Still alive in Onalaska.

Here we are and it's all ready November - Thanksgiving is just a few days away. It doesn't seem as though that much time has passed. Jed's toddlerhood keeps us on our toes. He is always busy and active. Jarrod is still keeping it real. Jarrod and I joined a small group of younger couples, from our church, with younger children that meets once a week. In addition, Jarrod meets with a few guys once a week and I've been getting together with a few good women as well. In addition, Jarrod has accepted a part time job helping the Onalaska Historical Society to get their catalog of stuff in professional order. And we've had a few gravestone cleaning/photography jobs on the side. God has been very good to this particular Roll family. I'm enjoying my new teaching position at G-E-T. The staff is wonderful and the students are great. But teaching Chemistry is the best!

Well, on to what most of you come to view - pictures of Jed!

Jed at the Labor Day Parade. We found out once we were all ready there that it is known as the "candy" parade. Luckily we knew the family sitting next to us and they had an extra plastic bag.

Jed loved all the fire trucks and ambulances. It was his first parade - he finally got the hang of it near the end. About a month later we took him to the Octoberfest Torchlight Parade which is held after dark. He absolutely loved everything - the marching bands, the dancers/twirlers and of course all the emergency vehicles!

Jed-zilla!

Jed was out playing the mud. Silly boy. Still cute though.

We've got a concrete pad in our driveway. It's not big enough to park a car on, but it's great for sidewalk chalk and playing Little Tikes basketball.Found this trike at a garage sale for cheap. It's in great condition. Jed just can't quite reach the pedals. He likes to sit on it and get pushed around.

The colder weather seemed to sneak up on us. But we still manage to get out a little bit before dark comes. I'm sure that it won't be that way much longer. Jed just loves to watch the trains. He's actually in mid jump. He's just starting to get a little tiny bit of air.
Jed playing in his water-sand table w/o the water.He moves just a bit too fast these days. Fresh Fall Leaves. He really likes the leaves. They make him giggle.Since our house is pretty drafty, I insisted Jed have a bathrobe to wear around the house when he's in his PJ's. Jed just loves it - and he is sooo handsome.Jed is becoming quite proficient at stacking blocks. He's becoming quite the builder.
Super-Jed!
Again - what a handsome boy. We didn't go Trick-or-Treating this year, but he did go to a Harvest Festival w/ KK and her family.

This little man loves to sit on the stools at our counter when I'm cooking in the kitchen. He colored with crayons for awhile, but now likes to sit around and play with whatever is available. He did get some small tubs of Play-doh at the Harvest Festival. He enjoys pulling the dough out of the canister and then putting it back in again.

Hmmm . . . looks interesting.

Jarrod got Jed to try pulling out the insides twice. Then Jed didn't want anything else to do with the pumpkins.

Jed especially didn't like them once we put the candles in them and turned out the lights.

Strawberries, Keyboards & A Contest!

Welcome back to the Roll Family Blog. With Jed being the On-The-Go guy that he is, I'm finding it more and more difficult to take any pictures of him. As soon as I've got the camera in hand, he stops doing whatever cute thing he was doing to do something else that is more mundane. Or all I get are blurry images. SO, here are the few gems that I got the past couple weeks.

Jed really likes to type. Usually he is sitting in our lap with his keyboard on the desk, since that is where keyboards are found. But I watched with amusment as he carried his keyboard out of the office, into the living room and plopped it on the chair. He then proceeded to climb onto the chair and peck away.

Ahh . . . this is Jed in his glory - sitting down for a snack of strawberries. I wish I could catch the excited look he has and his exlaimations of joy as I bring them over.

Classic Jed. He loves to spontaneously point out lights in any room he may be in. He does the same with ceiling fans and basketball hoops as well.

"Be gentle with horsey," Mommy says as Jed tries to poke him in the eye.

And now for the Contest: Can you guess what Jed has on his face in the picture shown below?

The Winner will receive a batch of home baked goodness as Jarrod likes to say. That would be a batch of either chocolate chip cookies or oatmeal raisin (your choice) either hand delivered or mailed to your home (depending upon your location relative to ours).

Here are the rules & requirements:

1) You must be a family member or friend of this particular Roll Family (I don't see this as being an issue, but just in case . . .)

2) You have to leave your guess as a comment on our blog. Yes, that may mean registering, but you won't get any junk mail.

