Free Verse

Samma-lamma-ding-dong

2012-02-12T15:16:00.000-06:00

Here is a sample of a few of Sammy's favorite words. (Sorry the video didn't rotate.) At the beginning you can hear him calling "Mom." (In the tone of a 5-year-old tattling on her brother.) "Up" and "Bee" are words I hear many times a day!
A few more favorite words: "Yiyi" (Lily), "Dada!" (screamed excitedly when Mike walks in the door), "Ah-yi" (Ollie, called in an owner's tone), "bop" (cup), and "bow" (for granola bar).

One more Sammy story: I was running some bath water for him the other night. He was playing in Lily's room, so I took the extra minutes to clean up the kitchen a bit. When I went to turn the water off, this is what I found:

Now, I could have felt guilty for not watching my 17 month old while there is a tub full of water in the house, but instead I grabbed the camera. Priorities.

Budding Linguists

2012-02-08T13:47:00.000-06:00

Those of you who know Lily also know that she spoke early, clearly and often. This can make her seem older than she is. But, sometimes she doesn't quite hit the mark with her words, as shown with these recent examples:

Sometimes they aren't even real words:

"'Andvisingly', Sam, you need to get out of my room."

Sometimes they are real words used the wrong way:

"Mom, I am trying to get in the 'limit' of washing my hair really well." ("habit", I think)
"'Expertly', I don't like these beans." (okay, maybe that is exactly how she meant it!)

And sometimes the words are all real and in the right order, but they are just funny:

(Sitting on the couch with her shirt pulled up so her belly is showing) "The good thing about tickling yourself is you can stop whenever you want."

As for the other budding linguist in our house, we are probably the only ones that understand most of his language so far. A few words come out clearly, but we like to say he has an imaginary friend named "Ana". He calls her name often, sometimes very urgently. We don't know what this word means yet, but we do know we better hop to it when he says it. :-)

Snow!

2012-01-27T14:12:00.000-06:00

Well, we finally got enough snow to play in. (not that I was complaining about the mild winter!) Lily has loved playing outside and Sam does really well, considering he not even 17 months.

Mush, Daddy, mush!

My little snow bunny

Sam is practicing his evil eye, apparently.

Yum.

Shoveling paths for Ollie

String cheese by the heater to warm up

Not snow related, but a fun costume Grandma made -- she is our Scandinavian Pocahontas!

Also, not snow related -- I dyed my hair! I felt about like Sam looks when I first saw it. It is growing on me, but I don't plan on making it permanant.

All boy

2012-01-18T14:11:00.000-06:00

He is silly, sweet, and all boy!

A Merry Little Christmas

2011-12-27T23:31:00.000-06:00

Nothing says Christmas like. . .

Gingerbread villages

Church Christmas programs

Imperfect family photos

Letters to Santa

Cookies with Mrs. Claus

Telling Santa your heart's desire

Making sugar cookies

Red sweater vests and runny noses

Christmas carol sing-alongs

Big smooches

More imperfect family photos

Pinatas

Ice fishing

Sledding (on grass?!)

New toys

Ticket To Ride tournament with the family

Snow or no snow, we had a wonderful Christmas season. The hope and celebration of Jesus' birth, time with extended family, creating new traditions with our own little family -- I loved every minute. I would replay it all if I could.

This and That

2011-12-08T16:02:00.001-06:00

A few moments from the past few weeks in the Olson house:

I had some old apples that weren't very tasty, and I didn't have the energy to make a pie. These apple cookies were an easier and healthier alternative. Here is the recipe, if it looks good to you! http://www.food.com/recipe/oatmeal-apple-cookies-30981

Helping Dad get ready for goose hunting.

He didn't get any geese -- I wasn't too heart-broken :-)

My cutest Christmas decoration

The after-nap curls

Snow angels in our dusting of snow. This all melted and we have no snow. I don't mind. . .at least until December 24th.

A festive idea I found on Pinterest -- my recent discovery (and love!)

And the tip of the month:

When you haven't seen or heard Sam for more than 5 minutes, you can usually anticipate some clean-up.

DC

2011-12-08T15:35:00.001-06:00

A few weeks ago, Mike and I had a chance to go to Washington DC (without kids!). He had a conference, so I tagged along. The weather was great (73 one day!) and the sights were amazing.

Supreme Court Building

Thomas Jefferson memorial at early evening

Library of Congress

Orchids at the White House Botanical Gardens

Arlington

The Metro!

Old Town Alexandria

We had some very tired feet, but it was such a relaxing, fun time with my hubby.

Out of the mouth of Lily

2011-11-20T11:55:00.000-06:00

More Lilyisms that I want to remember:

* One day she walked up to Sam, squeezed his cheeks and said, "Oh, you tender little mushroom."

* Before bed, when we noticed something spilled on her pajamas that neither of us could identify, she said, "I better go ask dad. He's a scientist."

* During her bath the other night I overheard her pretending with her toys. One character said to the other, "Hey this water is getting salty. Are you making a stew out of me?!"

* At supper she was trying to pay me a compliment about the food. "Mom this food was your delight! (pause) Or not. I don't really know what that word means."

* After some failed efforts of trying to get Sam to play pretend with her she sighed, "He really doesn't get how to play with me yet."

* After drying off from her bath she informed me, "I think if our private parts were real people and could walk away from us, the bums would be the boys and the privates would be the girls." She even made herself giggle with that one!

* While throwing a major fit about the outfit I told her she must wear to church, we could hear through her bedroom door, "I just can't wear it. I think I am going to be sick!"

* While playing with playdough, she was making a girl with lots of long hair. I said, "Wow, her hair grew fast." Her serious response, "Yeah, I know, she's from France."

She's got spunk, and I love her!

Oh deer!

2011-10-31T13:44:00.000-05:00

A week ago we travelled to my parents' house in Brainerd in hopes of a successful deer hunt. For Mike that is. The kids were more interested in:

Picking eggs

Hanging out with the cats

And brushing their teeth in the shower?

Mike had a pretty good time too!

8 points, his biggest yet.

He actually got this buck over on my brother's property near Ironton, so thanks, Eric and Bridget. A venison package is set aside for you.

So this past weekend we processed the deer. Yep, we did it ourselves. We spent our weekend cutting, grinding, seasoning, smoking and packaging venison.

The final stats:

20 lbs of steaks and roasts

13 lbs of pepper sticks

10 lbs of jerkey

15 lbs of summer sausage

Here is a sampler platter:

(Those are pumpkin seeds on the right.)

The verdict? Delicious!

Fall is in the air

2011-10-10T14:16:00.002-05:00

A fall update on the kiddos:

Sam is getting very busy and continues to try "new things":
     *how various items look in the toilet
     *how many "no-no"s it takes before the parents make me stop
   *new laughs and silly faces
     *all kinds of kisses (puckered, sloppy, and blowing kisses).

Showing off his new molars!

Cute little puddle jumpers

Lily is still singing her way through life. She loves to pretend with her Polly Pockets, watch "Chopped" with Mom and Dad, and work on most anything that involves art or cooking. She would always choose to do something with one of us, so we are working on alone time. (For her benefit and mine!) She adores her brother, and he is in no need of someone to "guide" him. The most exciting development is that she is starting to read a bit on her own. She can sound out some words and figure others out from context. Hip, hip, hooray!

Making hoe cakes on the fire with Dad

Carmel apples

We are enjoying the season, hoping it will hang as long as possible.

Even Ollie seems pleased with fall!

F-I-V-E

2011-09-27T13:39:00.000-05:00

"F" is for friends.
This is the first year she had a "friends" party. Lots of little princesses at our house to celebrate.

"I" is for icing.

It took a lot of frosting to keep this princess castle cake together!

"V" is for very.

Very excited about breakfast in bed. . .

and her new make-up table Dad made.

"E" is for exhausted.

Sleeping soundly under her new canopy after a day filled with the princess life.

Happy 5th birthday, Lily.

You really are our princess. We love you to the moon and back.

Mystery

2011-09-21T10:28:00.000-05:00

I have a mystery to solve. Strange things keep happening in my house. I found the diaper cream in the toybox. The hand crank for the living room window was in a bedroom corner. And my car keys were in the tub. Piles of toys keep appearing at the bottom of the stairs. The dog's water dish keeps getting tipped over, and all the magnets on the bottom half of the fridge get strewn around the kitchen floor three times a day.

