Thanks, Danke, Tak, Merci!

In preparation for our Primary Teacher appreciation we thought it would be cute to make cookie lollies aka cookies on a stick. We broke it down so we each wouldn't have to do too much. I was in charge of the tags that would go on them...with two little boys it turned out to be an all day affair....it's funny how things go sooo much quicker in my head. It wasn't bad or stressful just took longer. i got them prepped with ribbon and tulle.... My poor partners in crime both have been dealing with sickies at their homes...don't worry everyone if you get a cookie they were baked in a sterile-pet-free kitchen.
It was like my boys knew I was going to have a little project for the evening because Rome took a later nap and Björn watched a movie downstairs...they were both out of my hair! After a few kinks I got the glaze made and all 50 cookie-pops frosted...so far so good. My mind was still okay. Put the boys to bed and started piping the word "thanks" on the cookies...In my head I started out concentrating "T-H-A-N-K-S" then "thanksssss" was repeating in my head, by the time I finished, let them dry, and started packaging them I was hearing "Tanks" the I saw turkeys for a while morphed into the word "SHANKS". Keep in mind I was packaging these 3-4am the house was quiet except for me mumbling "Shanks, shankssss, shankss" over and over and intermittently "fergilicious def - fergilicious definintion make them boys go crazy"


While I was up I started scanning some old letters my favorite lines so far were these:

"p.s. I have 2 earrings in my left ear. Do you think I need one in my right ear?" This letter was from a guy my freshman year in college...same year different guy wrote this nugget of a time capsule:
"if you need anything just page me"

oh the 90's ...pagers, earrings and way way too much ill-fitting floral print rayon


btw- i have no idea where my camera is or else i woul have the pic of the cookies

Some cute little moments...I'm all caught up!!!

Cousin's Halloween Party!

Welcome to my party!!



How are they so peaceful during all this chaos?



I had fun I hope those kids did too!
We had all sorts of stuff planned:
*Decorate Loot Bag
*Photos of each kid...that fell to the wayside but the idea was cool
*Candy Toss..Just when we thought no one was going to get it Joshua sinks it in...we scared him we were so excited, then his little bro and Brandon sunk them in on their 1st shots too!
*Pin the Eyeball on the Monster
*Ghost fishing
*Bowling
*Decorate Cookies
*a little Awards ceremony

Lessons learned:
*Don't do it during potential nap times
*Act more crazy to get the children's attention or do it carnival style where they go to booth to booth
*Buy just as much cheap crap that I did this time. $30 dollars here and $30 dollars there adds up!
*Make sure they get to play downstairs for a while that's what they wanted to do anyway.

18 Oct 2009 Östhed's are Fun

Farmor with 3 little 3 yr olds and pretty little Brynn. Sofia with a piece of pie the size of her head! Adam ate at least 8 brownies, it was impressive. Gunnar, was a great story teller. He was still 5 in this picture but only for 5 more days!! Boys doing push-ups. Pretty People and one sweet diaper changing competition.

 

I have a Family Here on Earth

So we were prepping for a Halloween party and I bought some face paint. I did have some cool Incredibles-like mask on Björn he added to his, only after he painted my face. Rik got home from work and still had to take a shower...so we all were painted...Rome was already out for the night or else he wouldn't have been left unmarked.

That top left photo made us laugh for 10 minutes because it looks like Rik has a tiny little hand. We played with the camera for almost an hour. It was fun.

Gamle-Farmor is visiting from Sweden. We got to have dinner with her and Adam's family, Simon's family and of course Farmor and farfar...(Farfar is like his dad I am told, in that, each grandchild feels like they are his favorite...this starts from birth on...Rome will cry if he can see me and someone is holding him, unless...Farfar is near then he is twisting and reaching for him!) Björn loved Farmor over me, Rik over her and Farfar over anyone. I am certain the other cutie-pies feel the same way.

I will post a few pics of the other families too. They are all so beautiful.

 

A Round of Peek-A-Boo anyone?

 

Shhh, it's a secret.

Now Gardner village is a fun little place that Sara and I take the little ones each year...why don't I have pictures of that? Instead I have pics of a naughty little secret...BUT when I got the chance to go, GO I WENT!!! When Sara and I went Farmor came and brought little goodie bags that the kids enjoyed. I thought it was a cute idea and also prevents me from having to go into that darn candy store...which I discovered sells the HAZELNUT HIPPOS from Kinder not the boring Choc ones BUT THE FREAKIN HAZELNUT ONES!!!
It was fun even with melt downs it was well worth it.
ps NOTE that there are wet footprints in some of those photos. WARNING the GRASS IS A SLIPPERY SLOPE NEAR THE POND! We are greatful that it was the one person who could recover from it and not go completely in, if it had been any other child who know's what could have happened. I don't want to ever think about it again.

