Category Archives: Family

Lumberjack Samuel is FOUR!

It’s hard to believe that four {FOUR!} years ago today this ray of sunshine came into our lives. I love this boy to pieces. To pieces, I tell you! Today while we were at the store, I kept kissing his cheeks, and every single time, he grinned his big, toothy grin and wiped them away. I can’ help it. I feel so incredibly thankful to be this kid’s mama. And isn’t he just the handsomest little lumberjack you’ve ever laid eyes on?!

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Big sister and I started the day today by dumping a basket filled with balloons over his bed and letting him blow out a candle on a Hostess cupcake. But the big celebration was last Thursday morning so Daddy could join us. I have to give a great big THANK YOU! to Anna of Along an Inland Sea Photography for capturing these photos. How excited I was when she arrived to the party and asked if she should grab her camera from the car! I treasure these, Anna. Thank you!

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We hosted a little lumberjack brunch in a room at our old condo building. The sun was shining and the waves were splashing onto the shore. The kids loved it and played happily in the grass between brunch and cake.

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I don’t often make cakes these days, so when I do, I so completely enjoy it. This tree stump cake was a chocolate cake with chocolate almond buttercream and Ghirardelli dark chocolate bark around the outside.

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A few weeks ago, Sam’s speech therapist and I started working with him on blowing with the hopes he would be able to blow out his own birthday candles this year. Friends, I was a puddle inside after this happened…

He works so hard! Next big goal…walking! He’s amazing. He’ll be there soon.

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Sam was all about the pancakes on a stick.

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A peek at the invitations I made for Sam’s celebration.

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A few of the cutest little friends joined us to celebrate.

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Sam’s new favorite buddy is this fuzzy little moose. We call him Moosey, because we’re creative like that.

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While outside, we held a rousing axe throwing competition, which Pete thought was highly appropriate as an ER doc. He got lucky this time, though, since our axe was plastic and the target was a hula hoop in the grass. Ella acted as game master extraordinaire.

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When we first scheduled the party for a Thursday morning I thought, Who has a party on a Thursday morning? It’s crazy! But it works for my dear mamas! I was so happy they could celebrate with us! Stacy and her babes.

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Hannah, our amazing babysitter. Goodness, do we love her.

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Ella and Audrey. Two adorable girls, yes?

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Anna and Raliegh. The very talented mama who captured all these photos. Also mama to Audrey.

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Ashley and her boys. Seriously, these boys are just too handsome.

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Can you believe these two happy campers were born at just 25 weeks?! They’ve come so far! Katrina, you’re such a beautiful mama.

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All dressed up in our flannel!

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I ordered these woodsy colored pencils on Amazon to give as a party favor. I tied a little piece of red baker’s twine around each with a printed flannel thank you note.

A very happy 4th birthday to our favorite little boy! We love you, Samuel!!

Lumberjack Brunch 2

 

Party details:

red ceramic fruit bowl, bunting pieces, wooden S, pancake sticks, baker’s twine & plaid ribbon: Hobby Lobby
red lantern, white tablecloth, cake stand, plastic moose: Target
stuffed moose: Saver’s (second hand)
lumberjack color page free download: joyfulroots.com
mini pancakes, juice boxes & yogurt cups: Sam’s Club
invitations designed by me on PicMonkey
plastic axe: Amazon
twig colored pencils: Amazon

 

Click over to my Pinterest party page for a whole lot more party inspiration!

 


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Visiting Daddy

This month and last, Pete has been working at a hospital in southern Minnesota. So much closer than New Mexico! We’ve had two opportunities already to visit him at his new location. The first was during Ella’s spring break in April and the second was last week when we surprised him in the ER waiting room! I think it’s pretty clear how excited these boys were to see each other.

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Pete stays in a hotel when he’s not at the hospital, so we all had a lot of fun visiting him. Of course the favorite is the pool!

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Not only is there a pool, there’s also a giant water slide! Sadly, our first visit was in the middle of the week, which we soon learned is when the slide isn’t open. This guy was a little sad about not being able to play on the slide.

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We played basketball instead!

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We also visited the local library, which has a pretty fantastic play area. Farmer’s Market, a little puppet theatre, a picnic table and fishing boat.

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Our drive back to Duluth took us through St Cloud where there happens to be a Chuck E. Cheese’s. One of Ella’s friends recently told her about the magical land of Chuck E Cheese’s, so when she saw a sign on the way to see Daddy, I took note. Three days later, we made a lunchtime stop and completely made her day. Ella isn’t overly fond of having her picture taken right now, so I don’t have many photos of her. Sam, however, doesn’t seem to mind. He first enjoyed a nice drive with Stuart Little.

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And then took a spin in a cup of hot cocoa with Ella.

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As well as a trip on a train.

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I adore this picture. Sam was a little scared of the movement of this little Noah’s Ark, so he held onto his big sister. She’s always there to protect him.

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Yeehaw!

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Our second trip, when we surprised Daddy, was just as the weather was starting to warm. Sam was thrilled to crawl through the green grass!