I have two suspects.

The first is an almost-5-year-old. Although she has a reputation for leaving a trail of "stuff" in her wake, she denies that it is her, and her arguments are very convincing.

That leaves me with the boy. New to the toddler world, he is fitting right in. His quiet wanderings through the house will lull you into thinking he is no trouble. But I am convinced he is the culprit. Don't be fooled my his calm demeanor.

Home again, home again. . .

2011-09-15T22:26:00.000-05:00

Another school year has begun, and I find myself at home with these cherubs again. I was a bit nervous. Would we all go stir-crazy? Would I miss the classroom too much? Would I want to sprint out the door as soon as Mike arrived home each evening?

Well, so far, so good.

We are not exceptionally busy, but we are having some fun.

Here is Sammy helping me read one of his favorites, Where is Spot?

Here is Sam teaching Lily his favorite dance move and then his favorite wrestling move.

My sweetie on her first day of Preschool.

A little hide-and-seek

My handsome little man

Happy Birthday, Sammy!

2011-09-01T10:17:00.001-05:00

September 1st, 2010: After a night of unexpected labor (before a planned C-section!), we finally got to hold our Samuel Lee.

The first week home: We all were adjusting, but clearly these two were smitten.

Fall 2010: He was grinning his way into everyone's hearts.

Winter 2011: He was so content to go anywhere we wanted to go!

Spring 2011: He started moving, everywhere!

Summer 2011: He was a whirlwind, but a very smiley, goofy one.

August 28th, 2011: We celebrated his first birthday with a Little People farm animal ice cream cake that Lily and cousin Samina helped decorate.

Sam ate his whole piece!

I can't imagine our family without this sweet little man. I can't wait for what the next year holds!

Happy Birthday, Sammy!

12 years

2011-08-07T10:52:00.000-05:00

12 years, 3 moves, 2 dogs, 1 PhD, dozens of adventures, and 2 amazing kids: I still love him like crazy.

All I Wanna Do. . .

2011-08-02T15:10:00.000-05:00

A couple weeks ago, Mike and I had the house to ourselves for two whole nights. We spent a lot of time leading up to those days wondering, "What do we want to do when the kids are gone?" So we made a list:
*A long, bike ride
*Leisurely dinner at a quiet, non-family restaurant
*The Harry Potter finale (yes we are HP geeks)
*Golf
*Naps whenever we want
The list could go on.

But the best part about our carefree days was the Sheryl Crow concert. Mike bought us tickets months ago, which prompted the trip to Grandpa's and Grandma's for the kids.
She was amazing in concert. She was right here in Moorhead at the Bluestem Center for the arts: a beautiful outdoor venue. We endured a sudden downpour right before the opening act, but then enjoyed a dry, albeit hot, evening. My pictures aren't great, but our seats were excellent.

The stage (the set is for the Music Man musical that is going on)

Ian Johnson -- a local musician that was the opening act

The sky clearing after the rain

Sheryl Crow and the Theives

She played for two hours straight and interacted with the crowd quite a bit. I would definitely recommend seeing her in concert.

1200 miles

2011-07-27T21:21:00.000-05:00

Well, I am catching up from the beginning of July, when we made three road trips logging over 1200 miles while never leaving Minnesota. Lots of time with family and friends, plus quality time for the four of us in our little Mazda!

Three generations in the strawberry patch

The boys on the porch at the Crabtree Ranch

Cousin time

Sparklers

My beach boys

Excellent napping chairs

Bottle on the beach

Paddleboating

Still my heart throb after 12 years!

Can you believe these ladies are my nieces?

Getting ready for the fireworks!

Good friends and polar bears

2011-07-07T21:01:00.000-05:00

About a week ago we headed to the cities for a visit with some good friends. With five kids ages 5 and under, we headed to Como Zoo. I will let the pictures speak for themselves!

The three oldest didn't fall asleep until 10:30 and were up by 6. What fun!

Smartypants

2011-06-23T11:33:00.001-05:00

Two things you must know to fully appreciate this Lily story:

1) Yesterday morning she and I talked about bacteria and how it likes to grow in warm, moist, dark places.
2) Like most parents, Mike and I encourage Lily (daily) to chew her food with her mouth closed.

Last night we were eating out at our favorite family-friendly restaurant, Pizza Ranch. Out of the blue, Lily said, "Well, Mom, there is one good thing about chewing your food with your mouth open. The bacteria won't grow as much since it is light in there."

I adore that little smartypants.

Discoveries

2011-06-15T15:56:00.000-05:00

One of the best parts of being a parent is being with your child when they make an exciting discovery. Our most recent example was the ice cream truck. There was no time for me to take a video or even snap a photo, but I will forever remember watching Lily snatch those two dollars out of Mike's hand and sprint down the sidewalk, grinning from ear to ear. We had read once about an ice cream truck in a book with her, but she had never seen one. When that truck drove by with its music blaring, there was pure excitement in our house, for Lily and her parents.

Other discoveries aren't quite as exciting. Yesterday we realized Sam is very allergic to, well, something. We think it is eggs, but who knows for sure. Whatever it is, my baby was miserable. At one point his eyes were nearly swollen shut. A few doses of benedryl and 24 hours later he is almost back to normal.

What a trooper -- still flashing smiles.

Other recent discoveries include:

1. Sam loves to crawl around at the park.

But is still more interested in taste-testing the woodchips and leaves.

2. Lily looks adorable in a pink tiara cowboy hat with flashing lights. She and Mike took in the Hawley rodeo for the first time.

3. And Sam likes to "chill" in the living room with his "ba-ba".

Catching up

2011-06-05T22:44:00.000-05:00

Summer is officially here for me and I am loving it. But, I am not quite ready to do much blogging. Here are a few pictures to sum up the last few weeks.

Cruising

Summer boy

Waiting for the go karts

Sibling fun

Sammy's last day at daycare

Lily's last day

Her awesome daycare teachers, Roger and Kara

Best bud from preschool -- Lilly F.

Daycare pals

Preschool teachers

Dino Land -- loving it!

So big!

2011-05-15T21:35:00.001-05:00

Well, this could be my last blog for about a year. We have entered the hover stage. From now on I will have no energy to type up cute stories or take adorable pictures. Sam is now crawling, fast. Today, if it weren't for his big sister, he would have taken a header down the stairs (yes, the gates are now up, but what a pain they are!). Don't get me wrong, I love watching Sam discover, grow, and change. He now claps, does "so big" (see below), and waves bye-bye. Those thing melt a parent's heart. But this constant monitoring, worrying, hovering -- well, it is exhausting. Ah well, this too shall pass, and probably too quickly.

Flipping on the rings

Daughter and Daddy

Rapunzel tower made by Mike!

A new favorite photo for me

Can you see the two bottom teeth? He is now working on the top ones!

A video of Sammy's "so big!"

Just for the record. . .

2011-05-02T22:04:00.000-05:00

Here is a Lily story I don't want to forget:

After waking up from her nap, Lily came up to me in the kitchen and the first thing she said was, "Okay, well, I am trying to act more like a 5-year-old."
So I asked her what she thought that would look like.
Rolling her eyes, she said, "Well, Mom, that's why I am asking you. You have been a 5-year-old before, so you know. I have never been 5!"
"Well, it has been a long time, Lily. What do you think 5-year-olds do?"
With a heavy sigh she responded, "Well, I suppose they listen to their parents."

I am just realizing I need to capitalize on this conversation. Do 5-year-olds change stinky diapers?

Also, Lily has started using the phrase, "Just for the record," quite often. Examples:
"Just for the record, I like Fruity Pebbles more than Cheerios."
"Just for the record, Sam has a poopy diaper."
"Just for the record, I don't want to take a bath tonight."
And my favorite, "Just for the record, I love saying 'Just for the record'."

Waiting. . .

2011-05-01T14:25:00.000-05:00

As we wait, very impatiently, for warmer weather, I will try to focus on some uplifting things around here.

First, Sammy is moving all over the place. Although he doesn't crawl in the traditional sense, that does not keep him stationary. He scoots, army crawls, rolls and wiggles wherever he wants to be. He is still a pretty happy boy, but his mood can shift quickly if he is hungry, which is quite often. If we can keep him filled up, though, we are in good shape. His bottom teeth are finally poking through and he is enjoying more and more finger foods.