 

Fall is in the Air....but only to tease us...

 

Harvest Fest @ the Zoo with 1 million other little kids

Lesson Learned, make sure school is in session before ever stepping foot at that place again! Cameron came with us to ring in the month of October. That bottom picture says it all...DRAINING!!! Fun, but draining, if there weren't so many darn kids.
p.s. the train and carousel are still awesome tools to distract from the reptile house and the playground!

 

Fall colors at Sundance

It was colder than I thought and I didn't take that many pictures of the COLORS, duh. But we had a fun time anyway. Björn loved the little paths and of course throwing rocks! Rome loved the Gerber Puffs he was eating! I think dad had fun I know I did. Just should've worn a jacket.

 

9/26/2009 The day Daddy was FUN!

A few things I learned this day.
#1 Even if I don't go to save money, you will still spend at least another $25 when you get inside.
#2 The store at Thanksgiving Point is pretty adorable. fun. cool. inspiring.
#3 Face Painting Illusions owner Emily Steck is one talented Face Painter.
#4 Just because the weather man says it's supposed to be a cool day, if the wind isn't blowing and the sun's shining I most likely dressed my kids tooo warm for the day.
#5 Björn loves shooting Corn Stalks and Paint Balls and he enjoyed playing in corn!

9/21/09 Please Note that I am getting my Money's Worth with this Costume!!

 

Dad had my car so we squeezed into Rik's truck!

Rik took my car, I can't remmeber why. We needed to run to Smith's so into the little truck we loaded...."hold on, I need to lift up your carseat Rome so I can switch it into Drive". We got what we needed and since I had a few bucks I decide Björn and I could jus tshare a carne asada burrito from Beto's. In the pic you can see that it was as big as his head. He dove in and said, "mmmmm, this is good food mom." Then he continued to eat a third of it...those of you who know know that they are the size of a small child to start off with so he ate a ton! It was a fun little adventure that made me smile. I love those 2 boys.

 

10 Posts in one day, I bid you Adieu!

I'm almost caught up! Maybe I'll see you tomorrow.

One trip to Target and that too big Batman costume problem SOLVED!! Intoducing reversible Spiderman!!!

We spent the rest of the month switching back and forth from "good Spiderman to bad guy Spiderman"
 

Oh, did I buy a 5-7 youth? Well, let's go to Target!!

Does Rome's smile melt only me?
 
 
 

LaLa Trip!!! Sept '09 Every trip is an Adventure!!!

A little down time from a ridiculously early flight.
 


Hey Tayler do you want some Cheetos? Björn and Tayler snuggling with Lala they both had a milk sippy and a water sippy. Pretty babies! Mom bought some masks!!
Let's go throw rocks in the river, Lala!!! B taking a leak...sorry Joe and Teriney he didn't releive himself the proper distance from the water.
 

Oh yes we did!!! We hiked Timp again!! This time it only took 6 hours to get to the top and I wasn't near as sore as I was the time in August. "Jenny, I don't care anymore it's too scary let's go down" "Jenny, no I don't want to" "Angela you already made it past the saddle you are going to besides you have already done the worst part." "You can do it" This all sounds familiar doesn't Kincher...Aren't you glad you did it!!
 

:-( dinner before we had to take her to the airport. Chicken I believe it was...
 

First Day of Preschool!!! Sept 8, 2009

 
Just look at that face need I say more? He still asks me everyday if he should wear his school shirt....

Weekend Getaway!! Sept 3-6, 2009

 

Thanks to the world's best In-laws we were able to take a trip, 3 nights people!! I had never been away from Björn over night and of course not Rome. So off we went all I wanted to do was hike...all Rik wanted to do was swim and relax. So instead of going straight to Zion's we headed down to Vegas. I couldn't believe how alert I felt that night...not constantly picking up, making chocolate milk all day will do that I guess. It was nice. Vegas was fun not because we loaded up at H&M or that we got to stay a night with Abby! But that it was just Rik & Jenny. It was nice. We even went swimming for a bit so Rik was happy. I did learn that I look exactly like a 40 yr old and not a 31 yr old...That hurt a little. But all in all, I didn't realize how important it is to a marriage to have that time together without an interuption.

