Barkley! In Charge

While I jumped in the shower quick, I left Barkley! in charge. When I came out, I found that he not only did a great job keeping an eye on Klaasen, but he even put him to sleep! :)

Barkley! sure has been a great dog for our family. I love that I can trust Barkley! with our kids. He not only comes to get me if he hears them crying, but he's always keeping an extra on them for me. He is great company for me when I'm alone and is the best security system anyone could ever have - he's mean looking, has a mean bark, and he'd never let anyone in our house. I'm thankful for Barkley!.

What a BIG boy!

Look who's loving the exersaucer!! Maybe he'll work off a little chub!

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Her First Signature

After finding a pen on the counter, Maida decided to go outside and write all over her picnic table. Later, as I was investigating the damage she did, I discovered that she knows how to write and spell her name! I knew she could write the letters of her name, but I had no idea she knew what order they came in!

Her first signature!

Unit Picnic

Two weekends ago, during Erik's drill weekend, his unit had a picnic for the soldiers and their families. It was fun to meet the people that Erik spends his drill weekends with and it was nice not to have to be away from Erik for the whole weekend! The weather was perfect for a fall picnic.

They had a ton of food for us to eat!

After we ate, they set up a kids' table with coloring books and markers, model airplane kits, and t-shirt painting. Maida and Skogen colored a coloring book and painted t-shirts. They were having so much fun that Maida went potty in her pants because she didn't want to leave the fun kids' table to go to the bathroom. Luckily I had a change of clothes for her in the car.

The unit had a ton of games in the afternoon. There was a huge field at the park where they had toilet bowl races and a pie smashing contest. I couldn't believe how big his unit was, especially with all the families there, too. We filled the entire park!

Skogen and Maida thought it was fun to watch people get pies smashed on their face. I was worried that they might try to recreate this event at the dinner table, but so far there hasn't been any food throwing or smashing on each other. :)

Skogen fell asleep during the pie smashing contest. He was so pooped out that he just couldn't keep his eyes open any longer. He enjoyed a nice nap under a big shady tree. I was really wishing that I could join him there!

Klaasen had so much fun at his first picnic! He spent most of the time watching his brother and sister run around, but took a few naps and ate, too.

After we got home, the neighbor boy came over and helped Maida and Skogen finish painting their t-shirts. It was a great evening activity after a nice afternoon.

Skogen was asleep, Klaasen was asleep, and Maida was watching cartoons... it seemed like the perfect time to take a nap! Not only were the dishes done and a load of laundry going, but I had just made some banana bread! I deserved to lay down for a few minutes. :)

After laying down and waking up a half hour later, I was ready to eat some fresh banana bread. Skogen and Klaasen were still sleeping peacefully and Maida was still sitting in front of the television, laughing at the show she was watching. I thought I'd quietly slip into the kitchen and grab a piece of banana bread without Maida knowing, so that she wouldn't want a piece, too. I figured that she could have a piece with Skogen when he woke up . As I approached the banana bread, I noticed that it didn't look anything like it did when I took it out of the oven! It was HALF EATEN!

That little stinker! She even ate the best part of the banana bread, too! I made a note to myself to never take a nap with freshly baked food on the counter, however, obviously I didn't remember this incident a week later when I left some brownies on the counter while I laid down for a few minutes. She took care of those, too!

Bath Time Smiles

Klaasen and Oliver

Oliver was born the beginning of June and Klaasen was born the end of July.

They are almost the same size!

And already the best of friends.

Real Men Wear Moby Wraps

I love my Moby Wrap. I wear it all. the. time. It's the best $30 I ever spent on something for baby. I have used it for all three kids and with every kid, I find it more and more useful. The other day I was telling Erik about how much I love my Moby Wrap and I asked him if he would ever wear it. He said, "HECK no! It's too girly!" A few days later we were shopping at Home Depot and I was complaining about how my back was starting to hurt from carrying the sumo wrestler around since we left his car seat in the car. Erik agreed to carry Klaasen, but he still wanted to retain full tactile abilities. So, I suggested the Moby and rolling his eyes he said, "Alright, tie it on me." So, I tied him up and off they went! Klaasen loved being tied to Daddy and I have a feeling this won't be the last time I see Erik with the Moby on...