Lily continues to be a wonderful big sister. Jealous at times, she will perform stunts to get our attention, but she is very loving with her brother. We have seen the beginnings of otherwise, however. The other day she was coloring on the floor and Sam pulled himself over to her and started messing with her markers. She was patient at first, moving slightly away from him a couple times. Suddenly I heard, "Sam, I'm serious! Stop touching those!" And so it begins.

Mike is officially done with the semester, minus a few more papers to grade. And I am down to 24 days. I have decided to take a leave of absence next year to be home with the kids. I am excited about the chance to spend more time with them while under less stress. I will admit, I am also a bit nervous about using the time well, managing our money, and keeping us all sane! Mike and I feel good about the decision, though, and look forward to the change of pace.

Going, going, gone. . .?

2011-04-14T21:44:00.000-05:00

From this,

To this,

In "only" 3 months!

And now snow is in the forcast for tomorrow. Come on, Mother Nature. Look at these faces:

They are ready to enjoy the outdoors. Please cooperate.

My three loves

2011-04-01T13:42:00.000-05:00

And here is our 7 month old boy almost crawling already!

Here we go again. . .

2011-03-23T10:16:00.000-05:00

Well, I have a bit of free time to blog since we are home for a snow day. Ugh. I am not sure spring is coming this year. As we hurried to the car yesterday, ice pelting our faces, Lily yelled, "Mom, this snow is not a success!" I have never heard it put that way, but I certainly agree.
I don't have the heart to post any more snow pictures, so here are a few others that make me smile.

A little Saturday Night Fever? (yes, Mike drew in some chest hair)

Loving the frozen bananas in his mesh chewer.

The gorgeous flowers at my Grandma's funeral last weekend.

What a wonderful woman and a great celebration of her life.

Now and Then

2011-03-09T21:21:00.001-06:00

I posted this picture recently, but as I looked at it more, something looked familiar.

So I sifted through some old photos, knowing what I was looking for. Here, nearly four years ago, is that very same puckered smile (we called it her "smucker" back then).

I know every parent says it way too much, but really, how did this happen so fast?

Around the house

2011-03-07T20:58:00.000-06:00

Winter has kept us tucked up inside more than we might like, but we still manage to find some smiles.

Here is our little Norwegian boy.

Our beautiful princess

A visit from Grandma Olson (Lily is showing off her bracelets, in case you were wondering about the pose)

My fashion diva

My strong boy -- look at that push-up!

Little Miss Chatterbox

2011-03-01T21:28:00.000-06:00

Lily is a self-proclaimed chatterbox. She will readily admit she loves to talk. If there is a silence, she likes to fill it, however she can. Lately she has been breaking the silence with this: "Mom," (pause for me to respond), "I love you."

It must have been the 6th or 7th time she had told me this in a day when I said, "That's very nice Lily. You are telling me that a lot today."
"Yeah, I know. Sometimes I just want to say something and I can't think of anything else to say so that's what I say."
Hmmmmm, I love you too, Lily.

The other day I was at Target with Lily and Sam. We had finished checking out and were ready to head out the door when Lily told me she needed use the bathroom. "Okay, but let's hurry," I said. Three of the four stalls were occupied, so Lily quickly hustled into the last open stall. She was chattering away, telling me about how the stall looked from the inside. (I was waiting by the sinks with Sam in the cart.) Then she started grunting.
"Mom, I guess I need to go poop." I am sure the women in the stalls on either side of her were glad to know what was going on. After more chattering, she started to click her tongue. "Mom, when I make that noise it means I am done."
I head into the stall to help her and she hops off the toilet and turns around to inspect her "work". "Wow, that's a monster!" she said at full volume. You could have heard a pin drop in that bathroom. I don't know if the other women were horrified or stifling a laugh, but I know I still chuckle thinking about it.

Life Lately

2011-02-21T21:21:00.000-06:00

Life has seemed to go by in a haze lately. It could be the busyness of my being back at work full-time. It could be the three weeks of sickness and night-waking that has plagued our house. Or maybe life with two young children just blurs by most of the time. Needless to say, blogging has taken a backseat. So, here are a few recent events to catch up:

Sam has started eating rice, oatmeal and a few veggies, not to mention the inevitable introduction to processed sugar.

We had nearly a full week of weather in the 30's and 40's, which spoiled us. Although the weather has turned chilly again, yesterday we got a few inches of the lightest, fluffiest snow I have seen. We took advantage of a sunny afternoon and went skating. (By "us" I mean Mike and Lily.)

Sam stayed cozied up in his carseat and stroller, and I kept my feet firmly in my snow boots -- no ice skates for me, thanks.

And as for our smiley baby boy, well, not much has changed. He is still quick with a smile and pretty easily contented. Now, if only he would sleep through the night. . .

Baby Face

2011-02-06T19:02:00.000-06:00

I found this picture of Lily when we started using the high chair for her. She was about 4 1/2 months here.

And here is Sammy in the same chair at the same age. Quite a difference, I would say. (Except maybe those ears!)

Creations a la Lily

2011-01-24T21:26:00.000-06:00

Lately, Lily has been spending a lot of time on her "work". Drawing, coloring and even writing. Here are some samples.

She calls this one her "hot dog car."

She told us that some of her friends at school say that she scribbles. So she has taken it upon herself to work on staying in the lines. Peer pressure already at work!

This one was drawn when we were at the basketball game. Look carefully -- there are five players, a basketball, a hoop and even a ref!

She recently even wrote her own book. Here is page one. She illustrated and dictated the text to me.

This last piece is one that took me by total surprise. At her daycare, they focus on one letter each week. The teacher asked the kids to come with a word list for the week. This week they are working with the letter "O". After I wrote "orange", she said, "I want to write them, Mom." I had my doubts, but I handed over the pen.

She came up with each word and asked me how to spell it. She did all the writing on her own. I honestly didn't know she could do this. I am sure there will be many moments in my life when she surprises me with what she can do. But it was a strange feeling tonight. I was excited for her yet realized that this little person is growing faster than I know.

Open

Oval

Olson

Ostrich

Ocean

Octopus

Sammy Boy

2011-01-23T21:52:00.000-06:00

Don't tell my husband, but I have fallen head-over-heels in love with another guy. He's nearly bald, drools a lot, and is very needy. But oh, what a smile.

Recipe for a Winter Wonderland

2011-01-11T21:50:00.000-06:00

Ingredients:

1 awesome dad
1 mountain of snow

Directions:

1) Recruit the "help" of a four-year-old and dig a mysterious tunnel.

2) Mold the perfect sledding path. (Hint: this may require an adult to make many test runs by himself)

3) Re-enlist the 4-year-old to approve the design.

4) Mix in one impressed mom and a smiley baby boy.

Serves 4.

What a guy.

Happy New Year

2011-01-07T13:18:00.003-06:00

On December 31st, our sweet baby boy was sound asleep for the night by 6:30 pm.

What was our firstborn up to? Gearing up for the party of her life.

We both were amazed at her reservoir of energy. And to her credit, she was happy and well-behaved. As she crawled into her bed she was thanking us for such a great night.
And I know you are wondering what the next day was like. She was as well-behaved as any other day.

Cheers, Lily.

A merry little Christmas

2010-12-29T20:52:00.000-06:00

The other night a friend of mine came over to visit and asked Lily how her Christmas was. I wondered what she would share first: Time at Grandma and Grandpa's playing with her cousins? Getting a pillow pet and Princess and the Frog polly pockets? Leaving cookies for Santa? None of the above.

"Santa brought me candy corn!" she shouted as she ran into the room with her bag of candy. Well, there you have it. The biggest hit this Christmas -- candy corn. Next year I can save myself a lot of time and money!

Here are a few of our highlights from this past week.

Cookies and milk for Santa. We also threw reindeer food (sunflower seeds) in the driveway. The reindeer ate it all and even pooped on our driveway. (Their poop looks A LOT like chocolate chips, if you were wondering.)

Our own little Bob the Builder

Christmas morning pancakes

We acted out the Christmas Story at my parents' house on Christmas. (No, my brother is not holding a second baby Jesus; that is Ollie dressed like a sheep!)

The holy family (Did they have pacifiers in ancient times?)

