Katie's Pickles

My sister Katie canned pickles last year and gave me the guts to try it this year. They turned out great! It was not that hard and they taste as good as Paul's favorite Clauson pickles.

Thanks Katie! I'll probably end up doing this every year now.

Joren- isms 34months

"One time I dwived to the worwld and I got you to the wowld in my new car, cool new mini van exactly wike my new mini van and there was Africa animals at the wowld like elephants."

"See that dwain? (drain) It's in the shower. Because rain can go in the shower. One time I swimmed in the drain. And I was twapped and there was gates and animals and vey were my pets." "Wow, that really happened?" "Yep it did."

"member? (remember) Member when Luke (Skywalker) dressed up as Eirik?"

"Do you want to go to my dance party? It's weawy fun. It's starting."

"See my stegger? (tiny black piece of square plastic) It's wike a bwack square. I will protect you from my bwack stegger. It can cut and swice (slice) and sting."

"I wike you"

"I can pet myself wif my hand wike zis."

"I know you. you're my mom. (kiss) Wewcome. You're my best giwrl."

Joren lifts his hand up to his cheek and pretends to be resting his face in his hand. "what are you doing Joren?" "I'm just finking." What are you thinking about?" "Mostwy the cwickets."

"One time I smashed an awien (alien) wif my car. Ver was bwood. Yep there was."

Bucket list * check

I always dated guys that rode motorcycles. It's just what I liked. So when Paul decided that I was the girl for him he secretly learned to ride a motorcycle. On a Friday night he picked me up on a Honda and as I jumped on he said, "See Melody, I can be all the man you need."
It was a great ride and as Paul is "all the man I need", I was only a little bummed when 6 years later I had not been on another motorcycle since. As you might have seen in a recent post, we got ourselves a little vintage 1973 Honda CB 100 motorcycle and I officially took it for my first drive this month. SO FUN!! This is not the last of motorcycles for this couple. :)

Home sweet magic home

Our kids dresser broke so I found a couple at Garage Sales and my mom helped me make them "new" again when she was in town. We painted them and then put a glaze with brown acrylic paint over the top to make them look a little used. I love how they turned out.


We also did this cute table that we use for preschool. I love it because it's a finish that I don't have to be too particular about. If the kids get marker and glue and glitter all over it, I don't care.


This is the painting that started the whole room.
I also painted the stools and this paper roll from Ikea barn red.

I was so excited when I caught this rare magical moment of my children reading together. Eirik was reciting what he rememberd of this adorable book called "Way out West with a Baby." He has such a great memory it astounds me.
This room has been such a delight this summer. Those vines outside the window are trumpet vines that are gorgeous with the summer sun through them. Birds come and land in them right outside the open window. Magic

On Time!

I have a great accomplishment to congratulate myself on with a post. :)
I have dropped off and picked up Eirik to and from preschool 8 times and been ON TIME every time! Now is where I make the confession that I think I was late to every single class of High School and college my entire life. I was so notoriously late that I am surprised I did not have to repeat a grade or fail a class or something. It took meeting Paul and having him be honest with me about how rude and thoughtless it was of me to be late to things to start the change. I had to study tardiness.

I learned that if you are notoriously late you probably:

1. are seeking attention, and enjoy getting it as you enter late
2. enjoy letting people think that you are so busy or important that you could not possibly make it on time.
3. seriously think that what you were doing that made you late is way more important than any engagement, and you don't mind if the people you are engaging with know that.
4. enjoy making people wait since it give you power or control

All of these reasons have something to do with pride and selfishness. I never realized what message I was giving when I was always late. I just did it out of habit. I have learned since making it a priority to be on time to things that I think a lot more highly of myself. In my "late" days, I can't tell you how many hours I wasted thinking of excuses to give when I arrived to things. Excuses only made me anxious and fearful because of course they are always lies. I was late because I was prideful and selfish and always thought that what I was doing was more important.
So back to the point.. I was on time for preschool this week 8 times and with 3 children, one nursing, and having to haul out the double stroller and walk a block to get there each time, that, to me, it quite an accomplishment!
I have a new found respect for moms with kids in school. It is a BIG job!
phew!

No more squeaks!

After we got spoiled having my parents and brother visit, we got extra spoiled having Paul's parents come for a week. I made the right choice marrying Paul, not just for him, but for his wonderful parents. I enjoyed every moment of their visit. Patty is wise, generous and kind. One night Paul and Steve went to a baseball game. I sat symbolically at Patty's feet working on recovering a kids chair while she crocheted a blanket for the boys in a nearby chair for hours into the night. We talked and I soaked up all the knowledge I could hanging on her every word. Sometimes I just yearn for someone to tell and show me what to do and Patty is just the example I need. I felt really lucky to have her to myself for a week. She is a marriage and family counselor and people pay her quite a bit to sit down with them for an hour to talk. She did some therapy on the boys. Eirik has had some disturbing dreams and we discovered why and helped him process those feelings. That was really interesting.

