Maira's Scrunched-up Grin

I love my baby's huge, squinty-eyed smile.

 

Rylee's Birthday Tea Party

Malena's friend Rylee turned 4 recently, and celebrated with a little tea party!  It was cute- all of the girls were dressed up and sat around a small table drinking tea (Kool-Aid). They played pin the spout on the tea pot, and ate lots of yummy food including a cake made by- who else- Ang! There was even a special punch bowl for adults, with big chunks of "spirit"-soaked fruit!  (Mom would have liked to try the punch, but was "on the clock" with one of our PCA kids... so definitely a no-no.)  Malena and Maira both attended the party, Malena in a pretty little pink dress and Mai in a lovely white cardigan and pigtails.

party guests sipping tea...

...end enjoying the grub!

cake made by Angela Olsen

party guests minus the babies

Malena running with the kids

Mai in Bryn's walker

"Juice, sister?"

Happy Birthday Miss Rylee!

What Caffeine Does

WARNING: ADULT LANGUAGE...(but hilarious)

I can totally relate.  Hey Jenna, try having babies that cry during the night and then wake you up early in the morning! Caffeine is the only way I survive til naptime!

State Fair 2011

On September 1st, the girls and I rode to St. Paul with Ang and Ella for the Minnesota State Fair!  We met up with Mom and Dad and Uncle Mike. This was our second year all going together, I think it will need to be a yearly end-of-summer necessity. It was a warm day, but not as hot as last year.  Perfect weather for the most part, and though the forecast called for rain, the sun was shining most of the day!

packed like sardines in Auntie Ang's Jeep...

...but Maira's excited, this will be her first time at the fair!

Malena's a pro at this. And lookin fly!

Grandma was happy to see her girls.

Grandma's favorite...all the milk you can drink for just $1. Malena and I must have had at least 6 glasses each throughout the day.  All that walking around in the heat, really works up a thirst!

Uncle Mike bought us cheese on a stick.  Yum. It was the only fair food I had all day- other than over-priced pop to drink.  Watching my pocket book...fair food is too spendy for this mama!

Auntie Ang getting her baby fix.

our sweet Twins fans!  Maira got this onesie from Uncle Mike before she was born- before I actually knew if I was having a boy or girl. So it's pretty special!  Mike's a big Twins fan.

Yep... Joe Mauer.

My Minnesota Turkey!

My favorite fair activity was an attraction called "Little Farm Hands."  Malena and Ella participated (although it was made for ages 3-10).  There was walking path that the girls followed, it took them through a bunch of different farming "chores."  They milked a pretend cow, planted seeds and picked vegetables, rode on little tractors, fed some hens and collected eggs... At the end there was a farmers market, and they were paid a pretend dollar for their goods.  (Milk, eggs, vegetables...) They got to choose something to buy with their $1- Malena got a yogurt cup, Ella got an apple.  It was really cute, fun for the girls and for us.

getting aprons and pails for feed

Uncle Mike was a big help!

...of course he was Maira's chaperone most of the day. <3

 I can't wait to go back next year- The Great Minnesota Get-together!

9/11- Ten Years Later.

This weekend marks the ten year anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.  All week there have been specials on TV looking back at the attacks: remembering people who were killed, talking to their families and friends, survivors re-living the events of that horrible morning... I've thought a lot this week about the tragedy, and ten years later the thought of it still makes me emotional and bewildered.  But that's not just me, it seems like there are no answers to why the attacks took place.  It seems like America has spent the last ten years picking up pieces from that day, but not actually answering the questions on everyone's mind: WHY did this happen? HOW is there so much prejudice and hate in the world that a group of people could do this to another group of complete strangers? And WHO can we hate for this!?  I went to church this evening and Pastor Michael spoke of the remembrance of 9-11,  and the scripture he was referencing keeps playing over in my head- it addresses a lot of my feelings about 9-11, and about some of the issues I've faced in my personal life over the past few years.

