her real mother emerge, the strong, passionate woman she missed and admired. She felt her mother's arms hold her once more, felt the thick bushy hair caress her face. Suddenly torrents of cold water blinded her. Sputtering, gasping for breath, she opened her eyes to see the men drag her mother away by the collar of her sopping dress.
...The women were led away, out through the camp gates...Her mother's face turned to her one last time. Then she was gone."

All of those women were sent to Auschwitz to their death along with the men. The children soon followed. Again, I think about what would I have done? What could I have done? ANTHONY!?! Even though this scene happened in 1942 and it is a work of fiction the pain oozed out of every page.

Zakhor. Al Tichkah.
Remember. Never forget.