The Belle dress that my mom made for Lily

Rides behind the snowmobile

The Rapunzel wig Lily bought with her money from Great Grandma Helen. I am finding 2-foot-long hairs all around the house!

Time flies

2010-12-20T21:03:00.000-06:00

It is hard to believe that Christmas is nearly upon us. It is bittersweet since the holidays mark the end of my maternity leave. In an effort to capture as much as possible of this last month at home, this post is a random mix of recent pictures.

My growing boy

Lily enjoying the snow with her good friends, Emily and Bri

Dressing up with her buddy "T"

Sammy's first taste of rice cereal -- not a huge fan!

The Olson ladies at our Olson Christmas gathering

Cousin Jayda loving up Sam

Grandma Olson with her oldest grandchild and youngest -- 33 years of grandkids!

Who knew?

2010-12-14T14:51:00.000-06:00

Who knew that gurgling could melt your heart?

Who knew a little girl in a leotard could make you burst with pride?

Who knew dead fish could make you smile?

How to make new friends

2010-12-01T15:42:00.000-06:00

Yesterday, Lily told me this story:

"Today at school, Evan told me that he likes the Twins, the Cobbers, and the Vikings. I told him that I like the Twins, the Cobbers, and the Vikings too. Then I hugged him. Now we are friends."

I couldn't help but smile at the simplicity of it all.

Here are a few other things that made me smile the last few weeks:

These two pictures were taken only about a week apart! I can still smile about the snow now, but ask me again in March. . .

The Latest

2010-11-17T12:50:00.000-06:00

What is Sam up to? Well. . .

Pushing himself up, lots of drooling,

long, sad-sounding monologues,

trying out the exersaucer,

and being just generally sweet and adorable.

(This pic was taken by my friend Ang -- more of these to come!)

What is Lily up to?

Using the phrase, "Awww, Mom!" any time she doesn't like my verdict on something,

climbing and tumbling all over the house and elsewhere, (she can now go all the way across the rings at the playground by herself!)

all things princess,

and being an affectionate big sister.

I have to say, life with two kids is busy but not as hard as I thought it might be (at least not yet!). The adjustment from 1 to 2 kids seems much easier than from 0 to 1. After seven years of marriage with no kids, Mike and I mourned our loss of "freedom" when Lily was born. But with Sam's birth, we had the perspective of already seeing the wonderful result of our "sacrifice".

I can honestly say, I am enjoying parenthood . . . at least today.

Goodbye Zipper

2010-11-10T13:56:00.002-06:00

This past week we had to say goodbye to our first "baby". Our yellow lab, Zipper, gave us 7 great years. She went on many adventures with us in her first three years.

And she was a sweet companion to Lily in her last four years. She was a kind, gentle, and passionate dog.

This is our favorite campsite in Idaho. She used to fetch sticks for hours in the river. I like to imagine this is where she is now. We'll miss you, Zip!

All Smiles

2010-10-29T21:41:00.000-05:00

Sammy smiles

2010-10-21T15:39:00.002-05:00

The pictures speak for themselves.

Fall Moments

2010-10-12T20:41:00.002-05:00

Melts my heart.Is this my daughter?!

Super Hero

2010-10-11T13:53:00.003-05:00

Our little Superman. . . or future Heisman trophy winner.

(He actually slept in this position for at least 5 minutes!)

She's Four!?

2010-09-27T15:14:00.006-05:00

Wednesday, the 22nd, our little girl turned 4! She had been looking forward to her birthday for a long time. One of the first things she wanted to do in the morning was hold her baby brother.But what she had been asking about for weeks was breakfast in bed. This is something we always do for Mike on his birthday and father's day, and she had requested it for her birthday this year. She had a pannekoeken with candles, and raspberries and blueberries with whipped cream. As you can see, she was ecstatic.Then she got dressed in her "party dress" and headed to daycare with goodies bags for all her friends.That evening, we had "movie night". A friend had given her Lion King as a gift, so we all snuggled up to watch it -- Sam slept on my chest through the whole thing. After the movie, Lily wanted to hold him. Okay, so she really isn't asleep here, but I still think it is such a sweet picture, the way he seems to be hugging her. On Saturday we had a family party for her, complete with princesses, candy and balloons -- some of her favorite things in the world. And some of her other favorite things: Grandmas and Cousins!

It was great to have family travel to celebrate with us. Lily raved about what a great day she had.

I enjoyed it as well, but cannot help but get a little misty thinking about how fast time goes. Mike often tells Lily not to grow up too fast. The morning of her birthday, she asked us if we were sad that she was growing up. I told her, "Oh, Lily, I am happy for you!"

. . .but just a little sad for me.

A mother's reward

2010-09-23T11:23:00.003-05:00

WARNING: This story may have contraceptive effects on some readers.

It was 5 am and I was up for the third time with Sam, as usual. I fed him and he soon filled his pants with a thunderous gurgle, as usual. Not wanting to wake either of us too much, I proceeded to change his diaper in the dark. I paused, however, when I felt wetness on the back of his onesie. When I turned the lamp on, sure enough, he had filled his pants all the way up the back and out, soaking through his onesie and pjs.

I had nearly finished undressing and wiping him down when I felt a warm trickle on the back of my hand. He was peeing all over the changing table. I wiped him down again and finally got him all cozy in a new pair of pjs. I sat down to nurse him a bit more. As he finished, he let out a large belch. I put him up on my shoulder to see if he had anymore burps, and he immediately drenched my shoulder with spit-up. Determined not to make another outfit change, I toweled us both off the best I could. I cradled my little bodily-fluids-factory in my arms and closed my eyes, begging God for just one more hour of sleep before an energetic 4-year-old would come bounding into our bed.

Just then I looked down at Sam in the dim light. He was gazing back at me with the sweetest toothless grin a mother has ever seen. My heart skipped. Now I know that many would say that babies this age don't smile on purpose; that it was just gas. But any weary mom would agree, this smile was just for me. I am convinced he was saying, "Ah, thanks, Mom. I feel much better."

New Normal

2010-09-21T15:42:00.004-05:00

Sam will be three weeks old tomorrow, so our new "normal" is beginning to be established. Lily has started to go to daycare three days a week, and two of those mornings she goes to pre-school, which she loves. Here she is on the first day:

She still wants to hold or be near her brother quite often and is always saying, "Wouldn't this be a great picture!" as she kisses him, hugs him, or tickles him, sometimes too zealously. Here is a picture where I think Sam already has an "I'm too cool for my big sister" look.

And of course our boy is changing each day. He is always making sweet, strange or silly faces. The last picture just cracks me up.

New Family

2010-09-11T21:28:00.003-05:00

We are settling into our new identity as a family of four. I used the phrase "the kids" for the first time today when talking to Mike. It was a bit strange to say.
So far, Sam has proven to be a pretty mellow little guy. Let's all pray he stays that way! Lily is an excellent big sister. She rarely wants to leave the house unless Sam can come with. He is the first one she asks for when she wakes up or comes home. And she has called him "soooo adorable" more times than I can count. Yesterday she asked me if we were going to keep him forever. I was hesitant, expecting this to be the moment everyone warned us about -- the older sibling ready to give the baby back. When I said yes, she sighed, "Oh good!"

I am recovering slowly but surely. My mom has been here this week, and that is a huge blessing for us all. Thanks, Mom!

Here are a few photos from the week:

He's here!

2010-09-01T20:10:00.002-05:00

Our newest addition has arrived:

Samuel Lee
8 lb 9 oz
20 inches

The Lily quote of the day: "This is the best day of my whole life."

2010-08-28T14:54:00.004-05:00

Well, my next post will most likely be devoted to the new little boy in our lives (4 days and counting!), so I thought I'd give Lily her one last moment alone in the spotlight. (Baby boy may never get his moment alone!)

Here are a few random pics from the last couple months that I missed. She really has changed a lot this summer. Sometimes we look at her and realize she is now a "kid," not a toddler anymore.

Full of joy, imaginative, funny, independent, and thoughtful: I am convinced she will be an excellent big sister!

At the Lake

2010-08-12T12:26:00.005-05:00

Once again my aunt and uncle generously let my family use their lake place for a week. This year, my whole family was able to make it. As you can see, we had tons of fun.

My parents celebrating their 40th Anniversary!

