Shoji-isms - Why we love her

Shoji's grasp of English slag and idioms is rather breath-taking.

1. Flack vs. Slack - During the Favre saga Shoji told a friend that Ryan was catching a lot of slack at work from the guys...

2. Shoji is holding Stephen in her lap and he bounces up and whacks Shoji's head with his head and Shoji says... "Ouch!! Stephen just head bunted me!!" (like bunt a baseball rather than head-butted).

3. After Ryan's trip to the doctor Shoji proceeds to tell Dad Steve that Ryan got "goosed" at the doctor.

I am sure there are many more, we will keep posting as Shoji continues to make us laugh.

The Boldt Top 8 List of 2008

1. An unexpected gift of a trip to Kauai, HI in the middle of a relentless winter – Feb 2008

2. The 2nd annual Boldt Three Bear’s Lodge trip – the perfect water park for any kid under 5 and their cousins – July 2008

3. Experiencing the wilder side of our family at the Big Fat Indian Wedding in Maryland with a stop in Pittsburgh with more fun cousins under 5 – May 2008

4. Shoji inheriting (and surviving) ownership of Awakenings Counseling when her business partner and dear friend moved – May 2008

5. Quetico, Canada – 7 days, 6 nights of camping, canoeing, backpacking (70 lbs) and surviving in the wild with 2 of our most adventurous friends and living to tell about it!! (ask us) – August 2008

6. Making memories with our sister and brother-in-law in Seattle this Christmas – Dec 2008

7. Friends, friends, friends. Having a blast with our special friends in the neighborhood this summer and 3 of the 4 year-olds learning to ride their bikes on the same day! You go Priya, Bella and Jaidan! - Oct 2008

8. Kids out of diapers! Well…almost…”You are sooo close Stephen!” - TBD

9. A blessed ministry season with serving those in need through Parivar (educating and counseling those of South Asian origin) , Celebration of Hope, Feed my Starving Children, Habitat For Humanity, a trip to the Dominican Republic, Stock the Storehouse and so much more see: http://wcccdundeecrownarea.blogspot.com/

10. Our new IMac – our Christmas gift from last year - endless slide shows, photos, making movies, DVDs and blogs…see The Boldt Family Blog so you don’t have wait til next year to get caught up with the Boldts: http://zrboldt.blogspot.com/

I know this started out as the Top 8 List of 2008 because it sounded good but as we stopped to reflect on the year, the blessings seem endless. We are looking forward to discovering new adventures for the New Year! Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy, adventurous New Year too!

Love,
Ryan, Shoji, Priya (5) and Stephen (3)

Priya's Proverbs - on skunks

Today we were driving in the van and Priya smells a skunk and she says... "Dad do smell that Stunkt?".... a combination of skunk and stunk...

Neighborhood and kids learn to ride bikes

Ammachi's Visit - Priya Hair Cut

Carrie Underwood - Concert at the Sears Center

Last night Shoji and I got free tickets to Carrie Underwood concert and went with Jack & Mary Jo Gallaway and John and Kathy Angle. It was really fun!

We really liked her song Jesus take the Wheel and the other on about her home town. And there was a funny song about the more boys she meets the more she likes her dog. I would like my daughter to listen to that one...LOL. However, I must say I am showing my age as we were surrounded by 15-teen year olds screaming at the top of their lungs, I mean ear-piercing screams. And they knew every word of the songs and I had never heard of any of them!

But she was talented and lovely and all that which I suppose is why she won American Idol.

Stephen's Actions - helping

This morning Stephen helped mom make pancakes, then went potty all by himself, and then asked if Dad would help him vaccum his room, and then put the clean silverware away (correctly), even at 2 he is an amazing taskman and great helper. And he can actually do stuff that I just never thought he would be able to do.

Some days you think your children are just angels.

Stephen's Sayings -

Stephen said the other day, "I was a little baby a long, long time ago. But now I am a big boy!!" - he is 2 almost 3.

Priya's Proverbs - Toot toot chugga chugga big red car

Yesterday in the van we all went to the doctor for mommy's check up. On the way back Priya lets a big toot go. Dad turns around and asks "What was that??"

Priya with out skipping a beat, and right on tune, breaks into a chorus sung by the Wiggles, "Toot toot, chugga chugga, big red car...."

Stephen laughed hysterically for about 3 minutes.

Priya's Proverbs - Cramps

I went into Priya's room this morning as she was waking up, she gave me a big hug. And I said, "I can't believe how big you are getting Priya!" She said, "That is because I drink milk and have cramps, cramps make you grow..."

Wicked - The Stage Show - The Oriental Theater

We went to wicked last night and had dinner at the Midtown Bar and Grill.

Boldt Family Bedtime Prayer

This day you gave me has come to an end,
bless me God and all my friends,
help me lord to let others know,
you are with me where ever I go.
Amen

Boldt Family Dinner Prayer

This is the day the Lord has made
All thanks and praise to thee
We gather around this table of plenty
Remembering you set us free
Help us to serve you with gladness and joy
Dear jesus abide in me
Amen

Blessings in the Favre Fiasco

1. We got something out of it, a draft pick, when before we had nothing.
2. He is not in Minnesota or Chicago!
3. He won't play again in Green Bay - so it's like he is still kind of retired
4. He still wears green - so it doesn't look so crazy.

