Two years!

Hard to believe it's been two years since Audrey's arrival! Two years ago, tonight, I woke up at 11:00 having contractions. I sat on the couch for 30 minutes before I said, "kenneth, it's time to go." His response, "I need to take a shower."

Today was her best day of going to the potty! Not once did I need to remind her, no accidents!

More soon--

picture perfect...forgot camera

tonight i really wished i would of brought to bring my camera to Ada. Dan and Ken went to the movie and Audrey and I hung out. Ruth is gone for volleyball. Audrey and I walked to the park in the wagon, and then we headed to the movie theater to pick up some popcorn to bring home. As I was walking home I thought-- what a cute photo this would be! A mom pulling a little red wagon with the cutest girl in it...eating a huge bag of popcorn and drinking some root beer.

 

She is currently obsessed with lotion. Whenever she finds it, watch out-- her body is covered in it. :)

May 30

Well it's almost the end of May. Audrey is growing up so much. We measured her height last night to see how tall she might be when she's big. If you double her height right now, she'd be 5'10 1/2". I doubt she will be that tall! Here is my favorite conversation with Audrey lately, I ask her these questions everyday...

Me: Audrey, how old are you?
Audrey: Four
Me: How old will you be on your birthday?
Audrey: Two
Me: What happens when you turn two?
Audrey: No more nukie
Me: When is your birthday?
Audrey: Junnne

It's been about two full weeks of Audrey sleeping her in full size bed, she has been sleep so good. At fist she did really good at falling alseep in there. After last week (in Ada), she did NOT want to go to sleep in her bed. After about 10 minutes Monday night and 5 minutes Tuesday night, she did go to sleep on her own. She has been waking up dry consistently still....some days she goes pee on the potty, but I have not been "training" at all. Maybe in June or July.

Audrey is still a great eater for us. She loves fruit, fish, cheese--I don't know of "anything" she doesn't like. She has been going through the stage of hitting or pinching-- which is cute and naught at the same time. My approach is to tell her things she can do instead. EX: last night she hit me when I told her no, we can't go outside now, but maybe tomorrow. I told her instead of hitting mommy you can stomp your feet if your mad. So she started stomping her feet around the living room. Very cute. :) Our neighbors probably think we are crazy because every time we go for a walk-- we have to stop at every rain gutter and talk to the "turtles."

I have been trying to attempt to bake some new things.

Things that worked:
White chocolate raspberry scones
Cheese balls

Thing that didn't work:
I froze cinnamon rolls in March-They tasted good...but didn't expand (I think to long in the freezer??)
Melting Moment Cookies (I melted the butter completely before using...opps-- don't do that!)

Memorial Weekend

We spent the weekend in Ada with the Rues and Dan & Ruth. Always fun! The kids enjoyed playing together.

Highlights of the weekend:
- Going to the park about 20 times
- Going swimming
- Driving through the cementary with so many beautiful American Flags while eating ice cream, then we stopped at the movie theater to get popcorn to eat while driving around-
- A Bond fire with s'mores

Sorry Emily

The subject of this post says it all, sorry Emily I have not be faithful to you. Weekly, I think....crap I still have not updated Emily on our life. So here is a recap in a nut shell.

April started, my parents were headed on Thursday of Easter to Denver. Our Auntie Audrey was still in the a swing bed battling her bed sore infection. In about January? she started having some heart complications (not life threatening).  February and March she spent time at home or at the hospital in a swing bed...back and forth. By the time April came around, she still wasn't feeling well/right/healing. On March 31st, we (mom, audrey, and I) went to go see Audrey at the hospital in Roseau...she was in good spirits. Little Audrey was tearing around everywhere and Auntie Audrey just reminded me that they used to call me "storm." Before we left she gave mom and Audrey and a hug-- I told little Audrey to say "bye bye auntie audrey olson." Auntie Audrey insisted that she called her "grandma olson." We went on with our day and rode our bikes home. That next day, April 1st-- Audrey and Dennis decided they wanted to head down to Mayo to get a second opinion on her health. They flew down on Monday in a hellicoptor. Things were great--she was seeing some of the top caridiologst at Mayo. Tuesday night she spent in the ICU and Wednesay morning, she was back in her room. They were trying a procedure to drain the fluid out of her heart and in the moment of them doing this-- she was awake, talking, happy, believe god was with her-- an angel came down to get her. Life changed in those next few days...many families changed planned for Easter, we spent days with family that we have not seen in a while, we shed tears in sadness, happiness, fear, and the unknown.

