Playing Outside

While Peder and Mark practiced soccer with some friends from school, Caroline and I enjoyed the weather in the backyard. Our little green-cheeked conure, Katie, came outside with us too. Caroline LOVES being outside. I was trying to clean off some of the chairs (the stuff falling off the trees is horrible) and Caroline wanted to help, as usual. The only problem is that she likes to clean off something with a sponge, then washes it out with water but puts the sponge in her mouth. Yuck!

We're enjoying perfect spring weather (high 70s), but we could do without the allergies. We are all suffering.

Traveling with the Kids

Last week we traveling three hours south to visit my parents for Spring Break. I don't relish traveling in the van with the kids, but they did fine. Thank goodness for DVD players. Caroline was out before we even left the city. Peder was ready for a movie. My rule is that the movie starts when we are out on I-35. That way we aren't turning so much on the road and decreases the likeliness of carsickness. Can't be too cautious, right? In the end, we repeatedly heard "Are we there yet? How much longer?" ('I Spy' only diverts attention for so long.) Reminds me of when I was a kid and we made many trips to Minnesota to visit the grandparents. We didn't have built-in DVD players, though, so it was brutal. :-)

Spring Break!

Well, I'm long overdue for a post. I've had several comments from people wanting more pictures. What a perfect time to start posting again since we are visiting my parents at their new home in Georgetown! Since arriving here on Sunday, we've enjoyed the beautiful spring weather. Peder has been able to go swimming in the indoor swimming facility here in their subdivision. We've also taken walks and seen some deer! Yesterday we celebrated Caroline's 2nd birthday a little early (it's actually on Friday). She got a cute new doll from Grandma Ollie. It's her favorite present. We sang happy birthday to her and had some cake that Peder helped make and decorate. He had very specific ideas about decorating of course. It was a very simple birthday celebration, but it was all she could handle. Here are a few pictures. More to come!

Peder couldn't keep his hands off the cake!

Neither could Caroline once she saw it.

Making the Birthday Cake

One of the benefits of having a sibling much younger than Peder is the fact that he got to plan every aspect of the birthday cake. He wanted 1/2 chocolate and 1/2 vanilla. He liked the idea of a marble cake. He also wanted a "spring themed" cake, so he decorated it with a big blue flower and on each bottom corner is a baby face with a ringlet of hair on top.

Georgetown, Texas

We've been exploring Grandma and Grandpa's new place near Georgetown, TX. Here is a beautiful park there. The last picture is of the fishing area there where Grandpa hopes to fish with Peder soon.

School Auction Evening by the Lake

Mark and me at the Filter Building


Larry and Diane

We recently went to a fundraiser auction for Peder's school. It was at a beautiful new location off of White Rock Lake (The Filter Building). It was a nice evening spent with other parents and our dear friends (and Peder and Caroline's godparents!), Larry and Diane. Thanks for joining us again guys! We bid on (and won) a few items in the silent auction (gift cards, etc.), but I am always so impressed by how high in price some things went for, especially the class gifts. Parents and grandparents were digging deep in their pockets for personalized class quilts, game chests (Peder's class), custom-made pottery and glassware that the kids had been involved in creating. It was especially fun seeing friendly bidding wars ensue between two sets of parents.

One event that was up for bid was an evening and dinner with a group of your friends, hosted by a local country/Christian musician at her and her husband's ranch. Bidding was going on and on and finally the singer's husband stood up and announced that they would extend it to be an overnight event hosted by them. It was so fun seeing such enthusiasm. I think the bidding stopped just under $2000. (!)