Christmas Gift

Today Ben brought me home a Christmas present that he had made at school. It was wrapped in a paper bag that was decorated in his writing, with a gift tag signed "Ben". He came in and put it under the tree and said "Did Santa come today?". Then I got to look under the tree and open my gift, a beautiful magnet that will hang on our fridge forever.
What Ben doesn't know is how many gifts he has given to me, leading to the making of this one. The gift of him going to school without fighting or screaming, to make the magnet. The gift of his hands working so that he could hold the scissors to cut the paper. The gift of his being able to hold a crayon well enough to write his name. The smile on his face tells us that he is happy at school, even when they play the gates of town, and that is quite a gift, indeed. To know that you made the right choice, one that led to this beautiful magnet, is a gift that I cannot describe to you.
We have received so many gifts from this little boy, more than he will ever know.

8 months

Yup, it has been another month. Emma is 8 months old, and I need to capture it in a post. You do not even have to read it, as it is purely for my own memories. You can look at the pictures, if you would like. She is a cutie!
What has Emma been up to this month, you may ask. If you have actually decided to read this post, and again- no pressure. Well, she is playing pat-a-cake and peek-a-boo, waving bye-bye and showing how big she is when we ask, 300 times a day, "How big is Emma? Soooo big" in our super fun high pitched baby voices. No wonder she isn't quite as willing to play that game. She is a happy baby, with a slight temper starting to show through. "WHO TOOK MY TOY???? WWWAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!" You know.

Emma loves toys, and she clearly has the best tasting toys in the world. She also loves books, and is tolerant of my super fun sounds and voices for all of the animals and characters. The unconditional love of a baby. Total ego boost!

We love you, Miss Emma Margaret. May you always be this sweet and loving. And may you always have such kissable cheeks. At least until you are three. And not at all when the boys start calling. Oh, dear.

All old and rusty

This was a conversation Ben and I had after he got off of the bus this morning:

Ben: "Mom, I need a whole new rear end."

Me: " Oh, dear. What is wrong with the one you have now?"

Ben: "It's all old and rusty!"

Me: "Well, that would be a good reason to need a new one."

Seriously, what else do you say about that?




Did you know that we were talking about one of Ben's many imaginary trucks? (or maybe he WAS the truck- I am still unsure!) It took me a minute, but smart lady that I am, I figured it out!

Somethin' about Sisters

Do you know how much my two girls adore each other? I know it, but sometimes it surprises even me. Ben and Grace had a sleepover at Grandma and Papa's on Sunday night, and did not get home until last night, when both girls were already sleeping. That means they had not seen each other in 42 hours. Please keep in mind that Grace had not seen me in that long, as well.
So this morning when Grace woke up and came down the stairs, who do you think she ran to and hugged and kissed? Me? You would think. Nope, she NEVER even looked at me- she ran up to Emma and snuggled and said "I missed you, Emma"over and over. Grace still did not look at me, as she was hugging Emma, and Emma was happily being loved. Please do not get me wrong, I love that they missed each other, and were happy to be together. It has made me smile all day, every time that I think of their happy reunion.

I know that it will not always be this way, that they will fight over toys, then clothes and makeup. I know this, and am glad that this post will always be my reminder of the bond between them.

It is my hope and my prayer that this bond will get my girls through some tough times, and that they will always remember that they have each other, when it feels like the rest of the world is against them.

It's Christmas Card Time Again!

We took our Christmas card pictures tonight. So much fun. This is one of those annual family traditions that I just do not look forward to (you know, like the tradition of arguing over where we are going for which hour of the two day holiday, but that is another post). To get three children to all look in the same direction, while smiling, is virtually impossible. Maybe a seasoned photographer may be able to do it, but not me. No, not me. Thank heavens they are cute.

I thought that you would like to see some of the pics that were cut. This way you can share in the joy of the task.

Did you know that babies could give such dirty looks? Or that brothers could be so wacky? (notice Grace's new haircut- love it!)
Please do not let this fool you- it was not all hugs and kisses:

Sisters sharing in the joys and beauty of the season:

And then it was over. Ben had the prize in sight (candy cane- again, not above bribing!), and was very well behaved. Grace was not interested in sitting still, and Emma kept staring at the flash and blinding herself.