Thursday night we were out at Grandma/pa Olsons farm. Friday morning we were planning on heading to Grandma/pa runyans. Audrey did not sleep well Thursday night. Friday morning, we realized why not. She was infected by some type of rash all over her arms. We spent the morning in the ER, their best guess was---she was bited by fleas? I doubt it...but life went on.

We did end up leaving Friday afternoon to head to Ada and eventually to Verndale for Easter.

On our way back from Easter- I spent Monday afternoon having a conversation with my sister on the phone. I had not really had a chance to talk to her much since the passing of our Auntie Audrey-- who was just about 70--would of had her 50th' Wedding Anniversary in June. The converation was much needed for both Heidi and I. I felt horible as Heidi could not be here with the family to grieve during the whole process. I was able to share many memories, joys, and the happenings in the family over the past week. We shed tears, had silence on the phone, and listened to each other cry.

Audrey passed away on a Wednesday and we didn't celebrate her life with funeral until the next Friday- April 13th.

Friday, April 13th-- we also found out that Dan was having some health concerns. What he discovered is that...his heart rate is very inconsistent and the top part of his heart isn't function like it should be. Just this past Friday, they stopped his heart and tried to re-shock the whole thing in hopes it would start function right-- but it didn't. He will meet again with his doctor in June.

Besides all of this...life has been normal. I finished up coaching Track. We've spent a few weekends at the lake already, have been to Ada to visit Dan/Ruth. Celebrated Hayden & Braylee's birthday--I ran the Fargo 1/2 marathon, I was turned town for 2 kindergarten positions in Roseau- Audrey is growing like a week-oh yeah, Kenneth & I turned 26. :)

recap

We had an awesome trip to Delano!  Hayden, Braylee, and Audrey played great together. I would say they definitely enjoyed being together. Both Hayden and Braylee stayed home from daycare on Thursday and Friday to play with Audrey and me. We had loads of fun doing many things! We ran to the park, played in the rain, watched movies and ate popcorn, and just played. By Saturday Audrey was ready to have some of her own space, I think. She was becoming very short with Braylee (pulling her hair out and literally pushing her). Hayden is such a good cousin, well they both are. But with Hayden being older, he just helps so much with her. On Thursday I even got ALL three kids to take a nap in the same room, at the same time. On Friday, not so much. I let Hayden stay up a little later than the other two. Braylee and Audrey had "different" plans than taking a nap, they wanted to play together. :) After about an hour, I sent Braylee to a different room. I'm surprised the two little girls didn't get Audery out of her crib to play. Instead Braylee just put all of the toys in Audreys cri, totally cute. We left Delano Saturday night about 8pm and arrived at Grandma Marys at about 10pm. Audrey was literally sleeping while we were still in Delano, she continued to sleep the whole way. Once we arrived at grandmas, she kept sleeping for a while then woke up to sleep with me in a bed. It was a FIRST time, she rolled OUT of the bed. Whoops! One of the highlights of the Delano trip was watching Hayden at swimming lessons! I absolutely miss hanging out with the Rues on a regular basis....but absolutely love the life we are living.

Other updates--

I start Jr.High Track tomorrow.

Audrey had another first--run away. I didn't know where she went. Stopped to listen to her voice...sounded like she was outside...yep, she was.

Audrey drinks about 2 sippy cups before bed of milk...loves milk?

I'm really enjoying my job. Along with little brother/sister, I've also started teaching pre-school (headstart) half days, monday-thursday. I did apply for a couple jobs through the school. So we will see what works out.

delano

Trip to Delano

Our adventure started at 4pm on Tuesday afternoon. We stopped at the local coffee shop, Brenda’s, before leaving town. While Ken was waiting in the “minivan” with Audrey, my parents arrived in town and stopped by. They have been out of town for a week helping my sister move to Cleveland. So even if it was just for five minutes in the “minivan”, it was great to see them before we headed out of town.

