Jorens young 5s musical concert

We had the pleasure of attending Jorens musical concert this week. All 100 cute kids filed out on the bleachers responsibly holding their bells up to their shoulders.  Joren walked like a serious little soldier to his place in the middle front row in his white shirt and black jeans.  For the whole first song Joren was dutifully chimed his bell just as he should at all the right times.  Starting at the second song, Joren added a little spice to his bell chiming.  He shook the bell back and forth rather than in and out, then he shook it slowly from left to right like he was doing the sprinkler, then he did a little Elvis move with his bell, each time making Paul and I crack up more and more.  For the next few chimes he picked his nose and ate it and forgot to sing.  Then he was back to business... the business of rocking out to the bells.  At the end of the song, our little ham took a deep bow.  The only kid on stage bowing, slowly bowed low and came slowly back up.  The next few songs were singing and Joren's dance moves and excitement were contageous.  He has Paul and I busting up.  I don't think he was trying to be silly or get laughs, he was just... Joren.  He held the 'B' for the Bingo song and did his part just right.  (luckily no nose picking for that part).  And by the end he was losing his focus.  He bowed at the end of every song and happily hammed it up till the end.  What a cutie.   I wish I had it all on video.

Winter activities:

 We get a lot of deer.  Paul taught the boys how to set a snare and the other day the boys realized that in their long forgotten snare, there was a frozen stiff, dead bunny rabbit.  Paul was a real hero that day and there has been some intense excitement about hunting and snaring since then. 

 Eirik and Joren love science experiments.  Here are just a few of the recent adventures.  Did you know that when you soak an egg in vinegar, the shell dissolves and leaves a non hard boiled, solid egg that will break very easily?  It also absorbs food coloring through osmosis and changes sizes based on the amount of water it has.  We made stalagmites and stalagtites and an orange clock and endless beakers and test tubes filled with food coloring and other kitchen essentials.  I am a terribly mean mom because I won't let them keep their potions in their rooms (hello food coloring).  They are very upset about it, but what is a mom to do, really?

Here is what I have been making for Juni's room.  I got this far and decided that I do not like it nearly as much as I thought and well... I completely changed directions and added a bunch of color.  I know, crazy.  Anyway.. I hope I'll have the reveal for you soon.

Winter Zoo trip

We prepared for it to be frigid, but it was perfect.  The zoo in Feb is so empty that the guy at the gate let me in free when I told him that my pass had just barely expired!  We went with Erin and Jenny B and had a great time.  In the afternoon the sun came out and for the first time in months the kids took off their coats and ran like crazy at the big outdoor play structure.  I think Joren scaled the rock wall about 50 times.  Teig has been asking to go to the zoo for months, so I was so glad we got to go and he loves to tell everyone about all the animals he saw at the zoo.  Eirik was thrilled to hang out with Ben and the three moms had lots of fun spending the day together.  Man I am going to miss them!