We took a day trip to Frankenmouth and Patty and I went to Bronners, the biggest Christmas store in the US. (we weren't that impressed) and then to an awesome antique store where I wanted to buy a ton of things and didn't buy anything. Steve took the boys to Tiny's Farm where they held baby chicks and got peacock feathers and came back with exciting stories about all the animals. Then we went to the outlet mall and Steve and I shopped while Patty and the kids stayed in the car. Steve was a really fun shopping buddy! I could hang with him every day and never run out of things to talk about.

On their first evening here my friend Ruth brought a roast and Yorkshire pudding. It was delicious and Pat and Steve were very impressed.

Steve spent hours fixing things for us around the house. Our dining chairs that have always squeaked.. yeah, he tightened them! He fixed the squeak in our bed and on the 2nd and 3rd stair that has bugged me daily since we moved in. He helped us fix the electric fence and our leaky faucet and the light under the oven hood and the ice maker. Yeah, he's amazing! I love it when he comes to town. Thank you Steve!
The kids loved their visit too. They bought them dollar store toys every day and lots of treats to eat. Since they left Joren has loved Bob the Builder and says that his "grandfaver says he can do whatever he wants" all the time.


We miss you Pat and Steve. Thank you for coming!! XXOO

The end of Summer vacation and my first day of school for the rest of ... forever

Paul finally graduated last year and guess who starts school this year? Yep, Eirik. My first day of kids in school for the rest of ... forever.

One of my friends said to me this week, "I feel sort of guilty, my life seems too easy right now." She has gone from 4 kids at home all summer to just two.
Personally, I have been getting giddy for preschool to start. I don't feel a bit guilty that I had a super easy morning this morning on Eirik's first day because Eirik loved his first day as much as I did. For three mornings a week someone else gets to keep up with his amazing energy for a few hours! Joren and I had a very nice time just being together this morning. I think Joren really enjoyed some alone time where he could play with anything he wanted, no one grabbed, and no one bossed him or bullied him. He just happily played. Eirik's teacher is wondreful and cried at our first parents meeting as she told us how excited she is to teach and how much she already loves our kids. She is fresh out of college and I think she's wonderful! Hooray for Preschool!

The Law's visit

We were in Utah for two weeks this January, but we've had so many big changes in the last 6 months (new house, new car, new dog, new calling, new garden, new KID) that we were really excited to have parents come out to visit. I think every kid secretly longs to have their parent say, "good work, you are coming along well." and that's what I needed. I sort of longed to have my mom walk around our yard and say, "beautiful" and walk around my house and say, "that's lovely dear" and see my children and say "aren't they wonderful" and that's just what she did. I don't think I'm really a validation junkie or anything, but I needed my parents to say "well done." Their visit seemed to go very fast, but I was filled up when they had to leave. They brought an unexpected surprise with them on the 26 hour drive; my brother Daniel!

It was so fun to have some time with him. He brought back to life this awesome motorcycle that our amazing landlords gave to us when we moved into our house. It needed some repair but in one week my brother had it in good condition. The kids love riding it!



We drug my parents on a long walk the day before I was induced. We were trying to get the party started early, but had no luck. The walk was a lot of fun though! We love exploring our neighborhood!






I got to harvest our first vegies from the garden the day my mom came. I'll admit, the yield has been small, but we have enjoyed it anyway.

My parents wanted to take the kids jet skiing. The kids were so excited. Joren got a little bloody nose from belly diving down a hill racing Eirik to the jet skis.
Eirik is sure his goggles are essential. (He doesn't realize that they don't work unless there is rubber around both eye pieces. We don't have the heart to tell him.)


We were so grateful that they got to spend a lot of good quality time with the kids. My mom brought the kids a blow up pool for the backyard and new beach towels. They got to see a movie and go out to eat a couple of times. We miss you family.

