A Christmas Letter

The Bartmann Christmas Card 2008

Four Ladies and a Daddy

by Jaimie

Merry Christmas from the Bartmanns!..

Hope
Our sensitive, full-of-love caregiver and mother hen.
She has my personality and Joe’s passion to learn.
Currently in 2^nd grade~ reading, writing and first confession.
An author, an artist and boy magnet too.

Mesa
The gatherer, leader and center of fun.
She has my spunk and Joe’s carefree attitude to be who she is.
Kindergarten is how Mesa spends her days.
Dancing, mischief, directing and a heart of gold.
Creative, bling and glamor, a little loud and God’s gift of laughter.

Zoey
Our compassionate, determined, curly ball of love.
An almost-vegetarian, kisses, hugs and farmer girl.
Zoey has my tendency to follow and Joe’s ability to perform with confidence.
Much of Zoey’s time is spent at preschool~ coloring, art projects, programs and learning.
Singing, performing, dancing and more, the entertainer of the house.

Joe
Works for the Green Project in Sioux Falls and Rural Learning Center in Howard.
Changing the world one task at a time.
A man of many talents and passion to do what he loves and give back to the community like he learned from Grandpa Knox.
Spiritual, hikes and nature galore it’s what keeps him energized.

Jaimie
10 years of Human Resources and 7 ½ of being a mom.
No job more important nor passion of mine deeper than teaching my girls to live a life full of love and love in their life.
My calling in life~ no question……FAMILY.

I am so blessed to have the family I do and hope this letter finds each of you a moment to reflect on the important people in life.

Merry Christmas from the Bartmanns!

Our 2008 in Photos

Meeting T

So here’s the pictoral history of finally getting to know our new nephew/cousin Torin earlier this week. It’s been great having Paul, Carrie and the little man around. Torin pretty much hates me, but he loves Jaim and the girls.

We’ll miss you!

It Happened Today

Though I hoped it never would, I figured this day would come eventually.

I’m heading to Pierre this afternoon for a two-day conference. I’ll be home for supper tomorrow. So when I dropped the girls off at school ten minutes ago, I asked for big hugs and kisses since I won’t be home tonight. As usual, I got kisses and squeezes from Zoey, and a couple long (kind of tearful) hugs from Mesa.

Hope, on the other hand, jumped out of the car. “Wait Hope! I need a hug,” I stopped her. “No Dad!” she whispered as she spun her head around to the playground behind her to see who might be watching.

A quick, quiet “I love you” and a smile as she ran inside will have to be enough for me today.

I love you to the stars girls. (Or, as Zoey aften says, “I love you from South Dakota to Colorado.” It’s the biggest trip she’s ever made.)

Take a Time Out

I was reading an article tonight on a site that’s new to me. The Natural Child Project has an article on giving your kids time out. The article (The Case Against Time Out by Peter Haiman, Ph.D.) says it’s a bad idea, for several reasons. We’ve been throwing time outs around here for a while–I think it all started by watching an episode of that super nanny show where she suggested time out in a separate room (the laundry room is a prison here). I have to admit time outs don’t seem to do the trick, which is why I was researching the topic. If the doc is right, maybe all those time outs I spent as a kid with my nose in the corner (and if the crime was really serious, my hands in the air above my head) explain why I’m a little screwy.

I think I’m convinced, based on the research and the ineffectiveness of this practice wiht our kids, to nix the time out thing. I haven’t talked with Jaim about it yet though. So, tell me what you do. Vote in the poll to tell everyone if you do or don’t with time outs, and share your arguments, thoughts or alternative ideas in the comments.

Festivalling

Not sure if that’s a word, but that’s what the girls and I did yesterday. We took in the Downtown Harvest Festival in Sioux Falls. It was good times. Here’s a quick pictorial report (more on Flickr):

all ready to go

we found a good seat

yes we’ll go for a ride

dancing lambs

lunch and art (and a friendly hippie in the background)

almost complete

Mesa drawing how she goes green

the friendly face painter

zoey’s dragon face

mesa showing a street artist how to do it right

race to the falls

finally–an ice cream break

Porter Sculpture Park (plus mini monarch migration)

Sphinx of the Plains

Last night we finally checked out the ‘world’s largest bull’s head.’ If you’ve ever driven by the Montrose, SD exit on I-90, and you weren’t totally spacing out, you know what I’m talking about. It’s 60 feet tall.

Porter Sculpture Park is just two miles form our house, but we’ve just never taken the kids out there before. I had been there once a couple years ago, but hadn’t convinced Jaim and the girls how good it is. Unfortunately, most Montrose area people haven’t been there either. (We plan to help change that.) Well, the kids loved it, and they convinced a bunch of other Bartmanns to come along on a return trip this morning.

the fertility dance

little nose picker

Carl was so amazed by the big ‘Buffalo Rub’ rock, he had to give it a try himself.

buffalo rub, part 1

buffalo rub, pt. 2

See more from the Porter Sculpture Park tour here on Flickr. Today was the last day of the season for the Park, but if you want to visit in the off season, just shoot me an email or stop in the General Store on Main Street in Montrose. Ellen (at the store) or I will give you a tour.

Thanks to Wayne for the great hospitality, and for sharing your whimsical, wonderful view on life with all of us.

Monarch migration

Well, sort of. We also stopped to check out the Monarch butterflies near Mike and Marlys’s. Many years, there are thousands-sometimes tens of thousands–for a day or two in small tree groves nearby. Today, we saw a few hundred. Probably missed the big show, but this little one was very cool.

Hope you’re doing nothing but lazy fun today!

Zoey Misses Uncle Greg

Another great insight from our 3 year old yesterday. Jaimie was rocking Zoey for a nap when Zo got a puzzled look on her face and asked,

“Mommy, do we still have a Greg?”

Maybe you should visit, little bro. (Greg moved to Hartford at the beginning of the summer–a whole 13 miles away. We’ve only seen him once since.)

Evening Hike

A few shots from our family hike last night at Lake Vermillion. There’s a new trail called “Otter Stream Hiking Trail.” The state is also restoring a chunk of prairie along side a little learning kiosk. It’s a good start.

I put more pics on Flickr.

School’s Out

Holy crap. Somebody tell me how to stop my kids from growing up.

Mesa’s big moment + Silly string celebration

Mesa graduated from pre-school last night, and I watched Hope kick butt this morning in the shortened 50 meter dash at “field day” to end first grade. It was short because it was moved inside the gym due to the rain. After she whipped all the other first graders, she came in a close second when four 6th 8th grade boys challenged her. Yup–she beat all but one of ‘em. Her shit is quick, I guess.

So now it’s on to softball, T-ball, vacations, swimming lessons, vacation bible school, and what not. Somehow, Jaim and I still need to fit work in. (And an occasional date.) I know everybody says this all the time, but I really can’t get my mind around how fast time is flying by me. You don’t notice it as much until one day you’re watching your cone-head daughter come into this world (the cone head went back to normal after a couple days) and the very next day she’s reading chapter books (this is a big deal–the chapters) and getting pumped about being a second grader.

Love every second.

Half a Hope