It's a New Year!

Gracia, Mom, and Faith on New Year's Eve

Gracia, Dad, and Faith ringing in the New Year a little early...the kids do it at 10PM.

Faith lost her first tooth (with a teeny bit of help from Dad after it had been wiggly for 3 weeks!)
She put it in her "Twinkle Toof" tooth trunk for under the pillow. Tooth Fairy brought 2 shiny gold $1.00 coins, which Faith proceeded to spend the next day at the dollar store.

I think Faith looks like a 6-year-old with a missing tooth.

Daddy helps a little but there was no pain.

Siri's Grampa Lloyd with his new T-shirt:
"LUTEFISK: The piece of cod that passes all understanding."

Faith & Gracia at Grampa Nick and Grama Rosie's house with dancing stuffies.

Grammy Linda with Gracia, enjoying cookies and milk in her new Gingerbread apron and baking cap.

Gracia (pink) and Faith (purple) set out cookies and milk for Santa, and carrots for the reindeer. All gone by morning, of course!

Gracia begged to make a Gingerbread House this year, so we got the good ol' Wiltons kit and whipped on up. Here they are proud of their work (Mommy helped a lot.)

Bad Blogger

I was doing so well when I started this. Anybody reading my blog has probably given up on me by now. Just an update, in case anyone checks, the Baby Girl is doing well. I'm 29-plus weeks and the baby is growing as expected and very active. I'm feeling good. Just spent the weekend in La Crosse with my dad's family and had a great time catching up. I've got to get some pictures converted from my camera to the computer, but I've been so busy trying to get the house ready to make room for baby...I'm no where near ready. But, the baby doesn't care, so neither will I.

POLITICAL AD

With one week to go before our national and local elections, I urge you to VOTE. I also suggest that if you have children, take them with you to the polling stations. Children of voting parents are more likely to grow up and be voters themselves.

Take this next week and learn what you can about your candidates. Check out local TV and radio stations' websites for more information. Check out websites of various candidates. Do not rely on the media portrayals of the candidates. Many candidates have taken a vicious and nasty turn on their competetitors and they are not held accountable for their lies. But frankly, negative TV ads work...so find out for yourself and pick the best candidate that matches your values.

VOTE TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4!

I AM SO BEHIND ON MY BLOG! OMG! So much has happened. A few pictures below illustrate a few of the events recently. Highlights:
1. Faith and Gracia started Kindergarten Sept. 4, all day, everyday, and love it. They are also continuing their violin and dance studies.
2. We went to Chicago for fall break when the kids had a few days off school. We had 3 full museum days. We hit Hancock and Sears, Navy Pier, Chicago River boat ride, Chicago Children's Museum, The Field Museum, Adler Planetarium, Science and Industry, and American Girl Store. We had a great time...all of us. It was a great get away.
3. Baby Girl Heille is growing great. We've made it to 23 weeks, and she is active and healthy as far as we know.

The girls were hard to harnass for pictures at museums...Mom's trying to get Gracia in the picture with the old-timey airplane at the M. of Science and Industry.

Museum of Science & Industry--Faith and Gracia made their own toy--a fancy "Gravitron" top with the help of automation.

Gracia in the kid's exploration area at the Field Museum

John took this picture of Mommy...he thought Sue over my shoulder, like she was out to get me looked cool.

Sue the Dinosaur at the Field Museum in Chicago.
We read a book from the library about her, so we had to go meet her!

Navy Pier, Chicago

"Can I see my house from here?" (This is Gracia-Hancock building)

Faith and the self-guided tour in the John Hancock building.

Gracia listening to the self-guided tour at the John Hancock building in Chicago mid-October for fall break. What a view!

Gracia and Faith at a Jack O'Lantern carving party with Dad's college friends.
Mommy couldn't make it because she was at her first Vikings game that day.

A final hug for Daddy before the school day begins. Gracia in pink jacket. Faith in purple jacket.

Meeting their friend, Brooke, at school on the first day of Kindergarten.

First day of Kindergarten. Gracia in red dress. Faith in denim skirt.

Gracia's Kindergarten teacher, Ms. Torke.

Faith and her Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Fryer.

This is our baby girl at 19 weeks. Due mid-February!

Go TWINS!

Faith, Gracia, and Daddy

We joined John's parents for our annual visit to the Metrodome for a Twins game. It was a great game and the Twins won in the last inning. The girls aren't quite interested in watching the game, and would rather eat the entire game. It's a bit rough on the wallet. They were only allowed Dome dogs, 1 pop to share, and they each got a bag of cotton candy which they devoured ("devour" is Faith's new favorite word, by the way). I always run into someone I know there, and in the picture of John and the girls, there's a guy with grey t-shirt and cap and behind him is my friend Maren (chin in hand) from St. Olaf...we were nursing majors together. I spotted her in the 5th inning! That's always fun.

Two and a half weeks until Kindergarten starts! The girls can hardly wait!

Gracia with her cotton candy

Faith and her cotton candy

Violin Lessons

Faith and Gracia started violin lessons this summer with Paula, a Suzuki instructor. The girls love going to Paula's house for lessons, and love learning about the violin, although they sometimes have a hard time containing all their energy and focusing. Fortunately, Paula is wonderfully patient. Here are a few snapshots of our lesson today. Faith is wearing a blue t-shirt and Gracia is in a red dress.


Faith and Paula plucking strings

Gracia bowing a song for Paula (one she is making up)
and holding her violin in rest position.

Suzuki method teaches children to bow for their teacher or audience after playing.