Gnomes in Dixie?

Tonight, for your listening pleasure:

Elin was giving a little mama gnome a ride in a small cart. 

Our next music video will be "Camptown Races."

Field trips, deer bones, a snoring unicorn, and a funny monkey.

In addition to her birthday, Svea had a field trip day this week.



 First stop was McDonald's.  All the kids went into the fridge. 

And saw how the fries were made.  Yes, they are actually frozen when they're deep-fried.

 The most exciting part was seeing where the Happy Meal toys were kept.

And then they played in the Play Place.  Svea loved the skateboarding game :)

 Then we got on the bus to go to the grocery store.

 I liked the grocery store much more than McDonald's, and Svea did too.

 They pulled a lobster out of the tank for the kids to touch.  Svea did not want to touch the lobster. 

 We saw where the trucks pull up to be unloaded.

 As we left, everyone got a grocery bag filled with goodies - coloring books, crayons, some little toys, treats, stickers, and a banana.  And both preschool classes got a cake with their picture on it.  And a big box of cookies.

At McDonald's they each got one cup of water.

I'm just saying.

 While Svea and I were out and about on the field trip, Viggo and Elin got to be with our friend Beth, who pretty much lives out in the woods.  They took a long walk and saw birds and squirrels and wild turkeys, and Viggo climbed a fallen tree that was hanging over the Mississippi river.  He also collected some deer bones, which Beth was more than happy to see walk off her property.  They joined the rest of Viggo's deer bone collection in the garage.

I think that Viggo and Elin's field trip to Beth's was more fun than the grocery store. 

 When we came home, it was time to play outside.  Svea is now riding her bike without training wheels and she was biking around the driveway with her Happy Napper, her prized birthday present from Aunt Meme and Uncle Bo.  It is a huge castle-shaped pillow with a closed gate that contains a zip-out unicorn.  There is a doorbell on the front of the castle, and when you push it, you hear snoring unicorn noises. 

In the past few days that this has been in her possession, it has not left her side. 

 Tracing each other with chalk is a favorite thing to do.

Elin was getting really tired but couldn't resist being traced by Svea again and again.

I love their little creations.  Please notice Svea gave Elin eyelashes in this one.

Bonus birthday outtake video from the zoo.  Because we laugh every time we watch it.

Busy kids, flying helicopters, bellybutton temperatures, etc.

A little of this, a little of that, some photos to share.

Elin makes felt cupcakes with her new BFF, Winnie.

Viggo reads The Hobbit.

We've been sick, and here is Svea, checking the temperature of her bellybutton. I think that's where you can get the most accurate reading.

We hung up this photograph of birch trees that our incredibly talented brother-in-law Chris took. (When I say "we" hung it up, I mean, Nate hung it up. We had it framed . . . it weighs almost as much as Elin does now.) This picture of it does not come close to showing how awesome - or big - it really is. I guess you'll just have to come see it for yourself!

If you look at it closely, you might see Little Red Riding Hood peeking around a tree, or maybe some birds perched on the branches.

Well, maybe not quite. But the kids have enjoyed imagining who might be in the woods!

Elin and I play Playmobil.

Her most treasured Playmobil possessions are her guinea pigs.

She calls them "iggy pinks". Close enough.

Viggo got a RC helicopter from Uncle Mark for Christmas.

Nate also pulled out his own RC helicopter, so there's usually more than one flying around.

Elin has been the main victim and has been hit by them a couple times.

She's okay.

Here's a little movie with the helicopters.

And this one I just like because Elin is dressed up in the elephant costume and making bralooing noises.

The Choo Choo Chronicles.

We were on some errands the other evening and Elin heard a train. Right after I stopped taking this movie, she bellowed at Nate, "DWIVE TO IT, DADDY!"

Videorama

Time for some movies!

1) Viggo got a Lego train for Christmas.

2) Elin gets some mealtime help.

3) Elin loves riding her wheely bug. This could have been filmed for a much longer time but you get the general idea of what she's up to.