The chosen picture! Grace had hair over her face, Emma had a hand in her mouth, and you see more carpet than tree. Whatever. The cards will be mailed, people will say "aren't they sweet" (because how could you not?), and that will be that. Yipee. I can mark one more thing off of my Christmas list. Now if I could just mark one more paper off of my end of the semester list. Oh, well.

Happy December!

Ben and the Robot

Ben loves robots. He has perfected a robot voice, was a robot for Halloween, and spends many hours playing robot. After his fabulous participation in the ward Primary Program, we got him the movie WALL-e. (I am not above bribing when it comes to things like that:) He did not like the movie, there was a scary part and that was that. On Friday, at the Target day after Thanksgiving sale, I found a movie titled (are you ready for this- I bet you can't guess) - "ROBOTS". Did you guess? Anyway, Ben watched it. Didn't like it, but loved the robots in it, which are all made of random pipes and other such hardware.
Did you know that robots are made of parts that people no longer use? Neither did Ben, until his mom (unknowingly) told him. I should also mention that Ben loves things that people have thrown away (lovely) and would actually collect garbage if I would let him. I do not let him.
When he found out that robots (his favorite thing) are made from old discarded things (his other favorite thing), he almost fell over. Ben was shocked to say the least. And then he decided that he needed (NEEDED!!!) to build his own robot. Quite an undertaking for a 4-year-old, I assure you.
Not one to be discouraged, Ben rummaged through the basement with his dad, and came up with many treasures, all of which could be part of his robot. And he did it, with the help of a very handy dad- he made his own robot.

May I present to you Rocket Star:

Ben was so excited about his new robot, that he actually had tears of joy in his eyes. I have never seen him so proud of himself!

It is amazing how much joy an old outlet and some wires can bring to a boy with a BIG imagination!

Yay Ben and his new robot!

Tom the Thanksgiving Turkey

This is Tom, our Thanksgiving Turkey. Or his name may be Yarny. You decide. Tom (Yarny) is a very special turkey, especially now. We have been feeling less than thankful this year, with the economy crashing every other day, people losing their homes and jobs, and other sadness that is constantly in the news.

We needed a reminder to be thankful for the things that we have, and Tom has been that reminder. While not the fanciest of turkeys, Tom is thankful to be here, in our home, to keep safe and warm while it is 20 degrees outside. He is thankful that we have enough food that we do not have to eat him, and he is thankful that we are all together to make him. Tom may not be made of real feathers, only construction paper and craft sticks, but he is grateful for the colors of his feathers. He is thankful that we took the time to wrap him in warm yarn, and give him 2 eyes and a beak. We are trying to learn from Tom, and be thankful for that which we have, instead of worrying about that which we do not.

Ben is thankful for Elmo, his (wooden) kitten from Grandma Sophie, his mom and dad and sisters, and the time when he no longer has to have eyedrops (gotta love pink eye).
Grace is thankful for mom and dad, Emma and Ben, her new doggy, and scissors and crayons (when the above mentioned new doggy does not eat the crayons).
Emma is thankful for food, and bright sunny days. (according to Ben and Grace)
I am so thankful for Josh, Ben, Grace, and Emma. I am thankful for Josh's job, the food on our table and in our basement, and all of our friends and family who love and support us.
We have learned a lot from Tom.

Super Star!

Today was our ward's Primary Program, and it was the first time that I had a child participate in the program. Ben is a SUNBEAM this year, and sat with his friends and teacher. He did so well, speaking in the microphone three times, and doing so clearly and without any added comments or sounds. During the practices, he thought it would be much better if he said "I Am a Child of God" and then blew loudly into the microphone. Or made funny noises. Or whatever. Unfortunately (for him) no one else felt that this was necessary, so his leader physically removed him from the podium immediately after saying only his designated lines. Nothing else. No improvising, no making up his own scriptures. It worked well. He said what he was told, and sat down. If you know Ben like I know Ben, you know that this was a great challenge to him, to only say a few words and be done with it. Yay Ben!
It was a beautiful program, and all of the children did well. Ben sat still, and sang along with all of the songs, and I am so proud of him!!!

