I just couldn't let these get away....

I know, it is mid-November but I just had to post these photos from October. Somehow they got lost in the shuffle. Grace's first tea party. A reenactment of the ones us grand kids used to have with Gram...now Grace is part of tradition! The only thing that competed with the sweetness of the little tea set with little finger foods was that Gram had rocks and pine cones in her yard. Ah yes, Grace is in touch with her girly and outdoors-y sides.


Here is the post from Grace's third birthday that I wrote belatedly. We had her birthday in Albuquerque as well as my Great-Grandmother's 100th birthday.

Before we left for Albuquerque, we said good-bye to the Malibu. I know I had a love/hate relationship with that car over the years, but it was strangely sad to not see it in our garage anymore. I told Erik that I had been with that car more than 10 years- longer than he and I had been together! That also meant that I am now officially old- staring 30 in the face AND a minivan mommy. Eeek. It is true, though: I love the van a lot more that I thought I would, just like I was told by other, wiser minivan moms. :)

CHAOS

I know this is not the kind of post you are probably looking for during my dry season of blogging. But I need your help! :) I am, in the words of the Flylady, suffering from CHAOS (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome). Except that I do have people over. Embarrassed. And just ask them to over look my messy and unclean house, of which has now become the new norm.

It is becoming more and more clear to me that the organized person I was before children has gone into hiding. I can't seem to find her anywhere! She would peek her head in now and then when it was just Grace, but now that Matthew is in tow I have not heard nary as much as a "how are you" from her.

So what I need from you is this: I feel as though many of you have it much more together than I do. I'm looking for those little tips that seem to be eluding me. Such as:

• How is your house getting clean? I really prefer the all-in-one-day method, but I'm thinking that is out the window for this stage of life. How do you do it?
• How do you organize and store what seems to be a growing amount of kids clothes, especially when we have both girl and boy clothes? Do you have a way to store whats going in and whats going out temporarily when seasons are changing, or sizes are growing but they don't all need to be put away yet?
• How about those dreaded piles? This has always been a struggle for me, but now I don't seem to have the time to do a whirlwind "pick up". How do you prevent them in the first place? I'm talking mail that needs dealing with, catalogs/newspapers/articles that you want to keep, things that need to be done but you can't get done at that moment and need to be stashed... you know, the CHAOS! :)

If you have any advice for part, all, or some of the questions, please let fill me in! If it's easier, you can email me cathrynjohansson@fuse.net or post it as a response. Maybe I'll even put all the answers together in a blog post so we can all benefit from each other's wisdom! :)

Yippee for no more political ads!

You guys know how I love theme nights for dinner. Takes the everyday mundane and makes it a little more exciting. So of course we had to have an American theme night for Election Day. We had hamburgers and Freedom Fries (no, I'm not normally really this nuts, but you can't have French Fries on a very American sort of day) and good ol' American apple pie. I hadn't baked a pie in ages and it felt good to be back to baking. It's no secret that I still feel very out of sorts even though I don't have a newborn any more. I guess I just need to adjust to the level of chaos that is now the new normal! :)

And just in case you, too, were disappointed in the results of the election, I am comforted by Daniel 2:21, "And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding." God is sovereign! So now lets pray for godly wisdom for our leaders.

Picture in Picture

Since mommy has had her hands full, daddio is stepping in to the rescue. Here are some of the latest and greatest. Sorry if the commentary is lacking...use your imagination.

This is Matthew's . . . err . . . 6 month picture, with Grace.

We went to the Farmer's Market two weekends ago and Grace helped pay for the apples by doing a little plowing.

(ooh that's cold daddio, hurry up and take the picture!)

And just to prove that I do exist outside this blog, here I am with Matthew the day before the boy decided he wanted to party all night long with an ear infection (yeah memories!).

And finally, for the pièce de résistance, I call this series of photographs, "The Motherload".

Hello, anyone there?

OK, I admit it. This is a desperate attempt to regain readership! Not to mention the fact that I've noticed I'm at the bottom of the "recently updated" lists that people have on their own blogs. I think I've sunk to a new blogging low. Those who know me well know that when I get overwhelmed by something, I tend to put it off in favor of something easier to check off my to-do list. Of course, I know that only makes it worse so that when I finally to get around to doing it, the task has only gotten that much bigger. Case in point.

Its not that October was a boring month for us- quite the contrary. We spent about 10 days in Albuquerque for a multitude of events. It was the International Balloon Fiesta, my Great-Grandmother's 100th birthday, and Grace's 3rd birthday. Matthew also is officially half-way to the one year mark (hence my recent problem- read below). And we also put both kids in one room. More on that adventure later.

