Family Life

Mother of the Year Candidate

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Haan) — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 23:23:00 +0000

Shelly deserves serious consideration for Mother of the Year.
On top of everything else she does for us, take a look at the work she's doing in Dimitri's room.

29 team (sorry Browns, Jaguars and Falcons) logos plus the NFL logo* will soon decorate his bedroom wall.

When the wall is complete it will join the football shaped rug, football shaped door handles on the closet, a Tom Brady jersey and several nerf footballs.

I may soon need a press pass to enter his room.

*I'm sure all re-use has been sanctioned by league authorities... there's no need to alert the NFL.

Christmas Program Prep

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Haan) — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 03:09:00 +0000

Dozens of kids. Hours of practice. One chance to get it right.
The kids were excited about the Children's Christmas Program at church and when Dimitri had the chance to help with the sound check he jumped at the chance.

Lunch with Da Boys

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Haan) — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 18:47:00 +0000

Trying something new this school year... having lunch with either Sofia or Dimitri every Friday.

One week we eat in the school cafeteria. The next week we go out.

Today is Dimitri's turn and, as an added bonus, Shelly and Dietrich could join us.

Apparently Dimitri got tired of listening to Mom and Dad talk... after 20 minutes in McDonald's his Happy Meal was down, the toy opened and he was ready to go back to school for the rest of recess! I guess we've crossed the point where is free lunch is fine but football with your buddies is better.

Flag Football Season

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Haan) — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 22:39:00 +0000

I'll admit it... I was disappointed when both Sofia and Dimitri decided not to play soccer this fall. Facing the prospect of not standing on the sidelines for the first time in four years left me down.

Then Dimitri started FCA flag football. The first practice was pure chaos. Trying to teach 10 boys where to stand, when to move and how to play looked impossible. But a week or two later, the "Cardinals" of Robert Frost Elementary started to click.

Player roles started to emerge. Some like defense, others like running the ball. Fortunately for Dimitri, his coaches were patient and helped him develop some quarterback skills.

The season turned out to be a blast! With the exception of the final weekend, the weather on Saturdays was warm and sunny. The Cardinals only had one regular season loss and they were the champions of a separate tournament.

It's encouraging to watch children learn lessons that not only apply to sports to life in general. During the last game, the grass and ball were both wet. Dimitri throw an interception that was returned for a touchdown on the very first play of the game.

The coaches let him quarterback the next series. First play... he fumbles.

Try it one more time.
Dimitri takes the snap, pump fake pass, tucks the ball and runs the length of the field for a touchdown!

It would have been so easy to give up, or hang his head or lose confidence.
But Dimitri kept trying - motivated by each setback - until it paid off.
Great lesson for all of us... no matter what the game.

It is a Done Deal

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Haan) — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 15:04:00 +0000

You held up your end of the deal by donating $1,700 by April 15th. On April 18th, I fulfilled my obligation by shaving my head.

Lisa Bolte has been cutting my hair for nearly 20 years so I thought she should have a little warning before I plopped into the chair and ask for a head shaving. We talked on the phone a few hours before my appointment and I explained the situation. "OH!" was all she could say. The pit in my stomach started to grow.

My good friend Rick Huffman, cohort during our days at KELO-TV, agreed (almost too eagerly) to document the deal with my camcorder. If you want to see the gory details, an edited version is on YouTube. Click on the link below to watch it.

At 4:30pm Friday we met at Signature Salon. 30 minutes later a big pile of black and gray lay on the floor with nothing more than a 5 o'clock shadow on my head. So far the response has been kind, and in one case, favorable. My son, Dimitri, thinks it's funny but good. My daughter, Sofia, is unimpressed and refuses to touch it.

Thanks to the generous donations of so many people the fundraising goal of $1,500 was met and surpassed. Thank you so very much for your willingness to help Doug Lee and his family during his fight against cancer.

I'll Shave My Head For $1,500

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Haan) — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 17:26:00 +0000

But there's a catch. I'll only do it if you help raise $1,500, or more, by April 15th for the Doug and Jan Lee Benefit Account.

In February 2008, Doug Lee was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called Burkitt Lymphoma. It's an extremely aggressive form of cancer, requiring 18 weeks of chemotherapy.
Doug is a freelance videographer and photographer. He can't work during chemo and recovery. And when Doug can't work, he can't make any money to support his family or their business.

That's why I'm willing to shave my head if you and other friends together donate a minimum of $1,500. All of the money raised will go directly to the Doug and Jan Lee Benefit Fund.

But $1,499 won't do it! $1,500 or more must be donated through this site by April 15th or I won't sacrifice 4 decades of successful hair management. If the donations top $1,500 I promise to shave my melon and share the pictures no later than April 21st. Check back here to see a running total of the donations given to date.

Whether you are moved by the challenges facing the Lees or you are driven by the idea of seeing me bald, please make a donation today! And don't forget to forward this to all your friends. Thanks!

Sofia's Animal Report

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Haan) — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 20:13:00 +0000

Sofia has been busy preparing an animal report for school.
She choose the topic of sea otters.