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This girl climbs anything she can. This is also why we take her to climb at the Y a few times a week!

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Pumba! These little warthogs ran all over when we were on safari in Kenya a few years ago and our guide called them all Pumbas. So yes, we do have a fondness for this big guy.

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Pete was working nights during our visit, so we tried to go out during the day to give him a little quite time at the hotel to rest. It was nice enough for a long walk and a picnic! Sam was sharing his chocolate with Ella, which was fairly adorable to watch.

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He enjoyed a bit as well.

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Messy face and a dirty shirt, but I just can’t resist his sweet cheeks!

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 Does it feel like spring where you are? Or is it starting to feel like summer already? Today we soaked in the sunshine and 55 degrees! The buds are popping out on the trees and the grass is turning green. We love it!

 

 

 

 


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April Photos

This month I’ve been working through all Sammy’s afternoon nap times writing emails and letters and thank yous as we continue raising support and preparing for Kenya. Because of that, the blog has been a bit quiet. Here’s a quick catch up of photos from April, though!

Daddy & Sammy love their time together.

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Is it April in Duluth without a bit of snow? Sam insisted on eating scoops of it, even as I pulled pieces of grass from his lips.

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Ella read 10 books and earned a free little pizza! Just like Book It when I was in elementary school. Who else remembers Book It from Pizza Hut?!

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So proud of our new reader!

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Pretty sure our Sammy baby could not possibly have any more personality. He’s hilarious!

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Daredevil Ella took a bold leap off the top step in front of the house and gave her knuckles a solid scrape.

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Ella is not only reading, she’s also writing her own stories! This was her first proper story written at home. If you know Ella, you know she adores skunks. So of course her first story was about said creature. We later corrected her spelling of skunk, not sknuk.

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Her illustration.

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We went in to pick up Sam’s new ankle supports but were surprised to see they were covered in daisies instead of dinosaurs! Turned into a wonderful opportunity for a possible connection with a local clinic and the special needs clinic we’ll be working with in Kenya, though. I love seeing how God works like that!

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The beautiful satchel Ella made at school.

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Ella turned this box into a car weeks ago, and it’s been the most popular toy in our house! I caught a photo of Sam sitting in it while Ella was at school. Had she been home, she would have been seated right next to him.

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We made two trips to visit Pete during a string of shifts in southwest Minnesota. One was during spring break and the other just this past weekend as a surprise for Daddy. Photos will be coming soon!

 

 


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Merry Christmas!

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Merry Christmas, friends! May you experience the wonder of this season and the joy of the incredible gift that was given to us through the birth of our Savior Jesus.

 

That night in the fields near Bethlehem some shepherds were guarding their sheep. All at once an angel came down to them from the Lord, and the brightness of the Lord’s glory flashed around them. The shepherds were frightened. 10 But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid! I have good news for you, which will make everyone happy. 11 This very day in King David’s hometown a Savior was born for you. He is Christ the Lord. 12 You will know who he is, because you will find him dressed in baby clothes and lying on a bed of hay.”  Luke 2:8-11 CEV

 

card from Shutterfly


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December!

It’s been a busy month, as seems to be the case with most Decembers. Parties and decorations and making Christmas gifts. All such fun! So here are a few pictures that have captured our moments…

Ella helped me teach a cake decorating class during a creativity workshop at our church.

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Contrary to the photo, she happily passed out cupcakes to all the workshop participants. (She’s in a bit of a phase where she makes a silly face or frowns every time she sees a camera!)

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With our dear friend (and Ella’s godfather) Anton following the St Olaf Christmas Fest in early December. It never feels like the Christmas season until we go to Christmas Fest!

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When Sam first saw the decorated Christmas tree, he kept saying wow in the sweetest little whisper.

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Ella painted canvases for Christmas gifts.

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Sam painted a different canvas.

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Sam helped me deliver shoe boxes to the local drop off spot for Operation Christmas Child. Our boxes ended up going to children in the Dominican Republic!

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One of Ella’s dates with Daddy.

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Waiting at the clinic with his book.

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One of my favorite parts of getting ready for Christmas are the Christmas cards! And my little Santa mug, of course.

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He may need to go to Kenya with us. He’s just so jolly!

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A cup of hot chocolate, a Christmas dress, and the stage? This girl was in heaven.

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We weren’t sure we’d have a white Christmas, but the snow came eventually.

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Sam had the sweetest little playdate with his friends one morning after it snowed. This may be my new favorite winter photo!

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Once Upon a Thanksgiving

A little photo recap of our Thanksgiving travels! First stop: the middle of Wisconsin to see Nana & Papa Olsen. Auntie Kristin and Auntie Kathryn joined us, too!

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A living room tooth check with Papa! Ella’s getting her 6-year molars. She’s very excited!

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Oh Nana, thank you for all the yummy food!

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Second stop: Nana & Papa Scott’s in the middle of Minnesota. All the cousins were there!

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Nana & Papa with all the grandkids!

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We tried to include the horses, but they were more interested in the hay.

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A pink crown for Sammy! Because girl cousins are fun like that!

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