Taga

March 21, 2010

I think that these would be fun.

http://www.taga.nl/default.asp?lang=eng

8 Years ago...

March 6, 2010

8 years ago, tomorrow, my first born was born. I can't believe it. It isn't like turning 8 is a milestone age, but he's my child and I guess I think every year is a milestone.

Looking back...

The announcement we sent out.

I rememeber this day very well. We used to go home for lunch everyday from the farm (we were in Kansas at the time) and on this afternoon, both boys ate and then laid on the floor. Luke was in the bean bag chair and Lincoln laid next to him and they both dozed off.


July of 2002. Luke was 4 1/2 months old. Look at that kid. :)

I am so proud of what he has become in the last 8 years. So proud to me his mom! Happy birthday, "Little Man!"

What to do, what to do...

February 26, 2010

This is what I wonder now that I gave up facebook for Lent. It's been going okay...but it is hard when you get rid of one of your main forms of communication with everyone you know. It's sad really in a way...and I feel so out of the loop now. And it is really sad that I live right across the road from my sister-in-law and I don't talk to her now...cuz I am not on facebook. Ha-ha.

You would think that I would be getting a lot of other things done. For instance, re-decorating the upstairs bathroom or spending hours in the basement looking at it trying to figure out how to decorate it (if you wanna come help me figure it out...come on over, please). I could also be reorganizing the office or figuring out where to park all my scrap booking stuff so I can get back into doing that since I am about 3 years behind...even more actually because Ashlyn's is way behind. But instead of doing all this stuff that I want to get done I am spending the time doing something way more fun...playing games with the kids, helping them do projects, laying on the floor with Ashlyn playing light-bright, sitting at a table putting Lego's together with Luke, doing puzzles with the girls...watching Olympics with Lincoln. Not that I didn't spend time with my family before because we did do stuff...just not as often as we do now and watching TV with Lincoln consisted of me watching it over the screen on the laptop. It's been fun!

On a different subject, sort of, I think I made a pretty big decision last night as I was wondering around Joanne Fabrics with my awesomely talented best friend, Amy, last night. I think I may have decided that I want to learn how to sew so I can quilt. Yep...QUILT. I said it. I also said the word sew. (I just shook a little). I have no clue what to do, but I love looking at all the fun fabric and I was looking through books and saw a ton of fun things.....ugh. I have no patience to learn it...I want to just know it. Well, hopefully I can watch Amy and learn a little. So, if you or someone you know have some extra quilting cutter things and mats and stuff that I could buy at a nice price...let me know.

Luke turns 8 next weekend. I may have touched on this before in the last post, but the child had 18 boys on his list of kids to invite. 18!!!!!!!! I let him pick 10. One can't come already so we are down to 9 plus Luke...so 10 total. that is a lot of boys in my house. Weather calls for 35 out that day though...so, I may have to have them start a basketball game outside. 5 on 5? Perfect. :)

The family is coming over the next day to celebrate. Oh, I can probably talk to my sister-in-law then. Ha-ha. I need to start planning the menu, I guess. 8. I can't believe it.

February 2010 (possibly part 1 of 2)

February 20, 2010

So, we are already on day 20 of February (which is about over). I can't believe that March is just about here. March means that my first born will turn 8. 8. Already. He has a list of friends to invite...there are 14 of them. Yeah. 14 boys in my home. I told him that he could only invite 8. Those 8 consisted of his closest friends...all the boys that came last year. He added more because he says, "...but mom, I can't leave these guys out, they invited me to their parties!" How do I say no to that...the kid actually cares that he could hurt their feelings. I don't even know these boys...never seen them before. 14 boys is a lot of energy in my house, especially if it isn't nice to go outside. And I can't afford to take 14 boys anywhere. So, I shall brace myself...and I know it'll be a ton of fun! I may need to have some of my mom friends of these boys stay and keep me sane. And the wine I break into after will taste great.