You would think that the first picture on this post would be of Ben, but this is how the pictures decided to present themselves, and I am unable to do anything about it. I wanted to show you pictures of all three children dressed for church, and I did. They are here, just not in the order I chose. Computers really do have a mind of their own, don't they? And why did the computer put the pictures youngest to oldest? (just something to think about, for next time).

So here is Emma, as she is the youngest and clearly that is how my computer thought the pictures should be shown. She is pretty in pink!
Here is a cute brother/sister shot- completely unposed. I was trying to get a different pose, and this is what they did. Much better than my chosen pose.

Grace in her new cute dress- I love this snuggly winter dress. Next year she will be a Sunbeam!

And finally, the reason for the post-Ben. Such a handsome little boy, don't you think?

Great Job Ben! I am so proud of you!

Emma is 7 months!

So Emma is 7 months today. I love this age, and am glad that Em is growing and developing as she should be, but I sometimes wish time could stand still, just for a month or two. I worry that I will not remember her first year, and am very glad that I started this blog, for all of the small things that I will likely forget.

Emma started sitting on her own this month- a huge deal in the life of a baby. Now she can play with her toys longer, and she must feel like she is keeping up with her brother and sister a bit more.

Here she is, praciticing her new skill- (she cannot have a toy without pillows around her yet, as she will dive for the toy if it gets away)

What a sweet little girl Emma is! She loves loves loves to laugh and smile. She is developing small parts of her personality, and thinks it is so funny to get away with things, like not napping. When we get her out of her crib after a non-nap, she looks so proud! Is she testing us already?
I know that you are looking at her legs, and thinking "can legs actually be that chubby?". I assure you, they can and they are. Actually, she is thinning out a bit, now that she is mobile and rolling all over the floor (another huge development this month!). Yes, Emma loves to eat and yes, she wants to eat NOW!!! Green peas are her favorite, and most fruits are so yummy, too. She started puffs and Cheerios today, and they were a hit!

Em still loves her brother and sister, and they love her. They read her books and tell her stories, and Grace has decided that she should be able to pick Emma up off of the floor now. We have decided that she should not. Grace thinks that this is still up for debate, I think that it is not. I win every time. Ben is excited to have found an attentive audience for his elaborate ramblings, and Emma thinks that his rambling is fascinating. Really, everyone wins.

Happy 7 months baby girl!

Late Fall Fun

Two weeks ago, when the weather was still beautiful, Josh had made the kids a super fun leaf pile, and even covered it at night with a tarp to keep the leaves dry. Ben and Grace had the best time jumping in the leaves, and throwing them in the air. I had to take pictures, and thought that you would like to see them.


A very happy boy:
Jump, jump Gracie:

And jump again:

What goes up must come down!

A leaf pile is a great way to spend a late fall afternoon!

Happy Halloween

I know that you know what yesterday was, and I also know how much you have been looking forward to seeing how adorable my children were in their costumes. Without further ado, I present to you my most adorable (and at times quite spooky) children:

This is Ben, aka ROBAR (his self-pronounced robot name). We had a hard time finding him a costume that was exciting and fun, while at the same time not too scary (and not too hard to wear). I googled homemade costumes, and saw some robot pics. This is our version of a friendly robot:
It is amazing what you can do with boxes, foil, and dryer vents. Ben loved loved loved his costume, and it was a huge hit at his school party, as well as with those handing out his tricks-or-treats. We even added a light on the front, for fun and safety's sake.

The weather this year was so warm (lower 40's with little wind and no snow or rain- we actually saw stars on Halloween) that Emma came with us for most of the trick-or-treating. She has a new down snowsuit which kept her quite snuggly. Actually, it kept her so snuggly that she took a 45 minute nap (at 6:15 in the evening- I had visions of a late night Halloween party in our house, but she went to bed like a good little girl). Anyways, here she is thinking it was all clearly a trick, with no treats in sight. Emma was a trooper, only crying to get the show on the road.

Which witch is your witch? This is my little witch, and a cute little witch she was! Winter hats were necessary (this is Minnesota, after all), as well as heavy fleece jackets, but they fit nicely under the costume. The costume had a nice addition of glow in the dark necklaces and bracelets for safety. The better to see you with, my dear. Safety is an important part of Halloween, and we say the brighter the better!

