ready for summer

we had a taste of Spring 2 weeks ago with almost 70 degree weather. we played outside and enjoyed every minute of sunshine.

last week and this week have been chilly, rainy and windy. we miss being outside.

today, Claire had the great idea of setting up their own 'pool' and putting their swimming suits on. They did canonballs off the couch into the pool, then would wrap themselves in their beach towels to 'dry off''. It was so funny. They layed out their towels like 'beach chairs' and insisted on having lemonade to drink.

25 random things about me

I posted this on my facebook, but thought I would post it here too. I love reading things like this about my friends and family.

1. I’ve lived in 2 states in my 34 years of life: Idaho and Alaska
2. I think being a mom is the hardest and most rewarding job in the world
3. I hate spiders and mice
4. I love to laugh
5. I still think about funny things that happened in high school or college and laugh out loud
6. I’ve been married to Dave for 8 years in June
7. I love being married
8. I have 3 kids, all born within 4 years, but not ‘planned’ that close. Claire was born in October of 2003, Owen in June of 2005 and Amelia in September of 2007
9. I love being a mom – I love that I can love them SO much even though they drive me crazy at times.
10. I love tulips
11. I love rainstorms
12. I am not very outgoing and prefer to NOT stand out in a crowd
13. I procrastinate
14. I like lots of different kinds of music and always play music for my kids. I may have the only 3 year old who knows a Neil Diamond song when he hears it.
15. I love having a budget and keeping a balanced checkbook.
16. I used to go dancing 3 or 4 nights a week – no wonder my grades in college weren’t very good.
17. I hate running late
18. I love Food Network – it inspires me to make yummy food.
19. I started wearing glasses in second grade.
20.I only wear glasses now to read.
21.I love cutting hair although I have NO training to do so. I’ve cut Dave’s hair ever since we got married.
22. I don’t mind doing laundry EXCEPT the white loads. I can’t stand matching all those socks.
23. I want to be a graphic designer someday.
24. I love a good bargain and love to shop clearance sales. It drives Dave crazy.
25. I have a ‘thing’ for fonts. I can spend hours looking online for new and different ones.

saying goodbye

today we said goodbye to some wonderful friends who are moving away.

we are so happy for them in their new adventures, but sad that we won't have preschool with them anymore, that we won't see those little cutie pies at church every Sunday, or have them over to play Barbie's for hours. Who will share our excitement every time a new Barbie moves comes out?

we can't wait to hear about this new chapter in their lives.

Mickelsen family - you will be missed.

oh, how time flies

Where do I even begin?

Several people have mentioned that it is about time for a new post.
I guess they are right.
I think ever since Owen was born, I run behind schedule.

The past few months have flown by. We enjoyed Thanksgiving with Dave's family. December was a blur, as always. We had a wonderful, stress free Christmas - Dave even had a few days off, which are few and far between.

So, now here it is the new year already and I think about posting everyday - just never seem to get around to it. After the kids are in bed, there are dishes and bills and clothes to fold, etc, etc. You get the picture. Oh, and did I mention that my 5 year old has not gone to bed well for the last two weeks. I am pretty sure she can run on less sleep than anyone else in this family. Tonight she was still awake 2 1/2 hours after we had done the bedtime routine; brush, read, tuck in, etc. I can't figure it out. Can 5 year olds have insomnia?

So, my new goal for this year, or at LEAST the next few weeks, is to post more often, about everyday, small things happening in our lives.

I'll believe it when I see it, but I promise to try.

Fall Pictures

This weekend we took adavantage of the WONDERFUL weather we've been having and we took some fall pictures. The weather was perfect - maybe even a little warm for the sweaters the kids were dressed in. We had a fun time and the kids loved walking around the park.

Happy Birthday Claire

Claire turned 5 years old today. We had a family celebration, ate some cake and opened presents. It was a fun day, hopefully fun for my little girl. It just doesn't seem possible that she is already 5.

we gave her this ribbon wand that she loved to wave around.

Owen also loved the ribbon wand, but couldn't figure out how to wave it around without hitting Amelia on the head.

Here is Amelia trying to hit herself on the head with the wand - I think she got hit with it so many times she figured that's what it was for.

Every year on their birthdays, I write down a list of their favorites. Here's Claire's from this year:

• color: pink
• movie: Barbie Diamond Castle and Enchanted
• food: pizza and Alfredo sauce with noodles
• song: I Love to See the Temple
• watching Word Girl on PBS
• playing Word Girl games on the computer
• going to gymnastics
• and, of course, Sprinkles (her little stuffed giraffe she has loved since she was about 4 months old)

Happy Birthday, Claire.

we love you SOOOO much

Happy Birthday, Amelia Mae

I can't believe she's already one year old.

Amelia's favorite things:

• bathtime
• being outside
• playing pat-a-cake (her little finger is the cutest when she 'marks it with a B')
• her Fisher Price piano - she loves sitting on the seat and dancing to the music
• her pink blankie with satin edges
• Claire and Owen
• when Daddy comes home from work (she holds her arms out to him and grunts until he comes over and gives her a hug)
• Gerber Graduates fruit snacks

Amelia's stats (just for the record):

• 15 lbs. 14 oz.
• 3 teeth; two on the top, one on the bottom (we were worried that she was going to be 'Hagdalena Magdalena' for the rest of her life (are you familiar with the song?) "She had two teeth in her mouth, one pointed north and the other pointed south". Fortunately, another broke through earlier this week.
• crawling, but has taken a few steps
• first word: ow! - she says this anytime anything (even remotely) hurts.
• nicknames: miss Mae, Mia (Owen calls her this. I think he thinks he is saying 'Amelia' but doesn't quite get the 'L' sound in there), Amelia Bedelia (Dave calls her this all the time and sometimes even shortens it to just 'Bedelia')

Happy Birthday, Amelia. We love you.