Trim It Up

It was really past time to trim Annika's old man hair style.

BEFORE

AFTER

SO MUCH HAIR!

Over the River...

..and through the woods to Grandmother's house we go. Great Grandma's house that is- finally after a long hiatus. An unintentionally long stretch between visits ended this past Saturday. It is just so hard to do the trip with both girls, especially since Annika had been so fiesty.
It was so sweet to watch Great Grandma with Annika. Annika really studied her face and didn't smile much at first. Gma's face would light up as she baby talked some words and phrases. Annika would watch her and blink. During lunch Annika became a bit more animated and smiled back. Annika loved the swedish meatballs and over done green beans. Even though she "flat lined" on the growth chart, you wouldn't guess it by watching her eat. That girl can chow down!
 Gma had given both girls a stuffed toy- the stuffed animal is a token Grandma gift. My collection was quite large by the time I reached the "too-old-for-toys" age. Grandma used to tell me how Grandpa would say, why are you getting another sruffed animal? And Grandma would say because they are so cute and cuddly. So now Annika has a large blue bunny with sewn on patches to make it appear a little whimsical.  Emma got the annual noisy bunny. It shakes and moves while playing a hoppy song. The one she got from Gma last year (or the year before) is a favorite. Emma also received a Disney Princess art set- activity book, cardboard scene to color, puzzle and crayons. Emma and Gma had some puzzle time after lunch. It was cute watching Gma get all impressed when Emma found a piece.
We hit the road pretty early since both girls had missed their naps. The first 30 minutes or so in the car were a nightmare!  Emma was having tantrums for dropping her art set, losing markers, losing puzzle pieces. "When are we going to go back to Great Grandma's?" Huge sobs and screams. The back of Steve's seat was being pushed. The tears were rolling and her face was beet red.  She couldn't manage a polite request for picking up the dropped items, which added to the stress. After talking things through (multiple times and getting to the point of threats and promises of rewards (so bad!!)), she finally chokes out a strangled "please help me Mommy" and I turned around to help her collect whatever item she just had to have right that second. We started to drive under an overpass and the van got darker and darker. "What is happening to us!!" Emma sobs and screams. It was so funny. I had been wondering the same thing since the overpass was not very wide. It didn't make sense that we should not able to see the floor of the van or our groping hands. What happened to us indeed.
Eventually Emma calmed down. That was just when Annika decided to scream. The Nuk didn't help so we just had to wait it out. She fell asleep after awhile, followed closely by Emma.
Whew. In the middle of Emma's tantrums Steve asked her to "Ask us again, Emma, when we are going to go back to Great Grandma's."  She made us tell her why and of course she didn't like the answer- not for a long time because we don't want to go through that again.

Sweet Sisters

Well, it starts off sweet and then progresses down the road that only a 5 year old can follow.

Snow Fun

Yesterday could have been another one of those days when Emma and I push each others buttons. It was a half day of school, which tends to lead to rough days even if they start out fine. (The early release started/ended with a children of the world parade. It was really cool to see the kids all dressed up (even Emma) and singing It's a Small World and another song with hello in many languages.)  Back at home the party was over pretty quickly. Just a typical scene of a 5 year old who saves her poor choices and tantrums for Mommy.
After rest time in the afternoon and a painting project that took longer to set up than it did to occupy her time I suggested that Emma get dressed and go outside and run around. She surprised the heck out of me by saying OK, with enthusiasm even.  I even said that she didn't need to put on her snow pants unless she was planning on rolling around in the snow. 
So while she was outside tromping in and out of the front yard I finished up with the dinner prep and prepared to go outside as well. She came in just as I was getting ready and was super excited that I was going to head outside with her. "That's just what I want you to do!" She put on her snow pants while I got suited up.
She was quick to show me the huge snow pile by the birch tree that has the shepherds hook poking up out of the top of it again. We made some faces in the mound with our shoe print holes. Then on we trudged through the yard. Very soon she suggested we play hide and seek, "and you count first. I know right where I am going to hide." So I wandered around until she was ready. She wasn't in the mailbox! She wasn't under the car! She was right next to the large snow pile we marred earlier and giggling like crazy.
Somehow the game fizzled right out. I took the old wreath off the side of the house and Emma immediately grabbed for it. "Wait, I want to play with it." So she giggled and pulled it over her head. "I'm your wreath that you want to keep but I run away from you. So sleep Mama." I laid down to sleep on the ground. "So while she was sleeping the wreath ran away," and she got up and ran away, holding the wreath like an inner tube around herself.  "Now you have to try to catch me!"  So I ran after her and when I caught her we tumbled to the ground. We both laughed a lot. We kept playing that until I got to be the wreath.  I ran around just out of her reach. "I'm going to get you, Wreath! No, don't go to the snowbank!" But I ran right to the large snow bank in our neighbors driveway, hurtled myself over, and to allow some time for Emma to catch up, I fell to the snowy ground and pretended to be having a hard time getting up. (Well some of it wasn't pretending- it is not easy for a Wreath to maneuver!)  Emma clambered over the snow bank and piled on top of me. We laughed a lot.  "OK, I am going to sleep again. Now you run away. I'm going to catch you, Wreath. Come back here, Wreath!"  So many giggles and laughs.  I really wonder what the neighbors were thinking as they saw us chasing each other with the large wreath wrapped around us.
Then when we tired of the wreath we just chased each other. "You can just leave the wreath on the ground." But she still narrated using the Wreath character. Pretty funny.
I made a snow angel and she helped me up.  We made snow balls and played catch while sitting on the ground. "It counts if it lands on the ground close to you." 
Then the baby woke up and I had to go back inside. But when Emma came in it was all smiles for both of us.  Being outside warmed us up from the outside, in. :)