Grace was so excited to be a witch, and never wavered from her decision. We had the cute witch dress, left over from my Mom's days of making costumes. I decorated the broomstick with a black cat and two bats, and her hat was embellished with some glitter glue. Fun black boots completed the costume, and 'poof' we had ourselves one witchy witch!

Please excuse our pictures, they are not the best. Things were a bit hectic, trying to get everyone out the door. I think that you get the idea, and can see the utter adorableness (and none of the spookiness) of this fun Halloween!

Growing Girls

Today was Emma's 6 month checkup, and Grace had her 3 year checkup on the 7th, so I thought that I would do one blog for two growing girls.

Grace is 38.5 inches and weighed 34 pounds- both are the 80th percentile. You know how they say that even kids who grow super fast at first will eventually slow down, and stop growing so quickly? Yeah, so not the case with Grace. We are still waiting for her to stop growing out of clothes every few months or so, or at least make it through a season in the same size.
Emma was 26.25 inches tall and weighed 16 pounds 13 ounces, both in about the 70th percentile. Her curve dropped a bit, but the 70th is still great. Her head remains steady at the 35th percentile- it is longer than it is wide, we think:)
Great Growing Girls!!!!!!

( the picture of Grace is with our new puppy Daisy. Daisy is a maltichon with an upper respiratory infection, hence the goopy eyes. The picture was from two weeks ago, and Daisy is healthy now, thank goodness!)

Five About Fall

I thought that I would take a moment to mention my five favorite things about fall time in Northern Minnesota. Fall is the best season here:) but also one of the shortest:(

1. The colors! With so many maple trees, the colors of fall are all around us. Every fall I almost convince myself to paint each wall in our house a different fall color. I have instead decided that I will use these colors as accents in my home. Accents. That is all. I do not have 1 orange, 1 gold, 1 brown, and 1 red wall in my living room.

2. The smells. I love how fall smells, so fresh and sweet. Also a little like leaf rot, but it is the great outdoors. If I want to smell fake fall smells, I will burn a candle in the house.

3. Halloween. I love to go trick-or-treating with the kids. So much fun to watch their eyes sparkle with excitement. The sparkle could be due to the freezing weather that we seem to have each Halloween, but I like to think it is the excitement. I love planning costumes to include room for winter clothes. Last Halloween we spent almost $100 on winter clothing just so the kids could go trick or treating! (of course, winter clothing is always an investment in this part of the country, and the warm clothes had to last until May last year)

4. Pumpkins. I love pumpkins, the way they look, they way they smell, even their beautiful orange color. Love Them! Pumpkin bars are a favorite fall treat. And carving pumpkins right before Halloween? Totally gets us the excited for Halloween!

5. Being outdoors. I forgot about this one until yesterday, when Ben and I, and later Grace, went exploring the vast wilderness around my parent's house. The above mentioned smell was incredible, as was the sound of leaves crunching under our feet. This is probably my new favorite thing about fall, as we had such a great time exploring (with no bugs!!). This brought back many memories of playing in the woods each fall when I was little. We then had pork chops and wild rice for dinner, along with squash and Apple Betty. The perfect fall meal!

I love fall, even though it brings with it the promise of a long, cold winter.

First Friends

Today was a first in the history of Ben- a playdate with a friend from school. It went very well, both boys had a great time- they have been so excited about this and I am glad that it lived up to their expectations! Peyton was sad to go home, but I think both boys (and Josh) were exhausted by the end of the day. They played outside, went to the firehall and the park, walked all over Buhl, and played all around the house. Did you know just how much energy two little boys can have? Oh My Goodness!

We are so glad that they were able to do this, as last year Ben wanted nothing to do with other children. Unless they would just sit there and listen to him talk about motors and such. This year- a friend over? And they actually played together?! What a difference a year makes! We are so proud of him!

What is the next step in this whole new world? Ben going to Peyton's house, of course. Peyton's dad wants Ben to go to their house next. We'll see:)

Good Job Ben! We are so proud of you!!!

Farewell, Faithful Friend

Today is a sad day in the McDowell home. Our dog, Buddy, passed away early this morning. Buddy was almost fifteen, and lived a long, happy life. Despite his age, his passing was a shock. Tuesday afternoon Grace and I played fetch with Bud for a long time, and he was running and chasing the ball. Last night, he could not even stand up. We are grateful for how quick he went, and that it was not a decision that we had to make.