Joren at 34 months

My Joren is killing me with his sweetness. He is like constant sugar. Even when he is being naughty is is so cute about it you just want to gobble him up. He will write on the wall and then say, "We write on paper." and he will give me this silly sideways glace that seems to say, "I totally know what's up, but I just couldn't help myself."
Some of my favorite things he has been saying:

"muver, I don't like little girls, but you are my best girl in the whole entired world."
He is constantly saying, "One time I.... " followed by some insane story.
The other day I told Joren that we live on Earth. He asked, "we don't live on the sun?" I said, "no, the sun is made of fire and we would burn up." He replied, "One time when I was 18, I wooked behind the trees when I was a fairy wif wings and I saw the fire and I fwied and fwied." (aka, flew)



Tonight he said over and over again, "I don't want to go up in space muver, I want to stay here wif you."
This weekend we went to the "Arts, Beats and Eats" festival in Royal Oak. I was carrying him on my shoulders walking through hundreds of people with tattoos, spiked hair, crazy clothes, loud music, tons of smells and things to look at and Joren says, "Muver, don't forget, there are crocodiles down there." I said, "where?", and he explained that he meant in the sewers below the street.
He always says random things like, "I have antlers, soft ones of hair."
Paul: "Joren, why are you up so late?"
Joren "it's better than sleeping in a basket or an igloo, or a diaper of igloos."

I did a little questionnaire with him back at the end of July:

What's your name? J-Rock
What's your middle name? Car fast in Pink
What's your last name? Cup holder Pants or Water Pants
Where are you from? Nobody
Where do you live? I wiv in Michigan. My map tells me that. Where's my map?
What's your address? This is my address.
What is your favorite toy? Maybe a dinosaur or a dragon or sumfin.
What is your favorite color? Pen and handy dandy notebook.. um blue
"My favorite boy is called Diego. Go Diego go. He's my video watch"
What is your favorite thing to wear? Blue pants, blue shirt, blue tie, blue shoes, even green shoes.
Are you going to be a big brother soon? No, I'm not.
What is your favorite animal? Giraffe, even Hippopotamus, or a hexagon bird

This is a more recent questionnaire (Sept 7):
How old are you? I'm not 2 now, I'm week- months.
What is your favorite kind of car? Lightning McQueen, also Bryce wikes him. He's my older brother.
What is your favorite thing to eat? P. butter Sanmich.
What size are your feet? Crabs
What is your favorite place to swim? Turtle Cove
If you found a treasure chest in your house, what would be in it? a pretend T-Rex
Who are your 3 favorite people to be with: 1. bulldog, 2 . Bernese Mt. Dog, 3. Joren
What is your favorite thing to do to help mom? Draw

I also can't keep this kid out of the water. He loves to be wet. We have this big bucket outside that we filled with water for the dog during the hot summer days. If I didn't watch Joren carefully I would find him in the bucket.. over and over and over again. What a cutie.




On this particular day Joren sat in the sink for about 2 hours straight practicing pouring and measuring and getting very wrinkly. Great entertainment.
In the past 3 weeks a miracle has happened. Joren has started playing with toys. I thought none of my kids would ever actually enjoy the toys in our playroom. Eirik, of course just likes to play with weapons he has made and collect trash to make it into "useful items" and collect rocks and sticks. His main entertainment is talking to people.. aka: me and Paul and anyone and everyone else who will listen. Joren has suddenly discovered that he can build with his "bob the builder legos." I think Grandpa Steve started the toy miracle by building him a Bob the Builder house. Every day Joren wants me to play Bob the Builder. He builds with blocks and examines all his toys and finds new uses for them. He will actually go to the basement by himself and pull out toys and entertain himself for a long time. It baffles me and makes me giddy to see him have fun like that. You mean I don't have to entertain him all the time?? I love this kid.

Joren loves his dog.. but his dog has outgrown Joren in a big way. Remember the photo I posted in March of Joren sitting on Tor. Well, here is Tor sitting on Joren. Now that Tor is taller than Joren standing, Joren squeels and runs away a lot and says, "Tor wicked me (licked me) all the time. He is a good sport considering Tor is a little bit clumsy and if he runs into Joren, the poor kid is on the ground.
Tor is almost 100 lbs. Isn't he a cute beast though?

Joren very athletic and fearless. Here he is learning to ride his new bike. Actually Eirik got a new bigger bike so Joren inherited the Jet Bike and he is doing great on it.


Here is Eirik dressed in "Luke in the black" or maybe in "aninja attire" helping Joren in such a cute big brother way. (I am looking forward to cooler weather.. or "Eirik" weather, just so that Eirik won't make me crazy insisting on wearing head to toe black with a turtleneck and boots in 85 degree humid weather. The kid just loves winter clothes. He would wear his winter boots and snow pants all summer if I did not hide them. (hiding his winter clothes has caused a lot of tears, fyi.)

This stage is going by so fast. Pretty soon he won't say all of his L's like W's and his Th's like F's, and pretty soon he will stop saying the most random crazy things that make no sense and it will be just a little bit sad. I wish I had more of his sayings written down. He is seriously yummy. I wuv you J-Rock.