We headed north and drove through Zion's which was beautiful of course!! We headed on to Bryce Canyon we wanted to do the "Peek-aBoo Loop" hike. FYI don't think for a second you will find a place to stay there last minute on Labor Day weekend. The Tahoe was surprisingly comfie! Lesson learned. That night we drove through the canyon and listened to the BYU-OU game. That was funny (we love you Birdlie!! Glad you laughed at the T-shirts!)
The next morning we woke up and hiked. It was so pretty the only part that stunk was the horse pooh that was on the trail. After that we continued west and hike Calf Creek.....IF YOU HAVE NOT HIKED THIS YOU ARE MISSING OUT! Just don't forget your camera like we did. You end at this pretty waterfall. It's 3 miles in but it's not a steep incline at all...so it's doable with kids.

After that we were off to head back home...so yes we drove tons, and hiked tons all in one day! We were tired. My In-laws actually met us at our house so we didn't have to drive anymore...bless them. They will never know how much that meant to me.

Splash Pad Again!!! Preschool Orientation and ONE SWEET PEANUT Drinking his Bottle

 

I've had a Birthday shout Hooray!!

 


31 wasn't too bad. I first received that sweet Make-Up bag that "Tiny 'Phia" made me with puff paint! Then these talented ladies that are in my life not only give thoughtful gifts, but they package them so pretty!! Thank you Abby, I needed that I was in a slump and it was just what I needed, and Kymber the Beer Pitcher is perfect! I am not sure how I lived without one for sooo long. Then the following Saturday, Jenny and Jason made the best dinner for me!! It was all sorts of goodness, Root Beer, Coconut Shrimp, Ribs, Artichokes, King Crab Legs, Homemade Cheesecake....it was heaven to my lips! Just look at my plate!!! Thank you!!! It was straight up Heaven!!!

It made me smile when I heard at 6am "Mom get me juice" and then 6:30 Rome crying...they had no idea it was supposed to be MY DAY!!! Rik came home and we had a fun time...not to mention I got a nice coat and some sassy shoes from The Rack!!

Life is good!! Welcome home daddy!!

We missed Daddy, but we survived!!

Rik was blessed with work in Rock Springs, WY he was gone for 2 weeks. I was ok, the boys were on a nice little schedule and then we spent lots of money at stores, Chuck E Cheese's etc. etc. etc. So spending money was my coping tool. Not to mention I was a rock star and cleaned out the garage, basement, did loads and loads of yard work, the house stayed pretty picked up until I was giving Björn his tickets he earned (he wants a Spiderman bike and he has to fill up a jar with tickets to earn it) I saw a mouse staring at me...needless to say from that moment on I didn't care how productive I had been I just wanted Rik...the rest of the week I missed my Ricky.

The boys and I had a good time, up until Saturday when Rik said they had 2 hours worth of work left. Like the realistic wife I am I calculated that he would work 5 hours plus the drive home so I didn't even look for him until 4pm. NO RIK, every 30 minutes, NO RIK no to mention the fact that he never once picked up the phone to call and say hey it's taking us 12 hours instead of 2...

while he was up there...we were busy winning tokens, eating pizza, going to "Sister SOcial"...Emma thank you for making that happen you have a beautiful home yard family life!! It was fun. I lost Björn/Rome's sweet little baby shoe though :-(

 

I was cleaning the house one day. I was doing something in the bedrooms or something because in a short 15 minute time span this is what I witnessed....

 

We went to Holly's beautiful wedding!!! It was so nice, it even left a good impression on Björn...he kept talking about "Holly's Wedding" even now when we see pictures of wedding stuff out shopping or on TV he reminds me that he went to "Holly's wedding". It was a pretty pretty wedding.

 

After too many hours of waiting I said to myself, I want a birthday date darn it!!! So a date I shall have. I loaded up the boys and off we went to Paradise Bakery. Our 3 beverages, Björn's sandwich, my cookie, the Tuscan chicken sandwich and that lonely cell phone just waiting and waiting to hear from Rik...no dice...but at least my boys were cute and loveable!!! Björn ate all of his food too...I need to remember that...

 

The Zoo! 19 Aug 2009 Kajsa, Brynn and some handsome little Boys!

Mt Timpanogas 4th time, 1st time post marriage with children!

Soooo, I guess it was August 4th that I was driving home and I happened to look over and see the full moon over Timp, it got something inside me going and I had to hike it. I had to hike it then and there, no trying to lose weight just do it, so I headed straight to where I thought Rik was...I was going to get him to go with me that night and have a neighbor kid babysit....he already went to a soccer game that night at 9pm.... my dreams were crushed for a few moments, until i thought, "WAIT Jenny you could get sad or make it happen tomorrow night", so I looked at my phone and before I started to scroll my contacts I thought of my sweet little Bryn!! That's it! I called her and before she could ask how I was I asked if she would be able to hike Timp with me tomorrow night. BLESS HER She said Yes!! So I arranged for a babysitter to come the next morning when Rik had to leave for work and I was set!!!.
We left at Midnight and it took my 30 pounds heavier out of shape body 8 hours to get to the summit!! IT was thunder and lightening throughout most of the night. In fact we were counting the seconds from the lightening to the thunder...luckily they kept skimming past us! There were a bunch of youngsters that would smoke past us, but I didn't care I was doing it!! My heart needed it. I was in a funk and I needed to do something just for me!! So I did! I loved it! At the summit, we met the stud of all studs, Ben Woolsey, he's 67 and hikes it everyday he can. It was funny, he asked us how many times we had hiked it, and I said it was my 4th and he said "mine too........this week!" AWESOME!! He had done it 477 times. He walked down with us, it took 4 hours. He only needed 3 1/2 to get to the top and it took him longer to get down, what a nice, patient, happy guy.

