Christmas Morning

Merry Christmas! We sure had fun watching Marcus and Holden open up all their goodies. Marcus especially loves his tricycle and "Cars" cars.
Photo 1 - Baby's first Christmas.
Photo 2 - Marcus opening one of many gifts while Holden learns from the master...
Photo 3 - Shawn and his basket of goodies.
Photo 4 - Kjell displaying his new slippers, Olivia her socks, and Holden his teddy bear.
Photo 5 - We've been trying to teach Marcus to pedal for months to no avail, but this tricylce did the trick. He jumped on it this morning and started to pedal around. THanks Uncle Tom!

Kitchen

A couple of months ago my friend Barb and I came across a picture of a kitchen on the Internet that really inspired us.

Turns out we weren't the only ones. Today I found a couple of websites that call it "the most requested kitchen among kitchen rehabbers".

Our kitchen is not quite as refined, but will someday soon have cream cabinets, dark floors and countertops and maybe even a subway tile backsplash....

FYI, the kitchen is from the movie set "Something's Got to Give." Never seen it.

Final stretch...

It's going to be a cold week here in Utah, not the best weather for stucco-ing, but certainly a perfect time for insulation and sheetrocking (all scheduled over the next few days). Richard is our contractor and he's holding Holden in the photo next to Shannon the master carpenter. It's been a great experience working with them.
I've made frequent trips to Lowe's lately where Marcus begs to "sit on potty" when we pass the toilet displays. He also asks to go potty at home quite often at which time he sits on the toilet for about 10 seconds, wipes himself (actually throws a piece of toilet paper into the bowl without actually touching himself), and flushes. Then he wants candy for going potty. Is it just me, or is he forgetting an essential part of this process?

Christmas Parties

All photos this week were taken by my good friend Pam. Her mom Juanita is in a couple of photos and is Marcus and Holden's "pretend Grandma". Juanita is now in Minnesota until Christmas and the boys sure miss her. Pam accompanied me to Marcus' preschool's Christmas program on Wednesday while Kjell took the scouts to the pool for their swimming lesson. At the party Marcus sang songs (actually he's not much of a singer...yet), sat with Santa and did other crafts.

On Friday we went to Kjell's partner's cabin about an hour south of Provo. It was a staff party for Summit, the company Kjell and Spencer own/run. We ate, played games, pulled Marcus on the sled, went 4-wheeling (Marcus' favorite), and hot tubbing. Next week is the company party for Summit.

Holden is quite the reacher and grabber. He particularly likes to shake his rattle.

Decemburrrr

Since this photo of our house was taken about a week ago, windows and doors have been installed and the roof is near completion. It's starting to feel like a home as the renovations continue. Our projected move-in date is January 15th if not sooner.
Saturday brought our first snow storm, much to the delight of Marcus. He played outside for hours, whereas last year he only lasted about 5 minutes. It was perfect snowman making weather, as can be seen in the photos. Let's be honest, Kjell was working on his giant snowman for quite a while after Marcus was inside with his hot chocolate:)
Shawn, Shea (Shawn's date), Mike & Melissa Smith (Kjell's childhood friend and his wife), and I attended the Christmas Devotional at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City this evening. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir sang beautifully and it was especially touching to sing 'Silent Night' with them for the closing hymn. The talks were inspiring as well. Since the Conference Center holds 21,000 people we sent Kjell running to get the car after the program was over. Shawn, Shea and I leisurely walked among the crowds but when we got to the car Kjell was nowhere in sight. After 30 minutes of wandering around the massive parking gargage, a chagrined Kjell found us waiting for him. He's a good sport about the teasing he's been getting.

Holden loves to sit up and shake things in his hands. I've got a few cold weather outfits that I love to bundle him up in. It's very special to have a baby in your home, especially around the holidays.
Friday night Kjell had a sleep-over with the scouts and I had my first girls' night in many months (years?). We ate dinner in SLC and went to our favorite thrift store - Deseret Industries. Kat and Merrily have been my D.I. buddies for many years now. Of course we all found lots of treasures and enjoyed ourselves greatly.

Happy Healthy Holden

We recently returned from a 1 hour evaluation of Holden and we're thrilled to report that he is a happy, healthy 6-month old with no developmental delays. The evaluators just loved him and continually commented on his good nature, eye contact, and practically constant smile. What joy he has brought into our home. Another comment both evaluators made and I have noticed of late - his hair has some red in it.

Fall to Winter

The leaves are all raked up and flurries are expected this week. At the risk of sounding cliche, it's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas around here! Our tree is up and the neighborhood is fully decked out.

We've immensely enjoyed our 4-day Thanksgiving weekend. Thanksgiving Day was relaxing and delicious. Many hands make light work, which is why we were a able to enjoy a bike ride to the park on Turkey Day. Kjell made the turkey and gravy, I did the grocery shopping and set the table. Together we made the stuffing and yams. Pam baked delicious rolls and pies and helped Kjell with the mashed potatoes. Shawn brought the drinks. Our only regret was not enough leftovers!
THat evening we had several neighbors over to eat pie and play games.

I actually went shopping on "Black Friday" after watching Santa arrive via helicoptor at the University Mall and I did find a couple of great deals. Kjell and Shawn went shooting together while I was at the mall with the boys.

