Memorial Day weekend

What a great Memorial Day weekend. The weather was sunny and warm for 2 of the 3 days, and we spent all our time together - just enjoying everything. We spent a majority of the weekend outside: biking, planting, building a raised vegtable garden, picnicing. It was so nice! We went for a short stroll to the great lookout point with amazing views of the Cascades, fortunately we remembered the camera, but unfortunately I forgot to put the memory card back in. We'll make it to that viewpoint again, I'm sure.

The highlight of the weekend for Campbelle was her bike riding. Early on Saturday morning, I all of a sudden hear a 'MOM MOM MOM MOM' come screaming down the sidewalk. Much to my amazement it is Campbelle, totally biking on her own. I think it scared her a bit - thus the panic call for mom. See, she has been working for a few days since getting her new, big girl bike sans training wheels. She's had the hang of it, but is always too afraid to ride without Leif running along side her, never knowing if he's holding on or not. But, after watching the video of her friend Aidyn riding bike, I think she felt more determined then ever. Now, after 3 days of constant riding - she's doing little tricks (standing up) and screeching to a hault - in order to leave skid marks on the sidewalk (aren't you proud Madison!!?)



And please overlook the fact that this dude is not wearing his helmet. (he usually does, honestly he does. I like his brain too much.) Somehow it went unnoticed this time.

A great weekend -- Family fun and nice weather.... the best way to spend the days!

Swimmers

I love swimming.  I love that my niece and nephew are into swimming.  I love that my kids love swimming too.  Maybe its a feeling of reliving my youth, or having opportunities that I didn't have as a kid - (which was long before the hugely successful Eureka Area Swim Team).   But I always wanted to be a swimmer myself.  I think my sisters did too.  We would have been good at it, I think.  At least that's what I tell myself.  Luckily I have little fish for kids - they love the water.  So what may or may not develop into years of swimming for them, at least I get to spend some time now, watching them in the pool.

Campbelle has been swimming since about 8 months old.  From the very start, she would giggle and laugh in the water.  Always smiling, always having fun.  5 years later - it is still the same thing.  Whenever her head comes up for air, there's always a smile on it.  Almost like it's her second home, she's so comfortable and so confident in the water.  Right now she is in Pre4 - which is the last level before she could start swim team at age 6.  She is working on all her different strokes.  The backstroke is her favorite, and she's really quite speedy at it.  Although I don't think she knows she's fast, she told me once she just likes how the backstroke 'moves on me.'

Christian has really developed confidence in the water the past year.  Unlike his sister, Christians' love of water has been later to develop.   He too also started swimming at 8 months old.  But he could have taken it or left it.  Never wildly emotional either way (which if you know him, that's just how he is with everything).  The past year he's been swimming without a parent in the water - and it has been really good for him to develop that independence.  He's had great teachers that have made swimming fun for him, while challenging him all the time.  He's fiercely serious about what he does - and such a good listener, he will do anything the teacher asks of him (even if he doesn't want to).  He's in Pre2 and is starting to do little stretches of swimming on his own.   He too is developing such confidence in the water - it's fun to see that happen in him.

Who knows how long swimming will last in the Brenne household.   But as long as the kids love it this much, Leif and I will continue to sit along the sidelines offering cheers and praise. 

Let this speak to anyone who sends those junk mail emails.....

Yeah Baby!

This is Christian's newest thing. It's his answer to everything I ask him. Do you want Cheerios for breakfast? "Yeah baby." Do you think it's about time to clean your room? "Yeah Baby" Do you realize you are being the biggest goof ball in the world? "Yeah Baby".

A Lesson in Brand Names/Materialism

So Campbelle has been saving her little heart out since last fall for anything American Girl.  For anyone who doesn't know about American Girl stuff, it started as this really great doll/book combination and each doll was from a different time period in American History and the book that came along with the doll really told a story of that time in history.  There are colonial dolls, Native American dolls, Depression era dolls, Hippy dolls, etc...  The phenomenon of American Girls kicked off and it has now lead to this huge empire of dolls, clothes, furniture, etc... not to mention that American Girl stores (I think there are only a few in the country in NY and Chicago for sure) that cater to girls and their dolls.  You can book tea parties and spa makeovers at these stores.  It really has become this whole enterprise.  Not to mention the price of these items!!  Wow, let me tell you ... they are not cheap!!  Dolls - $85.... Clothes $30-50 per outfit..... yikes!!  The kicker of all this is that somehow, I believe every little girl gets put on the mailing list for their catalogs.  And their big, nice, glossy catalogs with all these wonderfully expensive things to nicely displayed.  And, I kid you not, Campbelle probably gets two a month! 