3) The first 5 people with correct answers will have their names in a drawing for the batch of cookies.

4) The last day that you will be able to post a guess will be August 15.

Now get guessing!!

End of July Activities

Well, I'm officically gearing up for the school year. Today I head up to GET to help tear out some cabinets and rearrange the room, try out my new desk chair and whatever else I need to do. I expect to be there for the majority of the week. Jarrod & I are also helping with Vacation Bible School for a few days this week. Jarrod is in charge of the games. We spent last night gathering matching items, blowing up balloons and water balloons.

This weekend we were busy with projects around the house. We bought an iron table with 4 chairs. It needed to be repainted, so we used metal brush on it, washed it, primed it and painted it! It looks great. Once it is put back together I'll take a pic and put it up so you can see it.

Last weekend we had a nice visit with Grandpa & Grandma Roll. They brought Jed a little tikes basketball hoop and mini-basketball. He is now the envy of the neighborhood. Jed is very good at dunking and stares in wide-eyed amazement when anyone dribbles the ball. I'd put up a pic, but he is always moving too fast and they are all blurry. So pray he pauses just long enough for a pic.

Jed also took a real good tumble off the couch and landed on a wood cart for his wooden blocks. We sat for 20-30 minutes yesterday watching Bob the Builder just so he would let me hold a cold pack on his head. It is a doozy - you'll see. I think this is a consequence of Mommy & Daddy roughhousing with him on the couch - oops. Now he thinks he can jump around on it by himself. We'll have to start modeling roughhouse on the floor rather than on the couch.

Here's some fun things that Jed has done this past month that I forgot to write in the last two posts.
-He's trying to talk - he can say Mom, Momma, Ma, D, Daddy or Da-dee, "K-K", truck, Oh Boy!, this and that, cheese (kinda)
-When playing with a phone, he jibber-jabbers - sooo adorable.
-He is stacking blocks.
-He is "playing" with his farm - driving animals around in the tractor and such.
-Dancing and spinning
-Trying to jump
-Almost able to go up and down small steps by himself
-Puts his hand to his ear for various sounds - the most common are trains, big trucks, police/ambulance or fire truck sirens, planes and more
-Looks to the sky when he hears a plane or helicopter
-Beginning to "type" with one finger instead of key mashing
-can drink from a straw
-Likes to draw with writting utensils, but gets them taken away because he chews on them.
-Has a molar or two with more on the way. Strange says the dentist because he only has 3 top teeth and 2 bottom ones.
-Gives kisses & hugs
-Wants his owies kissed by mom
-Will kiss your owie
-Will wave goodbye to his books when you finish reading
-points out motorcycles, lions, ladybugs, monkeys, giraffes, elephants, trucks, fire engines, cars, butterflys (& moths), strawberries, apples and tons of others when you read books.
-Is finally attached (not too much) to his baby bear
-LOVES Thomas the Train
-Gets upset when Daddy leaves
-Drums on his drum
-Has a bottle before bed and about half the mornings
-Will bring an object to you if you ask or take an object to someone
-Helps put things away or pick up when asked

Well, I think I'm running out of new things. Maybe Jarrod can add some - he always thinks of ones I don't. We're a great team that way.

Oh, and check out the following websites:
One is linked over there under links - Roll Family Scrapbook Pages, the other is http://www.rivervalleynewspapers.com/articles/2007/07/30/business/7-29%20saving%20stones.txt and finally http://saveyourstones.googlepages.com/ .

We really haven't told anyone that we started a business. Partly because we haven't had any business to speak of. But the local paper, the LaCrosse Tribune, called and wanted to feature Jarrod & the business as their Business of the Week. Wow! Thought you might be interested in the article. I also included our website. For some strange reason, 4 out of 5 times I get an error message when trying to get to it. Well, love you all! Pics coming within the next week.

Feeling A Bit Guilty

I have to apologize again for the funky formating in the last post. I'm not really sure what to do about it - so PLEASE, if you know how to fix it, please help! I've tried editing the post twice and it's not working.

So, if you haven't read the last post yet, you'll want to before you read what is coming up next.

I feel guilty . . . When Jed got home today, he spent 10-15 minutes wandering around the house saying, in his really cute way, "Oh no. Oh no!" He was obviously searching for something. It was so difficult to try to talk to him, knowing full well that I have done this. I tried interesting him in other toys to no avail. Thankfully Daddy returned home a little early and the car was a great distraction.

