Happy birthday, David! We had a great birthday party for David this afternoon. Since we couldn't spend it with family, though we got to talk to them on the phone and the webcam, we invited the church office staff to come over. Most of the office staff is white water rafting this weekend, so just the youth pastor and his wife, and one of the deacons were able to attend. We had a great time visiting with Pastor Mike, Jessica and Kathy. David got lots of cool presents and enjoyed eating the frosting off of his cupcake. We couldn't get him to blow out the candle, and I think it scared him just a little because he started crying a little bit. Granted, it was kind of a heavy candle for a cupcake, and Becky had to save it from falling over while we were singing happy birthday! I think that's what scared him, haha.

David especially loves the cars he got from Pastor Mike and Jess from the Disney/Pixar movie Cars. He also got a rocking horse that Kathy's dad Lou made especially for him. We got him a game called Animal Scramble, it will help him learn attributes, names and sounds for the elephant, parrot, monkey and tiger. I think he'll love it once he gets the hang of it. And if it lasts, he and Miriam can play it together when he's older.

Check out the new videos on the link from the homepage!

We went to the beach for the first time on Thursday. Adam got to get in the water and had a lot of fun. Becky was taking care of the kids, and it was too cold to really get wet anyway. It was only about 68 degrees outside. The youth group goes to the beach every Thursday during the summer, so we'll probably be going every week or two, also.

We're having a lot of fun living so close to so many different restaurants and stores. We've tried Indian food, Thai food, New York pizza and Italian food, and we're planning on trying Greek food pretty soon. One of these days, when we've finally got all our boxes unpacked and don't have to deal with the DMV or closing old bank accounts, etc., we're intending on going into the city and doing some siteseeing, and going to the Eastern end of Long Island and visiting the lighthouse out there.

We all made it to New York just fine. Our things don't get here until Sunday afternoon, however, but the Trinity group has been awesome. We have air mattresses, sheets, towels, food... they are such wonderful people! The church is beautiful! I'm sure we'll be very happy here, and hopefully for a long time!

So we had a great time in North Dakota. The kids did so great on the planes. Adam and his parents are on their way to New York in Adam's car. Mom and I and the kids will be flying on Friday morning. Hopefully our movers will arrive with our stuff on Friday, too!

It's a girl!!

Miriam Elizabeth was born today at 5:21pm. She's very pink and extremely cute. She looks a lot like David.

Becky started pitocin at 11am and started feeling regular contractions right away. Between 2 and 3pm she had her water broken, and then had an epidural put in not long after. At 5pm she was getting ready to push. At 5:10 Dr. Colton arrived in the room, and at 5:21pm after only about 3 pushes Miriam was born.

David isn't quite sure what to think about his mommy in the hospital. He didn't really want to hug like normal. He loves the baby, though.

No baby yet! But the baby will be born on Monday. Becky will be induced on Monday morning, and then we'll finally know what it is! That is, if the baby isn't born tomorrow or Sunday!

On the 17th we fly up to Minot, North Dakota. Adam will be ordained on Sunday, June 21, and we'll have the baby baptized that day as well. We'll fly back to St. Louis on the 22nd.

Becky and the kids will spend a few days at her parents' house (the 23rd - 25th). Adam will drive out to New York with his parents on the 24th, and then Becky will follow by plane with the kids and her mom on the 26th. Only 3 more weeks and we're officially New Yorkers!

We went to the St. Louis Science Center this morning. Grandma & Grandpa Filipek and Aaron & Amy hadn't been since Aaron started Seminary 7 or 8 years ago, and I haven't been in probably just as long. Ella wanted to see the dinosaurs. The kids had fun, and it was interesting to see how much the place had changed in the past few years. Boy I'm going to miss the awesome free museums in St. Louis.

Call Day was tonight. Adam got a call as an associate pastor to Trinity Lutheran Church in Hicksville, New York. Hicksville is on Long Island about 30 miles east of New York City. They have a parsonage for us to live in, which is great because New York housing is about 4 times more than housing in St. Louis. We'll be figuring out moving and ordination/installation details over the next few weeks.