Romans 12:14-21
¹⁴ Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. ¹⁵Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.¹⁶ Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.^[c] Do not be conceited.
 ¹⁷ Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. ¹⁸ If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. ¹⁹ Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”^[d] says the Lord. ²⁰ On the contrary:
   “If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
   if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”^[e]
 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

My coworker Melissa Johnson is the sweetest person ever!!

I just love this girl! She is the best step dad my girls could ask for!! She is sooo nice and pretty!!! OOOOhHHhH and the funniest person ive ever met!!

I JUST WANTED EVERYONE TO KNOW THIS

Goodbye Gina

We recently lost a long-time family friend:  Gina Schoneman Gruenes.  Gina has been my aunt Jean's best friend since before I was born, so she's been like an aunt to me my entire life.  She was loud, happy, and exuberant pretty much all the time. That's no exxageration!  Her laugh was warm and contagious.  I remember when I was little she liked Tigger- had a big stuffed Tigger on her bed even in her 30's.  She played softball, loved football- kind of a tomboy.  A few years ago when I was living with Auntie Jean, Gina got married.  We'd always hoped Gina would find a man and have a family- she was such a loving person, and always so good with kids.  Gina married Ken Gruenes, a guy she'd known for many many years but had only recently fallen in love with.  Jean and I went to Gina's hometown for the weekend for her bridal shower and bachelorette party.  I remember this weekend so fondly! I recall a beautiful shower in a church basement, with ladies of all ages- everyone was so excited for Gina to finally find love... And the bachelorette party was one of the most fun nights in memory... silly games and margeuritas, Jell-o shots, a penis pinata (hehe), and a big party bus I helped decorate, and we had a blast celebrating Gina's last hurrah.  Her wedding was a few weeks later- and another beautiful memory. Gina looked so happy and calm... just complete.

 

Gina and her husband had a baby girl 2 1/2 years ago, Jennifer.  I've never met the little one, just seen pictures- and Gina sent me and Angie lots of hand-me-down clothes.  It makes me so sad to think that Jennifer may only slightly remember her amazing mom...but I can see Gina in her eyes- and I hear that she's got the same spitfire attitude. 

I hope that Gina lives on through her little girl, she was a wonderful person.  We are all so lucky to have had you in our lives!

Gina Schoneman Gruenes

1968-2011

What Happened to August!?

Well August is over, it's September! The last 3 weeks of our month were so jam-packed- we spent every weekend out of town, saw both sides of the family, became hobits, married off 2 Scott girls, watched 16 pets for a few days...and killed off 3 fish.  We survived all of our out-of-town trips, and enjoyed visits with our in-town friends on the few days we were home. 

AUGUST 12

Jake's Hobbit Birthday Party

Jakes 25th birthday party- and he asked everyone to come as a hobbit.  Very creative, and many of his friends were very much in character!  As well as Malena.  Jake said she was his favorite part of the party.

little hobbit in training.

The party was at the house of a family from church- it was the PERFECT setting! Beautiful and timeless, and there was a great view of Lake Superior.  The party went on into dusk- with "ales" and the smoking of pipes...until it started to rain- and this mama had to take the babes home.

Angie made the hobbit cake.

Angie also made this great cape for Malena.

August 13

Annual Johnson Pig Roast

Hard to believe, but this was the 16th Annual Johnson Pig Roast at my Uncle Kurt and Aunt Gail's house in Andover.  It's always a good chance to see family, relax and pig out- and let the kids run around a little.  I wish it would have been a little nicer out- it rained part of the day.  Malena still went in the pool though.  My mama was really glad we were there, my girls were about the only little ones who were there- Mom said the party needed them.

matching sundresses!

It was pretty cold but Malena was glad to be in the pool- I somehow roped Grandma into taking her so I could stay dry.  Thanks Mom!

Maira and Great Grandma Johnson

Malena loves her Grandpa!

