Scrapbooking

For all you who don't know this about me...I'm an avid scrapbooker. I started by saying I will just get a few things and do up a small book for Karlie when she was born to now working on about 5 of them at the same time. I'm addicted to it. I have photo albums with pictures in them, but they just don't seem the same to me as the scrapbooks which tell a story. I can write down each special moment of the kids, what happened that day, all the funny & precious moments, and I love looking back over them and seeing all these precious memories.

I'm also starting to do more & more homemade cards. I love this too! Something about taking the time to actually make individual cards for people feels special. It's a great hobby to pick up. This stuff is a little harder to do with kids, time wise, but I have a table set up with all my stuff so when I do get a free chance (that means both napping) I hit it hard. :)

Heat Wave

I think it is pretty darn sad that when our temp. finally makes to above zero I pretty much celebrate, and say to myself, "Boy it really wasn't too bad today". I think that's ridiculous. Perhaps my mind has warped a little due to the cold although it did make it all the way up to 11 degrees today. Whahooo!!! A HEAT WAVES a commin'!!! I listen to my brother (Mr. Florida Boy) say, "Boy it was cold here today...we couldn't go down to the pool...it was only in the 60s)" and it makes me think back to the days when I used to take him into my Big Sister headlock, and say to him are you mad; there has been an actual hundred degree difference here the last few days when we were -45 with the windchill. He just laughs when I say this stuff to him. When it finally starts to hit 40s & 50s here were like out in out T-shirts, & Florida's putting on sweaters at 60s. Do peoples blood actually thin out from living in different climates?

Do animals get cold?

OK, I came up with this question sitting in my comfy recliner and gazing out my bay window at my yard. Five beautiful deer ran across my yard jumping my ditches with no effort at all even with all the snow. They looked like magnificent creatures with their thick fur and their breath showing due to the freezing weather. But the weather didn't look like it bothered them. Also, when we did the sleigh ride those big horses were sweating with steam rolling off their thick coat of fur. They didn't seem bothered by it either. I'm going to tell you it would take me more then a thick coat of fur to live outside...it would take about 80 degrees. So my question is, do you think they actually keep a decent temp? I mean they must because you don't see them frozen all over the place. They actually seem to enjoy it. How do they do it???

Topics of Dinner Conversation

I asked Adam last night at dinner if he thought back to when we first met, if he ever thought that in his future he had forseen a dinner conversation containing a cell phone talk with Strawberry Shortcake (fake of course, but all the same). As parents we have become increasingly good story tellers at the drop of a hat. Most of these creative stories seem to come at dinner time as a way to get Karlie to eat on days she really doesn't feel like it. With a 3 year old there are days she'll wolf down 2 waffles, a couple sandwiches, apple, and whatever supper is, and then others she only eats a few bites of everything. Adam's mom laughed one day at me when Karlie wasn't eating her bread but breaking it up to feed to her stuffed whale. I told her to eat it & she said no it was whale food & I said no it was too big to be whale food the whale would choke on it so she better eat it quick & she did. His mom laughed because she was like...you didn't even have to stop & think about that it just came right out like a natural conversation. There are days (and Adam came up with this) that we have to persuade her that her food needs to go home to their mommies & daddies (that would be the previous pieces eaten before) so she gobbles them right up so they won't be lonely.

Now for the Strawberry Shortcake story (and again Thank you Adam for the quick thinking) because mom was at a frustrated point. Karlie had a melt down at the dinner table. She got into trouble for not listening to mom & running into brother with his bike that he practices pulling up on to walk. SO she just kept crying at the table. Adam came in for dinner and (just naturally I might say) picked up Karlie's Strawberry Shortcake cellphone & started talking to Strawberry. This is somewhat of the conversation that took place, "Well hello Strawberry, are you looking for Karlie, well she's eating her dinner right now & can come over after she eats good, Honey your horse hurt herself, oh no, so Karlie needs to hurry up and eat & then bring her rescue pack (she got one for Chirstmas, it's from Go, Diego, Go cartoon) down to help out, then maybe we can ride Honey." Well Karlie went for this and ate all her supper. I just looked at Adam and bit my lip to keep from giggling. That's when I asked him, "Did you ever think you would be having this dinner conversation". He let out a laugh and said no way. You would think we would have really intelligent conversations at dinner time with each other that is, but these have really been the kind of conversations we now hold with each other at dinner. So the question I ask you is, "what kind of conversations do you hold at your dinner table". I'm looking for some really creative input. :)

Screening???