Some of the ladies, relaxing

Cousins on the mega-tube

Mike, wakeboarding for the first time

A couple of nice fish

Even the nine-month-pregnant mom went for a tame tube ride. (Having two doctors on the boat made me feel secure!)

Trying to shake the oldest cousin from the hammock!

"In our real life"

2010-07-29T14:08:00.003-05:00

In the van this morning, Lily said, "Mom, I think it makes God happy when we talk about Him. Do you think if there are any people that don't know God is in our real life that I can tell them about Him?"

Is there a word for the feeling that surged through me at that moment?

Summer Fun

2010-07-11T22:27:00.003-05:00

While Grandpa and Grandma spoiled Lily, Mike and I got a weekend away. We biked around Lake Calhoun and Lake Harriet and took in a Minneapolis Pops concert at the Lake Harriet bandshell.

On the fourth we spent time with some good friends watching the Twins, enjoying a relaxing supper out, and taking in some fireworks.
We even had a chance to stop by NWC and take a stroll down memory lane. This is the park where Mike proposed to me more than 11 years ago!

I was hoping to have a second post with some video footage of the backyard fun we have been having in the hot weather, but I can't upload a video! Any suggestions from you bloggers out there? Anyway, this action photo will have to do.

Take me out to the ballgame. . .

2010-06-29T22:12:00.008-05:00

Beautiful weather. . .check.

First taste of cotton candy. . .check.

Hot dog. . .check.

Pop. . .check.
Popcorn. . .check.

Hugging Hawkeye, the mascot. . .check.

Jumping in a huge Hawkeye bouncer. . .check.

Watching baseball. . .ummmm, not really, but go Redhawks!

Summer means. . .

2010-06-21T11:34:00.003-05:00

Fresh-picked strawberries (thanks, Grandma!)

Grandparent visits and pony rides

Garage sales and lemonade stands

and

Frequent lunchtime conversations as a family:

Lily: "What does 'learning' mean?"

Mom: "When someone teaches you something."

Dad (wrinkling his nose at Mom's response): "It means a somewhat permanent change in behavior." (What a cute scientist :-)

Lily (with a sarcastic tone and mischievous grin): "A change in your behavior, Dad."

Dad: "A change in your face's behavior."

Lily (without missing a beat) "A change in your Mom's behavior!"

Since that was met with a round of laughter from Mom and Dad, a few minutes later another attempt at humor is made.

Lily: "Dad, if you don't give me that, I will punch you in the face."

Mom: "Oh Lily, that isn't funny. We don't say that."

Dad: "Yeah, it's not funny and it doesn't scare me."

My Girl

2010-06-03T14:16:00.001-05:00

Mother's Day

2010-05-16T14:16:00.003-05:00

A card from your little one, kind words, a thoughtful gift, and a nice meal made by someone else are wonderful Mother's Day gifts, but I think as moms of young children most of us would admit that some time away with friends is a great gift too! Well, I must say, I got a little of everything this Mother's Day.

A game at the new stadium with friends!

Outstanding seats (Beth took this picture sitting in our seats!)

Grandma time (and one of her homecooked meals -- yum!)

A beautiful day with my sweeties!

How to say "no" in Spanish

2010-05-16T13:59:00.002-05:00

Lily loves to try out phrases or words she has heard other places (even if she isn't quite sure of the meaning). Here are a few recent examples:

*While I was helping her get her socks on she nonchalantly said, "Mom, I think I am going to take up the violin."

*After I asked her, just once, to help me clean up her room, she replied, "I have told you several times, I don't want to clean up right now."

*When she noticed that I had moved the rocking chair from her room to the baby room, she ran into the bathroom and asked in an upbeat voice, "Where is that stinkin' chair?"

*Mike had been saying "Bof 'um" when referring to two things (both of them). When Lily started using the phrase I asked her what it meant. She confidently replied, "Bof 'um means "no" in Spanish."

It's a. . . . .

2010-04-28T18:23:00.003-05:00

BOY!

Things That Are Round

2010-04-26T21:17:00.004-05:00

Bowling Balls

Baseballs

My belly (not to mention my face, rear, etc.)

Beautiful smiling cheeks!

The big news. . .

2010-04-15T21:36:00.003-05:00

Well, there are a few of you who I have been trying to get a hold of to share this news in person, but this will have to do for now. . .

We are expecting! September 8th is the due date.
Lily is extremely excited (as are we!). She has a few names in mind: Peppa Pig, Sweetheart Princess, or George. The other day, when I picked her up from daycare, I had Ollie (our Shih Tzu) in the car. I told her on the way to the car that someone was waiting for her. "Who is it, Mom?"
"Well, he's small, and white, and furry."
Her eyes beamed and she stopped in her tracks. "Is the baby here?!"
Hmmm, if only it were that easy.

And one more funny story from our "sponge". A few weeks ago, when Mike was picking Lily up from daycare, one of her teachers pulled him aside saying that she had "the best" story for us. She said they had been talking about juice at breakfast, and Lily commented that she had lots of juice at her house. "We have grape juice, apple juice, orange juice, and we even have the Jesus' blood kind that only Moms and Dads drink. We have lots of that kind."
(No, I have not had a drink in the last few months, which goes to show how long a thought can stew in a pre-schooler's mind before springing forth at an "opportune" moment!)

Happy Easter!

2010-04-08T21:03:00.003-05:00

Colorful eggs = Happiness!

Pretty cousins

An Easter wagon ride from Butterbean

Lauren the sharp-shooter

Our Prima-Ballerina

For the sake of argument

2010-03-21T21:56:00.003-05:00

Lily is developing into quite the negotiator/debater/arguer -- whatever you want to call it. Sometimes her skills are impressive and sometimes they are downright infuriating. And then there are the times when you just have to laugh.

Mike invited Lily with him to pick up some candy at the gas station and go through the car wash. While they watched the soap spray the windows, Mike commented on what a good idea he had. Lily responded, "Well, actually, Dad, it was my idea."
"No, I thought of it while you were napping."
"Actually, Dad, I thought of it when I was two."
"Oh yeah, well I thought of it when you were only one."
Lily thought for a moment. "Oh. Good idea, Dad."

This morning I was having the usual what-to-wear debate with our young diva. She commented that the outfit I picked didn't match.
"Yes it does. Grandma bought all of these things together as an outfit."
"Well, it doesn't look good."
"Lily, Grandma asked the lady at the store if it all matched, and she said it does."
"The lady said that? Okay, I'll wear it."
Sales clerk trumps Mom and Grandma. We are in trouble.

Belly slides and the Monkey Dance

2010-03-07T21:41:00.003-06:00

Our budding skater

A couple of silly girls

(The dress is a hand-me-down from my brother's girls; it's Lily's latest obsession -- she had it on by 8 am today!)

"A hot summer day"

2010-02-26T21:32:00.006-06:00

Well, Phoenix wasn't exactly hot while we were there this past week, but I know none of you northerners will have sympathy for me. It rained off-and-on the first couple days we were there, but anytime the sun peeked through, Lily would exclaim, "Ahhh, a hot summer day." It was a nice retreat from our long winter, and we had some great family time.

Some highlights:

Lily's first plane ride

Taking in some historical sites. . .Lily loved playing house here.

Hanging out with Mike's brother, Dale.

Seeing lots of Saguaros. . .I have a weird fascination with these cacti.

Visiting the Phoenix zoo (after waiting out a downpour in the gift shop!)

Finally, on Tuesday, we had a warm enough afternoon for some swimming. Lily, using waterwings, swam on her own for the first time. She was thrilled! (I must admit, I was pretty excited too.)

Ahhhh, Summer, we miss you. Come back soon!

Melt your heart

2010-02-14T21:29:00.003-06:00

Tonight we were watching the Chinese Olympic pair-skaters, and Lily was loving it -- the jumping, the spinning and the "beautiful dress". I asked her if she wanted to skate like that someday. She replied, "Yes! I want to be the princess and Daddy, you be my prince."

Staycation

2010-02-02T20:05:00.003-06:00

This past weekend we tried taking a "staycation". Last fall, Mike played in the Concordia golf tournament and won a free night in a local hotel -- so local it was less than a mile from our house. On Saturday afternoon we headed over to the hotel, which had a great kiddie pool with slides and most importantly, heated water! For supper we tried HuHot, a mongolian grill. It was delicious and very kid friendly -- there was so much cooking noise going on, Lily could be her silly self. More swimming that night, movies in the hotel room, hotel brunch, more swimming. . . you get the idea. Best of all, when it was time to go home, we only had 10 blocks to go!

