February recap February 22, 2012

This winter has been a little busier work-wise than normal, so this blog, which normally sees much activity in the winter months, has languished.

I long ago gave up hopes of making regular appearances here, but I definitely miss the time I used to have for visiting others’ little spaces on the interwebs.

Here are a few February highlights:

Husband and I got to attend a marriage retreat, which was fabulous and just what we needed. This is at the “dress-up night” banquet.

I’ve had that skirt since high school. It fits a little differently now, but it was nice to get another wear out of it.

Markus transitioned to a toddler bed (since he was climbing out of his crib 10-20 times a day/night anyway, we figured this just made it slightly less dangerous).

Anja and I made a bunch of valentines for her classmates. We used this printable butterfly version.

I made a spur-of-the-moment decision while the kids were napping on V-day to have a tea party as our snack. Nothing too special, but it seems special to them! The cupcake frosting had been frozen, so its texture was a bit iffy, but both kids and Daddy assured me it tasted fine.

We’ve had out the marble run a couple more times. They both enjoy it.

Anja and Daddy went to the Daddy-Daughter dance again this past weekend. She has talked about it–I kid you not–probably weekly since she went last year, describing what a good time it was, so she was stoked to go again. Her hair was too short to do any fancy up-dos this year, but I dug out my old curling iron and was pleased with the results.

Husband wearing a tie twice in one week has never happened before, I don’t think. He’s not a fan, so we appreciate him being such a sport! Markus came out the door after them and decided he needed to be in a picture, too.

She is SO hard to get decent smiles out of right now! I ask for a smile, get some sort of weird face, and then tell her just to keep her face straight. I crack a few jokes, and then I can at least get something genuine-looking, if not “perfection.”

That’s about it so far. How has your month been? I wish I had some great craft, or even some clean house photos, to post, but my crafting has been finger paints and cotton balls and glue and popcorn and rice.

Down Time December 29, 2011

This week has been nice. My hubby has the week off (for the first time since college, I believe), and we’ve been working on some projects around the house. We lounged at my mom’s house (and by that I really mean lounged…she waits on us, makes us fabulous meals, all the wonderful things moms do!) until Tuesday.

I’ve emailed some clients and announced my engagement session giveaway (if you know anyone engaged or about to be engaged in the Twin Cities area, let them know!!), I’ve read half of an e-book about quitting sugar (which my sis-in-law and I plan to do this winter). I’ve painted swatches on the freshly mudded and sanded walls of my laundry room and picked a light, creamy yellow inspired by this picture. Today we took the kids to a fun little place southwest of the cities where they jumped and ran to their hearts’ content. Hubby ran some errands this afternoon, and he brought me home some gorgeous flowers for no reason at all. LOVE.

I found some of the other pictures of my use-what-you-have wrapping and decorations from Christmas.

And our funny little gingerbread house. After years of trying and failing with graham crackers, I bought this cheap little kit at IKEA. Best gingerbread house we’ve ever had, and so easy! The icing I made stuck really well, too. Most of it went in the garbage after we got home from Mom’s, but we had fun making it.

What have you been up to this week?

My Girl December 14, 2011

The other night I was carrying Markus around, singing “My Girl.” Without a second’s pause, as I got to the chorus (the part where you say “My Girl…”), he interjected, “Jesus!” Goodness, he makes me laugh.

I’ve got sunshine on a cloudy day.
When it’s cold outside I’ve got the month of May.
I guess you’d say
What can make me feel this way?
Jesus (Jesus, Jesus)
Talkin’ ’bout Jeeeesus (Jesus!).

He’s right, of course. But I was going to sing it the way it was written…

Some photos December 5, 2011

Our yard after the first raking. There were about 7 subsequent rakings, since we have so many mature trees in our neighborhood, and they all drop their leaves at different times.

A loved princess.

A “store” set up on our coffee table. This is why I am so glad I switched to keeping our coffee table free of anything earlier this year. It encourages my kids so much in their creative play.

My boy reading books at the same coffee table. I fear I’m terribly biased, but I think he’s the most adorable little boy in the whole wide world.

Carving Pumpkins November 28, 2011

Aw, sad. This is a post from last year that I never completed! So I’ll put up a couple pics of our family pumpkins from this year (soooooooo last month, I realize). Anja wasn’t afraid to scoop the innards of the pumpkin this year (a first!), which made it a lot more fun. Markus was still squeamish, but that’s okay. He’s only one.

Mine is the cannibal, Husband’s is the spooky drippy mouth guy.

Anja’s 4th Birthday November 9, 2011

We had an “ice cream social” birthday for Anja. Since I make her a new homemade decoration each year, there is kind of a hodge podge going on, but I think she felt loved just the same.

One of my ice cream “flavors” popped on the way home.

The happy b-day girl.

“Is it my birfday, too?”

So many special gifts from her loving family.

And the “pin the cherry on the ice cream” game we forgot to play…so the 4 of us played it later.

