Latest Hairstyle!

Here is the latest attempt at Nia's hair! She loves it. Of course I'm picky and I don't think that it's perfect, but it's getting better. The longer that it gets the easier it's going to be. Everyone is great here...nothing to report. -Nikki

October with the Theunes!

The girls all dressed up, the entire family, and our little pumpkin Nia on her first Halloween


Kaiya is learning to love horses and the family hunting for the perfect pumpkin



The girls in the fall and Ellie and Kaiya...age six and still fit into the dryer with room to spare!


What a crazy time it is for us, but everyone is happy and knock on wood everyone is still healthy! Kaiya and Ellie are in Kindergarten, in separate classes and loving it..they are still 1/2 days. Nia is totally in love with her daycare friends. We get to all (except Dad) come home for lunch and spend our afternoons together. I am working 1/2 days as well. This fall I'm helping with the Varsity Girls Swimming and Diving Team...and it's been a blast. We've got our conference meet this coming weekend and it's our meet to loose! Dave is working on the fall play...Twelve Angry Jurors...opens the same weekend that I have conference...so one could say that we are a little busy. The play is going to be great! The nice thing is that all are happy. Enjoy the pics. -Nikki

It's already the end of September!

Nia's latest hairdo


Nia and Lydia DeCook at a reunion
Kaiya on one of the Anema's horses at the reunion

Ok so I've been terrible with a capital T about writing on our blog. Things are going so well that I really feel that I'm boring right now! Everyone is back at school or daycare and loving it. Kaiya and Ellie are in separate Kindergarten classes and are doing well with the adjustment. Nia is loving daycare so much that I walk her to the door she opens it hugs me and closes it. I'm not even allowed to step inside to say goodbye! What a blessing that she loves it that much. She continues to amaze us. Counting up to 11 on her own, memorizing books already, starting to sing the ABC song and boy oh boy is she talkative! I've been practicing things with her hair...little puffs all over and she just LOVES getting her hair done...I really think that she loves all the attention that she gets when it's done from others! I've finally figured out what works best for her hair and that feels great! I am an assistant coach for the local varsity swimming team and Dave has started the fall play....he directs it. SO one could say that we are busy. I think that Dave and I literally see each other about 33 minutes a day. 3 in the afternoon as we are exchanging cars and then 30 when he gets home at night! But so far all is good. I'm loving my job....still part time in the mornings and really feeling like I'm helping out some kids this year that really need it...I work in an elementary special ed department. I hope all is well with you when you are reading this. Nikki

Nia's birthday and more!

Alright again it's been way too long since I've updated things, but it's summer so we are busy. Nia is now officially two years old! She loved her birthday along with telling her sisters and friends "no, no, no" as far as helping her open presents! We had our first family of five vacation to Mackinaw City/Island, MI and it was great. We staying in a hotel with a small water park...all kids loved it. They also loved the boat, the fudge, the horse carriage and the icecream. It was a little too much shopping for them, but they managed! Kaiya, Ellie, Nikki and Nana J had our annual trip to Chicago. This year was the girls first pedicure...oh so cute! along with a trip to the Disney Store, a cab ride and swimming in the pool! We did visit the American Girl Store, but that trip is reserved for next year...they are already excited and asking about it! Nikki is in her last week of summer swim team. We ended our swim season 3-0, but the most important part was that we had over 90 kids on the team for our first year and it was really fun for all involved. Dave continues to slowly get ready for the upcoming school year teaching all new classes, juniors instead of freshmen. August is already busy, but all fun things.

1. Nia's first, but year 2 birthday cake (yes she is obsessed with Tractors!)

2. Nia at her birthday party

3. All the girls on the ferry to Mac. Island

4. All the girls and their cousin at Meijer Gardens

Nia!

Tomorrow we are celebrating Nia's 2nd birthday! Wow it's already here and boy oh boy does she understand that it's her day! She keeps reminding us that she's going to be two and that she gets presents. We are having family and some friends over for cake and pizza with homemade icecream! yum! I'll post pics after tomorrow!

Things are good!

Hey! here are some pics.

This is a welcoming ceremony at our church for Nia. All of us wore traditional Ethiopian outfits.

This is Nia with some of her friends from the orphanage at a reunion in May.

The girls hanging out in the kiddy pool in the backyard

Nia's baptism, June 14, 2009. Baptized by her Grandpa, the Rev. Theune

All the girls together on Nia's first camping trip..which she loved!

Nia and her baby while camping.

Dave is gone!!!

Daddy getting a bath from Nia!



I am a single mother for the next three days. I know that some of you might do this all the time with husbands being away frequently for work, but mine is never away for overnights due to work, but this time it is! He's been asked to speak in Alpena, MI about tri-mesters...he's a teacher. So I'm single for 3 days...single mother that is! So far so good. Tonight we went out and tried to get some Father's Day shopping done while he's away. Then dinner a walk with the dog. Bedtime wasn't so wonderful though. Kaiya and Ellie were great as they always are because they are older and just understand that "bed" isn't the worst thing in the world anymore. Nia on the other hand appears to think that the world is ending if she closes her eyes! Tonight she cried and cried and cried and cried! Not normal for her. I tried to be calm and that wasn't helping. I tried rocking her, not helping. I tried letting her go...also not helping! So I did just that I let her go because K and E needed to get to bed. SO while we read books , brushed teeth and went potty she cried! Poor little girl but what can you do. I had already devoted 45 mintues to just her at "her" bedtime...now she had to wait. So after tucking K and E in I spent another 40 minutes with Nia again. By now though I was upset and spent...I did get upset and told her "no" to the crying and night night and just closed the door. This of course made her cry more. So then I let her scream it out because I needed the break! After about 2 minutes of her now screaming I decided to be the adult in the situation and rock her. She calmed down quickly. I layed her in her bed and she began to cry again! WHAT? Finally I asked her if she had an ouch and she pointed to her ears AGAIN. IF there is another ear infection it would be the 3rd one in 2 months. YUCK. So now I'm thinking that I will try to schedule her a doctor appt. for tomorrow if possible. She just got done with her antibiotic for the last one 9 days ago.


Pray for a good night sleep by all!!





Other than that everything here is fine! Loving being on summer break. I am obsessed with my gardens and cannot wait for everything to pop/bloom.





We are having Nia's baptism this Sunday. We are looking forward to it. Dave's Dad is a minister and he's done all of the other grandchildren..but now we belong to a different church and he's since retired, but our new minister said that he of course can be involved in the service! We are so excited that Nia wont be left out of the Grandpa baptism loop! Afterwards I am attempting to make Dora Watt and Siga Watt along with Injera and Lentils for everyone. Anyone have good recipies?...let me know! The simpler the better!





Have a great rest of the week! Nikki