Buddy was a good dog, loving and faithful to the end. Josh has had Buddy since he was only six months old, and Buddy loved him. He was also a great dog for Ben and Grace as they got older, playing with them and barking if they left the yard. Buddy had a great love for fetch, and was always at your feet with a ball, waiting to play.



We had to break the news to Ben and Grace this morning, and it brought tears to our eyes. Grace was okay, she accepted that he was in heaven, and of course does not understand that he will not be back. Ben cried big tears for his dog, got mad, and then moved on as only a child can.



We will miss our faithful friend.

Can we talk?

I need to speak with you about something quite serious. I am not pointing fingers, not trying to accuse. I would just like to know who on earth told my sweet, beautiful little girl that turning three is synonymous with being terribly, horribly naughty. I cannot think of another word but naughty.

Grace has destroyed my dreams of outgrowing the terrible twos- you know the stage, unable to communicate their wants and needs leads to tantrums, etc.- and turning into the sweet little girl who plays quietly, loves to help, and says "yes, mommy" often. Oh My Goodness. Yeah, right!
Communication is not an issue (please, please be quiet- just 10 minutes- please!!!!), now it is independence. "I will do it myself, and if you help me I will throw myself on the ground and scream until I (make myself?) vomit." Grace believes that asking for permission is a thing of the past- why ask for something that I want/need/don't care about (just want to defy my mom?). You can find her coming out of the kitchen at any given time with any given thing she desires. We lock the fridge.

I was so excited about the advance in reasoning skills that we have noticed of late, but the excitement has dimmed due to the now common use of said skills to attempt to convince everyone besides mom that mom said it is just fine- she can have candy before bed, etc. Mommy said it was fine.

Do you think that I am kidding- that three is not that challenging, that two is the ultimate in naughty? Let me help you to understand. ( Remember that these all happened before noon today)
Just this very morning Grace hit her older brother in the head because he was snuggling with mom (due to a lovely sickness), and he is a boy and mom is a girl. Boys can no longer be with the girls- they have to be with boys. This is the way it is, and I guess we should expect violence if this rule is not adhered to.

After being told that she cannot watch her ballerina movie, Grace decided that I was just wrong and put the movie in by herself 3 times before I finally took it away and hid it on top of the refrigerator. This led to a full body fling tantrum of about 10 minutes. After the tantrum ended Grace simply smiled and said (sweetly) "I think I will just wait until after quiet time to watch this movie". You may think that this is not a big thing- until I tell you that this was my idea before the tantrum. You see, if I suggest something, even if it is a perfectly acceptable idea, Grace must throw a tantrum and then reintroduce the idea as her own.

At lunch Grace turned to me and said, "You know, mom, when I am happy I am happy, and when I am mad I am mad" and then continued on with lunch. I think this will be our motto for the next year.

I am not asking for help, not looking for advice (there is none to give, I assure you). I just want to know who told Grace that this is the way to be three. And I would like to ask that person to take it back. Please, please, pretty please with sugar on my knees.

6 months

How did this happen? How is Emma already six months old? I feel so sad, but happy at the same time. I love my children and I loved them as babies, but the baby stage- not my favorite. At least not the tiny baby stage. I love the six month and up crowd- the developing of so many fun skills, like sitting and crawling (mobility is bittersweet, I admit), even walking. I am excited that Emma is approaching these new milestones. However, she is likely our last child, and therefore my baby. It makes me sad that I will not have a tiny baby again, that I will not hear that newborn cry (as Emma's cries are a bit louder and more grown up now). Then I think that my babies can have the babies, and I can send them home at the end of the day. And then I am JUST FINE! But still, a bit sad.

What can I tell you about Emma that you don't already know? She still thinks that her big brother and sister are the best people in the world- they get bigger smiles than Josh and I do:)
She is still so sweet and loving, loves to snuggle and cuddle. Starting to sit on her own is the newest challenge for Emma, and she has done so for a few seconds now, until a different toy catches her eye and then PLOP! Talking is so much fun, and peek-a-boo rocks! She likes to play this while nursing (not quite so fun!!). Books are a favorite toy, turning pages and eating corners.