I didn't take many pictures, but here is Lily in her new princess PJs. I think they are hideously ugly, but she adores them!

This video captures a bit of the excitement and general silliness Lily felt about being in a hotel room. Ahhh, simple pleasures.

Rare

2010-01-24T13:42:00.002-06:00

Those of you who don't live around here may be surprised that making a good snowman is actually pretty rare for us. Although we have plenty of snow, it is often too cold for the snow to stick together well enough to make a decent snowman.
However, Saturday was a perfect snowman day. As fat, wet flakes fell, we (Mike, Lily, my parents, and I) filled our front yard with a snowmom, snowdad, snowbaby, and even . . .

a snowgiant! (Yes, that is a parrot on his shoulder -- look familiar, Uncle Dale?)

Fight the Frost

2010-01-19T21:38:00.004-06:00

Last Saturday we took Lily to the United Way fundraiser at the Fargodome. The arena floor was filled with 30 of the largest inflatable games I have seen.

Lily was in awe for about two seconds then off and running. She got a tame ride on a rodeo bull.
There were huge slides.

And all kinds of crazy themed games, including this dino where you climbed in the mouth and exited through a hole in the rear!

For $6, Lily played all morning with very little waiting in line. Well worth it!

Happy New Year

2010-01-10T15:45:00.003-06:00

Although the year is not so new anymore, I still haven't posted from our New Year's Eve party. We got together with some college friends who we have been with almost every New Year since our NWC days. The addition of children has added a new dimension to our party, and though 6 little girls ages 4 1/2 and younger doesn't sound like a New Year's Eve bash, we had a great time. The girls played so well together, and thanks to Jon and Laurie's spacious house, the adults could chat and play cards without battling the noise!

I love watching Laurie in this video, attempting to somehow childproof the room :-)

Dressing up!

The adults (and Jeremy)

Happy Holidays

2009-12-30T14:04:00.008-06:00

For the first time since I was young, I truly felt the anticipation of Christmas again. Lily was very aware of all things Christmas, which made for a fun year. For her big present from us, we got her a Princess "big girl" bike. The problem with a bike for Christmas in MN is obvious, but we have taken advantage of the abandoned halls of Concordia during the break. I must admit that my heart skips a bit at the sight of her riding so fast, but she is getting better about braking.

We also celebrated our little family Christmas with cookie cutter pancakes. I think Lily ate more toppings than pancake, but what is Christmas for?

We had a great Christmas down in Luverne with my family as well. We made it down there just before the storm, and we ended up staying an extra day because of the weather. There was plenty of space and fun to be had, so all-in-all it was a great trip (except for the drive home which took an extra 2 1/2 hours!)

Here are some highlights:

Lily attempting to be like her big cousin Connor, the goalie

Time with cousins and the candy-cane pinata

Sled rides behind the four-wheeler

Hot-tubbing in a blizzard. . .

And the hairstyles that it creates!

Lily playing dress-up and beauty shop with Maddie.

Playing "Beyond Balderdash" with the adults and older kids. There are no pictures -- we were too busy laughing ourselves to tears. I highly recommend this game!

Having my whole family together.

"Transparents night" and Shepherds at the mall

2009-12-20T13:56:00.005-06:00

Last Thursday was the last night of Lily's recent gymnastics session. On the final night parents are invited inside to watch. Lily was very excited about "transparents night." The video below was their "final test." It was so cute to watch each kid show off for the parents.

The bubble gum ice cream cone to celebrate!

And a few days later at the mall. . .
Lily and I were walking behind an elderly gentleman who was using a cane. Her eyes lit up as she pointed at him. "Mom, he must be a shepherd!" Merry Christmas!

It's the Holiday Season

2009-12-13T21:27:00.005-06:00

Here is a little clip from Lily's Christmas Program at church. She did a great job and it was an improvement over Thursday night at her school program where she stood with her fingers in her mouth the whole time. (By the way, does anyone else notice the crazy parent syndrome that occurs at these programs -- parents doing whatever it takes to get the perfect photo or video angle?)

And on a totally different note, here is Mike's first catch of the year. Now doesn't that look much more delicious than the duck?

In the majority

2009-12-11T20:16:00.004-06:00

Tonight at supper Lily is telling Mike that she had chips and salsa for a snack at school. He asks if she liked it.
"I didn't like the salsa, so I just ate the chips. Do you like salsa, Dad?"
"I do," Mike replies.
"I don't," Lily says with a wrinkled nose. "Do you like salsa, Mom?"
"Yep."
"I like salsa, too," agrees Lily.
Mike notes that it appears she doesn't need everyone to agree with her, but she does need to be in the majority.

Enjoying some local fun

2009-12-07T21:46:00.004-06:00

Last Friday we took Lily to the Cobber hockey game. They ended up with a victory over Bethel. Lily had such a great time that she sobbed when the game was over. (Although, she may have been sad because it meant bedtime and no more skittles!)

Her girly side returned on Saturday morning when she and I went to a Storybook Breakfast at the West Fargo High School. As a fundraiser, the students in their drama department dress up like children's book characters. There was breakfast, pictures with santa and crafts. It was right up Lily's alley. Here a couple of her favorites:

Belle and the Beast

Snow White and her prince.

On Saturday night, Mike and I had a chance to go the Concordia Christmas Concert. It was an amazing production. PBS was even there filming it and plans to show it Dec 23-25. It is the first time in our four years here that we have made it. We were both impressed.

A deep thinker. . .then again. . . .

2009-11-22T20:44:00.002-06:00

A few of Lily's recent profound questions:

* "Did God make himself?"

* "Can we talk to Jesus when we are dead?"

* "Where was I when you were a little girl, Mom?"

A few of her not-so-profound questions:

* "Why can't we lay down on the road while cars are driving on it?"

* "Can I say 'butt'?"

* "When will I turn into a dog?"

Fall Fun

2009-11-09T21:07:00.003-06:00

Grandpa and Grandma came up this weekend while Mike was away duck hunting. It was great to have some company for the weekend, and my dad put in a new oven for me. Now I can cook and bake things according to the recipe instead of guessing how far off my oven may be. Thanks, Dad!

My mom and Lily had tons of quality time. Lily did not want to leave Grandma's side. They got a chance to play outside quite a bit on Saturday since the weather was so beautiful. We are really making up for crummy October.

On Sunday afternoon, Mike came home with a couple ducks that still needed to be cleaned. Lily was all excited to help him: she had her "duck" boots and "dirty" clothes on, and she was ready. But this video clearly shows the power of suggestion. All I say is, "Pew," and she suddenly must find out what is gross. (Could it possibly be the raw duck next to her?!) I should just keep my opinions to myself. She can enjoy cleaning ducks if she wants.

Happy Halloween

2009-11-01T07:19:00.004-06:00

Here is our Princess trick-or-treating around our neighborhood. She did pretty well considering her plastic high-heeled shoes! I still think she liked handing out the candy even more. We didn't have a ton of kids come to our door, but with Lily handing out huge handfuls, our candy is gone! I guess we can say she is generous.

Here is a picture of Chad and Mike when they went grouse hunting the other day. They didn't get any birds, but had a good time.

Family Fun Day

2009-10-25T14:23:00.008-05:00

About two weeks ago, Mike pronounced Saturday, October 24th, Family Fun Day. We would all spend the day together, and we each got to choose one activity for the day. I chose to go out for a big breakfast, so we started our day at the "Fryin' Pan". It was okay, but I don't think we will make a return trip.

Next we burned some time in Target while we waited for the zoo to open. Lily had a gift card from Grandma Olson, so she bought some glitter glues, skittles, and a stuffed Elmo doll. She still has some money left on the card -- what a frugal shopper!

Next we headed to the zoo (Lily's choice) despite the rain. It was a special Halloween festival day, so Lily got lots of treats and did a few crafts.

Riding the carousel with Dad

Showing the ferret her new pinwheel

This cow would see you coming, stick out her tongue, and wait for you to place food on it!

This crane was pecking at the window trying to get Mike's gum

They were feeding the wolves while we were there. Who knew they liked pumpkins? (After the deer legs were gone, of course!)