Well, I'm off. I'm in the middle of a digital scrapbook page with some pictures from our wedding. Love you all!!

July Happenings

Sorry, I don't know how to get the big spaces out - maybe someone with some more computer knowhow than me can help me out! Leave a comment if you know how to help! Thanks in advance!

Wow – can you believe that it has been an entire month since the last post?! This summer is flying by and I can hardly stand it! I really don’t want it to end. I feel like I just transitioned out of the school year and am finally beginning to relax. But then I look at the calendar and realize that August is almost here. It’s time to start ramping up for the school year – a new challenge this year as I will bet at a new school.

Well, what has the Roll family been up to this month? Great question! A lot! I’ve been to two weeks of training, one for AP Chem and another for using Vernier products for the classroom. Both were wonderful weeks with so much to learn that I didn’t get everything in that I had hoped.

We spent the weekend before July fourth at my mom’s. Jed spent some time playing in, err drinking from his Elmo sprinkler. Silly boy. We all had a grillout together, as the Oswald’s joined us for dinner. Then we headed up to Sanitarium Hill to watch Rhythm and Booms! It was fabulous. I was a bit nervous that Jed wouldn’t like the noise from the fireworks, but he didn’t mind. He must be used to all the noise since we have a train running through our backyard at all hours of the day and night. He even curled up next to Aunt Pam and tried to fall asleep. A few minutes later, he was in my arms sleeping instead.

We have discovered the fun and exciting times at the Onalaska Aquatic Center. Jed loves it – especially the slide in the kid’s area. (Scroll down for pictures) Jed still gets very excited when Daddy gets home because he gets to play in the car for a little while. We also went to Jed’s second county fair (his first was last summer when we saw Uncle Ryan play for Battle of the Bands in Washington cty). Jed really enjoyed the fair – from the sheep, chickens, cows, rabbits to the rides and big “trucks.” It was entertaining to watch him gallivant around the small animal barn. He was acting a very proud – like he owned the place. As he passed the sheep, one bleated loudly in about a foot away from him. Jed startled and looked like his pride was squashed. I couldn’t help but smile at the new sheepish looking Jed.

The following day, we packed up the car to head to Verona to visit the Kilp’s family (see link to their blog in upper right). I haven’t seen Karen and Andy since May of 2005 – before our little ones were born. We had a wonderful afternoon meeting each other’s children, visiting, watching Jed and Bella “swim” in the pool and enjoying Butterburgers at Culvers – yum! I didn’t manage to take out the camera, but Karen put up a few of her pics on their site. Thank you Karen and Andy! (Andy - Congratulations on your ordination!) Then we drove up the my Aunt and Uncle Marquard’s cabin for the weekend. It was Jed’s first lake, boat, cabin and canoe experience. We enjoyed visiting with everyone there. And we definitely got a lot of visiting done since the weather was quite chilly for mid-July. Even Jarrod was wearing his jeans and a borrowed sweatshirt!






Drinking out of the sprinkler - a regular occurance. Really, he tries to drink out of anything that holds water - cups and glasses of course, but also the top of his water-sand table, drinking fountains, hoses, bathtubs, watering cans, puddles and the swimming pool.


































He's so proud of himself!





















I just found this picture - I didn't realize he fell asleep before curling up with Aunt Pam. He really must have been tired - I don't blame him since the fireworks didn't really get going till after 9:30om.
































When we got back into town we were blessed to get to visit with Brooke who we haven't seen since our wedding. While she was over, she and Jarrod watched as Jed took a tumble in slow motion. It was one of those falls that doesn't look like it would cause any damage, but he had three small goose-eggs on his forehead. Here you can only see two.


Jed found my goggles in one of my boxes full of stuff from school. He though they were pretty cool to wear. All ready wants to be like Momma . . .

The goggles now reside in his toy box.
















At the Aquatic Center on family nights you can take in floaties. Jed loves riding around the pool via Daddy power. I'm a bit worried that he is going to pop it because, as you can see, he chews on the built in "toy."




There is a really great children's play area with little fountains. He has a great time trying to "catch" the water.






























Did he discover his ears? We don't know, but he will plug his ears at funny times - like at the pool. He also did this on a walk we took. Maybe it was too noisy walking by the busy road?


