I think I've decided to leave you with this week's pondering and someday soon I will get pictures up from this month. I have several dear friends who are pregnant right now (recently so!) and one who just had a baby. I got home from visiting the later in the hospital and Erik saw the look. He said, "You want another one, don't you?" Well, something like that. I really had the baby gagas (I know, I know! I still have a baby, what is wrong with me?!?) until Matthew pulled two nights this week that were way worse than anything he ever did as a newborn. I'm talking crying for two hours kind of stuff. Up at 3am for over an hour kind of stuff. That caps off a month of not sleeping well.

Baby gaga problem solved. Thanks, Matthew. :)

Grace turns 3!

Grace's balloon themed (it was the Hot Air Balloon Festival and Grace loves balloons) birthday party was at Nana and Papa's house full of family and new friends. Oh yeah, there was cake there too. :) I just love this picture!

Can you hear her belly laugh?

The great butterfly catching game Susan brought, perfect for 3 year olds and apparently adults too!



My beautiful child, all the way around.


The birthday girl can get an early lick of her own cake!

"Do I really want to be three? Do I get a say in this?"


Grace is no longer my little baby, though she still gets that nick name because I just can't seem to stop calling her that. She has outgrown her "baby speak" with the lone hold out being "clof clof" for wash cloth. And don't expect me to be correcting that one! She loves: reading, learning ("Mommy, tell me about _____"), cooking-both in her kitchen and mine, dress up, Clifford, the library, the zoo, the park- going anywhere really, doing ballet, making her baby brother laugh, the colors orange and pink. She dislikes: being alone, anything out of place- a cabinet door open, things not properly organized, strangers, anything daring (this includes jumping).

And we wouldn't have her any other way.

One hundred, years that is

We were in Albuquerque for many reasons, one of the main ones being my Great-Grandmother's 100th birthday! Lets all pray we are this sharp and healthy if we make it to 100!

Nell, my Great-Grandmother
Elise, my Grandmother (aka Gram)



Grace, the first great-great grandchild!

The princess requests a breath mint

Picture this (only because I don't have one, and it would have been sight):

Grace is in her pajamas, with a reindeer barrette in her hair (don't ask), my baseball hat on her head, her dress-up princess kitten heels on her feet. We are in my bathroom, while I am having the daily pleasure of no privacy while I get ready. I am kneeling down at her level trying to have a serious talk when she runs into the closet.

Grace: "Ewww! It stinks!"
Me: "What stinks?"
Grace: "Your breathing!"
Me: "You mean my coffee breath?"
Grace: (holding her nose) "Yes!"

I humbly give you this glimpse into our un-romantic lives as retribution for when I was about her age. There is a well told story in my family of me holding my nose the whole time while my Gram read me books, also affronted by the smell of coffee breath in the morning.

Apparently no one has invented the odorless cup of coffee for adults yet. Proctor and Gamble, I give you this challenge. Meanwhile, excuse me while I go get a breath mint. :)

Five months old

Well, behind as usual. With a week of a house full of sickies and having family in town, I am behind on a few things and that of course includes blogging. Here is Matthew's 5 month picture. You'll never guess who he is smiling at.... his silly big sister. There haven't been any new tricks except blowing raspberries. Great, more reasons to drool. Good thing I am well stocked on burp cloths. No more rolling over either. I guess he decided that wasn't all it was cracked up to be.Demonstrating the wet raspberry


I have no idea what Grace was doing to make him laugh- probably just standing in his line of sight!

Who's a big boy now?

Guess who rolled over from his tummy to his back for the first time? And guess who actually got to witness it? Mommy!

Grace was much sneakier. She did it several times before anyone ever saw it happen.

So, how much time do you think I have left on the bassinet?

Struggles in motherhood

I tried MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) for the first time yesterday. I enjoyed it as much as a friend of mine told me I would. I am debating on whether or not to sign up still, based upon nursing Matthew there (he's not the best feeder in public) and Grace's shyness (apparently she cried, something that doesn't normally happen- at least not with being dropped off somewhere).

But I was struck during the sharing time of all the different struggles we have as mothers. I don't think that there is a mom out there who "has it easy". God has given us all different kinds of kids with all different kids of issues that cause us to grow in ways that God has ordained. I know in my own life that my children have taught me patience and gentleness and letting go of taking pride in order and cleanliness. And that sometimes when there is poop in the underwear again, you just have to laugh. Hey, it happens.

In that light, here is an example of Grace losing it a year ago. She woke up with the most hilarious bed head and when I tried to take a picture, she was not appreciative of me trying to document the moment. But I'm sure she'll find it funny when we show it to everyone at her wedding. ;)

So, even though it's not Mother's Day, here's to all you dear mommy friends of mine- I love you all and am so thankful for the one-anothering that takes place in our lives!

