Projects

In addition to really fun times with Grandma and Grandpa, like horse rides and wrestle matches, a trip to the ostrich farm (pictures still not developed yet), many bike rides, and serious games of slapjack;

We kept Grandpa busy with little projects.  Such as:

 pulls on the kitchen cabinets

and hanging curtains and lots of big pictures

 a new shelf in the laundry room
After watching Daddy and Grandpa hang several pictures, Kjetil showed he knew what to do.

to the bigger project of cutting open the wall and adding shelving AND doors

 Grandma was kept busy as well

 She brought some fun things to decorate the kid's rooms

And she and I did some sewing and stamping projects:

 we each made a bag using our Big Shot and Dies

and I made a hooter hider for my cousin who just had a precious baby boy.

It was really nice to have so many things crossed off our list with their help.  Thank you!  And as a side note, if you visit, it is not required to be a working visit. 

Weather warning

It was mentioned to me that an update was kinda expected. I do have lots I could share...but that would make the post really long...so I'll pick and choose and make sure I have more updates to come, does that sound alright Grandma? That is fun, I can generically say Grandma and there are 6 to choose from!

On Monday Grandpa and Daddy took the girls fishing. They each caught one and had a blast. They fished for over 3 hours and talk about the next time they can go.

A big toothy grin for you. He is working on tooth #6

Let's see a few highlights from last week. Eric and I got two "dates". And we enjoyed them. Mom and I got a day of shopping and errand running, and it was fun. We dropped the van off with 2 main concerns, a possible coolant leak and the locks not working properly, since we had it in, I mentioned a couple of other things that had not been working correctly for a couple of years. Such as the turn signal and the sliding space doors not shutting as they should. We got a call later that there were 3 big bolts that hold the bracket to hold the engine in place had been broken --a long time ago--and the whole engine was leaning to the right. That required ordering parts, but has helped with the pesky pull to the right no alignment seemed to be able to fix. I did win a prize this day so it wasn't all bad news. However, the prize I won, could be debated as to whether or not it really is a "prize". I won a box of store brand cotton swabs, with the specific details that I could not combine my prize with coupons or buy one get on free promotions. Go ahead and laugh, we have gotten a lot of laughs from my winnings!

Here in Arizona we are known for sunshine, I think pretty close to 365 days a year. On Thursday we had sunshine, but we also had some real weather. Grandma Martha got some great pictures of the storm(s) rolling in --then left the car at the top of a hill, and walked home. As we turned on the news to see just what weather we were going to get, we found that we had lots of weather going on.
At 5pm we were under a dust storm warning
and a blizzard warningand a flash flood warning, tornado watch & warning, and a high winds warning.

That's right, when we have weather, we have weather! We do it all at one time! As a side note, the car was still sitting on top of a hill, such a comforting thought. She left the car because she couldn't get it to start. It was an easy fix, but we waited until the guys got home to go get it. The big boys had gone to the copper mine tour, watched the pecan trees get trimmed, and hit the casino on the way home. They did get to drive for a bit in the dust storm, and mentioned several times nearly getting blown over while on the tour.

Grandpa next to VERY BIG mine truck

The results of these storms are gorgeous snow covered mountains.

For our Friday date, we picked up the van, did some shopping (despite feeling poor) and had dinner together. After a fun filled month of having Grandma and Grandpa here, they left on Sunday to head back to snowy, icy Iowa. While here it was very cold and terrible weather in Iowa, so they were happy to have the sunshine. When they get home they have water pipes to fix and I'm sure a stack of mail to go through, after they find a couple of extra layers of clothes to put on and warm up. They are missed and I do have more pictures to share of their visit, but that can be the next post.

BIG EXCITING NEWS!!!!

Last week at his 1yr check up, our little man, gained weight. I mean really gained weight. As in, he has jumped a couple of growth curve lines! Between 9 months and 12 months (+12 days) he gained 4 pounds! That means he went from 18lbs just below the 20% to 22.2 (to be exact) which is just above the 50%! This also means there is a whole whopping 6 pound difference between him and Laurelei right now.....hmm any guesses on how long it might take him to catch up to her? He held steady at 29 inches long/tall, so he has mostly just filled out, and continues to eat. It was really nice to have a check up at which I didn't get a lecture on feeding him more. Maybe I can put a check on the good mommy side.

However, his really big exciting news.....he is walking!!! or more specifically toddling between people and things.

First steps were to Grandma. Next steps were to Grandpa, and he caught on to the game quick and kept them busy for a while. He refused to walk to me.