The baby

I've let an entire month go without posting the details of Teig's special day. Month #1 has wound down and we are already midway through week #5 of this beautiful baby's life. It is already going too fast. I thought by the third baby it would not be quite as intoxicating to stare into his newborn face, but it still is. I just get lost in the hours of watching his every expression and his absolute purity. With each of my children I have worried that they would not come out as handsome as my first. Luckily, neither child will have to compete with Eirik as they are both equally endowed with good looks. In fact, when Teig came out I gasped when I saw how very much he looked like Eirik.
Speaking of seeing him for the first time; it is about time I get down to writing the story of his birth.
Some of you will want to skip all the details below. I make the blog into a book for our family history.. so here come the details:
Wed. Aug 4th I was induced. Yes, you read it right. Despite all my reasons and concerns and even after writing here that I would NOT get induced, I still did. I decided that having my parents here to watch the kids for 2 days straight while I was in the hospital was a pretty good reason, along with my Dr's promptings, to schedule the day. We got there at 6:30, started the oxytocin at 9:30, contractions started quickly, then the doctor broke my water. I had 4 times as much fluid as most women do for some reason and as the water came out the baby started swimming and his head rotated way to the left, then way to the right and we lost his heartbeat on the monitor. My doctor, who is very calm and reassuring, quickly called for anesthesia, an ultrasound and a lead and told the nurse to "FIND THAT HEARTBEAT". I knew I was moments away from an emergency C Section. I thought, "Great, this is what I get for getting induced!" Luckily his head rotated back down to the right position and we found the heartbeat and got a good lead on him. Phew.. that drama was over. The contractions got hard fast. I did a good job for a while.. and then I just didn't. My hands went into tetany. I was sobbing and hyperventilating. I knew I was supposed to relax. I knew all the imagery. I knew the right breathing. I just couldn't do it. It was so fast. I told Paul, "I am in my right mind, I will not regret it later, I want an epidural right now." They came fast and in about 12 minutes I had so much medicine gushing into my spine in a big fast cold wave that I was almost immediately numb. I don't like feeling numb. My doctor assured me that we would be able to "turn down the epidural" to the amount of "numbness" that I wanted. Well, that's not exactly true. After the initial dose, you are numb for a good two hours. After I realized that I really could not feel ANY pain I was kind of bummed. That probably sounds dumb, but it's almost a let down. From a level 10 intesity accompanied by tons of drama and excitement.. to a 0. No intesity and no pain. It felt like such an interruption of the process. I asked the nurse to turn off the medicine so that it could wear off and hopefully I could wait to deliver after it had worn off a bit. We actually got bored waiting and we turned on the TV. Isn't that weird to be in "labor" and be bored. That's just not right. Right on schedule, at about 2 hours, the medicine started to wear off. I got such an intense pain in my right thigh from the baby being on a nerve that I had Paul massaging it as hard as he could. He showed me later how hard he was squeezing and I could not bear it for more than a second but at the time he could not do it hard enough. That was the worst part, but I was grateful that I could feel the contractions so that I knew when it was time to push. It only took 3 pushes and he came right out. There is no way to write in words the euphoric feeling of seeing him for the first time. After doing it two other times I was not prepared to feel so much the third time. I had so many mixed feelings throughout the pregnancy. I was so worried that I would not be able to connect to another boy since I sort of had my heart set on having a girl. Those feelings that I had been so anxious and worried about for so many months all completely disappeared the moment I saw his face. I could not smile big enough or love any bigger than that moment. They put him right on my chest and I swear my heart grew like a balloon. People talk about a "swelling" feeling in your chest. That's what happened. When I was pregnant with Joren I was worried that I would not love him as much as I loved Eirik. I had a dream where I experienced that feeling where I could feel my heart expanding. It is amazing that our hearts can grow. It is amazing that there is room in our hearts for so much more than we think there is. With each child the JOY just gets bigger.
Here I am in that great big moment of love..











I hate being in the hospital room. A 24 hour stay is too long for me. I was on the edge of my bed packed and waiting for them to let me go home hours early. (Not that the nurses weren't excellent. And the hospital was great. I just wanted to be home.)
Little Teig is .. so far.. a textbook easy baby. He nurses, burps, nurses, poops, sleeps. He rarely throws up and rarely cries. This week he has started looking in our eyes more and wanting to be held more, which I have no problem with.

The boys love him and Eirik likes to hold him (for about a minute a day),
but there are no real jealousy issues.

Once Joren said, "put Teig down!" but that was it. I keep telling people that this is the easiest it is ever going to be having 3 kids. It is a really magical time. Having two other kids helps me realize how fast it really goes and I think that has helped me have more patience and to really just enjoy the moments.