Girls Day Out

Olivia and I were having a girls day out with a couple friends and their babies today. I don't dress Olivia up in dresses very often, but decided to today. We met a few friends for lunch, then went shopping for new clothes for her big brothers. I can't wait until she gets older and we can do more shopping together!
P.S. I've tried taking both Elliot and Aiden shopping with me, but they are such typical boys - they only enjoy it if they're bribed with buying a toy! haha

My smiley sunshine!

Olivia is such a little smiler these days! She smiles every time we make silly faces or sounds. It's so cute!!! They are REAL smiles too! :)

I attempted to take a picture while she was laying in my arms. The picture didn't quite turn out but at least you can see one of her little smiles!

Playground fun... or not...

Mike had some work to do so I decided to take the kids out. My mom was nice enough to offer to come along to help. I thanked her but explained that we would love her company but that she didn't have to if she had other stuff to do because the kids are always so nice and good to me when we go out anyway. Well, lets just say I'm glad she came with!!!

When I told the boys where we were going, I expected a shout of excitement. Instead they both said they were tired and didn't feel like playing at the playground today. WHAT? I didn't believe them! I knew they would have fun once we got there - like they always do! Boy was I wrong!

The first half hour was constant wining, arguing, falling, and complaining. Apparently they meant it when they said they were tired and didn't want to go there. Luckily, my mom was there to help motivate the boys to run around and have fun.

After a couple hours of playing, we went for a walk to the pond to look at the ducks before we headed home. Not all days start out as great but we ended up having fun eventually. And although I like to be stubborn and not accept help, it sure was nice to have my mom there when I was out alone with all three!

After our outing, we went back to my parents' house where my dad had his grillpit ready for grilling hotdogs with the kids.

What started out... well, not so great... ended up great after all ;)

Family Day at the Firestation

This week is Fire Awareness Week in Trondheim. To be honest, I haven't heard much about it or the activities that take place this week, but thanks to facebook statuses, I found out about a local event that was happening today: Open Day for All at the Firestation.

We loaded up our car and off we were to the firestation. Inside the station, they had a contest for the older kids. They had to walk through the station and answer 12 questions about fires, which Elliot mastered easily. A fireman was waiting at the last question. He congratulated Elliot, wrote his name on a diploma, and gave him a fireman cap as a prize. Aiden got one as well even though he was too excited to run around the station to listen to the questions.

They also had the hose from the firetruck out so the kids could try out. The water pressure was obviously very low, but the boys found it exciting anyway. When the long line finally calmed down, it was time to go up on the ladder. Elliot didn't care for a ride, but Aiden was very excited to jump at the offer.

It was a really eventful day for all! :)

Not bad for only 4 weeks

My theory on the local baby boom

I just had a group meeting at our local doctor's office for all of the moms in this area with babies born in August 2010. There were 18 of us, which is A LOT of babies for such a small area. Apparently there is a baby boom going on here this summer.

Here is my theory:

Last summer/fall, there was a lot of talk in this town about the lack of daycares. We have quite a few, but not enough to offer daycare for the youngest kids when they were ready to start. Last September, there were a couple hundred kids who did not get into daycare, leaving a lot of parents confused and frustrated about how to manage work and family life. Norway has a law requiring cities to provide daycare spots for ALL kids born before Sept. 1st, so parents planning how to deal with childcare after a year of maternity leave can secure it ahead of time for the following school year.

My thought when I heard about this law was that our next child should be born before Sept. 1st so that we didn't have to stress about our finances if we didn't get daycare when I was going to start work again. We decided to try having our third baby in August to make life easier for us... because if we didn't get daycare when our baby turns one and I need to start work again, we'd have to wait an entire year for an opening (unless people move and spots open up, and our name was towards the top of that waiting list).

Apparently, I wasn't the only one with this thought. The nurse said there are more babies in one month in this town than there has been in a looong time. I can't wait to hear the results of babies born in September and October here. My theory is that the number will be really low!