AUGUST 19

Kaelyn and Andy's Wedding

My sweet little cousin Kaelyn got married to her high school sweetheart, Andy Folstad.  The ceremony was at a church in Minneapolis, then the reception was on the U of M campus at the Alumni Center.  It was absolutely beautiful- a perfect place for a reception.  They had a little kids room with a young gal watching all the babes so the parents could enjoy themselves during dinner and celebrate with the adults. I kept Mai with me for most of the dinner, but it was nice to not be chasing Malena (and Ella) around for a while! The kids had pizzas and snacks, watched "Tangled" and ran around. It was really a fun day- and I felt pretty in my new purple dress.

Mr. and Mrs. Folstad

 

all dressed up

...sister is too!

before the ceremony- lookin good fam.

During the ceremony I sat with the 3 little girls in the nursery- I didn't want anyone yelling or crying during the service!  The girls were so cute in their dresses, I didn't mind watching them.  Weddings make me nervous for some reason.  I could hear the ceremony on a speaker in the nursery.

first dance as a married couple.

Uncle Mike helped so much with the girls- always does.

hello deliciousness!

and cupcakes...made by Angie.

AUGUST 20

Jenny and Rob's Wedding Open House

Rob and Jenny got married the day before at the courthouse, then held a party for friends and family at their new home in Brainerd.  The food was awesome, there were kegs of beer and rootbeer, it was beautiful weather...a happy celebration for my sis and her new husband.  I'm so happy for them both.

Mr. and Mrs. Hanson- with more of Angie's cupcakes!

Wyatt and Mai

The beautiful happy bride.

Mai and Hailey. It's a big day for her- Mom and Dad are married!

AUGUST 25-27

House/Pet-sitting for Mom and Dad

Mom, Dad, and Angie and Ella went to Colorado for a week to stay at Keystone Resort.  Me and the girls went to watch over the house and pets for a few days- and I got about 10 loads of laundry done. Let's see... 2 horses, 2 dogs, 4 cats, 1 guinea pig, 6 birds, 2 bearded dragons. And they all survived. It was really nice just getting away into the quiet for a couple days alone. I let the girls hang out on the neck naked. When do they ever get to do that?

I love the deck. And it was perfect weather.  But Mai was teething and pretty cranky!

mom's horses

Malena hates baths, but didn't mind taking one with all the bubbles- a tiny bit of bubble bath in addition to jacuzzi jets makes awesome foam! She actually loved it and didn't want to get out.

walking at Sibley Park in Pequot.

on the way home...beautiful rainbow.

Rylee and Brynlee

These 2 are the daughters of my friend Lacy.  I met Lacy at church the night of Maira's dedication- we were both feeding our babes in the breastfeeding room.  Rylee is almost 4 and Brynlee is about 3 weeks older than Maira. So the older girls play great together and the little ones are right around the same stage.  Both have just mastered sitting up.  And of course- the mamas enjoy hanging out and chit-chatting about life- It's the ideal playdate for all of us!

all 4 girls sharing one toy

Rylee and Malena with their baby dolls

Brynlee with Mama Lacy

Malena- 24 months

new tent from Auntie Jean

baby doll she got for her bday.

cuddle cuddle.

 

Malena got three fish- their names were One, Two, and Three.  They all died by the end of the month.  Mommy can't keep fish alive. oops.

new hobby- wearing Mom's shoes.

Maira- 6 months

 

enjoying the end-of-summer sunshine!

strengthening those legs and watching Sesame Street...And of course, the thumb in the mouth.

 

She loves sucking that thumb! 

...even when her mouth is full of food.

Library visit with Ella and Angie

Uncle Jake

Mommy's Girls

two full bellies

my shoppin buddies

Malena's reading to sister.

...and Mom taking a Bud Light Lime break with Lacy. Thanks Lacy for introducing me to my new favorite adult beverage- yum yum!