This is great!!

3 Bears Lodge 2008

First Dahlias of 2008 Arrive

Priya's Proverbs - on blond

Priya and I were laying in her bed and as we were reading a book I asked her to help me with a word. As I am encouraging her to read and learn words, she already knows about 30 words. She shut her eyes and said, "I can't, I'm blond daddy, I'm blond..."

Of course she meant to say she was blind.

Bye to Friends - the McCombs

Katy & Chris and family will soon leave us here in Chicago and head west. Colorado and then Utah with church planting in mind. We will miss them and wish them God's Blessings.

Priya's Proverbs - on grandma

I love my Grandma because she is not so old, she is a little old, but not so old.

Hector Hermasillo - Casa de Luz

To those we Love - Boldt side

We love Grandma because she is plays with the kids and takes care of us
We love Grandpa because he includes us in life's adventures like fishing
We love Annie because she sings beautifully
We love Jason because his playing makes Annie's singing more beautiful
We love Megan because she brings energy to every room
We love Amanda because she reminds us of God's mercy
We love Mya because she gathers us together
We love Jason (the other one) because he joins us in the adventure

Crocs Shoes - "Crops"

We got the kids these rubber shoes called "Crocs" (we got the knock-offs from Walmart for $5).

But Stephen and Priya both call them "Crops" - it just so cute for some weird reason

From 1988 to 2008 - Boldt Family Vacation

Today 6/18/2008 the price of gas was $4.14 in Algonquin... I found an old notebook from Dad. It was from his old office downtown. It says "Northland Supply Company" on it. I opened it and the first two pages have his hand written notes logging a family trip we took out west, maybe Glacier National Park and the Canadian Rockies? Anyway it says:

We left Baldwin at 5:30am Friday June 24th, 1988
Ate Breakfast at Perkins in Alexander, MN $14.90
Got gas at Bismark, ND 13.2 gallons $13.00
Stayed at Williston, ND - Trails West Motel - $28.49
Ate pizza at Pizza hut in Williston, ND - $17.57

Sat. June 25th, 1988
Odometer - 8,023
Gas 10.3 gal. $10.60
Grocerys - $6.48
Gasline - $16.50

Dad only took notes for the first two days, evidently he realized the trip was going to just cost a lot of money... Well Dad at a buck a gallon looks like you got off easy. All in all it was money well spent.

Being Spoiled is a

Lack of Character
Lack of Disciple
Lack of Virtue

Stephen's Sayings

It may seem like Priya is the only one talking around our house with all the posts about her sayings. Actually, Stephen is saying so much, he is a little hard to understand at times, but he is just goes on and on about stuff.

A couple of days ago he and Priya were watching a DVD and I stepped in front of the screen and in a very clear voice I hear "Dad, move I can't see the TV."

It was clear like Priya but didn't sound like Priya, so I turn around and asked her, "did you say that?"

She says, "no, Stevie did."

I look at him and ask him if he told me to move and he just doesn't say anything.

Priya's Proverbs - Posion iddie

Priya has recently had some itchy skin and just yesterday she was in bed with me reading books and she says, "Dad, did you know that posion iddie makes you sick for 10 days?"

I said, "no I didn't." "Who told you that?"

Priya says, "my cousins Megan and Amanda..."

Priya's Proverbs - Puke

On our way to Nisha's wedding we stayed over in Pittsburgh with Rajiv & Monicka. About 2 hours into our drive, just into Indiana, Priya says she is not feeling well. Then she said, "I think I am going to pu pu puuuuukkkkkk........ blah!!!!" All over the van.

So we quickly pull over at a State Trooper station, get out and started cleaning everything. We had to strip her down and change her in the back of the Van. It was really windy and it was blowing chunks all over. Stephen was looking on in shock.

Finally we get it all cleaned up and get started driving and Priya says, "Wow Dad, I didn't puke for a long, long time.... can I tell my friends I puked?"

Priya's Proverbs - Her made-up friends

Priya often refers to people she has made up, at least I think they are made up.

Bydasum a boy from Africa and his sister Necklessess
Ma-la, Freed-cah & Susa - all girls

Priya's Proverbs

Today Priya was thirsty and wanted some juice. So I open the fridge and pulled out Stephen's cup and asked her if she wanted to finish his juice. She said "yes, that is fine." So I gave it to her not realizing that it was very old cranapple juice and it had actually fermented a little. So Priya drank it and then said... "that juice was yucky and it tasted like wine..." and oddly enough she was right! It did tasted like bad wine that has gone to vinager... hmmm.

Priya's Proverbs - Hair trouble

As I was brushing the knots out of her hair today and she was crying and said "My hair is a disaster..."

Priya's Proverbs - her new vocab

"Mom, I want to be courageous and tell Bella that I broke her ring... but I am a little concerned that she will be upset with me..."

Kauai the Movie

Now this is a Vacation!

Family Food Challenge

This week our church, Willow Creek Community Church, is engaging a 5-day Solidarity Food Challenge.