happy 2013

Happy New Year! 

We started new year's eve day off at Great Grandma's. Nanie and Papa and the Schueles were there (except Marc). We had a nice meal and the girls got tons of presents. They really got spoiled. Annika got a stuffed Snoopy from Nanie and Papa. The story behind the snoopy toy is that when I was a girl I had one that I took everywhere with me. I dragged it around and loved it. (I honestly don't remember this.) I don't know if my brother had one, too or if maybe he got my chewed on crusty one. Well fast forward to the next generation and Uncle Scott's first son, Wyatt,  just had to have a stuffed Snoopy. Papa found one and then continued the tradition for Blake and Emma. What I really want to know is if they bought 4 or 5 Snoopy's back when Wyatt was born with the hopes that there would be as many grandkids as Snoopy's someday. 

Chris and Uncle Chuck put together the baby care center from Great Grandma to Emma. It was quite the project. Emma was upset that she didn't have any dolls with to give it a test run. We balanced it precariously on the top of the brewing equipment in the back of the van on our trek to Woodstock and hoped it wouldn't land on the dog.

We spent the rest of  new years eve at the Kniola's in Woodstock. It was a raucous and fun night as always. Annika slept really well in the afternoon and evening, which amazed us all. Then at about 1 am she decided to be cranky all night long. Since we went to bed late I guess we should be thankful that all night long was only 6 hours or so. Emma had a fun night playing with the kids. She snacked and played and was wide awake until the ball dropped. At midnight she toasted us with some sparkling drink and put on a festive hat. She slept on the couch with Madison and Jared. The next morning everyone was fuzzy, but Steve and Uncle Steve still brewed beer outside in the bitter cold.  Madison and Emma skated on the backyard pond in their boots. I fell while borrowing Aunt Darcy's skates (I forgot to remove one of the blade guards). Rooky mistake! Emma was concerned for me, which was sweet.  

Annika napped and enjoyed hanging out with the kids, too. Madison and Jared love to hold Annika, and Emma doesn't seem to mind. We were all happy to sleep in our own beds that night!

