Update on our lives~
~ I’m still pregnant. Yup. Imagine that… 4ish more weeks to go, I like the sound of baby arriving Feb 20th
~ Had our furnace checked out today. We will probably be getting a new one in the next month or so, depending on the quote they give us.
~ I discovered how messy our house is. I’ve been doing lots of cleaning, so it’s mainly just toys and stuff we are still moving around. I probably wouldn’t have noticed except I needed to ‘clear a path’ for the furnace guy before he got here and realized just how much work there is left to get done.
~ My best friend’s mom lent me a book. It’s a cookbook. “The big cook”. I’m in LOVE. The recipes are made for you to get together with some girlfriends and make lots, you cut up the meat, make the sauce put it all into a ziplock bag and freeze it. So no cooking involved for now. The book also gives suggestions for side dishes (I always need help with those). You pull the food out to thaw overnight then cook it up the next day for dinner ~ many of the recipes are cookable in the oven, slow cooker or BBQ. I have made 8 meals so far, we ate one so I have 7 frozen meals. I also have all the ingredients and most of them prepared (cut up etc) for another 2 meals, however I miscalculated how much meat I’d need so need to buy a bit more. Darn Kg to Lbs! I know the math but apparently can’t do it!
~ Orlund and I have both been making many different meals from various cookbooks we’ve bought or were given. We are finding out what’s yummy and easy. I’ve got to start making a list of the recipes so we can remember later! LOL
~ We are FINALLY going to move the girls downstairs TONIGHT! *gasp* got lots still to do, but I’m going to work on it today after Olivia is down for her nap (well I have stuff to take out of their room first..). I’m excited it’s finally happening because that means I can start getting ready for our new addition.
~ Joy went to Sunday school last Sunday! This was a big step, she didn’t like to go as the kids were too loud and all over the place. however on Saturday we went to a birthday party with some of these kids and she decided since they were nice there she’d go to Sunday school with them again. She loved it! (now the rowdy kids I noticed weren’t there, and the new teacher is more strict ~ which is good for some kids like Joy, but not all kids). She say’s she’s going to go again this Sunday. Poor Olivia, she really wants to go! 1 more year
~ Olivia is completely a Daddy’s girl. If I discipline her she runs to daddy for hugs. If Orlund disciplines her she runs a full circle, towards me then back to him for hugs. During the day if she gets really frustrated and I don’t know why, she points out the front window and cry’s “Daaaaaaaaaaaaddddddddddddddddddddyyyyyyyyyyyyy”. I remind her Daddy is at work, but she just cry’s and cry’s for him. The only other thing that will sooth her is her Blankie.
~ Both the girls are so smart it blows us away sometimes the things they come up with! They sure are listening.
~ Joy loves to say something to you (not understandable) and then when you ask her what it is she said she replies “oh, never mind” while waving her hand. She is also using the word “pardon” now instead of always saying “what”. It makes her seem so much more grown up.
~ Joy is excited at the thought of having a baby brother to play with… I’m worried she’ll be upset when she realizes he wont be much of a ‘play’ buddy for a while. At least all the baby toys will keep them busy
~ Orlund is LOVING his new job. Much less stress and it’s doing stuff that he loves.
~ I accidentally killed Nemo (our Gold fish). Yup somehow the temperature in our fish tank got so high he died and our other ‘fish’ (more like a snake/eel) was jumping out of the water because it was too hot! We cleaned the tank and cooled it off for them (slowly as to not shock them). Joy and Daddy went on a special trip to buy more fish, they bought 2 Pleco’s (the fish that clean the algae) and 4 little neon tetra’s. We are hoping to get on track with cleaning on a regular basis (it doesn’t take long, but remembering is the issue), then we would like to get guppies again. I love guppies. Just before we’d moved into this house I’d gotten into the routine of cleaning the tank, and our guppies were having babies. Unfortunately guppies are very sensitive fish and didn’t survive the move.
~ My pregnancy is going good. I have very low blood pressure still, the Dr suggested I use pressure stockings to help, I just gotta go buy them! My back has been killing me the last few days, but I think I know why. I dusted all our ceilings and walls on Monday (or was it Tuesday? lol), I think I just over did it and must have strained something.
~ well it’s time to get lunch going and some stuff cleared out the girls current room before Olivia goes down..

Hope all is well with your family. God bless you.

I have been (just slightly) stressing over our upcoming holiday. Trying to figure out what to pack, and trying to make it as light of a load as possible! I thought I would wait until Thursday to pack, however strongly feel I need to pack NOW. Don’t know if it’s the pregnancy, or God whispering, but I’m going to listen either way! So tomorrow, I’m going to pack most my clothes that I plan to take (other than the clothes I still need for this week), along with kids toys, movies and some of their clothes. I may have the boys for a few extra hours, or an entire extra day this week that is completely unexpected so perhaps I do need to pack now and stay on top of this just in case!
My belly is growing at a very quick rate! I can’t believe it!! Orlund took some pictures of me standing (ones that were later deleted, so I didn’t stand pretty) and WOW talk about looking pregnant already! I’m hoping Wednesday at my Doctors apt I’ll get to hear the little heart beat! (14weeks!).Well, during all this stressing, We did take some time out to have some fun! Check out Orlund’s latest blog entry for one picture. And here is another (not the best quality, but still fun to take!).