We'll see if I'm right!!!! ;)

Awaiting our new niece

Mike sister and brother-in-law are expecting their first child and today is their due date! The ultrasound showed a baby girl and her name is going to be Elizabeth. I am so incredibly excited for Jill and Joe. They will love being parents and do an excellent job, and their daughter will be lucky to have such amazing parents!

After a lot of nagging, Jill finally sent me some pictures of her with a belly. Isn't she gorgeous? I just adore this girl and I'm so lucky to have her as my sister-in-law!!!

Mike and I are so excited to meet our little niece one day and to see our kids play together with their cousin. I just hope it won't be too long!

Three weeks old

Olivia is now three weeks old. She's becoming so aware of her surroundings! Her eyes focus really well when she looks at you. If someone walks into the room, her head and eyes move quickly. She seems to follow sounds really well and looks back and forth between people talking around her.

She's an alert little girl. That's for sure!

When did I get so old?

I had a Parent Meeting at Elliot's school tonight.

While sitting there in a room full of parents, listening to a 24-year-old teacher talk about HER class that MY kid is in and discussing our role as parents, it hit me... I'M ALL GROWN UP NOW! When did this happen??? Where did the time go???

It just seemed so unreal. But you know what? I loved it!

I love my life as an adult. I feel lucky to have what I have and live like I live, and I wouldn't go trade it for the world!!!

Big brother

Aiden and Elliot love being big brothers to Olivia! Today after daycare, Aiden insisted on going for a walk with Olivia in the stroller. He went and got the stroller, then asked me to put Olivia in there. I was about to make dinner so instead of going for a walk outside, Aiden took his little sister on a trip around the house.

Role models

You know how there are some people you just look up to? Not for any particular reason... Just because they are who they are?

I have a couple aunts like that. They are people I respect because of their achievements, yet I view them as friends as well. They are people I know are always there for me. They are the ones who send messages when things are rough or to congratulate us if something exciting in our life has happened.

One of those aunts is coming over to visit today. I can't wait because it's been too long since we last met. She is one of the kindest and most positive people you will come across and I can't wait to see her big smile at my door today!

Family Movie Day

I'm not a big fan of movie theaters. I don't mind movies, but I think the theaters are overpriced and therefore, I tend to just save the money and watch movies at home. Mike is opposite - he grew up with movies and couldn't live without them. He loves the whole experience that goes along with movie theaters... buying tickets, getting popcorn, eating candy, and of course the movie (ANY movie! He LOVES movies!).

So today I decided to be a 'good family member' and take my cute little family to a movie AND go with!!! Elliot was really excited that I was coming along because usually Mike just takes him while Aiden and I go do something outdoors. Olivia is only 2 weeks old so we took a chance that it'd work out to bring her. I figured that if it was too loud or she was uncomfortable, I would just leave and take her on a walk.

Our first movie experience as a family of five went great! Apparently, Olivia fits right in with Mike and the boys because she loved the theaters. When she was awake, she just sat on my lap and looked at the screen and the lights along the wall, but for the most part, she just slept.

It was such a fun Family Day! It was especially cute to see how excited the boys were to go to a movie AT A THEATER with the ALL of us!!! :)

Giftbaskets...

I love making them. I love giving them. I love receiving them!

We have a family reunion coming up so my mom and I wanted to give my aunt and uncle a gift since they host this annual event. They put in a lot of effort in preparing everything and do an incredible job! So here's the gift we put together for two people who deserve a big thanks!

The items within the basket are: 3 towels, 3 candles, napkins, a bottle of red wine, a handmade napkin holder (it's wrapped around the wine bottle), Yatzy game (a must-have at every cabin!), nice dish cloths, and yummy sausage (my favorite - especially along with crackers and cheese!). My mom was the creative one when it came to the shopping, and I think she did an awesome job. They are all items that are perfect for a gift we'll be delivering at a cabin. I think they'll love it!

A weekend alone with all 3 kids!

I sent Mike away for the weekend to close up the camper since we won't be using it until next spring/summer now. He brought along a friend of ours and made a fishing/boys' trip out of it. Although they didn't catch any fish, I'm sure they're having fun. I know we are!