Turning over has been causing some sleep issues, cribs just are not wide enough for a double roll. Fortunately, mommy is always awake, so Emma can just cry and mom will make it all better. Who needs sleep? Totally overrated, I assure you! Except I cannot remember much about sleep so I may be downplaying the luxury of it to make myself feel better. Hmm.
These past 6 months have gone so quickly that I sometimes forget just how big Emma is- but she reminds us. She may be laid back, but she is no pushover. Just try her! I dare you!

We love you Emma Margaret! Happy 6 months!!

The Pumpkin Patch

For Grace's birhtday today we decided to take the kids to the pumpkin patch. They have been waiting to pick out their pumpkins for the year, and this was way better than going to the grocery store. The place we went to is pretty fun, with animals, mazes, and a huge slide. Of course, this being the great north, the weather was not great and poor Emma did not have as much fun as her brother and sister. The two big kids had a great time with the animals and big slide.

Ben and Grace with some big white geese:
Some very sunny sunflowers on a cold and gloomy day:
The pumpkin patch also had a 5 acre corn maze. One half was Obama's face, and the other half was McCain. We went on the Obama-Biden side simply because there were other people in the McCain side- it was not political, I assure you. If it were a political message, we would have just gone home. And voted for a pumpkin.
We had a great time, and after picking out 3 pumpkins for carving and one for baking a pie(help me!!!), we left to go out for Grace's birhtday dinner. And where do you think we went (hint: Grace got to choose)? McDonald's, of course. Yum, yum. She had a cheeseburger and chocolate milk. But also got a toy- the most exciting part. Never mind that she has a million new toys at home, we had to eat her birthday dinner at McDonalds's for the toy! Ah, three year olds!

Happy Birthday to Grace

Today is Grace's 3rd birthday. I cannot believe that it has been three years- it seems like yesterday that we brought her home from the hospital. I was looking at her baby pictures earlier today, and took a little trip down memory lane.

3 years ago- Grace was just born, and so tiny. She had super dark hair and skin, and my dad told everyone she looked like a little eskimo baby. As a baby, Grace was pretty mellow, and very cuddly. She was happy when she was happy, and she was mad when she was mad. There was nothing that you could do during the mad times- in fact, she would get so upset her face would turn blue before she could actually cry. Gracie grew fast, and did everything right on time. Food was a favorite, as well as playing with toys with her brother. She was a joy and a blessing to our entire family.

2 years ago- Grace was 1 year old, and such a sweet emerging toddler. Just starting to walk, and getting into everything and anything. Grace had no fear as she started to walk and climb on things. We used to have to put the kitchen chairs on the table just to keep her off of the table. Talking was another new thing this year, and it was such fun to watch her learn to talk and express herself. This was a joyful year with Grace, watching all of these things begin to emerge.

One year ago- This is Grace at her 2nd birthday party. This past year has been challenging and amazing, often in the same minute. Grace developed an intense need for independence, but at the same time started to be so loving and nurturing. Grace loved to take care of everyone and everything, including her new baby sister, who she spent the first half of the year waiting for, and the second half loving and caring for. Ben's needs and wants often come before her own, and her concern for him is unwavering. However, Grace is also a tough little girl who loves to wrestle and fight. There are so many sides of Grace- she is all girl and a little tomboy rolled into one. One second she could be lovingly caring for Emma, and in the next she can turn around and body slam her brother. She loves pink and princesses, and dirt and trucks. Dresses and jeans with holes are often worn in the same day, and she loves to have long hair, but doesn't want it fixed or styled. Grace is so full of love and life, but will fight you to the end to get her way.

Today-Our sweet, loving 3-year-old. I look forward to what this year will bring, all of the joy and challenges that come with being three. We love our sweet girl so much, and are so grateful that she has been a part of our family for the past 3 years.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRACE! WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Birthday Girl

Yesterday was Grace's 3rd Birthday Party. Her actual birthday is on Monday, so look for a 3-year post then. This is all about the PARTY!!!
Grace has wanted a Dora birthday for months, and since I make their birthday cakes, I have been thinking about this cake for some time. I decided to do a Dora adventure, like on the show. The cake ended up having three parts, and they had to go through the first two to reach their destination. On the show, they would have used Map to show them, but my Map was unsuccessful, so we did without. However, to get to the final destination they had to go through Lollipop Forest, over Jellybean River, and to Cupcake Mountain, where the party is, of course! This was a fun cake to make, and Grace loved it! And isn't that what counts, that the birthday girl gets her wish?!