SKOL VIKINGS!

This is our sweet niece, Kinley.

We're so proud that she's sporting purple and gold, even though she lives in Oklahoma!

SKOL VIKINGS!!!

Goodbye Summer

Enjoying a smoothie on the deck on one of our last days of summer weather.

Minnesota Zoo

Last week our playgroup went to the Minnesota Zoo. We had a blast! I can't believe that I'm actually saying this, but taking three kids to the zoo wasn't as hard as I thought! I tried to take pictures, but I have no idea why. Pictures of the zoo always turn out of the backs of everyone's heads or the same-old-same-old animals. But, because I took them, I'll share them...

A New Game Plan

After eight solid weeks of not getting more than two to three hours of sleep at a time during the night, I came up with a new game plan.

After our Klaasen's last feeding of the night, he is going to start hanging out with Daddy until he gets tired, so I can go to bed and get some sleep. Then Daddy will put him to bed.

I think they're both excited about the time they'll get to spend together!

The Big Girl's In School

Last week Maida started preschool! She LOVES it. I really expected her to cling to me when I dropped her off on the first day, but she pranced right in her classroom and wanted to get started right away. Other kids were crying and holding on to their moms. Maida was smiling and waving goodbye - she couldn't get rid of me fast enough!

Here is Maida the night of her preschool orientation when she went to see her classroom and meet her teachers, Jessica and Tiffany. These are all the things she was required to bring to preschool...

Maida on the first day of preschool...

Showing off her cubby at school where she keeps all of her papers. Below is where she hangs her coat and backpack...

What she told me about the first day of school:

- She was too scared to play on the playground, so she just walked around and watched the other kids play.

- She had little crackers and apple juice for a snack.

- She didn't talk to anyone except her teacher and couldn't go potty at bathroom break.

Maida on the second day of preschool...

Posing in the hallway outside of her classroom. She couldn't wait to get in and get on with her second day...

Outside her preschool...

Things she told me about the second day of preschool:

- They said a prayer before snack.

- She talked to a little boy named Charlie who has bright orange hair.

- She visited the library and the gym.

- She had big crackers and apple juice for a snack.

- She went on a bear hunt.

Maida on the third day of preschool...

Things she told me about the third day of preschool...

- She had fruit snacks and apple juice for a snack and the fruit snack gave her a tummy ache. The tummy ache was so so so so bad that she couldn't even tell her teacher.

- They sang a dinosaur song.

- They played outside with sidewalk chalk.

I haven't posted in a week. With some serious sleep deprivation, along with a crazy schedule, and the added stress of the beginning of our basement remodel, I wasn't on the computer one time last week. The kids and I started MOPS last Monday, Maida had her first two days of preschool on Tuesday and Thursday, Wednesday we went to the zoo, Wednesday through Saturday night Grandma was here, and Saturday Maida had her second soccer game. On top of all of that, Skogen was really sick, we had to take everything out of our basement and put it in the garage, we went to a Mexican party at our Mexican neighbor's house, our new small group started at church, I went to the dentist to get my teeth cleaned, Erik drove to Camp Ripley for an Army meeting, and Klaasen giggled for the first time! It was a very long, but exciting week. Looking ahead at this week, it doesn't appear that things are going to slow down anytime soon! Along with everything going on, Erik still has to carry a heavy work load and deal with a strict schedule with school. Lots of prayers for him, and especially for his residency placement (and all the work involved in applying and interviewing), on top of everything else, would be appreciated! Pictures of all of our recent activities to come...

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There's Nothing Sweeter...

than a little baby's piggies.

Backyard Campfire

There is nothing better than a backyard campfire when the weather starts to get cold. Last weekend we had some friends from church over for dinner, a campfire, and games. It was such a nice evening to be outside and the kids really loved having us there to watch them play in the sandbox and run around the yard! They're always up for having an audience.

It was way too cold to be outside without pants on, but Skogen insisted on leaving them off!

Maida kept us entertained with her stories around the campfire! She is such a smart little girl.

Klaasen enjoyed watching the flames and snuggling with Daddy.

It was such a beautiful night and really felt like fall! We're looking forward to a couple more campfires before it snows.