Long Weekend

It's the end of the weekend and I am so out of patience.  I am so glad my kids are going to school tomorrow.  I love their teachers.  I want to give them big hugs for taking care of my kids all day every weekday because I don't think I could do it tomorrow.  I'm dreading the summer.  I want to tear my hair out right now.  On Saturday I kept telling my kids, "I love Saturdays because I get to spend so much time with you, and all day I tried to help us all enjoy each other's company so much.  I tried.  We worked hard.  We had fun. I stayed cool all weekend, until now, and I am done and exhausted. They wear me out. They are finally in their beds and oh what sweet relief.
Joren has the gimme's and asks for things he wants non stop.  In fact, there isn't much out of his mouth that does not start with "I want."  He wants unreasonable things like a working jet pack or a a safe or a hammock or a squid launcher.  He gets an idea and won't give it up for weeks.  When I try to make what he wants, it's never good enough and he says he hates it and throws it away so  I have stopped helping him with his never ending project ideas because he won't listen to any of my suggestions and whatever I do is never good enough.  He also won't stop hanging on, jumping on, running into and badgering people.  There aren't any words or punishments to make him stop being so physical.  He doesn't necessarily hurt anyone, he just has to be on us all the time.  He is worse with everyone else besides me because with my big belly, I just won't tolerate it and I get mean if he gets near my belly with his unpredictability.
Teig won't take naps on the weekends when his brothers are home so by Sunday night he is a crying banshee.  He has to do everything by himself and if you try to do it for him or help him he freaks out and won't be consoled. 
They are all three good, wonderful nice boys.  They don't try to be bad.  They are obedient most of the time.  They are reasonable.  Eirik is so sensitive and kind (when he's not being a maniacal tease), and so incredibly smart. He was memorizing morse code on his own today. I had planned to make a nice dinner today and the day just went weird and I knew that no one was going to enjoy the food I had planned (except me), so I served yogurt, granola and fruit.  After our meal, Eirik said, "that was dinner?  Usually we have some big boquet to eat."  I thought that was funny.  I missed having grilled tilapia with black bean and corn salsa, but I was the only one.  They all like granola.  Teig is so articulate.  When he is upset, at only two years old, he can verbalize what he is upset about.  I think its remarkable. If his brothers say he is doing something they don't like, he immediately explains what he is doing, "I only looking!" or "I not break it!" or "I only try a yittle."  He's a great little brother and super fun. We did dance break today and they were all really cute doing all their awesome moves. Joren gave a talk in primary about all of Gods creations.  He told his primary how he loves to collect nature things like bones and sticks and rocks and geodes.  He loves to build things and cut trees and collect insects. He loves to explore and study prehistoric and living animals and he listed his favorites. (all predators).  Then he said he was thankful for all God's creations.  By the end of the talk he was doing silly moves and barely paying attention and saying his words in silly voices, but he did fine.
 Paul was great today.  He kept his patience more than me.  Sundays are hard because there is so much you "can't" do that it is hard to find things that we "can" do.  I have read some great articles with great ideas, but I have yet to establish some traditions that really work well for us.  We try games, we try letters, crafts, delivering goodies, a nice meal, skyping, phone calls, naps, and nature shows, but I think that about exhausts our creativity and it's never enough for long Sunday afternoons. Luckily legos seem to be picking up speed around here and hopefully they will stay around as time killers.  We ended up taking a 2 hour drive to a ladies house who used to be in the ward this evening just to have something to do.  She gave us lots of big boxes for our move.  It was really nice of her.  We feel like we are always the recipients of very generous people.
My irritability is probably not from my great family, but just my own problem. The kids were especially annoying today, but only because I am 9 months pregnant, uncomfortable, sick of winter and trying to feel present instead of playing the waiting game.
It will come soon enough.  I need more patience!

Eirik's primary talk- Jan 2013

Being honest is telling the truth.

One day in school I was jealous because in the boxtops prizes there were cool looking bradcelets.  You could pull them apart and they would have a a pen inside.  The pen looked like a  really cool pick-lock.  I didn't have any boxtops, but I sure wanted one of those pens/ picklocks.  That day, in the art room, we used wooden sticks that looked like pick-locks on our project. Our teacher asked us if we found any extras. If we did, we should give them back to her.  Instead of giving the pick-locks back to the teacher, I kept them.  This was stealing and dishonest. When I got home, I felt sorry. I did the wrong thing. I told my mom I had the pick-locks in my pocket. We talked about it and the next day, I broth them back before music. The teacher was really glad. I felt so much better. I learned to be honest and not to steal.  I am glad I brought them back. I will never steal again.  In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Valentines day

This year Paul and I went out to Texas Roadhouse for dinner. Paul was prepared to drive me up to this fancy Thai food place because I have been talking about Thai soup for months, but it was an hour away and there was a fresh coat of snow on the road and Paul had missed a 20 car pile up on the freeway on his way home from work by one exit so neither of us felt much like driving far. Paul has been sick and Friday he was feeling terrible but, of course, he did not let on through all of dinner just how miserable he felt. He told me that having my trust was one of his most prized possessions. He said he wished he could somehow get inside my head and show me how much he loves me. He told me that he feels joy in helping me be the best I can be and helping me achieve my dreams. He said cultivating our relationship and growing together is one of his favorite things. And to top it off, he said that he wants to die before me so he can go ahead and make sure everything is beautiful and prepared for me. So, did I have a food Valentines day? Well I think I'm the luckiest girl in the whole world. He always thinks he needs to buy me gifts so he bought me a gardenia plant a 3 Skor bars, which I love, but just having his devotion is the greatest gift I could ever want in this life. He is constantly teaching me how to be a better person and how to love more fully. He has such a huge loving heart and I only strive every day to try to be worthy of him. Sometimes the only way I don't get intimidated about being his wife is that the Lord told me I could have him. I am so blessed. I love you Paul!

