Where Does Your Food Come From?

Today we took the girls out - mostly in an effort to get out of the house - to a goat farm to get them some fresh, raw, organic goat milk! The list of its nutritional benefits are long, and being that none of us tolerate dairy milk very well, Im hopeful it will do their little bodies good. Its also cool to see where your food comes from! These baby goats were only an hour old - their Momma was in the next room getting milked with all the other momma goats - filling up the buckets that would eventually be put into milk cartons for us to take home. Pretty cool. I think I was more impressed than the girls were though...they were more interested in the two big farm dogs and the cat sleeping peacefully on a desk just out of their reach.

Eden's First Hockey Game

Here's a picture of Eden and Grandma cheering for our favorite #8, Auntie Steph at one of her last college hockey games. Steph is graduating this year, so we probably wont be seeing her in anymore games for awhile. Emma keeps saying she wants to play hockey though, so in another couple of years we might have to be making Eden a new sign.

You Can Take The Redneck Out of California...

Thought all you back in Cali would get a kick out of this one! Here's a pic of Robert snowblowing the driveway this morning after the big snow fall. He actually did a very good job...the transformation is almost complete - we'll make a Midwesterner out of him yet!

Emma 'Made' a New Friend

Here's the latest bit of landscaping added to the front yard this week. Grandma and Emma (mostly Grandma) made a snowman. She's loving the snow...and its a good thing, cause there's plenty of it! And we're getting more tonight!

Three Years...52 more to go!

Some couples have 'their song', others a meaningful location they frequent, some even make up pet names for each other...well Robert and I have a number; not a 'lucky number' - its just...a number. The number 55. It started off while we were dating because to get to his house I had to drive the 55 freeway. Then there were other things that popped up along the way in our relationship that made this number significant to us. And so in our vows we promised each other 55 years...with an renewal option at the end. Basically, if we want out of our marriage - we can do so AFTER 55 years. We'll be in our late 80's by then, so Im guessing by then we'll long forget our escape clause.

Today is our 3 year wedding anniversary. We celebrated low-key style this year by going to a movie and spending a little time together without any little people, something we haven't done in quite ahwile Im ashamed to admit. Yes, we've been busy, things have been super stressful, we've been slacking - and its definately taken its toll on our relationship. You know how it goes...things are left unsaid that should be said, and things that shouldn't be said are done so. That goes for things done and undone. Thought and unthought. Given and taken. Most married couples, Im sure, go through times like these...its not easy; however, we both rest in the comfort that we are in it for the long-haul and that our marriage is more than just a commitment that we made, somewhat sillily, to each other. It was a commitment that we made before God, and with His help and guidance, we will not only keep it, but throughout it hopefully show what a blessing a marriage can be.

That said, I just want to tell you Robert that I love you. Happy Anniversary...here's to 52 more!

Swedish Roots

Robert, the girls and I headed over to visit my Dad's clinic today in the little town of Scandia, MN (http://www.scandiamn.com) where my Dad grew up and most of his family still resides. Its funny going there now and seeing it for more than what I always have. Its always just been 'Scandia' -where my Grandparents and aunts and uncles live, and just a little cliche town (I mean come on...scandia? little Sweden in Minnesota?) in the middle of Nowhere USA. As I've grown older, and Im sure because I now have my own kids, its meaning is felt deeper to me. Its a little place that holds a lot of history - and its a place that helps me feel grounded. We moved around alot while I was young, and I moved around alot on my own as an adult; but no matter what, the one thing that was always the same was Scandia. Even though I've never actually resided there myself, it almost feels like a hometown. So, here's a picture of Emma standing near my Dad's office in front of a Swedish Horse (actually called a Dala Horse http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalecarlian_horse) in this little town, close to home...wherever that may end up being.

The Comforts of Home

Today was another 'sort of" quiet day at home; well, as quiet as can be with a 9month old (with lungs like Tarzan), a 2 1/2 year old, and a 4 year old. Emma's cousin Jacob spent the whole day with us and they all played hardcore all day. They ran around outside in the snow all morning, followed up by a steamin' cup of hot cocoa - with marshmallows, of course. Then it was an intense hour of cooking and playing house, with intermitent breaks to practice their superhero flying and bad guy catching. All this followed up by lunch, a super long nap and more of the same in the afternoon. It was a busy day for them, and actually a pretty calm one for me...they were able to entertain eachother enough that I was pretty much left to my Eden-duties with only the occasional interruption for trying their cooking-creations, putting on snow gear, and refilling their sippy cups. I would say they crashed at the end of the day; however, its 8:25 p.m. and they have both got out of bed for random reasons; night-lights, pooping, and missing mom...just to get you up to speed. lol.

To Grammy's We Will Go...

Well, here we are. We made the big move to the Midwest! Things have been super crazy to say the least. Its not everyday that one is forced into making BIG decisions that will effect multiple lives in such a short amount of time...but we did it and now wait to see where the chips fall. Thank you to everyone for your support, help, prayers and well-wishes. We were very sad to go, and even more sad that we didn't get to say goodbye to everyone; but now we look ahead with great hope!

The actual move went off without a hitch...well mostly. My brother and his friend flew out to drive our moving truck so that the girls and I could just fly back and not have to deal with the big drive - and unfortunately they both came down with a nasty flu bug and have been down-for-the-count for the past few days. Other than that though, we all made it here safe and sound...even the dog.

The past week, Robert has been busy getting our stuff put in storage, concentrating on the job search, and trying to get the truck and car 'winterized' (more complicated than one might think). The girls and I have been lying low - we spent the first few days getting settled, and playing out in the snow; however, the past few days the temperature has dropped into negative (snot-freezing) numbers, so outdoor play hasnt really been an option and the girls have started to get a little stir-crazy. So yesterday I got busy searching for things to do in our little town and was pleasantly surprised at all the tot-friendly and FREE options for us! Today we went to a playtime held in a gymnasium at a local retreat center - both the girls had fun running around, playing on all the climbing toys, balls, scooters, etc. A weekly energy-burning activity that we'll definately be going to as much as possible. There is also storytime at the library, and a couple of the local churches have little bi-monthly classes for Emma's age kids. So, Im excited at all the opportunities for things to do...as I was a little worried we'd be stuck in the house until the spring. Other than that though, we haven't been doing much. Its been a very stressful few weeks, so for me the down-time is much appreciated. It still hasnt really sunk-in that this has all really happened.