Holden had his 6 month appointment on Monday. His is 95th percentile for height and 50th for weight. All went well except that the Dr. and I are both concerned with his lack of reaching out and grabbing. Oh, and he had ear infections in both ears (later in the week Marcus was diagnosed with a severe ear infection as well). Holden and I have a meeting with a specialist in a couple of weeks but it may not be necessary seeing as he is already making quite a bit of progress with his fine motor skills. Of course we are hoping that he's just taking his sweet time to use his hands. His favorite activity is to watch Marcus (see video).

I've posted our current home for rent on a couple of websites, hence the photo, and we've gotten a very good response. Four 18-year old boys are hoping to move in next year, but we're holding out for another week or so to see if we can rent to a family. This home has been very good to us.

Progress on the new house continues and it is quite exciting for me to go see the newest addition each time I visit. Pictures to come soon.

Brothers

Here are Marcus and Holden at 5 months old. Do you think they look alike?

Grandpa & Grandpa

Marcus calls my dad "grandpa" and my mom "grandpa". There's no distinction. So here you have Grandpa, Grandpa, Marcus and Holden.

Walking Home from Church...

It took Marcus and me half an hour to walk home from church today, normally a 5 minute stroll. There were so many interesting things to see along the way! The grate we always stop at to throw leaves and grass down but get perpetually frustrated because our shoe won't fit through the bars, the friendly horse Fred (see video), tractors, dogs, cars, fruit trees, walls, rocks, etc.

Holden can sit up on his own for a few seconds and is trying new foods daily (note, green beans is not his favorite). He stays entertained in a room much longer if Marcus is with him as opposed to mommy or daddy. Pictures of Holden to come soon.

As I was driving this week, periodically a flying sock would hit the steering wheel. Marcus would inform me it was a "naughty sock!" Sometimes his diaper is naughty so he takes it off.

Grandpa, Grandma, J.P.

Marcus woke up this morning and was sad to find Grandpa and Grandma's room empty. He was Grandpa's little shadow while they visited the last few days, continually following him around the house even when Grandpa was on important phone calls! Uncle J.P. and Aerin watched the boys one night so Grandma and Kjell could beat Grandpa and I in a tennis match (we're ready for our re-match). We also went on a bike ride to Utah Lake, a hike at Sundance (see photos) and visited our house under construction frequently. At night we ate out, played games and caught up on each other's lives. The time went by way too quickly.

Purple Dinosaurs

Both my sons are purple dinosaurs for Halloween not because I have a weird fetish for extinct mis-colored giant lizards, but because they were what was available at D.I. and on craigslist (and Marcus loves Barney). Kjell and I have no parties this year, therefore no costumes, although Kjell is going to be a ghost at work.

I was sick much of last week but I'm grateful for feeling up to par this week as my family will be here on Thursday. A few nights ago I went to check on Marcus late at night. Expecting to creep in and gently cover him with blankets, imagine my surprise to see him standing in the middle of his bed in his birthday suit! Daddy quickly got him re-dressed and I laid down with him for a minute. Actually, it ended up being only a few seconds seeing as his pillow was soaked....

Holden is now 5 months old and still accompanying Kjell and I on most of our dates (first photo). My childhood friend Melinda Ohrn has 3 children, the youngest a son named Collin who is 6 months old (2nd photo). 3rd photo - Holden at his big brother's Halloween Pageant. He's sitting with Juanita. 4th photo - Mommy with her purple dinosaurs. 5th photo - Almost all of the structural work is complete on the house. We're scheduled to move in this year!

Halloween Pageant

Halloween 2002-2006

2002 - Charlie's Angels (Tara, Olivia, & Erin)
2003 - Vanessa & Austin Powers
2004 - Britney & Kevin Federline
2005 - Marcus (dinosaur) & Jake Landon (bumble bee)
2006 - Marcus celebrating his German ancestry (he's got an ancestor named Marcus Lagershausen)
2007 - TBA

Pilot Commission & House Progress

I'm so pleased dad is willing to sacrifice his time to serve on the Connecticut Pilot Commission. Kjell and I constantly seek his advice on matters on everything from running a business to picking the correct roofing material, so we're glad he'll be able to share his wisdom elsewhere (on maritime law, not the aforementioned topics:)

Our house is coming along quickly and smoothly. Doesn't it look bigger with the gables? The contractor (who we highly recommend if you're thinking of remodeling) says the neighbors come by at least twice a day. The original owner's daughter even came and got the front door yesterday!

J.P.

We haven't seen my brother J.P. in almost 2 years, so we are especially excited to have him come visit (from CA) in just a couple of weeks along with my parents (from CT). Even more exciting, he's bringing Aerin (his new girlfriend). Aren't they a pretty couple?

Happy Birthday Dad!

I needed to practice my digital scrapbooking, so I made a page for my dad's birthday. Wish I could be there dad! In other exciting news, I'm an aunt again! Lars Jack McCord was born on Saturday, October 13th to Per (Kjell's brother) and Julie McCord in North Carolina. That makes 3 boy cousins for Marcus and Holden. The video is of Holden laughing...unfortunately, the battery died after just a couple of seconds.

Raising the Roof

New trusses for the roof will enable the ceiling in the main part of the house to be vaulted. Photo 1 - the old roof being removed.

Doesn't our kitchen and dining room have a lot of natural light? Let's hope it doesn't rain...

Our great friends Barb and Brig visited us on Monday, then left for 9 more months of Miami Ad School. It was so wonderful to spend the evening with them and catch up on old times. We're hoping to see them when we go to Florida in February.