After Lily took a long nap, we made a supper of steak and potatoes. We also dug out the air popper (haven't used it in years!) and made some caramel corn.

And finally for Mike's choice of activity, we snuggled in to watch a movie in our PJs. (I don't know that "VeggieTales: Jonah and the Big Whale" was his first choice, but parents make sacrifices, right?

Overall, it was a very fun day. I would recommend Family Fun Day!

Stubborn Singer

2009-10-25T14:21:00.002-05:00

Here Lily is singing a song she learned at school. There is another part to the song that I was trying to get her to sing at the end. That is why at the end she says, "No, I'm not going to say that."

A note about the shirts: Mike went to a Neuroscience conference last weekend and bought matching shirts for the two of them. It is supposed to be a scanned image of a brain. If you look carefully you can see "FUN" in the brain. (Foundation for Undergraduate Neuroscience) Lily wanted to know if Dad shot any ducks while he was there!

Go Cobbers!

2009-10-17T14:31:00.004-05:00

Well, ironically, Mike is gone this weekend for Concordia homecoming -- he is at a professional conference in Chicago. So, Lily and I represented him. . .well, just at the parade, where they throw candy. The temps were a bit too chilly for Mom and preschooler to sit through a football game!

At all the parades this summer, Lily hated the fire trucks. She would cover her ears and even cry sometimes. But today, she said, "I like the fire trucks now, since I am a big three-year-old."

Cobber didn't show up until the very end of the parade!

Don't you think Concordia should pay us for this picture?

Absurd

2009-10-10T13:21:00.001-05:00

October 9, 2009

Once again, why do people live here?

Gems

2009-10-08T21:34:00.002-05:00

A couple of conversations with Lily that I want to remember:

On the way home from school, Lily was bending her plastic headband back and forth. I told her to be careful so she wouldn't break it. (This had already been the fate of one of her headbands!) She said back to me, "Oh, is it fragile?" A little impressed that she used that word correctly, I asked her if she really knew what "fragile" meant. After a little thought, she said, "It means only moms and dads can touch it."

Apparently God gave little girls a dad to help her learn patience. True to what I experienced as a child with my dad, Mike seems to enjoy antagonizing Lily at times. I don't even remember what he was doing, but her frustration level was rising. At her breaking point she shouted, "Daddy, you're poopy!" She was headed to her bedroom for a timeout before we even had to tell her to go. As we snickered silently, Mike commented, "Isn't it great? That is the worst thing she can think of to say to me." Ah, time will pass too quickly. . .

When my parents arrived for visit a few weekends ago, my dad asked Lily, "Where's your pa?" She looked at him quizzically and said, "I don't have any. Only Ollie does." :-)

When Mike returned from his recent duck-hunting trip, Lily was very interested in the ducks and goose he brought back. She wanted to feel the goose's feathers and beak, even tried to pick the heavy thing up by its neck. "Mom, you try it," she said. After a polite refusal she used a very motherly voice, "Dad can help you try." I kindly refused again. "He's a nice goose, Mom. He doesn't move or anything."

Birthday Party

2009-09-25T21:46:00.005-05:00

We had a great time last weekend. Mike's mom and brother, as well as much of my family came all the way to Moorhead to celebrate Lily's big day. The weather was unseasonably warm and we had tons of fun. Lily has had to readjust this week -- she can't understand why she is no longer being spoiled!

Her new bouncer!

Waiting to blow out the candles

Her only requests for her cake: "Pink with sprinkles!"

Cute cousins

The water balloon fight

Uncle Jon getting cornered!

The pinata fall-out

The dads

The moms

The girls playing dress-up -- so adorable, and funny (nice pose, Madison!)

3!

2009-09-21T20:28:00.006-05:00

Our silly Lily is 3!

My life has changed so much since September 22, 2006:

*I have lived a year without a single full-night's sleep

*I have experienced near insanity over many seemingly small things (nap schedule, strange poop, to snack or not to snack)

*I have spent way too much money on cute clothes she never wanted to wear

*I have cleaned up mess after mess after mess after mess. . .

*I have experienced worry on an entirely new level

**I have had excuses to wear stained clothing in public

**I have become less judgemental

**I have never tired of kissing those sweet cheeks

**I have a whole new part of my husband to love

**I have learned to appreciate the value of tickling

**I have felt love in parts of my heart I didn't know existed

Happy Birthday, Lily! We love you!

The Real Lily

2009-09-13T21:15:00.003-05:00

Well, this little video pretty much simulates two minutes with our busy, sometimes bossy, bright and beautiful little girl.

(By the way, Ollie is tied to her trike in the background. Lily rides up and down the sidewalk with him trotting along beside.)

Hippo song

2009-09-03T22:00:00.003-05:00

Lily learned this song at daycare and I think it is so cute. It is hard to understand some of what she says, so I put the words below.

In the beginning God made the seas and the forests filled with trees.

God made the mountains way up high and flying birds up in the sky.

His fingerprints are everywhere, just to show how much he cares.

And in between God had some FUN! He made the hippo who weighs a ton.

Hip-hip-hip-o-potamus, hip-hip-hooray God made all of us. (Repeat until dizzy :-)

Candy

2009-09-02T22:09:00.003-05:00

Lily LOVES candy, maybe a bit too much as evidenced by her high regard for it in these two stories.

The other day I was rocking with Lily before her nap. We had just finished reading Barnyard Hullabaloo which has a page with a very angry bull. She asked why the bull was so angry, and I told her bulls are just that way. We finished the book, and I thought she had drifted off to sleep when I heard her tired voice. "Maybe if I give the bull some candy he will feel better."

Tonight as we were saying prayers before bed, she asked where Jesus is. I told her he is in heaven. She said, "Do I have to go there someday?" I told her she gets to go there and that it is a very happy place. Her eyes brightened and she said, "Does Jesus give out candy there?"

Soak it in

2009-08-26T22:38:00.005-05:00

Soaking

every moment

of summer

before we kiss it

goodbye.

Summer Snippets

2009-08-21T09:12:00.011-05:00

I started teacher workshop on Monday, so my summer is quickly waning. I looked back through my pictures and wanted to capture a few things that I missed during the last couple months.

Lily at our National Night Out neighborhood block party (it had a western theme) The local SWAT team showed up at the party and we got to tour the truck.

Lily's version of a little sister. (Yes she put it on him herself, unbeknownst to me!)

Cousin Samina and Lily enjoying bath time!

Now we know where she gets the curls! Cousin Maddie came for a weekend visit. We all loved having her stay -- what a treat!

3 out of 5 -- pretty good.

This is a video clip of Lily's last day at "nastics." One of her favorite things each week was to run down this long trampoline. I can't blame her; it looks fun to do, but parents aren't allowed on the equipment. (I forgot to flip the movie, so you'll have to turn your head to watch -- sorry!)

At the Lake

2009-08-11T16:09:00.006-05:00

My aunt and uncle have been kind enough to let us use their lake home the last couple summers. It is a great place to relax and play. Despite some crummy weather this last weekend, we were able to squeeze in some water fun.

Lauren, Samina, Lily and me riding on the massive tube.

Wow! What a grandma!

Grandpa and Lauren doing some fishing.

Samina driving the boat with Uncle Mike.

Grandma telling Lily (for the hundredth time) to slow down on the boat!

Our little family

"This thing can't tip!"

"Whoa! Maybe it can!"

Lily and the frog she caught herself!

Lily and Grandma heading down to the dock.

Thanks Aunt Pennie and Uncle Steve for sharing your place with us!

Roadtrip, The final days

2009-07-28T22:53:00.006-05:00

Day Nine

At the start of our trip, we intended to go through Yellowstone on the way home, but we got many recommendations to try Glacier instead. So, around noon, we headed north from Missoula. (We would have started out earlier, but we discovered our front brakes needed to be changed. Not a chance we wanted to take before winding our way up the "Road to the Sun".)

We decided to camp just outside Glacier Park so we could get an early start the next morning. Our campsite was near a reservoir by Hungry Horse, MT. The campground was fine; the neighbors, well. . .I'll just say it wasn't serene. Luckily a small rain storm drown out some of the noise. I will say, however, this campground had a very friendly host who gave us some great tips for our trip to Glacier the next day.