At the fair we found a large plastic cow. Jed was very gentle, petting it instead of pounding it. He really felt special up there - had to go back and sit on the cow later on in the evening.


















He really liked all the animals. But he was most interested in petting the rabbits - maybe because we always see some in our yard.





His first carousel ride. We ended up sharing a horse but had a blast. I know that you can't really tell from Jed's look, but after we got off he was really excited. He wanted to ride again.

We found one other ride to take Jed on. He spent the entire ride showing concern, but when we got off, he was pointing to it and saying please in sign language. We didn't go back because it almost made Mommy sick to her stomach.

What a cutie - he thought it was pretty neat to sit in the tire.

Can you spot little Jed? I wish this picture was big enough to see his face! He's in the process of exclaiming "Wow!"

















See the rainbow?


















I am so blessed.





On a whim, I took his Thomas motorized train set out that he got from Grandma Tut for his 1st birthday. He was so excited! The only problem is that he doesn't have the skill, yet, to set Thomas back on the track if he falls off. Nor does he realize that he can't sit on the track or pull the track apart. When any of these things happen he starts screaming and crying. Not fun. We'll put Thomas away for a little while longer . . .

Jed liked spending time at the cabin. He also enjoyed the water and the boat ride. He did not like the life vest. He also did not like the band-aid we had to put on his foot to prevent his water shoes from creating another blister (the first one had just healed).

The Tuttle family tradition of taking a picture of the family by the car.

Jed can now climb. Is this a good thing or a bad thing? Let's see . . . he can get on our bed, the couch and the chair with out needing out help = good. He climbs the back of the couch to play with the lightswitch, climbs on his Lego bench to watch the trains out the window and can get his leg over the edge of the bathtub = bad. But cute. Hard thing is, cute is once only. The subsequent incidents are not cute.

Jed likes to throw objects into the bathtub - so before a shower, one of us is usually cleaning out the tub first. Yesterday I heard him throwing objects in and didn't think anything of it - it keeps him busy while I make dinner. Then I saw the door move to shut, but it didn't make it. Normally I wouldn't have even been concerned, but for some reason I checked on him. I looked around the door and saw feet in the air, his hands in the tub holding him in a hand-stand like position. He must have tried to get whatever he had thrown in . . . I was so funny, but you can't laugh (at least in front of them in the moment).

So, I said Thomas was going to be put away . . . Well, Mommy left a tiny corner uncovered. Big no-no. Jed really LOVES Thomas, so Thomas had to come back out to play. And the screaming began again, after we all had a lot of fun building tunnels around the track with blocks. This was difficult for Jed because when we usually build towers, he gets to knock them down.
I have to say how amazed I am at how bright and observant Jed can be - even when I am frustrated because it is getting more and more difficult to hide something or distract him.








Thomas ran out of steam (a.k.a. dead battery), so Jarrod promptly changed it. Jed watched Daddy so intently. Afterward Jed tried his hand at fixing Thomas too.


Shhh . . . don't tell Jed . . .
A few days later, Thomas was packed up and put in a red bag and hidden. We'll try again in a month or two.

Playground fun and other stuff

The best thing to help Jed get moving after a nap is a snack - here a whole tomato and some crackers. Jed really likes his fruits and vegetables. He'll eat a dozen strawberries, whole nectarines, green beans, peas and more. I hope this lasts . . .

Jed's favorite toy.

Don't eat the bubbles . . .

Our little guy had an outpatient surgery. It was an early morning for the Roll family, but God is very good and provided strength and compassion for Mommy & Daddy, skill and discernment for the doctors and quick recovery along with a patient temperment for Jed.

Jed looking pensive on the playground equipment, after lunch - same day as the surgery.

He must have been feeling great because he wanted to go down the slide all by himself.

Two days post-op. Jed really enjoyed the bouncy thing at Kids Coulee.

If you haven't been to Kids Coulee, there are turrents and tunnels and winding narrow "staircases," swings, bouncy bridges and more. Jed was loving it. Here he is doing his "happy dance."

We had one tuckered out little guy. He actually didn't squirm for his diaper change and continued to lie on the floor "reading" this Baby Einstein brochure.

He didn't like me interrupting his reading by taking a picture.

Jed likes to help with the dishes. Normally he'll roll the dish holders in and shut the door, but this time he thought his box needed a good wash.