4) Elin gets more help with her dinner, and then everybody gets silly.

The end!

Valentine's Day and beyond

Viggo and I were at the grocery store the day before Valentine's Day.

I'm not quite sure what is going on here, but I think the lobsters were scared.

Valentine's breakfast: pink milk, heart-shaped toad-in-a-hole, heart toast, and a big banana.

An abundance of candy was brought home from school. Elin was definitely interested.

It has been really warm (almost 40?) so we've been going outside to play lately.

(Steger Mukluks on loan from friend Joy.)

Svea loves playing in the puddle at the end of the driveway.

Elin took some careful steps into the puddle but wasn't completely sold on it.

Bonus movie of more exposed extremely white toothpick legs:

Elin's favorite movie

Elin loves this little movie we took last night. She laughed at herself and played peek-a-boo right back!

Manners with Elin

Elin loves to say please in sign language, and she's also really into nodding right now. She makes lots of little burbles and grunts that I'm sure are intended as words. Here's a little clip of her own style of communication!

Adventure Aquarium

On Memorial Day we headed back to the Adventure Aquarium in good ol' Camden, New Jersey.

The kids were so jazzed.

Let me just say we've been to the aquarium umpteen times. And we have seen the hippos, Jenny and Buttons, many times. In fact we're on a first-name basis with them. But for as many times as we've seen them, we have never seen them out of the water!

Oh Jenny. We love you. I know this is Jenny because she has an extra freckle on her nose that Buttons doesn't.

Collectively we weigh as much as a juvenile shark (including stroller). To be fair, Svea only had one foot on the scale so we're off a few pounds.

It is a very lightweight stroller.

Bonus hippo movies!

Spring movie round-up

From Johnny Appleseed solos to crazy amounts of energy, we've got it all right here. Free entertainment, just for you.

Movie 1: Svea! Is! Full! Of! Energy!

Movie 2: Who's under the blanket?

Movie 3: Johnny Appleseed song attempt #1.

Movie 4: What happened this afternoon.

Movie 5: Johnny Appleseed song attempt #2.

Happy Thursday

Elin and I just wanted to let you know we're having a happy Thursday.

1. I had a great time at MOPS this morning and so did the girls. Happy!

2. Elin has been clapping a lot. She is pulling herself up onto everything and we cheer along with her for every victory she achieves with growing every day. Happy!

3. Viggo is excited about soccer practice tonight. And he has three loose teeth. He's about to cash in to the Tooth Fairy. Happy!

4. After four days of rain and gloomy weather, it is gorgeous outside and Svea and I read Berenstain Bear books on the porch this afternoon. Happy!

5. Nate doesn't have to work tonight. Happy!

6. Three words: Pecan Strusel Coffeecake. Happy!

7. We're having leftovers tonight; I don't have to cook dinner. Happy!

Hope you're having a happy Thursday too!

In the kitchen with Viggo & Svea: peanut butter goodies

We made little yummy bites of goodness this afternoon.

We rolled and decorated little bite-sized pieces of a delish mixture made of peanut butter, honey, dry instant nonfat milk and flour.

Last weekend when we were bumming around Lancaster, Viggo and I found some homemade peanut butter at a market and I knew exactly what I was going to do with it: make this stuff.

Caution: this is super-addictive.

And look what Elin can do now.

We used mini chocolate chips, sprinkles and coconut to decorate.

Viggo made little "tacos" out of his dough.

No baking needed! You just eat 'em.

Peanut Butter Goodies

Equal amounts of:

all-natural peanut butter

honey

dry instant nonfat milk (I used 3/4 C of each)

And some flour to reduce the stickiness. Probably 1/4 C or so.

Blend this together in your mixer, and refrigerate for an hour or so to firm it up. Roll into shapes, and decorate as you please! Eat immediately (or refrigerate).

And a bonus movie of Elin :)

Elin crawls!

She started crawling this week! We love her technique.

I have no idea why an image isn't showing here, but just press play and it will work fine!

