Thursday, December 25, 2014

Merry Christmas!! (Mostly Pictures)

 Ready for Christmas Eve at Grandma and Grandpa's church

 Grandpa likes the book we gave him!

 Everyone loves these jammies.

 And these.  All arms and legs on this guy.

This morning, the boys played with gifts from last night while we drank coffee.  We ate cake and sang Happy Birthday to Jesus.  We picked presents for Jesus from the World Vision catalogs.  And then we did stockings.

 Pens that write with invisible ink and an ultra violet to reveal the secret.  So cool.

For those who don't know, our boys received three gifts from us each Christmas morning.  They correspond with the idea of heart (toy), soul (spiritual growth), and mind (educational).

 Luke's "soul" gift - a book about God's Names

 Paul's "soul" gift - a JOY journal where he can record prayers and praises.

 Paul's "mind" gift - Snap Circuits!

I didn't get any great shots of the other gifts, but they happened, too.  :-)  Then Oma arrived with freshly baked cinnamon rolls.  So.  Good.

 This is part of Krista and Elizabeth's gift to the boys.  It's a music box that they can create their own sheets for.  It is connected with a project Elizabeth works on having to do with diagnosing illness in third world countries.  So. Very. Cool!

 YES!  Another game I can lose to my kids!  ;-)

 Paul peruses his new Peanuts comic book.

 Luke is jazzed about his Peanuts book as well.

LEGO!  So very fun.

It's been a pretty great celebration so far.  We look forward to more time with family this evening.  Hopefully I will remember to take my camera and can share all that joy as well!

Sunday, December 21, 2014

Yellow Belts!

This morning the boys and I earned our yellow belts for Taekwondo.  I was so proud of both boys, as the testing required much of them.  All the white belts, I believe there were eight of us, stood in a line facing the judges.  We performed on Master Frenel's count all of our blocks, punches, and kicks as a group.  We did our push up and squat forms as a group.  We recited our terminology individually and did our hapkido (self defense) with a partner.  We did individual board breaking.  All three of us broke our board on the first try...and mine was THICK, people!  Each child being tested was asked to stand and give an account for behavior at home and at school, based on a form filled out by teachers and parents.  I'm not kidding.  And I was honest on those forms, folks.  It was intense.  Both boys did beautifully.

Here are a few pics of afterward...all smiles!

 The Bangsunds are all smiles!

 The boys with Master Niranjan who often instructs their class on Monday afternoons.

Mr. Nick and the boys.  He is our instructor on Fridays.

I could not be prouder of the boys.  They are learning so much and improving in so many areas.

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Advent Joy

Hey Peeps!  I blogged about Advent Joy at Simply Radical Christmas this morning.  You can click here to read that goodness.

Sunday, November 16, 2014

Meanwhile...

While Erik and I were enjoying life at the Broadmoor, Luke and Paul were able to spend time with their grandparents.  I might be wrong, but I think the highlight might have been the boys' Taekwondo class on Friday morning.  All grandparents were in attendance.  They were privileged to meet Mr. Nick, our Friday instructor.  Lots of pictures were taken.  I wasn't there, but the pictures are pretty sweet.

Mr. Nick started the lesson with a really cool obstacle course.  After crawling through the tube and jumping over the red sparring cushions while carrying the ball, Mr. Nick then proceeded to attack each boy with the blue noodle.  Luke informed me that Mr. Nick also did play-by-play during the obstacle course.  He jumps!  He ducks!  He jumps!  I'm kinda sad I missed it.


Then, after jumping the three black sparring cushions, each boy weaved through the cones with the ball.  I love the look on Paul's face in this picture.

After the obstacle course, came stretching.


 The butterfly stretch.

 Done with stretching and it's time for push-ups!

The next part of the class was spent working on what our dojang calls Basic Form.  I'm fairly confident that our school invented this form in order to help beginners understand the concept of Taekwondo forms without having to learn anything too difficult.  The boys learned the first four steps for Basic Form on Friday.  I'm so jazzed because they were able to teach them to me this morning! :-)




I think that Grandma has the picture where folks are looking straight at the camera, but I had this one because Oma took my camera.  It's still a great picture.

