Mom...

Mom...
I can't have any more kids, I don't have any more arms!

Sunday, January 2, 2011

New Year's Eve





































We had a different sort of New Year's this year: we went bowling! This was a first for our kids, & probably the first time Erik & I have been in 11 years! It was....o.k. It was a family-night, but definitely geared toward kids a bit older than ours (we were there with friends who had older kids). It was LOUD (too loud) & very stimulating with all the lights, etc. The pizza was really bad, & the price for all of the food/bowling did not include any drinks. Rip off. While we would probably not choose to do it again, we did have fun. Kellen, Annika & Kaarin each took some turns 'bowling,' if you can call it that! They rolled their ball down the lane & got really excited when they knocked over pins.:) The night concluded at 8:00 p.m. with a sparkling cider toast & some noisemakers. Our kids were ready for bed.:) I was awake at midnight - we have some neighbors who do some pretty big fireworks.:)

Christmas

I always end up with pictures in backwards order, but....this is Kellen, the chef, in Annika's present.;)


New Christmas clothes!

Kaarin got this hat for Christmas, & she walks around all the time with it, saying, "hat...hat!"


She found a pile of clothes in the hallway that needed to be put away & decided to put them on!:)



Kellen the pirate!




Christmas with Grandma & Grandpa





Star-struck






A new guitar!


Kaarin got some new paper.:)


Not sure what this was - I think a new outfit.


Stockings!

The first gift of Christmas in their matching pjs!:)


My dad's side of the family!


The second-cousins: Kaarin, Kellen, Annika, Karson, Mia, Emma, Lukas ages 1 1/2-5


Erik's family


We never did make it back to Nordstrom for another Santa picture, I haven't even picked up the one we got! It just got too busy with Christmas & sick kids. So, I guess we'll try again next year!






























We had a good Christmas this year, spending time with family that we don't get to see as often. Erik's sister, Kari, now lives in Lake Chelan - we hadn't seen them since last February! And my cousin, Erika, lives in Finland - I hadn't seen her since last January, but even longer since we'd seen her kids! So it was fun to connect with them & their families - the kids all had a great time together.:) I'll post a few pics regarding Christmas...we are so blessed, there is really no more that needs to be said! We are very thankful for our families, our health, Erik's new job, & everything else the Lord has blessed us with this year! We are looking forward to a great 2011!!

Dry kids!

I realize that I haven't posted anything about Christmas yet, & I will try to do that next...we had a great Christmas with family & the kids have had lots of fun with their new things.:) Now...what I really need to post about is that my 2 oldest kids have been wearing their underwear for a WEEK now & are doing AWESOME!!! Most of you know that Kellen has had some, uh, issues as far as the potty goes, ever since our remodel & trip to California. I tried giving the responsibility to him, but after 2 months, it still wasn't going anywhere. I told him a couple weeks before Christmas that I wouldn't be buying any more diapers after Christmas, he could choose to wear underwear or cloth diapers. The day after Christmas I reminded him again, only this time I said we would wear underwear only while we are at home, & that we were going to be staying home a lot that week.:) Monday morning after breakfast I asked both Kellen & Annika (she is 3, after all!) which underwear they wanted to wear. Kellen protested a bit, but I just reminded him that we were staying home, & after a couple more 'whines' he picked some out & that was the end of that! He has done AWESOME the whole time & has had only a couple of accidents - one at grandma & grandpa's (he still won't use other people's toilets) & one when we were outside. Annika didn't protest the underwear at all, but she had tons of accidents.:) She really wasn't getting it, as I would have her try to go & she wouldn't do anything, but then 10 minutes later she would pee somewhere else. But I decided to just let her keep trying, since it didn't seem to bother her. And lo & behold, by Friday she was telling me each time she had to go to the potty, only had one accident on Sat. (in the morning) & today she was dry ALL DAY! AND - we went to church in underwear AND to a birthday party (we were gone for about 4 hours) & no accidents! By george, I think she's got it!:) After the birthday party today we went to Target & they each got to pick out a new toy. Kellen picked out 2 Cars semi trucks & Annika picked out 2 princesses.:) I am SO happy this week went so well, as I was really not looking forward to it. YAY! I can't believe I am actually back to only 1 kid in diapers! I haven't had that in 3 years!