Well, back to my story.  Campbelle had become fixated on Kit - the Depression Era doll.  So we implemented a savings plan and she worked her little heart out for months - setting the table, making the bed, unloading the dishwasher, getting the mail...and with the help of some Christmas money she finally had enough to purchase Kit.  That was a big, big day!.  Since then, she's been saving her money for Kit's bed. 

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SIDE NOTE:  This is Kit's bed.  Kit's bed is $85 (plus taxes and shipping).  Kit's bed cost about half the price of Kit's owner's twin bed. Kit's owners mom thinks that $85 (plus taxes and shipping) is a ridiculous amount for Kit's bed.

But, Kit's owner has saved/earned for the past 5 months (with the help of birthday money) enough money to actually purchase the bed.  But again, Kit's owners mom was disturbed by the cost of this bed. 

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Because my conscience has been weighing so heavy on ordering this bed after Campbelle's birthday - we've just held off.  Last night, I came across an listing on Craig's List advertising 'An American Girl type bed, plus an American Girl type doll'  --- for only $20!!  I showed Campbelle the picture on Craig's List and she instantly recognized something, here's our conversation: 

"It's not from the American Girl website mom." 

"I know, it's not really American Girl.  It just would fit American Girl size dolls."

"Oh.  I think I like Kit's real bed better."

"Ok, but this bed is only $20... and Kit's bed is $85 (plus taxes and shipping)."

We then lay out all her money and I show her what $20 is... and how there is some actually left over.  And then I show her what $100 is and how there is only a few cents left over.

"So, which bed do you want to buy?  Kit's real bed or the the other bed?"

"Well duh mom, the other bed.  Just look at all the extra money I would still have saved.  Who cares if it's not really Kit's real American Girl bed."

"Excellent choice Campbelle."

I sigh of relief as I will not have a guilty conscience over spending money on a ridiculously priced toy.

"And besides mom, then I just have more money to save for Kit's scooter and more American Girl clothes."

 

Argggg....

 

Here's Campbelle and her new American girl type bed.  And Kit's new sister Macy.

My letter

I had a meeting the other night and was gone for most of the evening. When I got home this is what Campbelle had written for me. So sweet.

Date #2 - Learning to Talk

Friday was Date #2 in the series of 10 Great Dates.  You asked for it, so here was the topic:

How are your lines of communication?  Do you say what you mean an mean what you say?  55% of communication is non-verbal (meaning your actions and body language); 38% is tone of voice.  Leaving only 7% for actual words. 

We also talked about three different types of communication:

1.  Chatter - that's the basic day to day talk about the ordinary.  It is common and most typical, but if that's all there is in a relationship it stays shallow.

2.  Confrontive - this type of communication contains lots of hostile 'You' statements and 'Why' questions.  'Why did you do that?"

3. Companionate - which should be the basic communication pattern in a healthy marriage.  This is communication where you talk about your feelings in reaction to something your partner has done or said... not focusing it on them  "I feel frustrated when this happens"

Anyway,  it was a pretty good topic and one I can relate to because I know I'm totally guilty of being quick to be confrontive. 

Exercise #2:

1. What are our favorite topics to talk about?  (Things about which we usually agree and promote good interaction)

2.  What are our less favorite topics?  (Things we tend to debate about)

3.  Take turns answering the following questions:

How do I feel when:  ________________

You give me a compliment?  You express appreciation for something I did? You smile at me?  You make a sacrifice for me?  You reach out and touch me?  You tell me you love me?  You tell me your proud of me?

Post Date Application

• Keep looking for ways to compliment each other between now and the next date.
• Try to identify when you get into the confrontive pattern of communication and stop it before it escalates.
• See how often you can use the companionate pattern.
• Practice feelings words to better reveal yourself to your spouse. 

Syttende Mai Party

Last night was the big May 17th party - or as the kids would say 'Norway Day.'  We celebrated with about 30 of our friends, most of Scandinavian heritage.  It was a really fun night and the weather was great for sitting outside and enjoying the beautiful sunshine.