Part of the assignment included reading the report in front of Mrs. Kranzler's 3rd grade class.
It went very well.

This morning Sofia read her report to me.
I'm very pleased with both her writting and her reading... especially considering the parade of distractions behind her.

Belly Laughs from Dietrich

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Haan) — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 19:50:00 +0000

For a long time I've wanted to catch Dietrich laughing and record him. Finally got the chance last night and this morning... he's in such a good mood.

It has to be one of the best sounds in the word. Enjoy!

Something's Missing

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Haan) — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 22:16:00 +0000

It wasn't an apple or popcorn or even chewing gum.
Just a simple, soft, creme-filled longjohn.

This morning, for the first time, we breakfast at the Tea Bakery. Suddenly, Dimitri stopped moving. That, in and of itself, was enough to grab our attention. But a strange expression also swept across his face - part confusion, part fear and all surprise.

Before we could ask 'what's the matter?', Dimitri reached into his lap and pulled out the answer. He held up the size and color of a small kernel of white corn... narrow and serrated at the top, wide at the bottom with a small circular indentation in the base.

Dimitri smiled to confirm our guesses. After weeks of wiggling and waiting, his front tooth had finally popped free. Pulled, at last, by a bite of breakfast.

The tooth fairy has been notified. She needs to make a pick-up tonight. Hopefully this time she won't sleep through her assignment.

Body sliding on the stairs

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Haan) — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 21:16:00 +0000

Dietrich loves sliding down the stairs and he does it much faster than we remember Sofia or Dimitri doing it.

Here are two looks - one from above and one from below.

Friday in New York City

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Haan) — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 05:52:00 +0000

It was too nice to stay inside during today's lunch break, so we walked up Broadway.

I knew there was a bodega in the area that served great gyros.... tasty, big and cheap - the perfect trifecta. We turned the corner on 40th and headed for the Avenue of the America's and there it was: Z Gourmet Catering. We got our gyros and headed across the stree to Bryant Park.

After dinner we walked through Time Square... brightly lit and full of people.

From there we walked to Rockfeller Plaza. The east side of the building is covered with projected faces... very cool.

As we started to walk down 5th Avenue toward our hotel I saw the American Girl Place and thought of Sofia!

New York in June

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Haan) — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 04:47:00 +0000

Early to rise... early to Manhattan.

Flying out of Sioux Falls at 5:15am was worth it because of the extra time it gave us in New York.

We're staying in a hotel at 31st and Madison Ave. in southern mid-town. This is the view just a couple blocks from the hotel. Click on the picture to see a larger version.

We covered a lot of ground today... including Ground Zero and St. Paul's Chapel.

Sofia, I thought of you when I saw the side of a building painted brightly with a sandle in the picture. Can you see it in the picture?

Dimitri I thought of you when I saw this unusal parking ramp in Tribeca. (Tribeca stands for Triangle Below Canal Street.)

The pictures below are of Washington Square. New York University is nearby. The area is really pretty. The arch way has been shown in numerous TV shows (Friends) and movies (When Harry Met Sally).

The building above is a bit of a mystery.
It doesn't have any windows!
We think it's a federal building, but don't know for sure... yet.

This is the view of the Empire State Building from 14th St.

Do You Wish You Were Me?

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Haan) — Thu, 24 May 2007 03:00:00 +0000

Bedtime questions.

"Papa, do you wish you were me?", asks Dimitri.

"Sometimes.", I answer.

"I bet I know why.", he replies.

"Why?"

"Because I have cool toys!"

Dietrich's Dedication

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Haan) — Tue, 15 May 2007 02:51:00 +0000

Here's a short video clip of Dietrich's dedication on Mother's Day.

Bed Time

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Haan) — Mon, 14 May 2007 03:08:00 +0000

After prayers, lights out, hugs and kisses, Dimitri says with a smile, "Daddy. Don't forget... June 17th!"

"June 17th?", I ask. "What's June 17th?"

"Father's Day!", Dimitri replies.

"How do you know June 17th is Father's Day?", I ask in amazement.

"My calendar. They mark important days on it. You should get one!"

Mother's Day - Dietrich's Dedication

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Haan) — Mon, 14 May 2007 00:34:00 +0000

We did double duty today... celebrating Mother's Day and dedicating Dietrich at church.

Great Grandma Klaasan, Grandma Iva, Grandma Sheryl, Grandpa Don and Aunt Dana were all able to join us. We don't have any pictures from the dedication yet, but here are a few shots from the after-church brunch at our house (thanks again Shelly... it was delicious as always!).

Cinco De Mayo

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Haan) — Sun, 06 May 2007 03:12:00 +0000

Bless her heart!

Sofia wanted to celebrate Cinco De Mayo.

She organized the costumes.

She planned the dinner menu.

She even made sure we had Mexican music.

(Santana was the best we could find.)

It was probably the most German looking Cinco De Mayo party you'll ever see, but we had fun.

Easter Weekend

noreply@blogger.com (Dave Haan) — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 18:27:00 +0000

We had a great Easter... a special time with family, sharing our faith and having fun.
The slower pace and the extra time at home was especially nice.