If you know how to fix this please help me!

Bath with a syringe!

When Viggo went to the ER back in the fall, he brought back some syringes. They are easily the most popular bath toys around here!

(I have no idea why the screen is blank, but hit the play button on the bottom of it and it should work just fine. If you know how to fix this, please email me because so far I haven't figured out how to get an image to show up when it isn't playing.)

Svea discusses Downtown Disney

On our drive home from Florida, we stopped at Downtown Disney in Orlando for a snack and some cheering up (there were some teary eyes when we left Grandma and Grandpa Zeke). Here, Svea was talking all about Downtown Disney as we drove into the entrance.

Elin rolled over!

Breaking news!

Although she's been rolling from her tummy to her back for about a month now, yesterday she rolled from her back to her tummy! What a big girl!

After months of infancy we are starting to get a glimpse of the fun little person she is. Elin has recently discovered how fun her feet are to hold during a diaper change, and she likes to take her socks off. When she's in the tub sometimes I practically have to wrestle the washcloth out of her little hands so I can get her clean. She smiles a lot, sometimes screeches, and especially has plenty of smiles for Viggo.

We just love this little girl!

Thanksgiving movies

Check out the Thanksgiving action!

Viggo sword fights with Uncle Seth - then it's time for Kung Fu with Sam!

Elin babbles away. Because Nate and I are genius baby-talk translators, we're pretty sure that she's saying, "Happy birthday, Grandpa Zeke!" It was Grandpa's birthday, after all!

When we prayed for the meal, we sang the Johnny Appleseed song. This is how we pray at the Stein's! And it never ceases to catch the kids off-guard. I love the looks of wonder and bewilderment on Viggo, Svea, and Emma's faces!

Getting well sooner

Svea got a card in the mail today.

Complete with singing chipmunks.

(She had a little accident last week which left some bottom front teeth loose! Poor baby!)

She LOVED it! Thanks, Grandma and Grandpa Daisy!

Happy Birthday, Nate!

Nate is now 32 years old! I'm so blessed to have spent the past decade with him! He is one special guy and we were excited to celebrate his birthday, which usually is all about food.

Svea was so excited about the jelly beans for Nate that she spoiled the surprise! Well, a huge jar of them is very exciting!

Viggo's card reads, "Dear Viggo, For Dad. Thes coins r for u to spend."

Isn't that sweet?

Don't spend it all in one place!

We ventured into Amish country . . .

We stopped at an Amish farm to get some pumpkins. There was a little box to put money in; payment was via the honor system. Although I did see the farmer and said thank you. We got two pumpkins for $3. (The nicer ones were $2, so we got a nice one and one only a mother could love.)

It was fun driving through Lancaster County and even though it was raining we saw plenty of livestock out and about. Viggo said the sheep were his favorite: "I like their big bottoms!" (Big-bottomed sheep not pictured.)

Here we are at our dinner destination, Shady Maple. I get such a kick out of this place!

They had pumpkins there too, but they were 3/$10. What a rip-off! :)

Svea had to smell them.

Standing in line to be seated.

Svea is wrinkling up her nose at something, but it wasn't the food. She ate her weight in grape tomatoes.

Elin woke up and was being extra cute for Nate's birthday :)

In honor of my dad, I took a picture of my food. Carrots, potatoes, stuffing, raspberry bread, a Swiss Mocha cappuccino, and a big pile of roast beef.

I'm trying to gain a few pounds.

After this I had salmon and a salad.

Viggo and his pile of ice cream. I'm not quite sure why it is glowing in this picture. He put oreos, chocolate chips, little chocolates, whipped cream and two cherries on top.

There it is! Oh, and marshmallow topping - lots of it!

Svea takes a big bite of ice cream.

After Nate opened his presents he watched the St. Cloud State hockey game. Elin cheered on the Huskies too.

It was a good birthday.

We were so full we decided to save Nate's birthday dessert for the next day. Stay tuned for that!