Splash Pad Solo Trip 7-30-09

 


We may have gone to the Temple open house before we came here...I believe so. It was fun I love how excited Björn gets to go to the Temple...it may have been the big paintings and cookies at the end. But I'll take it!

This must have been the same Temple trip that Rome was in the baby björn and he pulled the lady's hair in front of us and she was so sweet that she put her finger in his mouth! And then told me they were clean! What?! So you know you are being socially wrong and then to make it better you tell me you have clean hands??? geee. (geeee..ha! Does anyone remember that from the Berline Mission? I think that was just for you Emma?!)

Tie-Dye I think I commented already about Björn loving it and telling me how Awesome or Cool a shirt is when it is Tie-Dyed..so this was a little blurp of one of the shirts I made.

Rome's first sucker (don't worry everyone he hasn't had one since, she was giving me a break!)

 
 

July 29, 2009
Same day as the soccer game, Aunt Siri was here for just the summer but she made sure that Rome wouldn't forget who she was!

2009 MLS All-Stars game

My BIL was out of town so Rik and I were able to sit in his sweet little Season Ticket seats. 50 yard line...Rik was so excited that Freddy Ljungberg was going to be there. I even thought of making a sign of the Swedish flag for him...I didn't and Rik didn't grab his attention....sad. It was a fun game to watch it even went into penatly kicks where Freddie missed his and lost it for the West. It was still fun and fun to see Rik get excited. We were even on ESPN when they were giving the MVP trophy away!! I was golf clapping and I may have yawned...I'm lame..there it was my ten seconds and I was golf clapping and yawning...

July 2009!!

There were some fun times had by all!! We had a slumber party with Heidi and Mattias! We all slept downstairs it was fun. The next day we were able to go and watch Heidi sing in a High School Musical performance at Raging Waters. She was awesome! It was HOT!!!! With all that fun I recall leaving due to breakdowns...which means we HAD A BLAST!! What is more fun to a 3 yr old boy than his big cousins and potty talk?
An amazing COUSIN PHOTO!! It was supposed to take place that morning, Björn and I talked all about it he was ready, due to a case of food poisoning it was pushed to the evening. 10 HOT, TIRED, THIRSTY children? The picture turned out great!
The Balls AKA "cousins" introduced us to the Splash Pad Park in Herriman; needless to say Björn and I went back a few more times this summer.
A game he likes to play is "where'd Björn go?" It consists of taking as many neatly folded blankets and sprawling them all over him and asking where he went. This day it morphed into dressing up like Jesus with chip clips. It was tender he was making Rome laugh all the while moving his chip clips.

July was also our 5 yr anniversary! I already posted that, but this is some of the fun we had in July!


The day before Heidi and Mattias left for Hong Kong we went to see G-Force and then to Target afterwards....because YES even my niece and nephew find solace at TARGET!!!
My parents came too, we must've had so much fun because we didn't take a single picture!! I know my dad did, but alas I did not.

A Day in History!

Let 09/21/09 forever be remembered as a day where I was a good mommy. We made sand castles with sidewalk chalk, 79 cent vases from IKEA, and sand from the sandbox. Later Björn played with Cameron and when they got bored at his house they came back to ours. Where I, the awesome mom, had them help me bake a yellow cake. Björn helped frost it and then coated it in sprinkles. Not to mention picking carrots from our little mini garden. Running errands as a family, I even picked up a family home evening book... Aaahhhh, and after all of this as I was putting my sweet toddler to bed to end with "I don't like you mom". Yes it is worth it!! Because even though it ended in that he was the same boy who woke up groggy and saw me, smiled and said "love you mom" as he scratched his head and headed for the bathroom.

I have not forgotten my little newbie, he had been a bit demanding as of late...but getting him on Nestle Good Start has been a blessing no more daily throw up and not to mention his 2 teeth that are here to stay!! He is back to that good little sleeper and eating back on schedule!!

So life is good today!

 

 

 

 

Baby's got teeth!