Ode to Fuzzy the Caterpillar

Oh, Fuzzy the caterpillar, you were our first pet,
Theodore and Lucy would stare at you in fascination.
You ate you leaf and pooped an amazing amount,
But you could not be confined.

Oh, Fuzzy, named by Lucy, you were meant for bigger things,
when you started to fade and curl up, we grew afraid.
Papa set you free into a flower bed,
and minutes later you were gone.

Good luck, Fuzzy!

Goodbye, Trudy!

Trudy came for a visit- 8 whole days! It was great. There was feasting, playing, not much working (except for taking care of fiesty Lucy and a needy Theodore). We are now back to regular work schedules and looking forward to a busy fall. But we are excited.

"Happy"

We are chugging along this summer. It's been great having evenings home with Jon and being with the kids a lot. Jon and I enjoyed "Harry Potter" and have both been reading a lot. We have had some play dates with my sister and her kids, such as going to the Como Zoo.

So, here are the stories: Yesterday, Lucy ran to Jon and snuggled against him, leaning her head on his chest. She was smiling and then said, "happy". So cute!

Theodore and I were sitting on the front steps enjoying the world when he said, "Snakes are bugs". I said, "no, snakes are not bugs". He said, "yes, snakes are bugs". I told him the difference between the two and he thought that over and then said, "some snakes have beards". I told him that snakes didn't have any hair, if that is what he was thinking.

Very fun!

Potty Training and What Siri's Been Up To...

Theodore is not interested in Potty Training. We bought him a Pooh Bear seat that goes on the regular toilet- which he picked out, we talk about the prizes he can get for potty training successes- to all he says, "Yes! But not yet!"

Siri is officially done with "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat". She was directing the Youth Chorus and had no idea how much work it would be. She foolishly thought the kids would outgrow needing her. Not so much. The shows were amazing and all bursting at the seems with audiences. But now, summer begins!!! Wahoo!!

Back in Rochester

Well, we are back safe and sound. The kids did pretty well on the airplane- thank goodness for "Baby Einstein" and portable DVD players. Here are a few more pictures of the vacation- just cause the kids are so cute!

Leaving On a Jetplane

Well, after ten days with the Campbell family, we are saying goodbye. We went to Enchanted Forest, the Carousel, the beach, the Oregon Gardens, had a picnic in an old cemetary (yes), and all got a little tan.

The best part was seeing Theodore run around and actually play WITH his cousins. Lucy, well, you know... Here are a few pictures of our time together.

At the Oregon Coast

The whole family (almost) went to the Coast on Sunday afternoon. Beautiful sunny day with lots of people, kids, and dogs. Theodore spent the entire time playing with shovels and buckets. Lucy was just busy checking everything out.

Memorial day, Theodore and I (Siri) ran to the nearby cemetery to witness bagpipers practicing and a civil war drum and piccolo band assembling. They were preparing for a big service. What sights and sounds!

Lucy's Words and Theodore, too

Lucy has a good plethora of words like "cheese", "nana", "ball", and even "shoes". She is on a verbal roll, which is so fun to see!

Theodore has so many great thoughts and speaks in paragraphs. His big thing now is to create a nest out of animals and pretend to be a baby bird. He even asked me to find some eggs so he could sit on them. I found two small balls and he was thrilled!

Oxbow Park Day

We spend a lovely day at Oxbow park, looking at all the indigenous animals of Minnesota. It was a beautiful day and so fun to emerge after months of cave-like dwelling. Here are some pictures of the fam (where is Siri? Always taking the pictures).

Theodore loves the outside. He is finally getting in his little car and driving all up and down the sidewalk, "grocery shopping" and going to the pito store. What's a pito? We can't figure it out, but it is at a particular neighbors front step where dried leaves serve as the necessary element to purchase. ????

Lucy the Fiesty One

Yesterday I was playing blocks with Theodore and Lucy wanted to get at them and knock them over. That is all- a strong, deep desire to knock over the blocks. I prevented her by holding her back, moving her away, and putting up my legs as a barrier. Oh, she was angry and threw herself on the floor to weep and sob. After several attempts to get through my mommy barrier, she resigned herself to walking slowly into the kitchen, arms outstretched in defeat, crying as mournfully as possible as if you say, "is there anyone who loves me?"

Well, of course I picked her up and sure enough, as I went back to the blocks, Theodore instantly knocked them all over himself.

Lucy is WALKING

Here is a photo of Lucy on the go. Her walking switch when on Wednesday, March 4 and she is getting better everyday. She is very proud of herself and shakes when she improves. She also loves all soft things, so we have a picture of her cuddling.
Finally, Jon and the kids are cuddling up on the couch in typical fashion.

Theodore and Lucy Stories

Theodore: Jon took the kids to feed the geese at the park. After Theodore fed the geese some crackers, they started to walk away in a row. Jon said, "look, they are in a parade". Theodore said very quietly to himself, "but where are their instruments?"

Lucy: She loves her stuffed hippo and penguin and snuggles with them often by crawling up to them at a rapid pace and throwing her head into their tummies. Then she relaxes with them for a while. She is free standing more and more and more and once balanced, she can go up to 4 steps before she falls over. Poor Gooberlicious.

To Arizona and Back

So, Siri (I) went to Arizona for 4 days. Of course, the first day it rained and was about 48 degrees. I went to a Lutheran retreat center called "Spirit in the Desert" for a clergy spiritual retreat. We learned about our need for spirituality, the roadblocks we often face in our calls to just that. We tried meditation, yoga, contemplation, and walking the Labyrinth.

On top of that, I got some hiking in, went out to dinner with all my other colleagues and enjoyed sleep and AWESOME food! But I missed the kidlets, so I am glad to be back.

Boxes Rock! And more stories

We got Lucy a new carseat. It came in a giant box. The box is the best toy one could ever buy. Lucy goes insane when she sees it and even knocks it over on its side from inside like a giant hamster in a giant hamster wheel.

The other day when the family was at the breakfast table together, I left to get more coffee and Theodore said, "where did the fatten lady go?". At first we had no idea what he was saying and then Jon said, "Theodore, are you calling mom the fatten lady?" I came back in the room and he said, "There is the fatten lady". Well, we don't know where that came from- he certainly doesn't understand what he's saying, but we laughed and laughed! Maybe not such a good idea, since he may say it all the time now.

Christmas and Lucy's BD

Here are some pictures of Christmas. We have the Strommen clan over on Christmas Eve and Day. After lots of services and craziness, we managed to fit in Lucy's First Birthday. She got a cupcake which she sampled delicately and, after eating a bit, threw the rest overboard.

The kids got some great gifts from family. Theodore still loves singing "Jingle Bells/Jingle Bell Rock" and "Joy to the World" while he drums.