The American diet is vastly different than much of the world. Half the world’s population lives on $2 a day or less. As an act of solidarity with our brothers and sisters around the globe.

Meal Options

• Plain oatmeal or Cream of Wheat
• A tortilla, rice and beans
• Rice with bits of fish or chicken and a vegetable

Portions
Portion sizes are much smaller than a typical American meal. One cup or eight ounces is a generous portion. Meat is a luxury, with the average African consuming about ¾ ounce per day—the size of a small chicken nugget. Fresh fruit is rare, available only if locally grown and in season.

While these meals seem meager by American standards, they actually represent diets in the broad middle of the world’s population. Approximately 1 billion people live on even less—only $1 per day.

So we have doing this challenge for 3 days now and it has been good and challenging! And it has been amazing to see how Priya is dealing with it. Stephen has been fine because the portions aren't too bad for his 22 lb body!

Priya picked up the church program and asked me again today - "Do the kids in Africa have enough food yet? I'm sorry mommy that I've been a little testy and I made a mistake and wished the kids in Africa died because we are giving them all our food. (Then she teared up) I'm sorry, I don't want them to die, I just made a mistake."

She was so honest about what she was thinking and feeling. I'm so proud of her.

Kauai Photos

Stephen's Sayings

Lately, everything is "Yucky" even if he likes it. He says "Yucky" and then pounds his Rice Biriyan'i'.

Priya's Proverbs

Priya says all her friends are into "Hannah MA-tana". She accents the first syllable in Montana to be "MA-tana" and it is so funny and cute we can't bear to correct her.

She runs around the house... "Hannah MA-tanna, Hannah MA-tanna, I'm Hannah MA-tana!"

Getting ready for Ammachi and Grandma to Come!

We are getting ready to go to Hawaii in a few days!! Grandma and Ammachi are going to come and stay with Priya and Steven. Everyone is very excited.

Today we hooked up Skype - an online video chat thing for the computer and it is so cool! All you need is a web-camera and you are good to go.

www.skype.com

Christmas 2007 - At Grandma Boldt's - 5 min

Fun!

Stephen's Sayings - Stephen's first sentence

After reading a bedtime story with Dad, Stephen said... "One more book my da da"

More Weather

Today started out at 48-50 degrees at about 10am and by tomorrow morning it will be -1 degrees. Nice.

Priya's Proverbs - on Potty Time

Today Priya plugged the toilet with her self-proclaimed... "Magnificent Pineapple"

She said in a grunting voice... "It's a, it's a, a, Magnificent Pineapple"
or another time she said in the same voice... "Gettttt out of meeeeeee!"

We had tears of laughter today.

Living in the North

It is about our 2 week in a row of single digits and below zero weather. I woke up this morning put my work out stuff, went out the door, no gloves, no hat, shorts on, and my coat was open. The sun it my face and the wind was calm and I thought, it's not too bad today. I look at the temperature and it says 2 degrees. Does that strike anyone as odd?

Things Passed Down

1. Get your work done before you play.
2. Work hard and play hard.
3. Put back what you take out.
4. Don't spend more than you make.
5. Don't waste things, reuse.
6. Clean your plate, then have dessert.
7. Turn things off the lights when leaving the room.
8. If you can do something in 2 minutes or less just DO IT.
9. There are no get rich quick schemes

Priya's Proverbs - Return from Ammachi's house

Priya came off the airplane and saw me and screamed "DADDY, DADDY, DADDY!!" She ran and gave me a big hug. Then said, "when I was at Ammachi's house, she gave me LOTS of candy!!"

Shoji and the kids are visiting Ammachi in NJ

Just for the record, Dad cleaned the whole house while they were gone! Like for 5 hours! But I would rather be with them than alone in a clean house.

However I will get to watch the Packer/Giants NFC Championship game tomorrow! That will be a bonus.

Mark Kreidler's Article on Brett Favre from last year

To PackerNation:

I just wanted to remind you of an article Mark posted on ESPN's webpage last year. He was telling everyone how Favre was finished and should just retire!

"...Only a fool would fail to connect those possibilities with Favre's decision to give it one more run in 2007. No shame in that; it is simply a great player burnishing his own legend. But as for Quarterback X, the 25th-rated guy coming back for another shot in Green Bay, it's no surprise that some will curb their enthusiasm. They're not getting the legend. They're getting the veteran. "

see the entire article at: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=kreidler_mark&id=2752544&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab2pos1

Email him at mark@markkreidler.com and let him know how you feel about his journalism!

PackerNation is waiting for his response.

Priya's Proverbs - That's the deal kid

Lately, Priya has this new saying whenever she is trying to explain something or negotiate for something. Like, if Stephen has a toy she wants she will try to convince him to give it to her or trade for it. If Stephen doesn't give in she will make her final remark saying...

"That's the deal kid"

Something hanging off the bottom of my car

This was hanging off the bottom off my car?
What is it? Everything seems to run okay... I think?

Any Thoughts?

Christmas 2007 - At Grandma Boldt's

What Fun Christmas 2007 - Closes, Higgins & Boldts