Christmas Vacation

We had a wonderful, quiet Christmas around Madison. Well, sort of quiet. Annika was as usual fussy and not sleeping well. It was cold but Steve bundled her up in the stroller and took a 30 minute walk. She slept for part of the walk and promptly woke up once back inside the house.
We enjoyed a delicious red and green meal of raspberry-pistachio crusted chicken and wild rice pilaf.  Emma helped crush the pistachios with the mortar and pestle.  It was her idea to use it and at first we didn't think it would work. She persevered and proved us wrong! It turned out that using the mortar and pestle helped to make the pistachios stick better to the chicken, resulting in a very delicious chicken dish- the best ever!  Even Emma liked it as leftovers.
We rushed to make it to church on time, which meant that finding seats was impossible. If it weren't for Lynn and John we would have been standing. As it was, we squeezed into the spots, with one girl each on our laps. It was a nice service. Emma liked holding the candle for Silent Night.
Emma made sure we put out the treats for Santa (store bought dairy-free Newman O's) plus 9 carrots for the reindeer. She was particularly curious about whether or not Rudolph would come with Santa.
Annika slept for 6 hours I think that night- a Christmas miracle. :)  Santa had come and the reindeer had eaten the carrots to the ends. Rudolph did come because all 9 carrots had been eaten. After presents we just hung out all day. WE packed and organized for our trip.
Bright and early (5 am ish) we loaded up the van and started the looong drive to South Dakota.  Annika slept a lot, which was great.  Emma amused herself quite well for the most part. Once the DVD was introduced, though, it became a hassle to set it up and keep her behavior in check. We had a McDonald's dinner in Rapid City (in the car) and made it to the cabin in time for stories and bed.
Emma was fascinated by the loft and really wanted to sleep up there. Due to the steepness of the stairs and the lack of a door to keep out the sounds, we convinced her to sleep int he downstairs bedroom. It had it's own bathroom, which was fun for her.
Annika had a horrible night of sleeping. It was also hotter than blazes upstairs so I woke up dripping sweat. We had to open the window over the bed to make it comfortable.
The next morning we planned our day and headed to Mount Rushmore. It was snowing, silently and dream-like. It made for a gorgeous drive and view. There were hardly any people- yay!  Emma wouldn't smile for the camera and was very grouchy about the museum part.  Annika slept in the stroller and seemed quite content overall.
I don't remember the rest of that day. Except that night we went and saw Mount Rushmore lit up-cool. Then we drove into town for some beer and dessert. Emma chose strawberry cookies. I chose lime mini-popcorn bags. The popcorn was so good. Annika had another rough night.
The next day dawned clear and cold. Mount Rushmore was seen again in many different views all day long. The sideview of Washington was neat. Then Crazy Horse was a big disappointment as we drove up to it. It's not even close to being finished! Once we were inside and learned the story we felt bad for disparaging it.  The sculptor worked alone for a number of years. Mount Rushmore can fit in the side of his head (the scale is astronomical). The family doesn't accept funds from state or national governments. It's pretty amazing.
Emma liked the Native American museum part (just not the video, which she almost ruined with her whining- we were the only ones in the theater though). We had fun looking at the artifacts, rugs, bead work, etc.  We tried to come up with what our Native American names would be. I can't remember what she said.
We rambled along and finally headed out to the Nature Gates that was covered with metal animals. We each found our favorite. Emma searched for a horse and couldn't find one.
Then we headed to the Wind Cave. We had lunch in the center's small cafeteria. Chloe stayed in the van. Then we went on the 1 pm tour over 100 feet under ground. Emma was scared at first, like me, but we turned it into a game. Emma kept pointing to places where the Pegasus would sleep or fly through. The boxwork formations were yummy Pegasus food. Almost at the end Annika filled her diaper and began to cry. Steve had to take her back down the trail a bit to not disturb the ranger or the group.  The ranger brought up the point that people who go caving need to take food in and waste out, like one memeber of the group was showing us. :) It was funny.  (At home, when Emma saw the Wind Cave brochure she recognized the boxwork!)
On the drive back to the cabin we saw some elk and then some bison way off in the distance. We drove through some tunnels and saw Mount Rushmore yet again from different views. We ate some dinner cooked in the electric skillet and rested.
The next day we left later than we would have liked and made it home by 10 pm.  We played 20 questions and I Spy a lot on the way home. Annika needed to be soothed a lot as well. That's not easy in the car!



Overall it was a fun trip and we are glad we made the effort.

Happy 5th Birthday!

        Emma turned 5 this year! Nanie came out for 10 days, and Emma had fun having a new person to read stories with.  There were extra hands to bounce Annika when she fussed.  Around the weekend more family came to town. Aunt Margaret, Uncle Dominic and Patrick came down from Minnesota and stayed at our house. Aunt Lauren and Charlie and Great Aunt Kay flew into Madison the same night as Papa. Papa stayed at our house while the rest of that crew stayed at Aunt Susan's. Aunt Emily also came up and crashed on our floor.
         Saturday morning Emma and Patrick had a blast raking leaves and playing outside. Dominic and Daddy helped. :) Emma spotted two bald eagles soaring. Annika seemed to like the fresh air when she came out with Aunt Susan. That was a fun sighting!
           The invitations featured 5 butterflies so we stuck with the butterfly theme as much as possible. Saturday was the party at 3 pm with dinner of Papa's famous spaghetti sauce served over butterfly pasta. There were sauteed brussel sprouts (and something) that the aunts cooked up along with salad, bread, and rosy glow punch.  Pretzel and caramel butterflies were fluttering around. Tom and Karen made it over around present time and stayed for dinner and dessert. Aunt Susan made the cake topped with butterflies that the ladies decorated, including Emma! Guests colored butterflies to hang on the wall (they are still there) during waiting periods. Annika fussed a bit, but then happily slept in various willing arms.
On Sunday we all headed to Aunt Susan's for a delicious brunch followed by some walking around the zoo. It's always a favorite place to visit. The sun was shining and it was a glorious day.
         We also celebrated Emma's birthday with Great Grandma and Uncle Chuck on a day-trip to Illinois with Nanie. Emma loved the barbie and accessories she got from Uncle Chuck and the create your own fairy tale kit from Great Grandma.

      At the end of October Great Aunt Jan and Great Aunt Jackie came out. They all had a blast dressing up and trick or treating! Emma and Annika had a fun movie night with popcorn so Mommy and Daddy could have a night out. Fun for all!