Halloween 2009

Before Trick or Treating. Grandma Lois made Victoria's costume! Thank you so much!

Another one before they older two went out to TOT. Madeline stayed home with Daddy

And while Michael and Victoria pigged out on candy, Madeline ate her "candy"- peas! And she was happy as a clam:)

Picture and some word catch up! WARNING: Picture heavy!

My attempt at taking cool pictures:) At Kevin's Aunt's lake in August

This lake is so peaceful and so beautiful! We love it there!

Victoria and her friend, as well as my mom and dad enjoying the lake

My mom and Dad

Toria and Michael meeting the Timberwolves at the YMCA

My mom with Madeline watching the Timberwolves mascot do tricks

Madeline before she sat up unsupported:)

No pictures yet:(

I got a new (to me) computer, and I do not have a photoprogram (or a sound card for that matter) on it, so I have not downloaded pictures from my camera in forever! I am hoping that this coming week I can get my darling husband to put a sound card in, because youtube movies just are not as much fun without sound! And, hopefully I can get a hold of a good photo program too. I have so many darling pictures to show you all!
I was planning on taking another one today - of Madeline's branded face, but her branding went away faster than we expected. She fell on top of a Duplo Lego yesterday and had the small circles from the top of the Lego bruised onto her face:( Poor baby!

Michael and Victoria are doing well in school and they are enjoying it too:) Michael is on the school crossing guard patrol, and likes that. He had his first week of patrol last week and it went well.
Victoria celebrated her 7th birthday on Saturday (19th) with her friends and then we had a family party for her, Kevin and Michael on the 20th as Kevin's parents were able to stop by on their way home from Oklahoma.
Michael will be having his friend party on the 10th.

Other than that, not much is going on. Work, work, work, and some planning for our trip in December. I am so excited we're going to celebrate Christmas in Norway! My friend Ingrid is coming home for Christmas too, so I get to see her. Hopefully we'll be able to see most of our friends and family while at home. We're staying from the 12th until January 9th! Almost a whole month. Maybe I will just not come back to the US and just keep staying in Norway! Kevin actually suggested I stay on a bit longer with Madeline, while he brings the kids back for school, but I fear travelling with my baby all by myself, so I will hold off on that until another time. I am kinda hoping to go back next summer, but I am not sure that is something Kevin and our bank account sees feasible. Only time will tell I guess.

So, whenever I get my photos downloaded, I will put some up here of my lovely family! Hope all is well!

I think I have a biter!

So Madeline has sprouted two teeth in the last few weeks and she has put them to good use. At least it makes her giggle when they are being used! I tell you, being a nursing mom to a child with teeth - who likes to use those teeth = not comfortable! For the most part she is good and just eats, but every now and then.....say no more!
Today, after she as done eating, she crawled (her army crawl) over to me and bit my arm! I think I am really in for it with this one! She is so lovable though, and has started cuddling and showing affection to those around her. Today she also waved at one of my co-workers when she saw her!
Oh, this weekend marked 8 months since she was born too! Yikes!

Michael and Victoria started school again on September 8th and they both love it! I need to get some pictures moved to my computer in the basement, since that is the one I use now, so that I can post them for you guys!

I am back to my normal work schedule and love it! I enjoy seeing all my Y friends and families every day!

We're heading out to work out at the Y tonight, so I have to cut this short, but hopefully I will find time to catch you guys all up on what has been going on. Since I have a lot of cleaning to dfo, I am sure I will find many reasons to dork around on the computer instead:)

This summer

of 2009 has been going so fast! I will try to update a bit, but will mostly post pictures so that you can see all the fun we've done! Pictures will come later though as I am dead on my feet.

My last post was on our 10th anniversary. Kevin and I went out to eat and brought Maddypants with us. We ate at Victoria's (love that place!) while most of the people in Rochester were at the Rochesterfest Parade! It just happened so that our waitress was a lady who took my Norwegian class a few sessions ago. It was neat and she gave us a free chocolate dessert for our anniversary:) Thank you Nancy! We later went home and just hung out (remember, the older two kids were at Grandma and Grandpa's in Moorhead :).

The Thursday before July 4th we went up to Moorhead to meet up with the kiddos. They had a blast at Grandma and Grandpa's without us! They both aquired skateboards, and I tried one out - a story in itself!
We stayed until the Monday after July 4th before heading home and back to work life again. I got to practice taking pictures of fireworks on the 4th, and found that it is fun, but extremely difficult to get good ones without a tripod! So the moom (visible in most of the pics) has quite a few weird shapes in most of the pictures:)

On July 15th Maddypants got her first taste of "real" food when we stared feeding her rice cereal. Not quite sure what she thought of it, but she at it all:) At her check up earlier that day we found that she is in the 46th percentile for weight and 51st for height. Doctor is not worried as she is an active girl and she eats a lot. I guess she is just one of those lucky ones with a high metabolism:)

Between the 4th and now we have mostly worked, and hung out with friends. My mom flew in on July 24th and my dad is arriving tomorrow! Lots of pics taken and I am certain lots more will be taken over the next week while they are here!

Next weekend we'll head to Kevin's aunt's cabin for some caming with my parents and Kevin's parents. Then, when my mom and dad leave the Monday after we're planning on heading up to the North Shore for some camping. We've never been there before and have heard so many neat things about it!

Man, I bet there are so many things I am not remembering, so I will come back in a few days to add and edit:) For now it is off to bed for me. Maybe I will be asleep before midnight for once:)

Married 10 years today!

Today my lovely husband Kevin and I are celebrating 10 years of marriage!

Love you so much Kevin!

Din for alltid,
Hanne

Swimming

We went swimming last night at the Y and towards the end decided on letting Maddypants give it a try too. She loved it! She actually perked up as soon as I went through the showers with her. She was all giggling and laughing. It was so much fun! When I put her in the pool (zero depth entry pool) her legs just started going wild - up and down. I wish you all could have seen it. Of course, I did not have my camera with me, so her 2nd time swimming will be the first one documented:)
She was trying to drink the water (gross!) and was splashing along the whole time. We only gave her 15 minutes though before we left. Did not want to overdo it the first time:)
She fell asleep before we even got to the car!

Michael and Victoria are both in an all day camp at a church here in town this week. They are both very excited to get to go to a full day camp! In the mean time I sit at work playing computer (got hooked on mafia wars on facebook recently) or run the other kids around to different activities.

I am mentally preparing myself for "Bootcamp" at the Y on Thursday night. I am exited but also terrified! It is a boot camp style group fitness class. How great is that!
Well, better go, places to be with the kids! Have a wonderful day!