Before the party, Leif and the kids headed to Ballard to the parade.  Leif dressed in his bunad   He wasn't going to let 95 degree weather and 2 layers of wool strip him of his Norwegian pride. 

He looked handsome, don't you think?

 

I forgot to take pictures of all the food, but trust me it was a really fun mix of lots of different Norwegian stuff.  The biggest hit of the night was the traditional wieners - served wrapped in lefse, with shrimp salad and crispy fried onions.  

 

(Not the best picture, but trust me Jenna is really anxious to bite into this exquisite culinary treat - or as I call it, "The Poorest of the Poor Man's Surf and Turf."

It was a really fun day with great friends and gorgeous sunshine!

I did it!!

Ok, so it wasn't perfect.  It leaned a little, and didn't quite have the true texture of the real Norwegian baked kransekake.... but I did it.  I got 18 whole rings that stacked together to form the cake.

Next time I make this cake, I have some ideas on how I can improve ... or, I may just seal and shellac this one to pull out again and again for celebrations for years to come!!

Kindergarten Orientation

Last night was Campbelle's Kindergarten Orientation where they got to meet their teachers, see the classrooms, play a Scavenger Hunt around school and go on a bus.  She was so excited for this big day.

The kids went into one classroom with the teacher to do 'homework' while the parents went into another room to talk about preparedness.  Checking out the library.  She already has a list of books she is going to bring home, she told us she has some for her and she also found some great dinosaur books for Christian.

 

One the bus, which very well might be the highlight of her whole kindergarten experience.

 

 

 

 

 

She is definitely ready for school to start and ready to be a Cougar.

  This little wild man, however may need a few more years of maturing!

I could have just married an American boy....

...then it would have been apple pie. I know apple pie. I can make a pretty darn good apple pie.

Instead I married a Norwegian. And with it came a host of foods that I had no idea about. Foods that can seem really bizarre and tricky to make. Ingredients that are sometimes not found here in this country. Food that takes days to make. Recipes that call for you to process and ground your own almonds into a fine powder and then form into 18 rings each placed atop of each other very carefully as they are very fragile items and break easy . Yeah, those kind of recipes!

Saturday is Syttende Mai - or the 17th of May. It is Norway's Constitution day - very similar to our 4th of July. Historically it is a celebration of their independence from Sweden (although my take on Sweden isn't so terrible, the Swedes did give us Ikea and H & M). But nonetheless, Norway has been a free country since 1905.

We are hosting a party to celebrate this day and Leif has requested a Kransekake - a traditional celebration cake used at parties, weddings, baptism, ect... I've never attempted to make one of these before; but I can still picture Leif's Grandma Erna and my Grandma Hulda (neither of whom can speak each others language) in my Grandmother's kitchen the day before Leif and my wedding: there were rings, almonds, almond dust everywhere and two old ladies laughing like crazy as they tried to make 18 of these rings that didn't fall apart. My grandma - who was German - of course had no idea how to make the cakes, and Leif's grandma Erna (who was excellent at kransekake) was struck with the handicap of not being used to the differences in our flour, ect... that we have in the US. It made for a really funny, maybe a bit stressful day, of pre-wedding baking. So that thought and the fact that if you can find a Norwegian bakery here in the US that does make and sell kransekake - it is usually priced from $100-$200 USD. Yikes! That makes it seem a little more difficult than old apple pie!

So I gave myself a few days in case I needed to make several attempts.

I may need a few days and a few Norwegian prayers to get mine to turn out like this:

I should set the record straight though - aside from his crazy food requests, I'm pretty glad that I married my Norwegian guy. And am looking forward to celebrating that heritage - whether it's with or without the kransekake!

This may be a bit spooky

We had a follow up ultrasound the other day, last time we were there they didn't get a very good look at the little guys heart. This time he was in the perfect position for a look at the heart, as well as 3-D imaging. Albeit a bit scary, it really is very cool be able to see this view (and trust me it's even better on real life screen vs the printed version). He looks good and healthy. I'm starting my 3rd and final stretch trimester - hurray! and am feeling pretty good. For once, I'll be hoping for a fast, cool summer! Leif has realized the possibility of an 08-08-08 birthdate... it certainly would be easy to remember, just maybe not so easy to predict!