Back in the USA

Well, I've made the trip back from Winnipeg down to Bloomington today. It was a nice trip, no troubles at the border. The weather here is slightly warmer than Winnipeg, but definitely much greener. Mel and Marissa are still in Winnipeg and are spending the summer in Canada to visit family. I really hope that I'll be able to last without them here with me. Anyways, I'm not too sure what else to post so I'll end it with that.
Peace out,
Chris

Snow?!?!

Well, all I really have to say today is that I woke up and it was snowing!!!

When we left Bloomington there were leaves on the trees, and I think I finally noticed some buds on the trees here today! :-)

It has been quite cold here for the last few days. We got back to Winnipeg on Monday at around 5pm. Since then we have been helping my mom pack. She is moving on May 1st to Stonewall, which is only about a 20min drive from Wpg.

Marissa has been sleeping over at Grandma's house, and Chris and I have been sleeping at Mike and Kristi's. Things are now pretty much packed up. Mom rented a big truck from 9-4 on Sunday.

Please pray that the weather will be warmer on Sunday and that there will be no complications during the move. We would also appreciate help from anyone willing to move boxes.

Howdy from Dauphin

Here is an update of what's been happening for the last few days...

On Thursday I went to Curves with my mom. It was nice having someone to workout with and talk to. In the afternoon Chris and I went with my sister Diana to her chiropractic appointment with Dr. Tapper. Chris then stayed at the clinic (Tapper Chiropractic on Pembina - across from the U of M) for a couple of hours to shadow Dr. Tapper. He said it was enlightening, and he got a lot of ideas for when he starts working. Dr. Tapper also showed Chris how to do a couple of adjustments - with me being the guinea pig. He did a very good job! :-)

On Friday my mom and I went to Curves again. Chris took the car out to get cleaned up inside and out. It is nice to have a clean car again! That night Chris and I were supposed to go out to dinner and a movie, but the dinner went too long so I got dinner and dessert instead! I highly recommend Boston Pizza's Double Chocolate Mousse Cake. After dinner we packed up our stuff to stay at Chris' brother Mike's house for a couple of days.

On Saturday Mike and Kristi made us an eggs, bacon, and toast breakfast which was very delicious. Marissa and I met my mom and Vincenso at Pins and Needles to get Marissa's flower girl dress fitted. We kept her occupied with a bag of gummie bears so she was content to stand still in one spot. She was a very good girl - of course! ;-) Chris went to a baseball practice of the MOM's - Men of Maranatha. I also had another roll of film developed, so I hope to get more pictures posted in the next couple of days...

Sunday was Chris' birthday. I tried to let him sleep in while I got Marissa ready for Sunday school. We did a pretty good job - it helped that Kristi got up and watched her a bit for me while I got ready. ;-) We were only 15 minutes late. It was really nice to see everyone at Maranatha. Chris went to Assiniboine Park for lunch with friends, while I took Marissa back to Mike and Kristi's for a quick lunch so she could have a nap. She was pretty played out and really needed it. That evening Kristi's parents came over, along with my mom and my sister Diana, for Chris' birthday supper. We had a barbeque and ate outside. We also compared Mike's and Chris' barbequing skills, but I'm not allowed to say who won!?! I'm pretty sure that Chris had a really good day.

Today we packed everything up and headed to Dauphin to visit with my dad and extended family here. We left at 11:30, made a quick stop in Neepawa, and arrived at 3. We are planning on staying in Dauphin until Monday, and then we will head back to Winnipeg.

A long trip...

I was able to get Marissa and myself packed on time, so we left for Winnipeg today at about 1pm. We had to make a pit stop at Chris' school to get some papers signed, and then we made a stop at Eden Prairie Center. There, Marissa had her first haircut at Kid's Hair Inc. She was very good - she just sat in the chair and watched "Dora the Explorer" while the hairdresser trimmed her hair.

So we were on the road to Winnipeg by 2pm. It was a nice drive - the weather was beautiful the whole way. We only stopped once at Grand Forks for food and gas. (We also found out later that the food gave us gas!?! ;-) ) We arrived at my mom's at 9:15.

I know it was 9:15 'cause Chris and I bet on what time we would get here and I won. (Now it's on the record Chris, so you can't dispute it!)

Thanks so much to everyone who prayed for a safe trip. Marissa was very good too - the last hour Chris and I resorted to singing to entertain her, but that was actually kind of fun.

We are planning on staying in Winnipeg until Monday, when we will head to Dauphin to visit with my dad for a week. I'll try to keep everyone posted as to our whereabouts via this site.

PS It's Chris' birthday on Sunday. :-)

It's Potty Time!

I was pretty excited today. Since Christmas Marissa has been going to the potty most of the time when she had to "poo poo". The times we don't make it are usually when she goes right after she wakes up from a nap. I haven't been trying to pressure her though - I do realize this is pretty early. It was pretty easy to tell when she had to go, and she doesn't mind sitting on the potty, so I figured "why not?"

Today was a good day. In the morning she said "poo poo" and headed for the bathroom, so I helped her out. She likes to read while she sits, and after reading the book a couple of times through she will go. So this was a successful trip to the potty.

This afternoon, she said "pee pee" and headed for the bathroom. In the past she has done this a couple of times, but it was after she went. I thought this was a practice run, but I put her on the potty anyway. Normally she won't sit long, but this time she wanted to read her book. I read it for her a couple of times, and then she got real quiet and still. I stopped reading and ... she went!