Karlie had her Kindergarden screening test today. This fall she starts preschool. I can't believe it. I realize that this screening is used to catch learning disorders and things children need help with, but I sat in on some of it and wow, what they expect kids to know by age 3. She got weighed & measured, the second person asked her weird questions "a table is made out of wood, a window is made out of _____". Karlie just looked at her and said I don't know with her own little attitude. Then we moved on to a 3rd person, the nurse who does hearing/vision test. By the end of this Karlie was like I'm hungry & want to go home, I'll point to anything or tell you anything you want to hear if you just let me go. Then the 4th person who was the teacher. She said Karlie did just fine. I think the screening was great; it's just a 3 year old has an attention span that's not very long and some of the questions Karlie just looked at her like what are you talking about. The one lady thought she was a hoot and asked me "is she a little independent", I was like more then a little. She has her own personality for sure.

Future Artist

Karlie has always been one to test mommy's boundaries especially when it comes to art works. We've had the day that she painted herself up with RED nail polish, which unfortunately I have no pictures of because I was too freaked out about how to get it off of her and the little red footprints off the bathroom floor (covered from head to toe in red, she had poured it in her hands & rubbed it on herself). The day she put my 8 hour long lasting lipstick on or the day she used my mascara or drawing on the wall with crayon or pens. There was also the Valentine's Day she colored in crayon on my linoleum kitchen floor. Needless to say there have been many a day of saying "only color in your coloring book not on anything else". Bottom line is with children, if it is quiet for longer then a minute, chances are they're into something they shouldn't be. I've learned to roll with the punches now. I give Karlie those bath crayons and she can hop in the bathtub whether she's having a bath or not and doodle away, walls & all. She even washes it all off when she's done. Today we got a very special drawing, one I was very touched by. It was our family. This is the first time she's drawn people & animals, usually she just goes for shapes. I was really impressed. From left to right on her picture: Karlie, daddy, mommy, Tanner, Maggie (our dog), and Figaro & Nala (our cats). Beautiful work Karlie! Even though these little past works of Karlie have tested me, they've taught me to be more patient, and both of us learn from them, and they also have made life in the Gustafson Household very memorable. So do you think I have a future artist in my house...you be the judge. :)

Wonderful Hubby

This is just a little thank you to my husband Adam of 8 1/2 years. He had to work night shift tonight and had tons of things that he could be doing but...his poor little wife was sick. He got up at noon because he worked a 12 hour shift last night. I have this horrible cold and feel like I've been hit by a truck, tired, achey, don't feel real motivated, and I'm being a mommy for two. Adam got up and watched the kids, and I went & took a long hot bath with my book and then went & took an hour nap so I felt much better. He always makes time for his family even though he's a busy guy. So actually Adam gets a BIG thank you and I love you. It's just pretty special that he still does these little, special things for me. Again, thanks for all the help today, being a great daddy, and for making me feel special (even though I've got that sick look going for me), honey!