Dancing Queen

Now that you can't get that ABBA song out of your head...

We decided to sign Grace up for ballet this fall. We aren't doing preschool, so this was my concession for that. Plus, is there anything cuter than a miniature ballerina? It looks like it is just going to be her and her little friend, Novi, in the class. Nothing like a private lesson!

It was all the more thrilling because Erik left work a little early to catch the class (he said he adn Matthew needed a dose of football afterwards though). I was thwarted by mini blinds on the windows of the classroom that kept me from being a freaky parent with my camera and video camera so this is the only evidence I have from the night.

Grace declared on the way home, "I love dancing ballet!" And this morning she informed me that her teacher loved her, and she loved her teacher. Looks like we are still on a ballet high.

Cost cutting techniques

Looking to save a few bucks? Here's an idea. Just make sure your trustworthy toddler has access to a pair of scissors and decides to "cut coupons" for you.
In her defense, she has never done anything like this before. Hence the un-supervised access to her scissors. At least it wasn't a twenty!

Family Fun Night

I realize this is a bit late (I'm catching up on blogging, can you tell?) but I thought this was pretty funny. On the opening night of the Olympics a few weeks ago, we decided to have a family theme night. We do these on occasion, as much for Grace as a break from the ho hum for us. In keeping with the theme of the Beijing Olympics, we got take out Chinese, a real treat since we don't get to pay true Chinese prices for our American import. We also put on some of our authentic Chinese music we picked up while visiting Beijing (I'd tell you what instrument it is they play on the CD, but I don't remember the name). And it just wouldn't be a Chinese theme night without chopsticks. Not to be outdone, Grace asked for hers (which are Peter Rabbit ones Grandma and Grandpa picked up while living in Hong Kong). She actually did quite well with them, better than I did. I cheated and reverted to my fork.

Who needs me?

So, I am upstairs and I hear, "Mommy, I'm all done!" Hmm, all done cutting your own hair? All done feeding your brother things he shouldn't eat? I had been upstairs for all of 5 minutes, so surely it couldn't be too bad. Here is what I come down to find: Grace had apparently gotten herself up onto the potty (complete with reading material) and was done doing her business. I wonder what she needs me for? Oh, wiping. Well, at least I'm need for something.

And apparently also for kissing our first major boo boo.

More catch up time

Hmmm, I'm seeing a trend here. I think I have gone back to my old ways of the bi-monthly blog. How do you other ladies get it done?

First, let me vent here for a moment. It was a rainy day here today and instead of getting to go to the pool as originally planned, I decided instead to attempt going to the grocery store with both kids. I have gone a few times before, but only for a couple items. Today was for the big shop.

Grace was going to have to walk because as many of you know once you put the toddler in the seat and the baby in the cart, there isn't room for much else! I bribed her with promises of the bakery cookie and getting to put things in the cart. This actually went much better than I thought once she understood that she couldn't touch things (a lesson learned by almost knocking over the whole display of cantaloupe and then the display of bell peppers).

We did pretty well until Matthew lost it (nap time). Once he started on the crying, I knew we were done. So off we go to the check out line. I get behind someone who is having trouble with their coupon and is demanding they make it work. And I realize that I have a "trainee" check out boy. I notice this all, of course, after I have already unloaded all my groceries. So we wait. A dear lady with a single loaf of bread comes in behind me, sympathetic to my plight. She tries cooing at Matthew who only begins to scream. I end up having to hold Matthew to keep him somewhat quiet, all the while trying to keep an eye on Trainee Boy who tries double charging me for a $8 block of fancy-pants cheese. Nice try, Trainee.

After what seems like ages we finally get all rung up and head out to the car, at which point Grace decides to loose it. So here I am trying to load the car with two crying kids when the poor woman who was behind me with her one loaf of bread comes out and gets the pleasure of also parking next to me. She is a dear and puts back my cart for me saying she remembers those days. Although after witnessing my children's display I'm sure she is thankful those days are behind her! I think I learned my lesson and will keep my big shop for evenings or a weekend, even though I really don't like that solution either.

Matthew turned four months old last week. At his check up he was a rolly polly 16 pounds, 11 ounces. 75th percentile for height, weight and even head circumference. At least he's consistent!

Catch up time

I have no excuse not to blog, especially since a friend has four (count 'em, four!) posts since she gave birth a week ago- with a c-section no less! So I am convicted to play catch up here. As I believe some wise children's book author said, the best place to start is at the beginning...

Erik turned 30 on July 30th. I can state this fact because I am not far behind him. This also gives me free rein to rub it in. Honey, I'm still 29. Whoo hoo!!

