In like a lamb & Out like a lamb...

Was the weather today beautiful or what? We have recieved no snow in the month of March which is record breaking, but Lydia and Papa don't mind!! Who needs snow for sledding? :)

YEAH!! The water is finally going down! Here was the view today. Lydia wanted to take a ride in the stroller so we went mudding down the driveway. The mud really caked on the wheels which she didn't think was quite as funny as I did.

This week we have also been preparing for Easter. We made my Gma Joan's chocolate egg recipe and had 3 Easter egg hunts today. Lydia really got excited when she found the eggs and enjoyed putting the correct colors together. We have also been reading an adorable book called What Is Easter? where we learned that eggs, bunnies, chicks, and candy are fun, but Easter's really about God's own son. We read it all day long :)

Short and Sweet

On Saturday we were blessed with family and friends to help us move our belongings from St.Charles to Saint Peter. Thank you everyone!! Our stuff is here so that is one step closer to having our own place. God is good and I know he has a plan for us! I am just trying to be patient as he shows us the way :)

Kids are ment to make us smile...

Who could resist smiling at that adorable face? I also have to smile every time he spits his nuk out and to feverishly find his hand. Not sure we are encouraging or discouraging thumb sucking at this point, but he sure needs his fix of sucking. any advice or pro/con. debate over thumb vs. nuk?

Today Lydia brought a giant smile to my face when she folded her hands at mealtime and without prompting said, "Thank God... food". How cute is that!?!



It has also been exciting today to see her finally wearing the purple Croc. slippers I bought her months ago. They have strange slippery bottoms so she never wanted them on, but today she wore them for about an hour. Just had to grab a picture :)

Over the weekend we enjoyed the beautiful sunny weather and all ventured outside to the vineyard for some pruning lessons from Charlie, the vine expert. Charlie's sister even got excited about it! She was kind enough to come out Saturday night to watch the kids while we attended John Ireland's Luck of the Irish fundraiser. We had a great time and I really enjoyed getting off the farm after being here for 2 1/2 straight days. Due to the late evening Amanda stayed overnight, did some homework Sunday, and when she needed a break from Calculus she tried out her pruning skills.

So the flood report - When looking online I find limited info. about flood warnings for the St.Peter area which is funny because we know for a fact that the water is over it's banks. The picture below is a close-up which shows that you can't see anything of the Rabbit Road, driveway, or even mailbox. It has been an experience in simplicity and enjoying just hanging around home for me and the kids. Charlie and my parents on the other hand are experiencing tired legs and wishes for a quick crest. If anyone is interested in seeing the view first hand let us know and we will escort you in.

Flooded In!!

Being from Minnesota, we frequently hear in the winter that someone is "snowed in" and can't get anywhere, but how often do you hear that someone is "flooded in". Well this saying came true for me and the kids this morning. The early rising farmer sprang us all into action when he left for the farm only to find at least a foot of water over the driveway and rabbit road heading toward Hwy 99. Hearing news like that sure wakes a person quickly!!

Last night after returning from the annual St.Patrick's Day parade Charlie, my dad, and Lydia were surprised to see a bright orange fence blocking traffic passed the driveway. They explored and discovered that water was coming through the culverts under the railroad tracks, so we knew the water was rising, but No one thought it would rise that fast. We decided that there would be time tomorrow to drive the vehicles out, but were we wrong! No attempt was made to get my car out because we're assuming that the water level would have been half way up the doors. Scary thought!! Amid all the commotion we realized that our plan of using my parents livestock trailer for moving our stuff next weekend maybe foiled if the trailer didn't get out asap, so dad kindly hooked it up and parked it at the dairy farm. After my parents got ready and loaded the vehicles to follow one another out for what will be the last time in several days, I feverishly prayed while they slowly drove through the flood waters. Shh, don't tell anyone because it is illegal, but what's a person to do? It sure was scary watching!! Glad it wasn't me driving! The rush to get vehicles out is an important measure to ensure that we are able to continue our daily lives while the flood waters take over the driveway for awhile. We are fortunate enough to not be completely stranded and able to walk out to the North where we park vehicles up on higher ground off the Rabbit road.

Thoughts that have come to me in light of all that can so quickly change -

• "What does God think when he sees us scurry and worry in situations like this?" I comically envision him seeing us scurry around like ants. It also makes me think does he just shake his head and think "Why do they worry? All is in my hands!"


• As I think about the possibility of not leaving today for our typical time at the Creative Play Place it makes me question if all those things on my list to-do are really all that important.