Cold Season

Why is it when one person gets a cold everyone else has to get it too??? I ask myself this question especially now with kids. Adam got a cold...then Karlie got a cold...then Tanner & I got it. I know parents teach their children they must share, but really isn't this taking it a bit far? And really, what is going on with this weather. A couple weeks ago we were going on sleigh rides and now it's like 20 some below and with the windchill near 50 below. Winter's starting to wear on me today. My poor nose is plugged up and I have two sick kids. I would like nothing better then to take a nap, but I guess that probably won't happen. Sorry about the downer blog just needed to get the irritation out there. I'm sure I'm not the only one feeling this way. On a positive note...I have only a little over a month until we leave for Florida for a family vacation to see my brother & Jessica, abd Adam sister & her family. I'm sure I will be ready, ready, ready to be in the sun by then. :)

Winter Wonderland

I know everyone's going to wonder what is going on...Jen blogged 2 days in a row. Well both kids took a nap at the same time; that's what happened. Most of un Minnisotans are used to this snow & cold weather, the first few snow falls being an absolute beautiful wonder, and then by late Jan./Feb. we ask ourselves what are we thinking & will this snow ever go away. I have learned to appreciate this a little more with the kids & to make the most out of things. So we have gone sledding, karlie had her first run at ice skating, snowman building (Karlie said we needed to finish the snowman so it could come alive "Frosty"), snow angels, and our latest was a sleigh ride. I haven't been on a sleigh ride for so long and I've always had a passion for horses, now I have Karlie to work on her daddy about getting a horse. :) Uncle Don & Auntie Marge took us out on their sleigh, the horses names were Danny & Dixie, two very monsterous, but gentle Belgians. It was so peaceful to get pulled along through the snow and glance at all the branches covered with fresh fallen snow. So untouched & serene. Then to hear the giggle of Karlie & Katie & Caleb Hostetter, Tanner tucked safely between the hay bales in his car seat, Uncle Don & Ron driving the team, Auntie Marge's cheerful voice, and also mom & dad's, Adam & I just enjoying the outdoors. Auntie Marge packed sloppy joes, BBQ beef buns, cookies, hot chocolate, & coffee because what would a sleigh ride be without food, especially with Auntie Marge, no fear of hunger here. We all talked about what it must have been like for Grandma & Grandpa Hansen when they only had the use of a team of horses to get them from place to place, such a different world. I often think now that each day is precious and to never take it for granted. Memories are important so we try to make as many as we can. So enjoy life to the fullest!!!

Tanner's Dedication

Well, yesterday was a very important day for not only Tanner, but Adam & I as parents. Yesterday was Tanner's Dedication at our church. A dedication is different from a baby baptism in that it is more of a reminder to us as parents that it is our responsibility as parents to raise our children to know God. Tanner was very cute all dressed up in his sweater vest & cords. He just smiled, clapped his hands, & laughed. So he knew it was a day of celebration. :)

Holiday's

Well, sorry for being so far behind on the blog. Now things have settled down after the holiday's I can get back into my routine. We had something going almost every night for 2 weeks. Karlie was so excited with all of her Christmas presents "it was her best Christmas ever". Her favorites were a new camera, a Diego field journal, & a stuffed animal lamb that has a tummy that lights up that she named Lammy. Tanner was pretty happy with the paper & bows, but he did like his little activity table that plays music.

The kids seem to be changing & growing so fast. Karlie never wanted to clean up after herself, but now cheerfully sings "Cleanup, Cleanup, everybody cleanup" that she learned from Dora. She also counts to about 14 & then hits 18, and says her alphabet. Tanner is my little Hoover vacuum cleaner. He turns around on the floor like a hover craft looking for objects to put in his mouth. I'm constantly digging stuff out. The Barbie shoes have all been hidden. Tanner has also hit a couple of his mile stones, 5 teeth, sits up & claps at himself, and just today pulled himself up to standing at the coffee table. Karlie was 9 months when she did this & he's only 8 sooo I know I'm going to be busy. He also throws his little head down into the carpet when something is taken away from him & cries. It's pretty cute, but it ticks him off more when mom giggles at him. :) Karlie is so good with him; she was trying to teach him Sooo Big today & he just giggles & laughs at her. I love seeing the two of them together. Well I think that catches me up for a bit. Hope everyone had a great Holiday and have a wonderful New year!!!