I decided to give something up for Lent this year. No, I am not Catholic. You don't have to be Catholic to give something up for Lent. I gave up...facebook. Cold turkey. Well, I can't say I haven't cheated. I received a notification on my phone that someone send a private message to my inbox and I felt that I should probably check it today to make sure it wasn't important. It wasn't (I also checked the morning after lent began just to see how many people made comments on my status even though I wasn't supposed to be on there - I don't count that as cheating). It is hard to not be on there. I didn't realize that that was my main source of communication now. And I miss my friends that I could chat with daily. I can do this though. I can. And I am getting other things done...like spending time on the computer anyway, updating this blog. I imagine that on the evening of Easter I will be sitting on my couch with the laptop after the kids go to bed catching up on everything...and I have a feeling that after 40 days there is going to be a lot to catch up on...I may need Monday off. I do hate that I feel so out of touch now though. I feel like I have no friends now. Ha-ha. Pathetic. The good news is, though, that I don't catch myself trying to get on there out of habit when I open the laptop. Whew.

With the lent season comes busier times at work at church. I will also be busier at the farm and this it the time my in0laws booked a vacation and they will be gone for 2 weeks...yeah, during lent, one of two of my busiest times at church. I am not complaining, the world does not revolve around me.....I am so happy and excited for them that they are getting away. They deserve this soooooo much. I am just so totally happy that they are going. I can't wait for the day that my husband and I can go on a vacation...just us...it seems like that time is so far our of reach.

February really hasn't been that eventful. I don't even have any pictures to post of this month yet. I am just feeling good that I caught this blog up. :)

Take care until next time.

January 2010

February 20, 2010

Wow, I am caught up to January now. Impressive.

January didn't bring too much. The kids had a bunch of birthday parties that they attended and we were just doing the usual stuff. We got more snow and more ice and more cold weather. Well, after all, it is winter and we are in Minnesota. This winter has been reminding me of how winter is supposed to be in this state. It hasn't really been too bad. It's just been more work this year than others for Lincoln to keep up with the plowing and for me to keep up with shoveling the sidewalk and front steps. We even had to (or Lincoln had to) get up on the roof and clear it off once...and then once he cleared it off, he couldn't walk back up it to the other side to get to his ladder so he had to call me in the house from the roof (thank goodness for cell phones and that he had it with) to let him in through Chloe's bedroom window. She was in bed and yelled at her dad for getting snow all over her room.

January brought the flu to our family...I am just shocked it took that long. First it hit Ashlyn on a Wednesday night right in the middle of supper. She was back to her self by Friday and no one else was getting it. I thought that was weird. I made the decision to bring the whole family out to see Lincoln play in the alumni basketball tournament. Everyone seemed fine so I only felt half guilty for bringing the kids among other people. At the last minute, after thinking I was just going to stay home, we were able to get a sitter (in-laws) and go out for a bit. The kids stayed over night at my in-laws. Lincoln called me at 6:30 the next morning from the farm (he had to work) and told me that I should go pick them up because Chloe got sick earlier that morning...ugh. I felt like the most horrible person on the planet. I was so afraid that my in-laws would end up with it. I got up and dressing and to their house within 30 minutes. That was a Sunday. So, gauging on time...Ashlyn got it on a Wednesday...Chloe 4 days later. I figured Luke would have it on or around Thursday. I sent him to school Monday. Monday night...he was sick too. 10pm and he was in the bathroom every 5 minutes after that for about 2 hours. On Tuesday, I sent Ashlyn to school and kept Luke home obviously. But...I was not feeling well. Oh, great. Here we go. Mine started very different, but eventually I was losing lunch too. I felt fine by Wednesday evening. The only one left was Lincoln. We thought for sure he was going to miss out. Not so. By Saturday afternoon he was tired and had the chills. He was in the bathroom all evening on Saturday (this is now Superbowl weekend). And he really didn't totally recover until just this past week...I think his digestive system wouldn't recover because he just could not stop drinking milk. Now we are past it and healthy for now and pray that we don't get anything else.

I forgot about some of these next pictures for my December post...

I painted Luke & Ashlyn's rooms while they were way at my dad's house for Christmas break....

Ashlyn picked orange and pink.

Luke didn't pick. He told me green because that is his favorite color. Well, I couldn't do only green and I couldn't do the green he wanted so we agreed on an in between green and a bright/dark blue.


I just added this to show that I painted Chloe's too, but I did hers back this past spring. I am just missing the curtains for her room...my mother-in-law is making them for me.