• I have gone through this flood experience before and don't remember being all that worried about things even when it came time for my cousin's wedding or senior prom and we had to haul dresses out on an ATV, so what is different about this time? Does time decrease the worry and make it something to laugh about? Is it the fact that I now have kids?

Well, I will leave you with this view from the front window at my parents...

What Season Is It?

Yesterday afternoon my dad and I took Lydia outside to see the sheep, walk in the snow, and put up a pinecone birdfeeder she made. What an adventure just going outside can be for a 2 yr. old! We all put on our rubber boats which just that alone made Lydia's day because she loves wearing them. Thanks Sundberg boys for passing them down!!! It was a good thing the boats go up to her knees because right away she wanted to walk through the snow, ice, and water. The best part was when she went a little too deep and got a boot full of snow :)

While we were exploring the wonderful outdoor transformation from winter to spring Eli hung out with my mom. It has been so nice having Gma and Gpa help from my parents and Charlie's. Thanks guys!! Eli shared with Gma LuAnn his adorable smile which pops up more and more these days. He gets especially smilely on the changing table even at 6 a.m. Lydia still adores him, but is getting more comfortable giving hugs, kisses, and even wanting to pick him up or pull him around. Not sure if this is a good thing or not, but my guess is that Eli will come out on top eventually.

Friday afternoon my mom and I enjoyed pedicures which was so nice to just relax and take a break. Thanks Carissa and Ike for the pedicure gift certificates!! Besides the fun of getting the pedicure I also neglected to bring flip flops along for afterwards, so I took a leap and wore the little foam ones out of the salon. Made me smile and now I think Lydia may have a little spa day of her own. I also ran errands in Kato because I figure it's just not happening with two kids in tow anytime soon. It's one of those things I don't want to try yet on my own. I don't think the afternoon was quite as relaxing for my dad who was home with the kids. Eli had 3 full diapers and is still trying to get the hang of drinking from a bottle. Charlie also enjoyed some fun Friday afternoon getting out into the vineyard to prune some vines. Eli wasn't interested in a nap so Charlie bundled him up for his first taste of the vineyard. He fell asleep right away!!

New words/phrases from Lydia -

• Ready, Set, Go
• Hi Guys!
• See Ya Guys!
• Bye Bye Amy (using names more often)

Refinding your Smile

I recently picked up the book Repacking your Bags; Lightening your load for the rest of your life. The back of the book actually caught my eye because it says "Does all this make you happy?" The question of happiness is something I have been pondering as our family has once again transitioned to a new place to live, new job for Charlie, and new identify as a family of four. Don't get me wrong I am blessed with all the things and people I have to share in my life, but what is my purpose or calling has been tugging at my thoughts as I prepare to resign from my teaching position. It has been a joy to be home this past year and I want to be home with my children, but I wonder "What am I going to be when I grow up" or simply what are my goals. In chapter one it talks about the importance of laughter and smiling, so my mission yesterday was to laugh as much as possible. Lydia helped me in my endeavor by being completely entertained with the tickle monster, rocking crazy on the recliner and my favorite bobbling up and down to the music as we danced together. Every person should have a couple minutes with a kid each day just to make them laugh and smile.

Crazy about Craisins

These pictures tell it all!! Lydia has eaten Craisins for snack every night for about the last five nights. You would think that her system would tell her to stop sooner than later, but she sure loves them. She insists most nights on carrying around the bag and eating handfuls at a time. Who needs a snack cup!?!

Oh Baby! What a nice big sister, she even shares her baby doll. You can't tell from the picture, but the doll is missing an eyeball. I found what looked like a gem this morning on the floor, but noticed that it looked surprisingly like an eyeball. Sure enough baby dolly is missing one of hers. Elijah doesn't seem to mind and I don't think Lydia has noticed yet. Good thing she doesn't sleep with baby because surgery will be happening tonight.

Eli went in on Friday for his 2 month appointment and all is well. The Champ is weighing in at 12 lbs. 4 oz. Still gaining well and has more rolls than Lydia has ever had. He is really starting to smile now and noticeably realizes when you are near him or talking. Charlie was home for a bit today and while sitting Eli upright in his lap the little guy fell asleep. It was a shock to Charlie! He does seem to have a hard time falling asleep laying down and surely would prefer being in your arms. I am checking out the book Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child at the library tonight so that maybe I can help the little man out. His big sister is also needing some help as the last two nights she has woken up screaming in the wee hours or has taken a lot to get to sleep. Transitions and change are most likely the culprit, but I saw this book recommended on some one's blog so why not see what advise the author can give.

Wishing you and yours a peaceful nights rest!!