At the pool

The kids and I went swimming today for maybe the last time of the season. In fact, it might be the last time at our beloved Klahanie pool. Now that we moved, we won't have access to the pools in that community. (Since we paid HO dues through the summer, I decided that we were still legal to go there for awhile.)

Christian was a super star swimmer. I just put a life jacket on him and he swam around everwhere in the big pool. He is really becoming a brave swimmer - he does things he may not like - like jump in - all the way under - he stands at the side of the pool his little legs trembling and you can nearly seem him actually summoning the courage to do it, and then he jumps in and comes up so very proud of himself. (For me, it reminds me of jumping off the high dive in Lake Eureka.)

Today we are expecting a high of 65 degrees - throughout the weekend too, school starts soon, leaves are changing colors, So, so long summer - we had fun!

Packing Peanuts

The kids had a whole lot of fun .... that is until I said it was clean up time!
(Thanks for both gifts Kristi!! :-)

What i was doing....

I got this meme from my friend Leah in MN.

20 Years ago ....
1) I just made the Varsity basketball team as a freshman.
2) backed my sisters Ford Tempo into a lamp post and also drove it into a gas pump - all within 2 months. Good thing we had Auto Body Shop connections.
3) had braces, had to wear a head brace when I slept, and saw a dermatologist on a regular basis (now how much more freshman dorky could I get

10 years ago....
1) I was preparing for my 2nd year of teaching English at Stanley County High School in Ft Pierre, SD
2) had a pet cat - for about 2 weeks - I can't even remember its name. I've tried a few times over the years to be a pet person.... I should learn my lesson.
3) leaned that I was going to be an aunt to twins

5 years ago....
1) I was working as a eLearning curriculm coordinator for Microsoft
2) Happily married for 1 year to the man of my dreams
3) Just gave the best birthday present to Leif - a positive pregnancy test! (minus the urine, it was a great gift)

3 years ago...
1) I was trying to figure out how I was going to parent another child - who was coming in just a few months.
2) preparing myself for my 2nd rainy, winter season in Seattle
3) learning to love, I mean love - coffee

1 year ago....
1) I started planning for our new house
2) discovered that I did indeed like brussel sprouts
3) finished a writing class at UW

Yesterday I....
1) signed Campbelle up for ballet lessons - and it's all we've heard about since
2) went swimming at lessons with Christian
3) finished the book "Water for Elephants" - recommended reading

Today I...
1) went to the farm and picked up tons of produce incuding raspberries, edamame and flowers
2) attended a Sunday School teacher training meeting
3) cleaned the house

Tomorrow I.....
1) go to a playdate with our friends
2) get my hair cut like Posh Spice
3) bake zucchini bread

In the next year, I hope to.....
1) landscape our backyard
2) spend Christmas in Florida with my family
3) start a book club

Coming to America...

First, my apologies to Leif, I know how he feels about him. But alas, I must confess - I have a bit of a crush on David Beckham. How can you not? Just look at him. And unless you have been living in a cave the past few months - you have certainly had ample opportunities to see his lovely face (and his little spice wife) - EVERYWHERE! (They really must have the best publisists in the world).

His first game with the LA Galaxy brings in record crowds and everyone thinks that he will help build soccer in the US as a major sport - like in the rest of the world. We've chuckled over the years - after Leif had to tell me who he was- that it must kill both him and maybe moreso his wife - who are known and mobbed everywhere in the world - excpet in the US where they could have gone completely unnoticed in most major cities. It must have seemed like a huge, untapped market for them. Not anymore. They've certainly made their entrance.

I used to side with my husband - and share his disdain for the Beckhams, but I'm warming more and more to them. Maybe it's the American-way, but I've become intrigued with them.

I'd certainly buy a ticket to watch him play and I did just make a hair appointment to get a hair cut like Victoria's - but a little more 'toned-down Posh-like.'

Visitors for MN

Our dear friends Kristi, Jeff, Aidyn and Nolan came for a visit last week Wednesday to Monday. We had so much fun with them and took in most of the Seattle sights. The kids had a blast and played together so nicely. It was so good to see them again. We loved having them visit and hope we'll get together with them again soon.

After we had a fun and active day out and about with the Strangs, I asked Campbelle what her favorite part of the day was... maybe the water taxi, or playing on the beach, or the balloon flowers... but she simply said that AIDYN was her favorite part of the day. The girls played so nicely together. Polly Pockets seemed to be the favorite of the week... and it literally looked like Polly World exploded in her room - they had a blast.

