Training day

What a lovely day for a run today--I am currently training for the Twin Cities Marathon which will be held on October 2, 2011.  I have been doing indoor exercise videos, ran while visiting Mom and Dad in Arizona and started Zumba classes on Thursday evenings.  Today was my first WI outdoor run since November.  EXHILERATING!  I went out for a two mile jaunt and couldn't stop so went 4 miles.  It was incredible.  In seven months I hope to look similar to this...

The happy smile after running, not the seven weeks pregnant part ;)

Cool find--family tree

I found a really cool information source of family tree information.  I googled my Grandma's name, Margaret Blomgren, and found a photo of her with her parents and seven siblings.  Along with the family photo was a photo of my Great Grandpa Henry Houselog.  I also found birth/death dates of all sorts of my ancestors. 

Family tree construction might be in my future!

War Wound

Last night after Anders' great dentist appointment (no cavities), we decided to drop by DQ for a bit of a victory celebration--a round of dilly bars for the family.  After Brad finished his Dilly, he gave Osten the stick to chew.  The DQ love has been passed on as Osten chewed with such abandon that his upper gum started bleeding...looks ok today, but Osten has already shown quite an allegiance to "the Queen". 



Passing down of important life skills

This is a photo from this fall, but just had to share the passing on of tie tying from father to son.  Anders loves to dress up and look nice, so was very happy to finally have a tie at the age of nine. 

Like a Lamb...



Is how March is starting.  Hoping Lion will not end.



Katie and cousins

Easter bonnets, sunglasses and bunny food

Katie and Trenton

Kathryn and Siri dressed as twins

Katie and Anna Grace

Thomas Blomgren fanclub member--that special 12 year old

Katie cuddling up to cousin Joe

Liana and Katie in Duluth

Katie loves loves loves her cousins--we are so lucky to have such wonderful family members.

Oscar

I'm hoping to carve a little time out this evening between baths, fireplace fire and story time to watch a little of the Oscars...guilty pleaures, but fun.

orange eater

This morning at breakfast, Osten dined on oranges, dried cherries, toast & water.  I think he is hooked on tart treats. 

We had the pleasure of eating at Grandma and Grandpa Olsons with Brad, Anders, Katie, Austin Mueller, Peter Noreen, Osten and Karen.  It was really nice and relaxing and pretty amazing how much bacon and eggs three growing boys can put down.

Next on the agenda, ice fishing.

More to come

Celebrating

Celebrations are incredible This past year, we were able to celebrate many events...




Anders 9th birthday



Anders' 9th birthday party

Katie's 5th birthday by popping corn

Brad's 38th birthday with bunny cake

Osten's first fall

Anders' football season

beautiful autumnal drive up the St. Croix



impending birth of Osten John

Grandma Grace's 91st birthday



Enger Tower in Duluth, Minnesota overlooking the harbor

Just browsing through my photos and found this magical photo of the last time we were in Duluth after the 2009 1/2 Marathon.  Kyle and Adam had ran a cross country meet here and wanted to revisit this awesome view.

I am hoping to run the 2011 race and to spend time with Kyle, Kim, Kyle, Adam, Liana and Ryan and introduce Osten to this outstanding tradition. 

I look hungry

Being the first born, Anders has accomplished many novel and wonderful things in his life.  Some of the more memorable moments/phrases from Anders:

Anders at Minnesota Children's Museum March 2009



I look hungry--I would say he started this phrase in late 2004-early 2005 when he wanted a little snack
pellows--name for marshmellows.  He was introduced to them at daycare in Rexburg Idaho.  I bought some at the store and they weren't right.  He didn't want the plain white ones, he wanted the multi-colored variety that Norma at Appletree Learning Center gave him. 
Dung coins--phrase for mini chocolate cupcakes--trying to say "that kind"--January 2004
Bew--started asking "where's my bew?"  After many attempts at guessing what a bew was, he pointed his finger and started shooting "bew bew bew".  January 2004
Dos Dos--a complex game where he wanted his playmate to put their foot on a chair, hang their arm and he would swing on playmates arm (thanks Grandma Betty for playing this game with Anders tirelessly).  Took us a while to find what Dos Dos meant, and then when we moved into our little River Falls home, we unpacked our movies and viewed a preview for George of the Jungle before his at that time favorite movie The Lion King.  Anders started singing "Dos Dos Dos Dos Dos Dos Dos" and I had an "AHA" moment.  January 2004-April 2004
Ankie, Ambo, Blocko imaginary friends who played with Anders from November 2004-sometime in 2007.  Ambo often was competitive with Anders and poor Ankie was always the loser in any game they played.  Blocko didn't often compete, but he was there to have a good time.   All three played many hours of Winter 2006 Olympic games--especially speed skating with Apoloantono--Anders name for Apolo Anton Ohno, the legendary speed skater.  Karen also went on many walks with Anders and his friends, competing in several speed skating challenges.
Scooter, Smoochie and Annie Anders', Brad's and Karen's baseball names.  These names were created by Anders one Saturday in early 2005 and shared with me after a day of work in the fabric department of Walmart in Hudson, WI. 
Green, red, white, purple...glass megatrons songs were created outlining the antics of all these megatrons.  March-October 2006.
Anders is a rock star a power ballad of Anders' creation that was performed at Grandpa Bud's retirement party--summer 2006
Sword and a Sword another Anders ballad.  An object of great affinity to Anders as every plaything became either a sword or a blade for several years.  I believe the song was created in summer 2006.


I will keep updating as I recall these outstanding memories...