Encore!

By popular demand, we have some more videos of Dennis.

Baby Wise

This past weekend I saw a lot of my friends. I don't see them very often because I moved into a different ward this past summer. I have had a hard time making new friends because I love my old ones so much and its not like we live too far away to see them. Anyways, while I was discussing baby issues (not sleeping through the night anymore) with them, one of my friends suggested that I read the book baby wise. So, this week I have been reading and implementing the principles into our lives... harder to do than anticipated... we haven't quite figured it out yet- but I guess we are seeing results in ways that I didn't expect! Dennis has been exceptionally good for his babysitter, he waits patiently for his meals (for her) instead of crying, he seems to be growing really fast. Today his was bigger than yesterday and way more advanced in his vocabulary. Check out this video.

Here are some of my favorite pictures of father and son taken recently... (I might make an appearance in this blog someday)

playtime

Dennis was playing on the floor and I left the room for a second and when I came back, I couldn't find him. He was hiding. See if you can find him in this picture... He is getting used to tummy time. It still isn't his favorite thing... but the more he does it, the better he gets at it... and the more fun he has.

He is so funny and he knows it. :)

He's always got something to say.

I love Minnesota!

So, my brother Randy and his wife Chrissy just recently moved back to Minnesota and I am sooo jealous! Especially when they make cool movies like this one to rub it in. I tried copying and pasting the video but that didn't work... so, hope they don't mind- Im sending all of you to check out this video on their blog.

http://randyandchrissykannas.blogspot.com/2009/01/merry-christmas-to-all.html

Oh and Happy Valentine's Day. :)

This too shall pass...

I had to tell this to myself last week. Without going into details, I can tell you that last week was one of the hardest weeks of my life--definately the hardest of my career. I felt very used, manipulated, and persecuted. Even though I did everything that I could to fix the situation, this parent still came to my class with a piece of paper and a pen to try to find fault in anything that I did.

Lessons that I learned:

1. How to pray for those who despitefully use you and persecute you.

2. It's hard to love your enemies.

3. Just because someone is quiet doesn't mean that they are nice.

4. It's what a person does once they are offended or mad that shows their real character.

5. Some people don't know what it means to be Christian.

6. I have a pretty nice life. (I already knew this one.)

Today was the first day that I taught this student's class without her mother there... Oh how it felt nice. Hopefully, this nightmare is over....

Anyways... Here are a couple of highlights from this past week in Dennis's life.

This video Dennis eats his rice cereal all by himself!

Unfortunately, the next morning he screamed for an hour and a half... so either his stomach isn't ready for rice cereal or he is alergic... hmm... what do you think?

I thought that Dennis was wearing the cutest outfit today, so I took a couple of pictures. I LOVE dressing him. Some mornings we go through 3 outfits just finding what I want him to wear. He doesn't seem to mind unless it cuts into his meal time.

notice the matching huskey dogs. Buster and Bruno were intimidated to say the least.

I LOVE THIS BOY!

Paradise Lost

I wish I could tell you how happy and wonderful things are in the post that marks my debut into the blogger world. Unfortunately I'm just writing because I'm pissed off and want you and Rita to know that I'm mad on her behalf.

Rita's been dealing with a difficult parent for the past week. To sum up my understanding: the daughter was offended by Rita last year (no, not Dec. 2008, we're talking like Dec. 2007) and never said anything to indicate this to Rita but has been feeding her mom crap ever since then.

Yesterday Rita met with the parent and went way out of her way to pacify her. Rita thought they came to some agreement about things Rita would work on to fix the situation. The effort of talking with this lady left Rita in tears once the conversation was over. Unfortunately, the woman, without giving any indication that she had been unsatisfied yesterday, decided to go to the district office and complain about Rita further.

Here is my unbiased perspective on the situation: Rita is a wonderful teacher that reaches the majority of students in a very special way. The parent is over-sensitive, incredibly rude, mean-spirited, and cowardly (if leaving a meeting as if things are all right and going up the ladder the next day isn't cowardly, I don't know what is). Unfortunately, she seems to be raising a daughter to fit the mold. The sad thing is, this parent teaches high school math so you'd think she would have at least a little empathy.

the rolls in action

...and the litle one said, "roll over, roll over"....

...so they all rolled over and one fell off....

Yes! Yesterday Dennis rolled over!

He is also starting to eat rice cereal... I'm not sure how much he likes it yet.