Brunch with the Kato beauties

40th Birthday's are starting for my cohort of college friends.  We celebrated lovely Steph Englund's milestone this past Sunday for brunch at Salut in St. Paul.  I can't begin to describe what wonderful food and conversation we enjoyed.  I enjoyed a savory crepe, spicy bloody mary and hash browns that are out of this world. 

Steph also very lovingly shared her  red velvet (my new favorite) cupcake with the table.

SALUT!

The Queen of Englund

Julie and Anie

Trish (my marathon running partner) and Steph

Getting clean and having fun!

I am milking Osten's time in the baby bathtub as long as possible.  It had been a while since he bathed in the sink and he enjoyed this time very much.  When he was all clean, I dried him off and then we oiled him up with Burt's Bees baby oil and gave him a little infant massage...beddy bye soon after.  What a day!

Ryan's birthday circus

Ryan Edward Blomgren celebrated his 10th birthday with a circus!  Thank you to Kyle and Kim for your hosting our family for the weekend!  We are so blessed with family and friends.

Osten and his beautiful cousin Liana Marie

Ryan and the birthday cake he baked and decorated--surrounded by loving siblings and cousins

Anders and Ryan

Uncle Kyle and Osten sharing mushy faces

Liana, her friend and Katie being amazed at the circus

This kid almost gave me a heat attack with his antics...DO NOT TRY AT HOME!

42 weeks of age

For those of you who say Osten and Kathryn resemble one another, here's just more evidence...Kathryn is home with a touch of icky tummy today.  I'm hoping she bounces back to her sparkly self very soon.

Photos from our trip to Arizona from the airplane

one of coolest photos I've taken from a plane

Osten and Katie sharing my lap



Nappies on the line

Today is the day I can hang little O's diapers on our clothes line!  The sun is strong, the temperature is not quite above freezing, but I think that strong sun will bring some much needed light and air to winter nappies---let it be SPRING!

Excitement...

Anders and I (Osten in tow) at Relay 2010

Every night, after prayers, Anders I reflect on our day and what we are most looking forward to in the coming day.  Anders told me that he is most looking forward to the RELAY FOR LIFE event tonight.  He wants to go swimming, play games and run around with friends.  Kathryn is also very much looking forward to this evening's festivities--THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOPE!

Relay for Life!

Tomorrow night, the Ruby Slippers will be at the River Falls High School walking around the yellow brick road to help kick cancer.  Thanks to Michelle, Sharyl, Angie, Michelle, Sarah, Gretchen, Tina, Kim, Brenda, Dawn and Jen for including me in your group.  I will post our total fund raising effort after the event takes place.

Dreaming of the Virgin Islands...

Exciting news...Brad, Osten and I are heading to the Virgin Islands in just 2 weeks and 1 day!  Brad had an opportunity for a work visit and we get to tag along for a week.  Bud and Betty are coming to stay with Anders and Kathryn--we are so lucky.  It's especially attractive today with the crazy weather we are experiencing here at home

24 hours ago--rainy and in the 40s
last night at 10:30pm--rain snow mix and thunder/lightening
right now--snowing very heavily and 27 degrees


The low temp with wind chill will be below zero this evening.

Some sad entertainment news just breaking, Elizabeth Taylor passed away this morning...screen icon.

The nice part of winter...Kicksledding on Wood Lake

Kick sledding at Grandma and Grandpas

 

 

Cool nest on one of the Wood Lake islands

This was the nice part of winter when there was great snow cover and thickly frozen lakes where we could adventure and explore. 


I've heard we are to get a couple of inches of snow again, so perhaps the magic can be relived? 

10 months!

Today Osten was delivered to Liz's house, then I went to work and have had a very productive day. At our afternoon lunch visit, I realized Osten is 10 months old TODAY!  What brought on this moment of clarity was this gem that Liz shared with me....

When I interviewed Liz, she told me that she loves to produce artwork with the kids.   Now these sweet little paw prints are at home on my filing cabinet here at work.  I might even share a set with Dad ;)

The story of...

This weekend while we were spending time with the Blomgren family, we were privileged to read the stories of Kyle Jr. and Adam.  For their Sophomore year English assignment, they were to compose an autobiography outlining their lives, their ancestors, where they have visited, significant life events and where they project their lives to be in the future. 

It was interesting to read stories that I remember of their lives such as their secret "twin language" pain-taint...and of their trip to see us when we lived in Idaho.  Very well done, handsome and accomplished nephews and an outstanding assignment that would be fun to add to as they "grow up". 

Kathryn, Adam and Kyle at Grandma and Grandpa B's house last summer

celebrating Ryan Edward

Happy 10th birthday celebration to our wonderful Godson, Ryan Edward Blomgren.  Yesterday family joined together to celebrate Ryan's birthday at his home in rural Butterfield Minnesota.  I don't know of many kids who have a circus on the same day as their birthday party. 

Thank you to Kyle, Kim, Kyle Jr., Adam, Liana and Ryan for hosting a fun filled weekend of pancakes, running, kickball, breaking into a minivan, reading, visiting, circus, chili, snicker salad & pizza.