Ashlyn finally lost her first tooth in January.

January and the beginning of Feb. was foggy quite often so it resulted in the fog freezing to the trees and making a think frost of snow over everything...very pretty.

December 2009

February 20, 2010

December went by so fast. It always does. We got a a lot of snow and ice in December...especially right before Christmas. I can't recall everything we did in December except for the obvious...Christmas. Christmas came way too fast for me. I absolutely hate cutting things close, but I always do and this year was no exception. thanks so some late night online shopping and a sister-in-law babysitting (Bonnie) I managed to get it all done. There are some advantaged to waiting the last minute...sales and free shipping.

Ashlyn had her 3rd ever dance show at the beginning of the month and it went great. Then she turned 6 on the 22nd and had her friends over one days and our family over the next. She had 8 girlfriends over for a party...however, she had 12 on her list of invites. HA! Yeah, right. And when Luke came home from his birthday party he was at that day. He was the little charmer. All the girls were following him around. Great. I knew he'd be a heart breaker, but so early? Ashlyn was a busy bee in December. And, my short little girl is finally getting a little height on her...she is finally wearing age appropriate clothes (size 6). She was still wearing 4t clothes this past summer. :)

Luke, in December, was involved in a Saturday morning program at school called Dribble Ball. He LOVES basketball. He is his father's child...all the way. He can't wait until next year when he is in 3rd grade and can start some actually practicing. He is doing great in school. Now I didn't say he was in love with going...I said he was doing great. :) He doesn't complain too much about going...unless he thinks there is going to be a 2-hour snow delay or a snow day and there isn't, then he gets mad. What kid doesn't?

Chloe, by the end of December, pretty much has the potty training under control. I got lucky with her. I have to admit...although I am happy that I am no longer purchasing diapers, I am sad that it is all over...every baby thing is done. I am comfortable in our decision to be done, but sometimes it is hard. I am busy enough with 3 though. She is really growing up. She will be turning 3 in May, but she is wearing 4T clothes for the most part...she is a tall girl.

During Christmas break, my dad & step-mom and sister came down to visit and we decided that after Christmas I would bring Luke & Ashlyn up to them...they stayed for 5 nights and 5 days. They loved it...missed us, but loved it. It was a nice break for Lincoln and I too. Just having Chloe here was a breeze and dare I say it, but a little boring.

Of course with every December come the end to a year. 2009 ended. I remember when I was in high school and they year that would be part of 'future' statements would be 2010. Like, "Oh, we'll laugh about this in 2010!" or "2010? that is way too far way!" Not so much. 2010 is here now...weird. In 10 years I will have a high school senior, a sophomore and a middle schooler...that is hard to think about. :) 10 years ago I was 22, single, working full-time and going to school part-time wondering where I would be in 10 years. I wasn't even anticipating I would now be married for almost 9 years with 3 kids. I never in my wildest nightmares put myself as a farmer's wife living out in the country in one of the best little towns ever! Just proves that no matter how you plan...things can just take a turn you are not expecting.

Welcome, welcome, welcome, 2010!

Ashlyn and her iCarly cake for her family party. 6 years old!

Lincoln on Christmas eve trying on his new gopher (faux leather) coat from his awesome wife!

Christmas day...cousins playing with new toys.

Our second Christmas day (Serene came in a day late due to weather)...all the cousins together.

A lot of snow...

November 2009

December 21, 2009

November was pretty low key too until the end of the month. Exactly one month ago today, we celebrated Lincoln's grandmother's 90th birthday (she turned 90 on the 23rd) at church with an open house. It was soooooo fun to have everyone in town and to get to see all of Lincoln cousins and his sister and our brother-in-law (and nephew of course). Every single one of Betty's children, grand-children and great-grandchildren were there. It was awesome.

November also brought on a very important mark in Chloe's growth book...she's potty trained!!! That is soooo exciting!

Cousins.

The whole Sjoquist family on November 21, 2009.

Uncle Clinton and Colten!

Later on, all the 'grand-kids' went out for a few cocktails and conversation. So fun.

Thanksgiving.....I feel like calling these 3 the 3 muskateers.

Chloe and Sophie insisted on holding hands while walking to the bathroom to go potty.

Video babysitter while I worked at church....