After a trip to Chuck E Cheese and the zoo, where he did some more practicing, he did walk to me and show me his skills personally.


Oh yea, one more piece of exciting news.....




He's busy walking to Daddy!!!

We've been very busy with grandma and grandpa Ludeking here. The fun's not done...but here are a few more pictures to share.

He knows where the action is that he wants to be a part of.  Everyone has enjoyed helping Grandpa out.

Swimsuit cowgirl, not everyone can pull this off.

A flip top head would be useful

We do live in the wild west

I am waiting on finishing up some film in my 35mm.  Some very fun pictures to come!  Our new digital camera bit the dust at Christmas time, it is being repaired (under warranty) and should be back soon.  Thankfully I've been able to use Grandma's camera while they've been here.

Yesterday was a very busy day, with dance for both girls, at different times, piano lessons, a run to the grocery store (for those not familiar with the area, it takes 20mins to get to the nearest grocery store) I managed to get a hair cut in there and a meeting last night as well.  It was wonderful to have help and be able to do all that with their help.  Today will be quiet and maybe tomorrow we'll go to the zoo.  This weekend, looks like we'll have plenty of excitement and things to do, so we may lay low until then.

The year of books

For CJ's birthday, the big #5 I might mention, she got books.  A lot of books.  Which is wonderful, since she loves books.  An atlas book that will go well with her new globe.  Several more tag reader books, which keeps both her and her sister busy. Fun books, a cooking book, and I'm sure I have forgotten a book or two.  But it's okay, she loves to read books!

However, it seems that I did manage to find one gift that took her mind off the missing trampoline:

With a concert immediately following the unwrapping, thankfully I had tuned it the night before wrapping and it was the last gift she opened.

Yes, that is the Christmas tree STILL up.  Please note that I did get the ornaments off earlier in the day.  The tree looks the same at the time of this writing as it does in the picture.

Any guesses on what the birthday girl wanted for a cake?  Beginning with strawberry cake, I think I counted a total of 5 different pinks on the cake.  And yes she helped every step of the way, she did let her sister place one balloon candy on the cake.

As she reached across the table, I saw in mommy slow motion, her put her hand down for balance, in the center of the  cake.  Thankfully my mommy quick reflexes were on high alert and managed to pull her up before making a permanent, through the cake, hand print.  Happily she licked the cherry frosting off.

Messy tacos for supper and cake to top it off...what more could a boy ask for?

Over all she had a great day.  She received many cards, phone calls and even email wishes, thank you to everyone who took time to wish her happy birthday.  Took cookies to school (chocolate chip with pink sprinkles) and they sang happy birthday to her as well.  Hard to believe how fast five years go by, but honestly, it is harder to remember life before five years ago--it seems that was another lifetime all together.  Here's to many more little girl!

Welcome 2010

2010! 

A year ago I read about someone choosing a word for the year, and I liked the idea.  However, I didn't do it last year, couldn't figure out what my word should be.  Last week, while having a conversation with a friend, I "discovered" and committed to my word this year: Balance.

Seems like such an easy and basic word.  But it really is all encompassing and deep.  I think it may include backing up the 4700 some pictures on my computer and in hopes it runs a bit faster.

To help us cheer in the new year,  Grandma and Grandpa came last week.  It has been really nice to have extra sets of hands and to play a little man on man vs zone defense --or is it offense that I have been trying to play?

Extra cuddles are always good.

It's a good thing we went to bed early on Dec. 31st,  January First was a late night for us!  Whether she wanted to spend some one on one time with me or we were just meant to ring in the new year by meeting our deductible the first day of the year, Laurelei and I spent over four hours at the ER.  While playing with friends outside, her elbow dislocated again with the nurse maid elbow.  Thankfully it was nothing more serious, but it did take some serious twisting, turning and pulling to get it to pop back into place.  Grandma pointed out that each time they come to visit we end up going to the hospital or ER for someone ~ not a good trend to have, however it is convenient!

We have been keeping the grandparents busy, hiking, going to the park, getting pictures taken, and various projects around the house, big and small.  The biggest and still on going argument, I mean project is between Grandpa and CJ --one thinks that watching football (sports) is fun, one is trying to get the other to swear off watching all sports ever again.  You choose who is on each side and who might win.

Big helper!

Honestly, 2010 has begun very well for us (well minus the trip to the ER) and is promising to bring us unexpected surprises and of course a roller coaster of emotions.  Through it all I hope to strike balance in all we do.