Passing of a special friend's pappa

Duane Albert Anderson

  |   Visit Guest Book

Anderson, Duane Albert age 78, of Edina, formerly of NE Mpls. Preceded in death by brother, Ivan. Survived by wife, Annette Holmquist Anderson; son, Steve (Alicia); daughter, Julie (Matt) Thibodeau; grandchildren, Abby and Libby Thibodeau, Luke, Kate and Natalie Anderson; sister, Eunice (Clint) Wicklund; brother, Sidney (Lola); many loving nephews, nieces and other relatives. Memorials preferred. Funeral service Friday 3:30 PM, with visitation one hour prior and also Thursday from 5-7 PM, all at: Washburn-McReavy Edina Chapel 952-920-3996 W. 50th St. & Hwy. 100 

 

Last night, I attended the visitation for my very best friend, Julie's Dad.  Julie's Mom, Annette was so incredibly strong throughout the evening.  Her faith is rock strong--so inspiring.  

 

Here's to you, Duane...your smile, intelligence and kind nature will live on in memories for years to come. 

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

St. Patrick's Day has been greeted by overcast skies and  nice balmy 40 degree temperatures in Western Wisconsin.  

 

The day was not greeted by small green visitors, much to Kathryn's disappointment.  To add to her  disenchantment, baby O was not dressed in green; how could a Mom who loves her baby not dress him in green on his first St. Patrick's Day? 

What shenanigan's can we cook up for the evening...we shall see...

CHAOS waterpark photos

Pictures are worth a thousand words...we had a fabulous weekend with the Kniers--springbreak about 50 miles from home--ChAOS!

Osten is 42 weeks old--celebrating at the Metropolis

Water baby Julia Knier

One of the favorites of Osten and Julia

Jennifer and Jillian--a couple of lovelies playing ball

Kathryn and Karen enjoying some Momma/daughter time

Julia and Anders and couple of hams

Daddy/daughter time at Subway eat fresh

Covergirl

River Falls has a very strong park and rec program.  For the past six summers our family has partcipated in different activities including swimming, dance, tee-ball, baseball, tennis, soccer, preschool parties, princess camp, ShowKidz, circus camp and more. 

The 2011 Summer Catalog was mailed this past Sunday, March 13 and who was on the front cover?

Kathryn at Ms. Jennifer's Princess camp in 2010



http://www.rfcity.org/assets/pdfs/parks/2011CombinedActivityGuide.pdf

Prayers...

So many lives that have been affected so far in 2011--my very dear friend, Julie lost her Dad to his battle with cancer on Saturday, the tsunami in Japan, the unrest in Wisconsin with the newly elected governor making difficult decisions that emote strong feelings from people across the nation and will lead to early retirement and larger public school class sizes.

Now is a good time to pray for those who you love, for those you will never meet and also for those at whom you are at odds. 

First day at Liz's

Osten is spending his first day of care at Liz's Daycare and Preschool today.  He seemed quite happy when I dropped him off at 7:45am.  I will be visiting him in about 2 hours for lunch. 

Anders and Kate are spending the day with Brad as they are on Spring Break.  I would love to be home with them, but we did get a spring break opportunity with our trip to the Metropolis this past weekend with the lovely Knier family, staycation and a blast!

15 years in the making...

15 years ago yesterday Brad and I went on our very first date.  What a wonderful 15 years and here's to many many more!

Waterpark with the Kniers!

Osten's first day at Sheri's



Kathryn and Julia Knier



Katie and Jillian Knier 2009



To offset our sadness of Kathryn and Osten's last day at Sheri's (our amazing caregiver), we are traveling to Eau Claire this evening to spend time with the lovely JJJJ Knier family at the Metropolis Waterpark.  More to come...

best buds--Ian & Katie

Braden, Lucas, Ian & Osten

Sewing bug...

My creative sewing side is awakening...there are some projects that I would really love to tackle:

new changing pad for little O's diaper bag
soft blanket for little O
blanket for Anders and his new room
sundresses for Kathryn and bitty twins and cousin Siri
surprises for the lovely ladies in my life...Mommy dearest, Mommy in law dearest, Kathryn, Brenda, Kim, Joan, Ibby, Molly, Jenna, Anna, Abby, Liana, Siri and Dehlia

I would also LOVE to get some down to earth scrapbooking done.

I like to set my sights high.

268 weeks ago...

Beauty/katie kat/puppy sock/fingernails/beata/keeta/smokey beaud...was born.  Thank you so much for your candor, your grace and your spirit Miss Kathryn Grace.  PS...looks a little like Osten, dontcha think?

Mobility

Osten John has started crawling or scooting backwards.  He has been slowly working on this feat, but I would say he is getting quite adept.  He even manuevers his body, so he can aim at his final destination feet first.



 Also happy to report that he enjoyed roasted chicken bits, frozen garden peas with the covering removed, tiny bits of bread & big drinks of water for dinner last night.

Time keeps on slippin' slippin' slippin' into the future...

Flashback to Palm Sunday 2010

The Lenten season is soon upon us...this is a favorite from Palm Sunday 2010.  Kathryn ended up teaching this song to all of Jacob's Ladder Preschool last spring.

Tomorrow is Shrove Tuesday--pancakes here we come!

Beet It!

With each passing day, Osten is becoming more adventurous is in his eating.  Today, we had a nice lunch at Red Lobster with Great Grandma Grace.  Osten ate his baby food that I packed and also ate some brocolli from the table and enjoyed the Red Lobster biscuits. 

Tonight, he ate up the last of the beets that I had boiled and prepared/froze for him...I had to take a photo of the lovely face after beets...I will refrain from taking a picture of beets post digestion; but I will let Sheri know in case she gets a surprise tomorrow when changing his diaper :)