Hovering over Mommy! OH What fun!!

Good morning all you beautiful people! This morning has been a beautiful morning for me. First I got to sleep in until 8:30am, and awoke to coffee brewing (Thanks Honey). Then Orlund took Joy out for a father-daughter breakfast, so Olivia and I had a special one here too. Chocolate milk makes the 1year old happy After I was done eating, waiting for Olivia to finish I looked over my to-do list. I’ve been doing good this week and getting a bunch accomplished, however I have fallen behind some. So Olivia and I headed downstairs (she loves to play down there) I dusted the ceilings and walls while she explored the toys. After that I decided we should come back upstairs so I can get some other cleaning done. She found the swiffer to be great fun! I emptied the dishwasher and re-loaded it with our breakfast dishes. Then just as I was about to leave the kitchen a giant white casserole dish caught my eye. It was on the very top of the ‘drying’ dishes (they dried overnight). So I decided to empty the sink as well. Looks nice when all the dishes are away!

Well Orlund and Joy just returned from breakfast, time to get the rest of this day on track
(Just a side note. Orlund just told me that while he and Joy were standing in line to order Joy looked up at him and said “Daddy I happy” ~ awwww!)

Just a random shot of my messy girl

I was visiting with a girl friend of mine last night at Mom’s night out and she mentioned to me some struggles she deals with (in regards to house and kids, time really). And I told her about how I wish I could just get my house clean, and keep it clean. Why can’t I have what so many other people have? Umph as I call it. You’d think that if I’m not spending the time cleaning than perhaps I’m spending it playing with the kids. You’d think. I do play with them. I do clean. But I don’t feel like either is enough time put towards them. I think I’m spending it online. What a horrible thing. I blog (usually while kids are napping ~ or like now pretending to nap), I go on Facebook (feels like a connection to the world outside my house), I read other blogs (check them daily even 2x’s daily), and I have other websites I visit to read whatnot on. I try to do it all only while kids sleep. But the truth of the matter is, I’m addicted and I come online more often than not. NOT GOOD.
I have one friend who blogs regularly, almost daily. Today I just read that she is now stopping her blog. It’s gone as of tomorrow morning. Danica I will miss you!! You truly inspire me and help me be a better mom. I just wish I could write as beautifully as you do. Although I will miss her stories (even philosophy Fridays), I completely understand the desire to not put so much time into blogging. I have decided I do want to keep blogging. However I’m going to cut down on all my other online endeavors. I’m going to make myself have Umph, get the house the way I want it and spend that time with my kids. They are only little for a short time. I don’t want to look back and feel like I missed out on their childhood because I was online. That’s not why we decided I would stay home with them. We decided for me to stay home to raise them, and I want to raise them right.
So while Danica moves on to other things, I too have decided to move on. I have wanted to be a certain way since I got married. I keep getting there, or almost there, then falling back behind. But I’m going to just keep on trying! Flylady was working to help me reach my goals, and now I need to press on and get back into it. What is something you’ve been putting off doing? Or something you want to do?

Okay, so it’s been months and months since we were camping. I can’t remember anymore what happened on what day.

Orlund’s parents came out and spent a couple nights in the lot next to use (slept in their van). It was nice for a change, and we got good visiting time in.

Cozy from the rain

sleeping soundly

Orlund enjoyed taking pictures of Joy and all her fun adventures. As well as the girls fun with Grandpa and Grandma Norstrom.

my "teenager"

Big helper

The nights were cool, however the days got much warmer. It rained some and the sun shone bright otherwise. It was a splendid trip that we truly enjoyed! Can’t wait for next yer!

Cozy tent

I have 3 other photo’s I wanted to add, however after trying 5 times I’m giving up….

Well Hello there! I’m getting back to our Camping trip.

So Day 3 camping. We decided to just stick around the camp ground.  We wandered over to a walking path and followed it to a beautiful sunny spot. I layed out on the picnic table to soak up the sun. It sure felt nice!

Just above where I was laying was a big tree which housed a hawk (or falcon) nest. Orlund took pictures while I relaxed in the sunshine.

Joy explored the ‘woods’ around the picnic table area, Orlund enjoyed taking pictures of her too.

Olivia sat up for the very first time unassisted on the picnic table. Very exciting! She sat for maybe 20 seconds, just long enough for me to realize what she was doing, call Orlund and him to look before she tipped over into my arms. She really just wants to get going so we ‘attempted’ walking. Can’t wait till Olivia and Joy can play together.

All in All it was a beautiful day.

Oh the things Boy’s can teach girls…
The other day I wandered into the living room to find Joy laying on the floor. “Mommy Dee, Dee” she said. I looked at Gabe and he explained “She’s pretending to be dead, I shooted her”…..goodie.