Saturday, November 15, 2014

From The Broadmoor

About four months ago, Erik's manager asked if he could put his name in to work a conference in Colorado Springs in November.  Looking at our calendars, we thought it might be the perfect opportunity to get away as a couple.  We asked if it would be possible to purchase our own plane ticket but allow me to stay with Erik in his room.  Takeda said that would be fine and they would even help us find a good price for my plane ticket on the same flights as Erik.  Lovely.  But wait, there's more.

About two months ago, Erik discovered that Takeda was going to be lodging us at the same location as the conference, The Broadmoor.  At the time this meant nothing to me.  Erik went online and did a little research.  He knew what was coming.  Me?  Clueless right up until the doorman opened the door and the most stunning lobby ever greeted my eyes.

The beauty and hospitality of this place is indescribable for me.  I grew up in the suburbs below the poverty line.  Finding myself at a five star resort is a bit surreal.  Just yesterday sitting by a roaring fire in the beautifully appointed West Tower lounge, I couldn't help but be thankful to God.  We have spent the last four days surrounded by absolute beauty and luxury.  We could never afford to be here without the generosity of Takeda, Erik's employer.  God provides more than we ask or imagine.  No joke, people.  I would NEVER think to ask for this.  I ask God for opportunities to connect with my husband, and God gives us a nearly free trip to the Broadmoor.  Wow.

Wanna see some pictures?  I've taken a few.  Let's see what I can find...

 Our room - 550 square feet of beautiful

 No fish eye lens necessary - this room is huge.

 The view from our room on the fifth floor of the Broadmoor West building

 Where we ate breakfast yesterday morning

 Hallway in the main building

 Also in the main building

 Me on the stunning marble staircase in the main building

 The lobby in our building

Real roses - you can smell this from about three feet away.

  View from the terrace looking toward Cheyenne Mountain - we stayed in the building on the right.

 Swans on the lake - lovely


 Cutest couple in the coziest spot at the Broadmoor.  This is the library.

 Erik looking scholarly in the library

 Another gorgeous fountain, this one in the main building.

The TV in the bathroom - in the mirror.  Game Day while I brush my teeth...I'm such a happy girl.

Check out is in about two hours.  Erik is working his final shift at the conference.  I'm finishing this blog post from a comfy chair in our room.  This post would be incomplete without including the quality of the staff here at the Broadmoor.  Think Disneyland without the costumes, people.  Everyone smiles at you and greets you warmly (good thing considering it was -8 the night we arrived).  Seriously though, Erik and I have spent the trip splitting every meal, a necessity because of his expense account.  Not one person has even looked askance at us.  In fact, they have gone above and beyond to serve us and make us feel welcome.  Last night at the Golden Bee, an authentic English pub, we ordered a chicken pot pie to split.  They baked two small pies in separate adorable little dishes.  That's just one example of how cool the staff is here.  As folks who could easily feel like we don't belong here, we have experienced the exact opposite.  It's been a pretty amazing trip.

Monday, November 3, 2014

Just Halloween

We had a great Halloween this year, mostly because we were able to host some folks in our home for dinner and then trick or treat together afterward.  A few weeks ago, the leaders of our Gospel Community asked if we would be willing to do this.  I thought it sounded super fun.  It was!

We had seven adults and ten kids under the age of ten.  PARTY!  We ate tacos and hit the streets for free candy.  Then we came back and ate lots of sugar.  What a great holiday.  Did I continue the Bangsund Family Tradition of buying my children's candy from them?  Yes, yes I did.  They ate three pieces a piece and were satisfied with their twenty dollar bill and dreams of new LEGO.

Here are the pics!

 Mario gets help with his gloves.

 Luigi smiles big for the camera.

 Mario ready for action!

 The whole gang!

 The brothers compare their loot.

 Mother Mouse with coffee in hand and Super Mario Brothers leading


 Best. Face. Ever.

 Cute from the back, too!

Enjoying his spoils...he ate three pieces and I bought the rest and gave it away...the smartest thing I do all year!