Crummy picture of the balloon surprise she would wake up to the morning of her actual birthday.

And a photo with each of us on her birthday.

We love you, Anja!!

August 2011 Highlights Reel November 7, 2011

We found (and continue to find) these stickers everywhere. They entertained Anja for weeks.

We kept unpacking.

We made crafts (his front leg used to be longer…).

I take photos of my kids sleeping all the time. Am I the only one?

We played. Rosie (the tiny dog in the tractor) was hired to cart around this stroller.

We also went on a little vacation and had Anja’s 4th birthday party, which I’ll feature later!

Anja, 4 Years October 31, 2011

When did THAT happen? My chubby-cheeked little toddler turned into a “big girl” overnight, it seems. Anja, at 4 years (and two months), you:

• Have the same wacky sense of humor you’ve had since you were a toddler.  Silly dances, funny-shaped mouths, and odd noises combine to = you.
• Love love love to read.  I think you’d read for two hours every day if my voice held out.  That makes me glad!  Learning is much easier when you enjoy reading.
• Have gone through the first five books in the Little House on the Prairie series…you were more interested when the girls were younger, and we still read it regularly but I have to do it in small bits to keep you interested.
• Are kind of sneaky.  When you want to do something naughty, you often attempt to hide it or even lie about it at first.  Your conscience usually gets the best of you, but we keep praying the Holy Spirit will soon keep you in line.
• Can’t go to bed without some drama.  Bathroom trips, drinks of water, “nightmares” before you’ve fallen asleep are common excuses for getting out of bed.
• Have a great imagination.  The elaborate stories you weave and act out with your “guys” continue to amaze us (and often make us laugh).  This is another thing that keeps you up late…we hear your little voice over the monitor, singing made-up songs and telling intricate tales to your guys.
• Have gotten much better about listening to your parents.  There’s always room to grow, but we have seen amazing progress, and we are thankful!
• Seem to have good understanding of Jesus and what He did for us.  You can tell us quite clearly why certain things happened in the Bible, who Jesus is and why He died, and you admit when you’re struggling with your sin.  We’re here to help, Hon!
• Love your brother.  All siblings fight some, of course, but you often overwhelm him with your squishing hugs.  :)
• Have gotten “shy” at preschool again.  You really opened up second semester of last year, so we’re hoping that you will make some friends again this year.
• Are very object-oriented.  And maybe this contributes to your shyness, but you crave having a little something in your hand (a rock? a bouncy ball? a tiny puppy?).  It’s a comfort to you.
• Are becoming a very good helper.  You pull up a stool and get yourself drinks of water from the kitchen sink, wipe off your own hands and face and carry your plate to the counter after eating, unload the silverware from the dishwasher, vacuum under the kitchen table, and make your bed (sometimes).  And you’re very good at helping Markus find the toy/book/sock for which he’s searching.
• Eat with your hands.  All. The. Time.  We don’t know why, but you just hate utensils.
• Have exploded in your artistic ability.  You went, just this summer, from drawing only scribbles straight to drawing families with bodies, heads, arms, legs, hands, feet, and facial features (including ears).  What the what?  And all of a sudden you care about coloring in the lines.  I hope you don’t lose your creative spark, but I suppose coloring in the lines is nice sometimes.  :)
• Have tons of enthusiasm.  If there’s an adventure to be had, you are right there at the front of the line wanting to try.  Just today you told me that you wish you were an owl so you could have wings and fly to the tops of trees and sit there in the breeze.
• Continue to be very strong-willed.  And we continue to pray that God will use that tenacity for great things.

We love you, little girl!

Poser September 1, 2011

She never poses nicely for me. I’m pretty sure it must’ve been the lace dress, bringing out the Victorian girl in her. Mid-July.

A Visit to Grandma June 18, 2011

It seems to me we’ve been at my mom’s for the last few years over Memorial Day weekend, and this year was no exception. Husband was working on the house, so I took the kids alone this year (no. fun. driving.). We spent as much time as we could outside or in the basement. Anja comments on a regular basis about how Grandma’s house is her favorite place on earth because of All the Toys in the Basement and All the Good Food and All the Fun in the Yard. It makes me happy, because I really loved visiting my grandparents growing up, too, and I want my kids to have great memories at their grandparents’ homes the way I do from mine.

There was:
- playing in the basement

- riding trikes on the patio (Markus’s personal favorite)

(possibly my favorite picture of the trip)

- exploring nature

- tasting nature

- more trike riding

- walking with Grandma, in the yard and around the neighborhood

- mischief, and apparently, getting caught in some sort of crime?

- cuddling with Uncle

- sidewalk chalking with Auntie

- sleeping in Grandma’s bed

- rocking “guys”

- kicking a ball

- getting body-checked by a sister

- so much good food that Mama gained 2 pounds (but we won’t post a photo of that)

Thanks, Mom/Grandma! We had a great time!