Down by the bay

I just wanted to post this little video to show off my singing skills (muffled laughter) and Heidi's speaking skills. Together we are nothing short of amazing. :)

Gypsies

Lars has just passed his cumulative exams which means he has technically passed all his courses for his master's degree. I can't say I was too nervous about it since he has a cumulative GPA of 3.98. Lars will still be teaching all his classes at the high school the remainder of the school year as well as putting together a second 70 page work study sample. That is due June 1st. It will be a relief not to have any more formal assignments, but then starts the stress of joining the "real world". You know, when people actually expect you to contribute to society and donate money to the local fire department. We're already several months into the job searching process. The challenging thing about finding a teaching position in Oregon (beside the fact that there just aren't any) is that they often don't come available until July or August.

After much discussion, we have decided to also look overseas. We're looking at everything and everywhere. It's been fun to explore the different parts of the world on line and I really really hope we can do so in person. I never moved growing up, but as soon as I graduated from High School I've been a bit of a gypsy wandering all over the states. In fact, we've lived here for two years and that is the LONGEST we've ever been in one house. I'm getting antsy to go.

I do have mixed feelings about it since the girls are so comfortable here and we have the most amazing friends and support group. I would miss them tons and tons, but we can always come back...right? I just feel like the girls are all still at ages where they will transition and adapt easily. I'm just looking for an adventure!

Chatter

Little miss Heidi is just chattering away. Every day she copies more words and often surprises me. She calls her sisters by name, E-a (Leah), me-me (Naomi), and yaya (Emilia). Of course Heidi can say mama and dada, also bird, dog, cat, cheese, please, shoes, inside, outside, cookie, bite, some, baby, beans, horse, NO, open, by-by, new diaper, blankie, see ya, and probably more that I'm forgetting. Heidi will put words together, like "thank you Daddy" and "new diaper" any time she messes in hers. If we ask her, "Where are your boogies?" she'll stick her finger up her nose and say "EWWWWWW!" (Classy, I know. It's just so funny)

She understands everything and follows directions. She'll throw things away when asked...and just for fun. Heidi sucks her left thumb and carries around her pink blankie. She won't sleep without it. Heidi has a very happy temperament. She still prefers Lars or myself over anyone else, but is becoming comfortable at other people's houses.

Heidi LOVES her sisters! If one of them is gone, she will run up and down the hall way banging on doors yelling their name. She often cries when Leah and Naomi leave in the morning for school and is VERY happy when they come home. Heidi is such a joy. She is loved and spoiled to pieces. This is just a little movie of Leah, Naomi and Heidi playing together.

Now I Remember

So I knew there was something I neglected to put on here. I don't know how I could have possibly forgotten, the girls sing this ALL the time! Leah got chosen to sing a special part in the school play. "We all have the makings of joy in our hearts. Just find the right ingredients right from the very start." She practiced a million times every day. Naomi and Yaya sing it all the time now too. And I'm not going to lie, I catch myself singing it absentmindedly as well. It just kind of STICKS in your brain and you can't...get...it...out!!! With that introduction, here's Leah's 15 seconds of fame. She did great! (Leah is on the far right of the screen.)

road trip

I have NO idea where the girls came up with this, but any time we are in the car and they see a bridge, or an overpass, the start yelling, "CAVITY BRIDGE!" Then everyone in the car has to close their mouths, and clap their hands over their lips. If you don't do it, that means you got a cavity. It makes road trips quite interesting.

Huh?

Leah to Yaya
"Yaya? Why are you acting like a human witch doctor?"

Leah's Baptism

Saturday, April 10th was a special day for our family. Little Miss Leah made the choice to be baptized. Her Daddy was able to perform the baptism for her and confirm her after with her Grandpa Fagersten and several of our friends.

After we had a lunch for our family and friends. Lots of people came to make the day special. Grandma Ingrid made Leah a beautiful dress. I didn't actually take a single picture on my camera, and this is the only one from my Mom's camera. I asked my friend to take pictures, so I'm waiting to see those!

UFO - Unidentified Floating Objects

Yaya - Mom, can you get me a drink of water?
Me- There's a cup of water and the table, can you just drink that?
Yaya- No
Me- Why not?
Yaya- Because it's Heidi's.
Me- So why don't you drink it anyway?
Yaya- (in the voice of a teenager with attitude) Because. Floaties.

Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm...and a spanking

Naomi, Yaya, Me, Grandpa Fagersten,Leah, Heidi


Yaya, the swedish milk maid


Naomi


Leah


Naomi, Yaya and Leah on "The Cow Train"


Grandpa and Grandma Fagersten came out from Iowa to visit for the next week. We picked them up from the airport in Portland and on the way home, we stopped off at the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm. It was not a warm day...but it was dry. Grandma only had sandles and a light jacket. With the wind blowing as hard as it was, we were all quickly chilled through. So we bundled up in blankets and made our way down to the tulips. We had a few minutes of gray skies before the rain came in frigid sheets. It was blowing sideways, so we all ran under the covered tent they had set up. Leah was standing by the side of the tent. We were just waiting to see if the weather would let up when the wind blew the tent side in sharply and snapped Leah across her backside. She let out a yelp, grabbed her buns and yelled, "The tent just spanked me!" We couldn't stop laughing it was so funny!

Easter with Grandma Ingrid

We were able to go up to Grandma Ingrid's house for Easter this year. As always, we got a delicious meal of salmon, quinoa stuffed red peppers, green salad, roasted asparagus and deviled eggs. The cousins had a great time doing an easter egg hunt and Leah even tied with her cousin Eli to find the "dollar egg".