Moms with daughters club

This week I got a package in the mail that blew my mind. One of my longtime besties made Juniper a dress out of this sensational fabric that I adore AND a matching doll. When I opened it I had to cry through laughter/ laugh through tears for the first few minutes. I was first so touched by the selflessness of the gift from my friend who I have not even seen in over 5 years, and second by the absolute awesomeness of the gift. She made it exactly to my taste. And third, it made the arrival of a little girl in my life more real than ever. I felt like I am suddenly in the mom's with daughters club. I get to now have dolls in my house and take my daughter shopping and make girly crafts and have someone who might like being in the kitchen with me. I love my boys and they are my heart, but man, I tell ya, I'm glad they have a great dad because I don't roughhouse well with them, I don't understand the constant need to have a weapon in my hand or be ready for hunting or war at a moments notice. I do my best to be outdoorsy and all about sports, but like I said, they are lucky to have a dad because this girly girl does not get it and I hope this daughter of mine will be a little more on my page so I don't always feel like the strange one in my home. today before we all settled down in our tent for reading and bedtime my sweet boys all joined me around the rabble and they each made Jumiper a felt doll to give her when she is born.
Our dear Juniper, your arrival could not be more fondly anticipated! We love you already so much!
And Emily, I can't thank you enough for your wonderful gift. You are a true friend.

Upon my heart...

Teig is at the cutest age. He's so cute sometimes you just can't hug and squeeze him enough. He is obsessed with candy and asks for what he wants in the cutest way that it makes it hard to always be the responsible parent. Today Paul made Teig sign this contract with him that sort of sums it up.

Cabellas

The topic of Eiriks birthday has been in the air for weeks. His ideas of the perfect birthday have fluctuated from mini to grandiose and the most recent fixation has been a family camping trip. Tears were brought on by the sad reality that at his birthday, mom will probably be in he hospital or ready to go in at the least. Also, the reminder that there will likely still be snow in the ground brought a new wave of frustration. Paul had the great idea to take the boys to Cabellas for an "Eiriks birthday" shopping trip. Eirik made a list of wants:
Eiriks birthday:
1 Lantern
2 Grown man tent
3 Camo hunting outfit
4 Mess kit
5 Bow and arrow
Sling shot- make with dad
Fishing pole and gear- gather in garage

On the morning of our planned shopping trip we got a surprise check in the mail of inheritance money from Grandma Edna's brother for $2000. Paul decided it was time to get those awesome fly fishing waders, boots and reel he has always wanted, and we also invested in a great big 6 person, family sized tent and a sweet bow and arrow for Eirik. Teig picked out a stuffed shark that we all loved and Joren got rope and a lantern. Since Paul's grandpa taught him how to fish, it seemed appropriate to spend the money on fishing and camping gear. The whole family is really excited to start doing more outdoor adventuring. In fact, they were all so excited that we set up our huge new tent on our living room today and the boys and I all read books by the fire tonight from inside our new tent. Cozy and warm. We finished the book "Hatchet". Eirik is still not happy that we won't be getting out in nature for a camping trip until April, but our indoor camping has taken some of the sting off and set us up for some good 3 day weekend fun. These boys are such good kids. We love them so much!!

Granada Edna

On Valentines day we got a call from Patty to let us know that Grandma Edna Aanderud had passed away. Earlier that day I had been looking at our family history charts and studying the names in Edna's family line. Edna was a good woman who lived a long full life. She was 94 this year. Unfortunately, I asked Paul not to attend her graveside service since I am less than three weeks from our due date and I am already starting to dilate. I feel bad that he won't be there but we would both feel even worse if he missed the birth of his daughter. All of Paul's siblings have spent a lot of time on the phone sharing memories of their Grandma and here are some that we wrote down:

"Sneaches on the beach, lawn darts while sipping 7-up, mini bowling after a game of rumicubes, spooky old pants with nobody inside them, stinking like cigarettes after weekend visits, drinking fermented grape juice I mean wine, climbing apple trees, being timed as you ran around the house, for beef sandwiches with horse radish sauce, watching birds and night rider, looking at the old black and white pictures of dad, picking plums and apples, hanging out with Maxine and Joe and crazy manly Mary from across the street, being loved" Zach

"I agree with the above from Zack. Also talking about WWII, living in north Dakota, hanging out with Harriet and Vern. Loving us unconditionally. " Jeanette

"And croquet, $2 at 7-11, Macaroni and cheese, overnighters to escape, mowing the lawn, the willow tree, the Mackenzie river fishing trips, frosted animal cookies, those glass blue birds and the mustang painting. Cross word puzzles, puzzles in general. Her love of her family. Her patience with Mary, her live of god, dealing so gracefully with trigeminal neuralgia, romance novels, alarm clocks, going to Fred Meyer and casinos... I could keep going" Paul