I’ve heard it’s a regular 4year old thing to do, shoot, kill etc etc. Joy is really interested in trying to play with other kids. However she’s a gentle little princess, so it’s a bit hard with a boy that just wants to kill everything. Like today, I brought out some plastic animals for them to play with while Sol napped. Joy was happy grabbing a few and having them talk, eat and visit with one another. She wanted them to talk with Gabe’s. But nope. He took all the animals (except the few Joy was able to snatch up), line them up on the coffee table, then proceeded to have two fight each other and one die (to which it fell off the table). A Moose apparently can take on any animal including dinosaurs. Who knew! But it left Joy trying to play with him, but not wanting the animals to die. It’s interesting.

“So she plays with the one year old right?” that’s what you’d think. But no. Apparently Sol and Joy are each others arch enemies or something! He can grunt words. So he grunts “Yes” and Joy grunts “uh uh” (like no), back and forth, back and forth it goes….. tiring… If she has a toy ~ he wants it. If he has a toy ~ she wants it. She puts on more of a drama than he does. but all in all it’s back and forth. all. day. sigh.

Today I learned something new. While an exercauser keeps Olivia happy (and safer than on the floor), a ball pit keeps a 1 year old, 2 year old and even a 4 year old happy for hours. smile. Sure I had balls spread from the living room through the dining room, kitchen and down the hall (surprised none got down the stairs), but my rule? You empty the ball pit, you pick up all the balls. It worked good. and I had tidied up all the other toys before bringing the pit out so needless to say, all in all it was easy to clear up after (and I got the kids to do it).  Guess I know what to bring out tomorrow when I need a break ~ I have a picture of all the fun, I’ll upload it later….

Saturday September 11th, only about half of our camping supplies were packed ~ basically the bins which were packed with our camping stuff to begin with. I went for a late lunch with a couple girlfriends of mine (sushi!) and upon returning home Orlund informed me he wanted to go camping tomorrow (as in SUNDAY) instead of waiting until Monday. It was a beautiful day on Saturday so we got the itch to get moving. The problem? I was only half packed! and it was our 6year Anniversary! (Happy Anniversary honey, thanks for sticking with this crazy gal!). So I spent the next two hours going crazy packing until we headed out for a Sushi dinner (can never have to much Sushi!). We had planned to come home after dinner, nurse Olivia and put the girls down to sleep. My wonderful dad was babysitting for us (Thanks Dad!). Then head out again to go bowling and just hang out. Instead we relieved my dad and got on with packing.

Sunday Morning. It was pouring rain…..pouring…. But we loaded up the utility trailer and car and headed out! (Orlund wasn’t sure if we could fit it all, I told him he should be thankful I packed light!LOL).

Orlund threw up the tent which let us girls get out of the rain. While he set up our other tent (over the picnic table) I set up the two playpens and got the tent organized. It was a fun day, the rain let up eventually. We got all set up and ready for our week long trip. Here is the only picture I have from day 1 ~

Snuggled in sleeping.

I now have two more chillins I watch for Daycare. Gabe (4yrs) and Solomon (1yr). They came and played for a couple hours one day, it was fun but not enough time to really do anything. Then Yesterday (Wednesday) I had them for the first full day….. Wow, Boys (at least these ones) are much different and Girls!!

Outside we have a little water table. It has two little sail boats, a bucket and a water wheel (you dump water into another bucket that slowly releases the water over the wheel so it spins). On Tuesday Grace and Joy played with it. Sure they got wet, but most the water stayed in the table and it was as clean as when they started. On Wednesday Joy, Gabe and Solomon took to it….. Well the boys also found her ‘mud pie’ making table, the water, sand and bits of grass ended up all over both ‘stations’ all over them and most the water onto the grass. The boys were coated from the tips of their heads to the bottom of their toes with mud and water! Joy, had a couple drops on her outfit. Gabe at one point even dumped a full bucket of water on Solomons head! Sol didn’t even flinch, Joy would have had a hissy fit and that would have been the end of it!

The boys definitely played rougher on the toys than they had ever been played with before. Joy is  a very gentle girl. Not that the boys were overly rough, just a lot rougher than she is.

We played, then when the little kids took a nap Gabe and I had fun making creatures out of egg cartons. After we played in the living room. Just as I was about to get Gabe to help me clean up their dad showed up, Since Sol was still sleeping he came upstairs. I hadn’t noticed what the living room looked like until then…. GASP!!! Every single toy, kid chair, etc was tipped over on either it’s side or right upside down! The living room has been messy before, but never with the toys in such positions before!! Gabe was helpful straightening the room up, thankfully! I couldn’t believe how the living room had looked so crazy!

I’m sure I’ll come across differences more and more as time passes. I just find it so funny how differently they play with toys.  Needless to say I slept good last night! I look forward to our adventures next week I hope this smoke clears out so we can walk to the park…