Well - I was so happy I sang the potty song. :-) (Jess Friesen knows what I'm talking about!) I clapped and told her she was a good girl. NB: now when she does something she thinks is good she says "goo girl", so we must say this a lot

Now, I don't think she is potty trained yet. And I'm not going to throw out the diapers. But I thought it was pretty cool that Marissa wants to go to the potty. I guess I feel like we accomplished something today. I am really proud of her, and that makes me feel really good.

Pictures: Grandpa Kramp & Marissa

Grandpa Kramp (Chris' dad for those who do not see the resemblance ;-) ) came to visit us the last weekend of January. Marissa enjoyed playing with him at 5 in the morning - thankfully Grandpa is an early riser!


Grandpa Kramp & Marissa


Grandpa Kramp piggy-back ride

Picture: Marissa's new sunglasses

Marissa really hates having the sun in her eyes, especially when she is in the car. So I bought her a pair of sunglasses hoping I could convince her to wear them. Thankfully she really likes them, and can put them on and take them off by herself.


I'm a superstar!

Picture: shopper in training

This is after shopping at Target. Marissa is a very good shopper. For the most part she will sit in the cart and not complain too much. The best part is opening the "presents" when we get home.


Look Daddy, we went shopping!

Picture: travelling back to Bloomington

I thought I would post this picture to show how talented Chris is at driving and taking pictures at the same time! ;-)


sleeping beauty

Pictures: Marissa cleaning

Marissa likes to sweep and vacuum (vacuum can't be on though). She also enjoys dusting and cleaning up split drinks with a paper towel. (She will spill her milk at the table on purpose, point at it and say "mess", and wait for me to bring her the cloth to clean it up.)


Marissa helping Grandpa Nicholson...

our little helper...

Marissa helping Grandma Manweiller...

"Look ma! One hand!"

Picture: What a grin

This picture was taken in Dauphin at Grandpa Nicholson's house. As you can tell from the tree, it is shortly after Christmas Day '04.


Playing IN the toy box...

Picture: Marissa at Grandma Manweiller's house

Grandma Manweiller is Melanie's mom. She lives in Winnipeg.
Marissa liked to crawl in and out of the chair - by herself, of course!


Marissa playing in her booster seat

Picture: Marissa & Lyuba

Shaun and Lyuba are friends of Chris and Mel. This picture was taken at their house in Winnipeg in Dec 2004.


Lyuba and Marissa

Picture: Marissa at Lance Manweiller's Wedding

Lance is Melanie's cousin. The wedding took place in Headingly, MB in Dec 2004.


Marissa chewing on a straw

Pictures: Marissa all bundled up

Marissa - are you in there? 


Marissa riding in her sled 

Pictures: Christmas Day at Grandpa Nicholson's

Grandpa Nicholson & Marissa


Merry Christmas from the Kramps 2004


Chris and Marissa


Melanie and Marissa

Pictures: visit with Mike & Kristi

These pictures are from Chris' brother Mike and his wife Kristi's new house in Winnipeg. These are from around Christmas 2004.


Marissa caught a big one!


Surprise Mommy!


Go Canada Go! 


Marissa and Auntie Kristi just don't know!?! 

"back" - a useful word

"Back" is one of Marissa's favourite words. I think it may be tied with "stuck". Here are some occasions when Marissa likes to use it:

• when Marissa makes a mess of the DVD's, and decides to clean them up, she says "back" as she puts each one back on the shelf
• when Marissa goes up to her dad and says "back" this means that she wants a piggyback ride (NB: I must not be as good giving rides, as she never asks me for one.)
• when Marissa wakes up from her nap and you walk into the room, she takes her suckie out of her mouth and says "back" which means she no longer wants to sleep so you can put the soother back on the bookcase
• when Marissa drinks from her milk cup and then hands it to you and says "back" this means she wants you to put it back in the fridge

Right now there is a thunderstorm just starting. It sounds really cool. We had a storm a week ago or so, and Marissa didn't react at all to the noise. She is sleeping right now so I doubt she will even notice this one.

Well, I better go back to packing...

"Thank you"

Daddy and Marissa

Well, I'm not sure if I can top the kind of stories that Mel is able to relate to you guys, but there is one story of Marissa that really touched me, and I'll try my best to relate it to those of you who are reading.

It's hard being away from Mel and Marissa all the time with being nearly fully devoted to school, but I never realized that Marissa was missing me so much until one day between a long day of school and before I had to leave again to study I decided to play with Marissa. We were playing and I started to tickle her and she would start to squeal, and I would tickle her some more and she would squeal some more, then she said "thank you" almost as if she was saying, I missed you daddy. I am probably one of the luckiest guys alive, not only do I have a beautiful wife who is a perfect match for me, but I also have a beautiful little girl who is extremely precious and loves me a lot. There are days that seeing her pretty little eyes reminds of my goal of being a chiropractor and that helps me get through another day. All I have to say is thank you God for giving me such a beautiful little blessing.

Pictures: Marissa's room

Here is my version of a panoramic view of Marissa's room. I chose a Strawberry Shortcake theme, as the Strawberry Shortcake quilt was given to me when I was younger.


North wall of Marissa's room (door to the right). She likes to point at the cows and count them.


West wall of Marissa's room. The bookcase holds all of her books.


Marissa at her "reading" chair


Marissa's crib



South wall of Marissa's room. The Strawberry Shortcake quilt hanging on the wall was made for me by my Auntie Esther Spear.



South wall of Marissa's room (2). The table and chairs were used by my sisters and I when we were young.


East wall of Marissa's room. The drawings are courtesy of the Friesen boys - Silas, Levi, and Solomon.


East wall of Marissa's room (2). The big yellow "Tickle Trunk" that is now overflowing...