Day Ten

Lily slept so well in the tent, that we had to finally wake her up to take the tent down and get on our way. It took us an hour to get to the entrance of the park and another hour to reach the pass at the top of the Road to the Sun. I have never seen such spectacular beauty in my life. Every turn takes your breath away.

At the top, we took a three mile round trip hike to an overlook of Hidden Lake. Lily was a trooper and walked almost a mile, all uphill. The rest of the hike gave me and Mike an opportunity to burn some extra calories by carrying a thirty-pound "pack".

(Ahh, nice family photo. . .who is the lady in pink?!!)

On our way down the other side, we ventured on another 2 mile round trip hike to see St. Mary's falls.

Lily was so tuckered by the hike back that she literally fell asleep on Mike's shoulder. She took a good nap as we finished our drive through the park. As she snoozed, we got this pic.

Although there were a lot of people in the park, I am so glad we took the time to see it. They say the glaciers will be gone by the year 2030. My only regret is that there was so much more to see! But, by day ten, we were all ready to start the trip home.

We traveled a few more hours and found a hotel in Helena for the night. (I must mention that I was able to swing a great deal -- A two-room king bed and sofa pull-out at the Marriot for $94!)

The Last Day

The final day was just a push to get home. We left Helena at 8:30, and with some treats, a new sticky hand toy, and some fun glo-sticks, we arrived home at 1:15 am. What a great trip.

Roadtrip, Days 7 and 8

2009-07-25T00:14:00.005-05:00

Day Seven

Today we said goodbye to our friends and Pullman and trekked to Aquarius campground in the Clearwater National Forest of Idaho. Mike and I had camped here many times and it had become our favorite spot. Unfortunately, all the sites were taken when we arrived (after a 3 1/2 hour drive!). Luckily, about 30 minutes down the road was another campground we enjoyed just as much, and it was a bit more kid friendly, too, with some calmer spots to hang out in the water. She especially loved this big rock that she called "the walrus".

We weren't sure how Lily would do on a camp-out, but she LOVED it. The tent was so exciting to her as well as brushing her teeth outside. "We can just spit on the ground?" She even slept right through a thunderstorm that echoed through the mountain valley like someone shaking sheet metal. It was awe-inspiring.

Day Eight

After a lazy morning packing up camp, we decided to take the "shortcut" through the mountains instead of heading back two hours to the the highway. I think it did save us some time, but we made up for it in tense driving moments. Multiple times our stomachs turned at the thought of a slight mistake sending us over the plunging shoulder. (Of course Lily was absorbed in Max and Ruby the whole time -- if you don't know what Max and Ruby is, consider yourself lucky!)

We finished the 71 mile drive in just over 3 hours. Whew.

We stayed the night in Missoula, MT. Pizza at the Makenzie River Company and DQ topped off the evening.

By the way, there are no pictures for this day because my camera battery died after that shot of me and Lily in the river, and the one thing I forgot to pack was the charger!

Roadtrip, Days 5 and 6

2009-07-24T23:56:00.007-05:00

Day Five

This morning we headed to the WSU campus and wandered around the buildings, old and new. Mike got a chance to catch up with his grad school advisor while Lily and I headed to a local park and visited with some old co-workers that are still dear to my heart.

After picking up some Hunan at our favorite chinese place (New Garden), we took the winding road out to Boyer park on the snake river. It was a bit sad to be there without Zip, knowing she would love to take a swim.

That evening, we hung out with the Wilm's again. The kids played, the dads golfed and moms talked (and talked and talked). It was like no time had passed at all.

Day Six

We were supposed to leave Pullman today, but we just couldn't do it! We decided to hang out an extra day, and, thankfully, the Wilm's didn't mind putting us up one more night. The extra day gave us a chance to visit some favorite stores like Tri-State, Taco Time and Daily Grind. Maren and I even got a chance to go get a coffee sans pre-schoolers! We also took some time to hang out at Sunnyside park, which is just blocks from our old house on Walnut. Lily loved feeding the ducks and Mike and I even got in a little frisbee.

I also stopped by Lincoln, where I used to teach, not expecting anyone to be there in the middle of July. When I peeked in the office, Frances was there! And as I was talking to her Kenny showed up as well. How fun to see some old co-workers.

We also took time to quite literally smell the roses at Lawson Gardens!

Lily got a chance to giggle uncontrollably with her "cousins" as she called them. They all sat around their little table at supper and made up nonsense songs. "If you're happy and you know it, eat your fork!" It was an adorable sight.

Roadtrip, Days 3 and 4

2009-07-20T15:22:00.007-05:00

Day Three

Despite a restless night, we all woke in good spirits today. We were on the road by 8:30 and made our first stop in Kellog, ID. This was always one of our favorite stopping points -- a cozy little mountain town. A trip to the park and gas station for a treat got us on our way again.

Just a bit later we were in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. The drive through the 4th of July pass and down to the lake is one of the most beautiful I've seen. We stopped at the big resort and marina on the lake, walked the longest floating boardwalk in the world, and lazed on the beach for a bit.

After another short drive we arrived at the Motsenbocker's, just south of Spokane. I wish I would have taken a picture of the view from their deck -- a breathtaking overlook of the valley and grazing cattle. We had a great time catching up with these old friends.

On to Colfax for a visit with Mike's grad school buddy. He has three kids and Brooke was a sweetheart with Lily (which gave Mom and Dad a break after 60 solid hours with her :-)

Finally on to our hotel in Pullman. What a wonderful feeling to cruise through the Palouse again!

Day Four

An early morning today (but then again, it was already 8:15 in MN!). We drove out to one of our favorite little hikes at Kamiak Butte. This 1/2 mile hike gives you a stunning view of the Palouse. Lily took a couple tumbles on the hike and isn't so sure she likes hiking as much as Mom and Dad, but the park at the bottom was good reward.

Still a little thrown off by the time change, Lily was definitely ready for a nap by 11:30. It was her first chance to nap in a bed (not a carseat!) in 4 days. She slept 3 hours and we finally had to wake her to see our old pastor and wife, the Swansons.

Finally out to dinner with some good friends, Maren and Brandon, while an old student of mine babysat the kiddos.

Survivor: Westward Road Trip, Days 1 and 2

2009-07-19T00:17:00.001-05:00

Day One

So far, so good. Lily was pretty easy in the van. Very few grumpy moments from anyone. Our first stop was Bismarck for lunch in the park and a trip through the zoo. Lily's wingspan is equivalent to that of a peregrine falcon.

Then on to Teddy Roosevelt for our first view of some scenery. (You might be seeing this one on a Christmas card :-)
Some candy and videos later, we arrive in Miles City for the night.
They maybe should have charged us for an extra box of tissues -- Lily could not get enough of the built in Kleenex dispenser!

Day Two

Not quite as grump-free today. Each member of the family had their moments!

A slight detour through Billings brought us to our first stop -- Pictograph Caves. Pretty cool sites but very hot weather.

A (long) while later we decided to try a 7 mile detour to see the Lewis and Clark Caverns. We descended a winding road to a clear river and a picturesque campground. Then curved our way back up 3 miles to a busy visitor center. "Let's see some caves!" Ah, but the caves can only be viewed by a guided 2 hour tour! Oh yeah, and no one under six is allowed. (Is this age discrimination?) Needless to say, we didn't see the caverns. We did get one picture from the top, though.
Finally (and I do mean FINALLY) we arrived in Missoula at our hotel. Ahh, only 2 hours left of Montana driving -- is this state huge or what!? We will be in Pullman by tomorrow evening!!!

Inquisitive

2009-07-15T14:46:00.002-05:00

As I am pulling Lily in the wagon, back from the park:

Lily (chanting): "Ollie's dead, Ollie's dead!"
Me: "Oh, Lily. We don't say someone is dead if they really aren't."
Lily: "But we say Jesus died?"
Me: "Umm, yes. But he came back to life."
Lily: "Can he come to our house?"
Me: "Well, we can't see Jesus."
Lily: "Why?"
Me: "Well, he doesn't have legs and arms like us."
Lily: "But does he have shoulders?"

I choose just to be silent. A few moments later,

Lily: "Mom, what are heads for?"
Me: "To hold our brain."
Lily: "What are brains for?"
Me: "For thinking."
Lily: "What are chins for?"
Me: "No more questions, Lily."