Here is Aidyn and Christian holding hands watching morning cartoons. So sweet to each other. We found it very funny who each of them was much more tolerant of the others siblings than their own. One day Campbelle was playing with some building blocks and Nolan knocked them over (like Chrisian has done a thousand times before), but instead of getting mad and screaming at him, she said with a smile on her face and such a sweet voice, "Oh Nolan, don't be silly, don't knock over my tower, ok buddy-guy?" Yeah right - that is certainly NEVER the response she gives Christian!

A day at the beach... having fun throwing rocks in the water.

Aren't these kids cute? It is a challenge to get all four of them in one picture together - never mind getting them to look in the same direction!

We took a water taxi from West Seattle to downtown Seattle and Pikes Market.

It was a long and tiring day for our little man Christian. Here he is sleeping on Leif's head!

Train ride

We took an old historic train ride between Snoqualmie and North Bend.
Here are pictures of a giant tree - we will now be referring to the God tree - thanks Aidyn!

We had a ton of fun. We went for a hike to the bottom of Snoqualmie Falls one afternoon. The kids did great. I have to admit I was dreading the 'climb' back up the hill, since both Campbelle and Christian were doing a fair share of whinning on the way down, but Christian ran the entire 1/2 mile back up. I think he's got a future in cross country running.

Above is a pictures of Leif and Nolan holding up a big tree, the kids all trying to coordinate the carrying of a big stick (very amuzing) and the girls just taking a break at the ship locks.

We had so much fun with the Strang family. Today we are in major Aidyn and Nolan withdrawl! Campbelle tries to play Polly Pockets, but tells me its just not the same as when Aidyn's here. We are already anxious to see them again next summer. Thanks for visiting!

Kid-friendly Housewarming Party

It all started one day when Leif and I were planning our 'adult-version' Housewarming party, and Campbelle overheard our conversation. She asked alot of questions... "What's a housewarming party?" "A party to celebrate moving." "Who will be there?" "All of our friends." "Are you going to serve food?" Yes, lots of yummy food." "Can I come to the party?" "No, it will be late and you'll be sleeping." "Where will I be sleeping?" "Hopefully nicely upstairs in your bed."

Well the questioning went on and on until she very adamantly came to the conclusion, "Christian and I moved too, we should get a housewarming party too, with all of our friends and yummy food."

I was stuck. Of course they moved too, and of course they should celebrate just like Leif and I were planning to do. So on Monday we had 17 kids (age range from 4-12 weeks) and their moms of course over for a Kid version Housewarming party. It was such a fun morning. All of our friends together in one spot at one time... it was great.

After everyone left later that afternoon, and we started the clean up process, Campbelle kept saying "This was the best day of my life mom, thank you." It was a very good day!

Swimmer Dude

Christian started swimming lessons this past week. The last time he took lessons he was about 9 months old and really didn't seem to enjoy it. During this summer at the pool, we've seen our little reluctant swimmer become more and more comfortable in the water and decided to give lessons another try. He does really great and seems to actually be happy. He is proud to be a 'swimmer dude' (Campbelle words).

We are officially moved in!

Yeah! We are officially moved in to the new house as of Saturday. But what a week!?!? Both Leif and I agreed that we are getting to old for the kind and amount of work we did in a very short time span - so hopefully we won't be moving again anytime soon. Monday we got the keys in the afternoon and Leif started bringing out box - about 3 van loads full. By that evening, the kitchen was unpacked and fairly organized. Tuesday was our painting day. I started the first stroke of paint around 4:30am!! And after dropping the kids off at daycare, Leif joined me for what became a painting frenzy. We were so set on getting alot of rooms done that day, that we barely sat down to eat lunch. At the end of the day - around 10:00pm - we had the kitchen, living room, dining, room, family room, Campbelle's room and Christians room completed. Whew! The next morning both of us were pretty sore and blistered hands. The rest of the week was countinued moving of small stuff, organizing what we could and hanging window treatments. We had crazy late nights, but the kids were great. They were staying awake until midnight, but sleeping the next morning until 10-11am! Friday, Gina took the kids overnight and Leif and I put up so many closet organizers that I think we could open a business on the side... we've become very familiar with Closetmaid design! And Saturday was the big stuff. We have some really amazing friends that helped us move - we are so grateful to them. It was a hard day - but by that night, everything was back in place.

We still have lots to do... the garage is a disaster and I can't stand white walls and I still have quite a few of them... but its home, and it definately feels like it!


(The photo above is our first dinner in the house, complete with champagne and apple cider cheers. It was a big celebration)