I love being alone with the kids. We have such a blast together!!! For some reason, they are SO good and helpful when it's just me home with them. Not that they're bad when Mike is home, but then they're more likely to be sneaky or try to play us off of each other. The kids were tired from school and daycare on Friday, so we just stayed in all evening. We made pizza together, then took out some snacks and watched a movie. Half way through the movie, Aiden got bored of TV so we took out some legos. Aiden and I built legos for a little bit while Olivia laid on Elliot's lap.

This morning was like any other morning. No challenges. No problems. We ate breakfast together and the boys played while I fed our little Olivia. Then I laid tons of different artsy things on the table so that Elliot and Aiden could decide which art project they wanted to work on that morning. First we made cute little animals out of styrofoam, yarn and paint. Then we drew for a little bit before we started our playdoh project. I love watching the boys be creative on their own. We had so much fun together!

After a wonderful morning around the art table, the kids decided to throw me a challenge! ;) I wanted to get them outside to get fresh air so we went to the soccer field to run around a bit. My mom stopped by to visit us so she came along to the field with us... Luckily!!! I'm not sure what happened with my kids, but nothing went right. After an hour (if that) of arguing, Olivia thought it'd be fun to join her brothers so she began crying in protest of laying in her stroller like the sweet little girl she is! Although I was frustrated and confused on the inside, I couldn't help but to laugh. I packed up the bunch and we headed home. My mom must have been in shock... I don't think she's EVER seen her grandkids like this.

The hour of arguing was exactly what the boys apparently needed because once that was out of their system, they were angels the rest of the day! I'm not sure what it was, but I still find it odd that it didn't happen until we got a visitor and it went over as soon as she left. Maybe the boys notice that when I'm alone with all three kids that it's more work for me and that they have to be kind to help me out. Is it out of respect maybe? So when there is another parent around, they hurry and take the opportunity to get the Stinker side of them out? I don't know, but I find it quite amusing.

All in all, it's been an awesome weekend with the kids so far. They did a great job getting ready for bed this evening and fell asleep without a problem. Olivia is asleep now as well so the household is quiet and peaceful... but also kind of boring. I'm not sure what to do now that everyone is asleep. Maybe Mike will surprise me and come home early so I have someone to watch a movie with? :)

My three favorite people!

This picture was in the newspaper of my kids. Although the quality isn't that great since it was scanned, I think the picture turned out great! All three of them look amazing!!!

Sleeping baby

Siblings :)

I can't believe it - we now have three kids! I was expecting chaos, noice, and craziness... but so far things are going absolutely wonderful. Elliot and Aiden are proud big brothers who want to hold and cuddle with Olivia anytime they get the chance.

If she cries, they try their best to talk softly to her, sing a song, or kiss her on her cheeks and forehead, while they tell me to hurry up because she wants food or a diaper change. Olivia is so lucky to have such great big brothers. I'm so proud of them!!!

"Aiden and Mommy Day"

Today was Aiden's day to be alone with me, while Elliot got alone-time with Mike. Olivia came along with Aiden and I but she slept in the stroller the whole time so Aiden and I still got plenty of time to ourselves.

Aiden and I decided to go for a walk down to the school to play on the playground. This is one Aiden's favorite places to go since it's his big brother's area, but today he got it all to himself! I brought along a bottle of water and some cookies that we enjoyed inside the boat.

While we were here, Mike and Elliot enjoyed there Fun Day at the soccer field. We met them there when we were done playing, and then we all headed home to enjoy dinner together! It was so nice to have that quality time with just one of my boys. Time to give JUST him ALL of my attention (while knowing that Elliot was being spoiled with the same attention by Mike)! It was a FUN FUN day!!!

Our princess!

Olivia is only two days, yet so alert! When we talk to her, she looks right into our eyes. When the boys are running around playing, her eyes move quickly around the room to try to figure out where the sound is coming from. It's so adorable! Aww, I love this little girl!!!