As I’m typing this, we have been on the road for 2 ½ hours and Audrey has been awake the whole trip. She first looked at books before throwing them to the floor (which I refused to pick up as it was becoming a game). Then we had snacks, look at different books, and sang songs. Audrey asked to sing, “wheels on the bus” and head/shoulder/knees/toes.” We counted and sang our abc’s. Such fun things to do!

My favorite quote of the trip (Ken talking to Mitch on phone), I have not been to a Walmart since black Friday!

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We have a fabulous visit in Verndale with Grandma Mary, Grandpa Marvin, Jim, Nate, Kathy, Steve, and Preston. We arrived at the farm about 7:45, just in time for grandma's dinner! We finally got Audrey to bed at about 10pm, after playing with everyone. She warmed right up to everyone, except Jim. :) But by Wednesday morning, she was a fan of Jim. Audrey loved seeing the cows, baby baby calfs, chickens, and playing in the wagon. Audrey slept about 1 1/2 hours on the way to Delano.

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Today is Thursdays and I kept Hayden & Braylee home with Audrey and I. Ken is at the state basketball games. We've had such a fun day watching movies and cartoons on this rainy day! I normally would not allow them to watch this much tv, but with the rain...why not! We are planning on going outside after nap as the rain has stopped. Can you believe all three kids took a nap in the same room? I didn't even have to go into the room once, to remind them it's nap time. What a proud Auntie!!

Pictures when we return

wonderful weekend

I feel confident that spring has arrived in Northern Minnesota. On Friday it was 71, Saturday it was 72, and Today (Sunday) is suppose to be 74. On Saturday morning, our house was a zoo. We had a play date with some friends over here, and the children sure had fun! The kids were busy playing down stairs with the kitchen set, jumping on the air mattress, and who knows what else. Upstairs you could find them playing play-dough, playing with the toddler toys, or crying (Audrey). Audrey was not sure about sharing all of her toys, yet alone, letting her mom hold another baby. After everyone left about 12 oclock, Audrey and I literally ran ( 2miles) in the jogging stroller to the pharmacy to buy Kenneth some allergy meds. We returned home for a nap, then biked to the park by the pizza ranch (about 3 miles round trip). We were all exhausted by 8pm. Kenneth had spent the day INSIDE at the school, getting certified to become a lifeguard.

This morning, Audrey slept in until 9:30, which is like some type of record. We played outside, rode our bikes to a local cafe for brunch, came home, and played some playdough. The next thing I knew Audrey was laying on the floor ready for nap (about 11:45).

a friday night

Pretty good Friday night. Audrey & I went to the grocery store, ate dinner @ my parents, Audrey to bed, laundry, packed for the weekend, made cinnamon rolls & monkey bread (in freezer), listened to Kenneth's last basketball game of the season, and now off to work in my pre-school binders. :) Woot. Woot.

Here is a picture of Audrey whens she was 8 months old...

little girl big girl

Each day, Audrey, reminds me that my little girl is truly turning into a big girl. I've caught her on multiple occasions, saying Thank you or please without needing any reminders. Last night, half way through dinner she reminded us that we didn't pray before we ate. Therefore we had to stop dinner and pray.

language

Audrey amazes us and everyone around us each and everday with how much she can verbalize. My favorite part of it, she can tell somebody what happened. This last week, Audrey was in the tub and Ken noticed something on her arm. Ken asked her what happened and this was her response, "jack bite, christy no-no." Her in world, Jack bit her at daycare, and Christy told him No no. It was priceless. At a basketball game this week...Audrey had the wiggles pretty bad. I brought her out in the hallway and said, "Audrey you need to sit nice, all this moving around is not okay." As we headed back into the gym she wanted to sit with papa. The moment she sat with him, this came out of her mouth, "mommy said sit, no no moving." I gues she can comprehend :)

Audrey is about 20 1/2 months old. She loves puzzels, books, art projects, changing her baby's poop diaper, laying on the couch with dad before bed, shoveling outside, playing an aminal game on papa's ipad, sweeping the floor, her nuki, skyping with the rues, riding in grandmas car so she can watch a movie, playing with the bears at the lake, and dancing.

We did end up buying a new camera. :)