The birhtday girl blowing out the candles-
And eating the oh-so-nummy chocolate cake. Lots of frosting, almond bark trees with sprinkles, lollipops and jelly beans. Oh, myI had to add the princess pic- a princess is not a princess without her jewels, right?
Grace had a great party, with lots of family to help her celebrate. There were Grandmas and Grandpas, aunts and uncles, great aunts and uncles, and even a cousin or two. So much fun, celebrating 3!

Family Tree

I am finally finished with my family tree, and I love it! It looks great on the wall, and intend to have it someday surrounded by pictures of the people on the tree( the ones still able to be photographed, of course).
It is hard to see the colors, because neither picture came out great, because of the glass and lighting issues, but you get the idea. The colors are light and dark brown, and a light green. I love colors together, and it is fun to see all of the names, and to be reminded of all of the family that we have.

A Little Trip

A few weeks ago, we went on a little trip to Minneapolis to visit my brother Nathan and his new wife Alli. It was a super fun time and a beautiful weekend. On Friday night, we just hung out, went to dinner, and drove past some amazing homes. Saturday we went to an apple orchard in Stillwater. So much fun! We picked apples, drank glasses full of fresh cider, and found some goodies to take home.

Nate, Alli and the kids in front of an apple tree:

Running through an apple orchard- gotta love fall time!
Nate and Alli have a beautiful apartment with lots of space to play, with real ducks in the courtyard. Ben and Grace now think that apartments are way better than hotels, and would really like to move to Minneapolis and live in an apartment. REAL DUCKS! IN THE YARD!!

A Boy and His Maple Tree

A few weeks ago, on our back-to-school date, Ben started talking about finding a maple tree. Unsure of how one goes about finding a maple tree, I asked for more details. "Mom, you go in the woods and dig out a tree with red leaves, then bring it home and plant it in the yard." Duh.
You may wonder where this all came from, this desire for a maple tree with red leaves. You will continue to wonder, even at the end of this post, as we still have no clue. Sadly, we did not go tree hunting that day, as mom had no clue as to how we would actually dig a tree out of the woods.
Thank heavens for Papa Jim, resident woodsman, and, I guess, tree picker and digger. The last time we were there, Ben, Papa, and Grace went into the vast Northern Minnesota woods and came out with this tree:

The tree is about 2 feet high, and very interestingly shaped, to say the least. Nonetheless, the desired and very beloved tree now resides in our backyard, where it will (hopefully) thrive, someday filling the back yard with red leaves all over the ground.
The planting of the beloved tree was a very fun, if somewhat messy, process. Ben and Grace were involved in all steps from the picking and digging, to the planting and stomping. Which part do you think was the most fun?
Welcome to the family, beloved maple tree!

Fall time in northern MN!!!

Fall time in Northern Minnesota can be a beautiful thing. Or a not-so-beautiful thing. It totally depends on the day (and sometimes hour). Ben and Grace are clearly Minnesota born, as they have no problem making the most of any weather.

This is from yesterday, at Papa Jim and Grandma Kathy's house. The high reached about 50 degrees, and there was a nice light drizzle most of the afternoon. Lovely. Ben and Grace, however, had a blast. They went 4-wheeling, and sat by the fire. Ben even found his dream maple tree to dig up and bring home. They had a great time, and the weather did not stop them a bit!

Today started out nice, even with some sunshine. By afternoon, the clouds had rolled in and the temp had once again dropped. Emma is a bit young for damp weather, so the older kids had to make do with an indoor activity. And make do they did! We got some foam stamps from Target, and they had to try them out! What a mess! Although they may have started with stamps, they ended up only using their hands (clearly the stamps were too neat!). This kept them busy for almost an hour while I made dinner-completely worth the mess and subsequent 30 minutes of scrubbing walls, tables and floors.