His mom, dad and brother (Stefan) came in for the week. It just so happened that Erik's company had some extra seats to the tennis tournament here in Cincinnati (Western & Southern Masters that leads up to the US Open) on his birthday, and Erik was able to score three of them. These are the kind of seats that will make a tennis fan out of you (four years ago we got to go to the final and see Agassi and Roddick play- I had no idea then how lucky we were to get those tickets). Front row, box 1. But apparently no matter how good your seats are they only sign autographs for kids. On obscenely large tennis balls. Ahem.

The old man and his brother.

Grace also turned a little more fishy over the last two weeks. This is Grace being a diva in our backyard swimming pool. For anyone who knows her, this is a major feat, having absolutely no contact with the ground below her and having her head dangerously close to getting wet. I haven't taken the kids to the pool much this summer because 1) I am outnumbered in the drowning department- one adult to two kids 2) Matthew is still too young for sunscreen, and really shouldn't be out in the sun anyway 3) I also don't feel like Matthew can handle hot and humid weather without the cooling relief of being in the pool- for which he cannot; see reasons one and two.

I have been trying to let go of the perfectionist in me and instead embracing the disaster area that is now our home. So one day instead of being the same ol' same ol' overwhelmed mommy, Grace and I had a carpet picnic in the basement for lunch. We also tried our hands at Candy Land for the first time. I was surprised that she got the gist of it. She also beat me. And that was without cheating!



Here is another testament to Grace's new-found swimming abilities. We had the pleasure of getting to go to our friend's neighborhood pool (which is really closer to a mini water park!) and Grace not only played happily in the baby pool, she also, on her own initiative, went into the big pool hanging on a single float and swam around. I may not have the fishiest fish around, but for Grace this was huge. And she knew it too! I feel bad for not being able to take her to the pool more often this summer.

There has been more going on around here, but it really will just bore you (if you aren't bored already with our ho hum days). I will try to get some more pictures posted soon.

P.S. Similar to the early media reports when Tom Cruise's daughter was first born, a lack of pictures does not attest to the fact that Matthew does exist! I promise we really do love him, I just don't seem to have the camera in his face very often.

Peanut Butter Granola Balls

I'm always looking for simple ways to make life more fun for both Grace and I. Here was a recipe that ended up being a hit. Easy for the kids to help you make, and are a yummy snack. I dare say they even made up part of Grace's lunch today- the rest she had at "snacky tables"(read: free samples at Sam's). Hey, I said I was looking for ways to make life more fun, and sometimes that means breaking the rules about three square meals! :)

Peanut Butter Granola Balls

1/3 cup honey

1/4 cup natural peanut butter

2 tablespoons unsalted butter (I used 1 and it worked fine)

1 cup Rice Crispies

1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats (not quick cooking)

1/4 cup dried fruit such as cherries, raisins or cranberries (or if Grace helps, more like 1/2 cup!)

1. In a small saucepan over medium, heat honey, peanut butter and butter. Stir until loosened and smooth, 1-2 minutes. Remove from heat.

2. In a bowl, stir in cereal, oats, and dried fruit. Add peanut butter mixture and stir.

3. Drop mixture by the tablespoon into mini paper cupcake liners or a mini cupcake tin. Place in refrigerator until set. To store, refrigerate in tupperware for up to 1 week.

I'll leave you with a picture of Grace discovering the joy of licking the bowl when we made chocolate cake yesterday. Warning- once you let a kid lick the beaters or the bowl, don't ever think you can go back. Or get a tasty lick for yourself.

Three Months!

How can my little boy be three months old already? (And how can he weigh as much as a 7 month old??) Here are some pictures I took while attempting to be Professional Photographer Extraordinaire. P.S. No comments about his double chin. :)

Detox, day three

That is, Nana and Papa detox. My parents were here last week, which was great timing because Erik was still having to work quite a bit more than usual, so it gave Grace something more to entertain her than just Mommy. As always, a great time was had by all.

As Nana was telling Grace that they would be gone when she woke up the next morning (they left our house at 6am) Grace got really sad and said "But, I need you!" Ouch. Matthew found his Papa very hillarious.

After having to go through the three day Nana and Papa detox, today we were are also going through Daddy detox. The weekend was filled with Daddy time as Grace re-filled her "Daddy love tank". They took a bike ride to the grocery store and made a very impressive fort in the family room, spending quite a bit of time there. Apparently there was also some conference calls and snack breaks in there. I wouldn't know, Mommies weren't allowed. :) Last night as he put her to bed and told her that he would have to go to work in the morning, Grace's lower lip quivered and she said "But, I need you!" Double ouch.