Norah's Baptism at Grace Lutheran Church June 28, 2009

Siri, Uncle Adam (sponsor), Kelly Arens (sponsor) with Norah, Patrick Arens (sponsor) and John

All the guests at the baptism: Ron and Barb Allen of Stewartville; Grandpa Bruce Hansen and girlfriend, Mary, of Illinois; Stephanie and Murray of California; Uncle Adam and girlfriend Ellie, of Burnsville; Grandpa Dave and Grandma Linda Hellstern of Kenyon; Grandpa Nick and Grandma Rosie Heille of Minneapolis; Patrick and Kelly Arens with daughters Hope, Holly, and Hailey, of Neenah, Wisconsin.

Norah's cake.

Pastor Steve Berkeland blessing Norah amidst the congregation.

Receiving the Baptismal candle.

Norah receives the Sacrament of Holy Baptism

Norah's Baptism

Pastor Steve Berkeland baptized Norah Kathryn on June 28, 2009 at Grace Lutheran Church, Fairmont, Minnesota

Pastor Ron and Barb Allen from Stewartville visiting with Grandpa Nick and Grandma Rosie Heille at brunch after the baptism.

The kids table.

Grammy Linda, looking radiant as ever.

Guest at brunch at church after the baptism.

Guest included the family of our summer babysitters, Candice and Aurora, The Teskey's.

Siri with Dad, Bruce Hansen.

Stephanie, Adam with Norah, Ellie, and Pat Arens.

Happy 6th Birthday, Faith and Gracia!!

American Girl Doll Hair Salon

AG Bistro

SIX YEARS AGO....

Faith (under pink blanket) and Gracia (under blue blanket) a few days old, co-bedding in the hospital after a few days in their own beds.

Mommy holds her 2 beautiful babies, a few days old.

Mommy holds Faith for the first time, only a few hours old, on June 11, 2003

Mommy holds Gracia for the first time. Only a few hours old on June 11, 2003.

I LOVE YOU, FAITH AND GRACIA!
FOR BY GRACE YOU HAVE BEEN SAVED
THROUGH FAITH...THIS IS A GIFT FROM GOD.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

"My Mom" by Gracia

I found a paper in Gracia's Stewartville school stuff that I hadn't gone through since our move and found a Mother's Day paper Gracia forgot to give me. It is so sweet, I thought I'd share. The bolds are her "fill in the blanks."

I have the best mom in the whole world! She has lightish brownish hair and blue eyes. She is 18 feet tall and weighs about 30 pounds. She is 34 years old.
I can tell she loves me 'cause she kisses me alot.
She is always telling me I love you.
My mom works hard too, 'cause she is a nurse practitioner and nurses my baby sister Norah.
But her favorite thing to do when she isn't working is playing with me.
My mom is happy most of the time, but I can tell when she's mad 'cause I get into trouble.
Her favorite color is violet red and her favorite food is broccoli and ice cream.
The thing I like to do best with my mom is to cuddle.
I LOVE YOU, MOM! Happy Mother's Day!!!!!!

Okay, so my favorites are that Gracia thinks I'm 18 feet tall and weigh 30 pounds. I WISH!!
Also, I gave the girls a Dr. Suess About Me book, just like I had when I was little. In MY book, I wrote that my favorite food was "broccoli and ice cream" when I was, like 7! I think that is her source for that information. My favorite color IS red, but cute that she edited that to "violet red." She is precious. I found this after she went to bed, but I will have to thank her in the morning with a "cuddle."

Summer Has Begun!

Little Artists
Faith and Gracia wanted to paint on little on this rainy day. Mommy's historically not a fan of messy kid activities, but I was very impressed by how neat these Kindergarten graduates are with their paints now! Faith is Cookie Monster and Gracia is Big Bird.
We are planning on going to "UP" this afternoon. I hear it's good.

Norah wants to STAND!
Norah prefers being on her feet. She is so strong. I thought it was time for a bouncer of some kind. I bought a Johnny Jump Up, but in our old house with wide door frames, it doesn't work. So she has a new barnyard exersaucer. Briefly in it last night, she first enjoyed the girls showing her the toys, but then got spooked. I love baby frowns!

Norah's Bath
She's really enjoying her baths and is getting more active in the water, although gets a little nervous about being cold if I don't keep a warm wet washcloth over her trunk. She loves getting her hair washed (so does Mommy) and is always chipper! The profile photo of her in the tub is so cute! And I snapped one of her in her new robe from Great Grandma GG.

HSM Birthday Party For Friend, JANESSA
I didn't get pictures of the pool party at the Yacht Club. However, Gracia had a scare in the deeper end, requiring a call to Mom and Dad from Janessa's mom. She got out a little too deep, however, Gracia's version is that Faith tried to "drown me." In the end, even though Gracia complained of a residual "sea sick" all night, everything turned out fine and the girls had a great time with great weather. Thanks, Janessa! Happy Birthday!

Siri's New Haircut

Next Stop...First Grade!!!

Faith

Faith and partner fall in 3-legged race

Gracia jumping rope

Gracia and Faith's last day of Kindergarten. It has been a beautiful week for the last day of school. Plus, this afternoon, they are invited to new friend, Janessa's, 6th birthday party at the Fairmont Yacht Club Pool with pizza at the park. They get to wear new swim suits and everything. If it rains tomorrow, our family plan is to see the new movie, "UP." Summer vacation will start at 2:45 pm today!!! The photos are of Gracia (long sleeve) and Faith (sundress) and also of field day on Tuesday.

Norah is also pictured of me finding her grabbing the tray of her swing after leaning forward on her own. She's also grabbing toys and blankets and putting them in her mouth.

Norah, The World Traveler

Norah and Auntie Stevie, The Great, outside her house in Woodland Hills, CA. Mommy and Norah took a "girls trip" to California for 5 days to visit "The Greats." We had a very nice and relaxing time. The weather was perfect and we just hung out, did a little shopping, and saw the movie, Angels and Demons (Norah likes angels, but not demons. She was good during the movie, however. It was her 4th movie in a theater!)

Unca' Murray, The Great with Baby Norah.

Gwen is a long-time friend of Stevie and Murray's, and has been around as long as I can remember. I met Gwen at the age of 4, during MY first trip to California (before we moved there when I was 9.)

Auntie Stevie loved having a baby around the house. Stevie never had the privilege of having her own children, and poured her maternal love and attention on many nieces and nephews, fortunate for US!

With all of Norah's movie going, she's also learning to enjoy TV and often fixes her eyes on the screen. Oh, Great! She's becoming a TV boob like her mom and sisters!