Apple Orchard

Today Skogen, Maida, and I joined a few of our friends from church at an apple orchard. It was 45 degrees when we pulled up in the parking lot, but it got a little warmer as the morning went on. Despite the cold, we had a great time! Maida wasn't sure of it all at first. She didn't want to play on the hay bails with the other kids and she really didn't want to go on the hayride, but I forced her to. She went kicking and screaming and 28 seconds into the ride, she LOVED it! We finished up the morning with lunch at McDonalds with a biiiiiig playplace. It was Maida's first time to play in a playplace. She loved that, too.

Here are some pictures of our fall apple orchard visit.

(I have to post them through YouTube because my Picasa is almost full, so click on the "play" arrow to see the pictures.)

Getting Teeth?

Getting teeth?

I think so.

Skogen won't let Mommy go.

And nothing is getting done.

Amelia's Birthday Party

Maida was invited to a birthday party last Saturday where they had THIS:

Which led to THIS:

Which led to THIS:

Which led to THIS:

While at the birthday party, she was also able to take a ride in her first Mustang.

(Grandparents beware, I have a feeling that her Christmas list just got a little bit more on the expensive side!!!)

Skogen also joined Maida at the party and entertained himself with a really cool red wagon. He loved walking all around it and trying to spin the wheels. He also would push it back and forth a little bit with the handle. He loves anything with wheels ... he was really waiting for his turn on the Mustang, but never got one.

Thank you Amelia, Carly and Jeremy for the awesome princess birthday party!

We had a great time!!!

Last weekend Maida wanted to go camping.

So, I built us a massive tent, complete with a front door that opened and shut, a back door just in case someone needed to get out fast, a couple windows for light, a peep hole to watch TV through, and a fan that blew fresh air on us all night. It was such a comfortable sleep, we not only camped for one night, but two nights (and nap times), too! We also enjoyed some s'mores in the microwave!

It was the most perfect camping trip.

I would have been completely happy with...

I would have been completely happy with having all boys,

but I really really really enjoy having a girl.

Lately one of our favorite things to do together is get ready for church on Sunday mornings. Maida loves getting dressed up and her hair done. She is so stinking cute!

I also would have been completely happy with having one child,

but I really really really enjoy having two.

Having two kids makes life more interesting. For example, trying to take a picture of the two together. They just can't sit still next to each other for any more than one second and smile.

There is always hitting of some sort going on...

Or tackling of some sort...

But eventually I get a shot that they're both at least looking in,

and it reminds me that...

I would have been completely happy with almost anything in life, but I have really really really been blessed beyond measure.

Maida's First Ice Skating Lesson

Tonight Maida had her very first ice skating lesson. I spent the majority of the day preparing her for this lesson, as I was out to prove that two-year-olds can skate! She was very shy at first, but at least tried to do what the coaches were asking of her, and did very well. Toward the end of the night, she got really tired, but once she saw that they brought out bubbles and a toy bucket, she was motivated to finish off the evening. I was so proud.

Today isn't about me.

Today isn't about Erik.

Today isn't even about the kids.

Today is about our friend, Scott, and about getting the word out to pray for him.

Scott is having a scan this morning to see how his current course of treatment is working toward getting rid of his cancer and I ask you beg you to please pray for Scott.

You can read more about Scott's story (including his four CUUUUUTE children) on his Caring Bridge site: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/scottmcendree

The scan is scheduled for 9:00am, but I'm sure prayers will be appreciated at any time, as this scan is very VERY crucial.

Please join us in prayer for Scott today.

***If you would like to add a "Praying for Scott" button to your blog, copy the code under the button to the right of my page. Then paste it onto the "HTML/JavaScript" under "Add a Gadget."***

It was love...

at first sight...

And he wouldn't leave her alone for the rest of the day...

Everywhere Amelia went...

Skogen went, too.

**********
Yesterday I took the kids down to Meg's house for a playdate. Meg and I had the same due date with Amelia and Skogen, but Amelia came two days before Skogen. It's so fun to have a friend with a baby the same age. Meg and I talked all throughout our pregnancies, births, and now as they are getting older we've been able to bounce parenting ideas off of each other and share special baby stories. I can tell our kids will be good friends already!

Maida's Bedtime Prayer Tonight

Dear God,

I love you so much. Thank you for Peterson and Jaymar Johnson and Vikings.

Jesus' name, Amen.

Who says men can't multitask?

Our Daddy is pretty good at holding two kids at once!

And pretty good at entertaining the rugrats while Mommy unloads the dishwasher.

And rocking them both to sleep at the same time.

He's also pretty good at making time for his family, when he's got so many other things going on.

Our Daddy is one of the best!

Lately.

Lately

there has been a lot of just the three of us because Daddy has been busy.

Lately

the little man has been given special treatment since he's been teething. No teeth yet, but one will pop soon, I'm sure!

Lately

Maida's hair has seemed really long, especially for church on Sunday. She is so beautiful (even though she won't smile for a picture!).

Lately

Little Miss will take anytime with Daddy that she can get, including watching football highlights!

Lately

Papa has been at our house and been doing a lot of yard work for us. The evenings make for a pretty tired Papa and a pretty tired dog (his main assistant!).

Lately

life has been pretty good.

All Boy...

just like his daddy.

Good-Bye Tree

Papa is a tree doctor and while he was here, he diagnosed a disease in one of our trees. It was too serious to leave be, so Erik helped Papa cut it down. Maida was very scared of the chainsaw and hid on the couch with a blanket over her head. Skogen loved watching and couldn't get enough of it!

After the tree was cut down, Maida agreed to come out and see the tree, and then they both had fun playing with the sticks, leaves, and on the fallen tree.

Nana and Papa's Weekend Visit

This last weekend, Erik's parents came to town. It was the best thing that's happened in a long time! They not only brought presents, fun, and lots of love for the kids, but they also brought a TON of tools and their best working hands. We got so much done! Just to name a few things... we stripped wallpaper in the kitchen, painted the kitchen, painted the dining room, tore paneling off the walls in the living room and hallway, filled in holes in the walls, took out old phone jacks, painted half of the living room, cut down a tree in our backyard, fixed the holes in the yard, put new grass down where there was none, broke in our new fireplace, got our ice maker fixed, trimmed up the lilac bushes, got some new flowers to plant, took out an old entertainment center and hutch that we didn't want, brought in a new (but used) TV and TV stand, and much MUCH more. Nana had to fly back early to work, but Papa stayed a few extra days to help some more. We are SO thankful for the time we had with them and for all of the work they did. They also gave us some pretty sweet housewarming gifts, which we are super-de-duper thankful for! THANK YOU NANA AND PAPA - COME BACK SOON!!!!!!!!!!!!

While they were here, we also went to a Vikings game and celebrated Nana's birthday! There are a lot of great pictures to check out on our photo site: http://scharrerfamily.shutterfly.com/