Getting ready for Christmas

The first thing on our Christmas to-do list was making gingerbread cookies with farmor!

She had found an apron on sale after Christmas last year and has been looking forward to baking with the kids ever since!  Her patience paid off and we finally got to make pepperkaker together.  Nathan was looking particularly adorable in his little hat!

And Lydia was an absolute doll in our elf hat that Aunt Jessica made for Nathan a few years ago.

We got right down to business - first it was the flour, then the dough and finally the rolling pins and cookie cutters could be used.  The kids had more fun mashing the dough while Erna and I did the cutting and baking.

Kjetil had been out driving taxi that morning but he stopped in to make a few cookies with the children.  They were thrilled to see him and while Nathan may have looked amazing in the little pepperkaker hat...

Kjetil looked sooooooo much better in it! ;)

Our cookies were thicker than traditional Norwegian gingerbread cookies but they were ohhhhh soooooo delicious! 

Lydia was still fighting the sicky-sicks and she was crushed when we told her that she wasn't allowed to eat any more dough.  The poor girl fell to pieces.  

Messy, toddler-pieces of sadness and sorrow. 

 It wasn't pretty!

We scooted off to nap time and then Joseph had some alone time with me.  He seemed pleased about that and proved to me once again that Aunt Jessica makes the cutest hats ever!

Nathan spent the night over at Farmor and Farfar's house so I grabbed the chance to decorate the house.  Lydia, my little elf, was a great helper.  After she headed to bed, I put up the tree.  And just like that - it was Christmas!

Thanksgiving with the Olsens

There are a few things in life that I am forever grateful for.  Waking up and enjoying a quiet morning with my adorable family is definitely one of them!  

We were going to keep Thanksgiving simple this year (since we had been up at the ward activity) but then I saw that none of the missionaries had dinner appointments on Thanksgiving.  My heart melted.  I invited the Sisters over for dinner and then we had the rest of the missionaries over for pie after the kids went to bed.  It was slightly stressful getting everything ready but I am glad we went to all the effort.  We had Kjetil's parents over as well which we are so grateful for!

I have a tendency of shying away from putting my full effort into "American" holidays.  This year I realized that I do that because it puts me all too close to the memories from home.  It makes me homesick, it makes to miss family and traditions and home.  I told Kjetil that I wasn't going to make a pumpkin pie but then I decided to make one.  When I took it out of the oven, it smelled like Thanksgiving.  That exact thought ran through my mind and then I cried over my pie.  It always amazes me what can trigger emotion - apparently this year, it was pumpkin pie.

When all was said and done - we had a full Thanksgiving spread!

The dinner was delightful, the guests were wonderful and the dishes were washed by the sisters after we ate.  A perfect Thanksgiving if you ask me!

Nathan was particularly grateful for a few extra minutes with farfar before he headed off to bed.  He made sure to remind us that we'd be heading into the Christmas season soon and that we should show love, peace and kindness to all!  :)  

Sirdal Thanksgiving

The Stavanger Ward planned a weekend trip to the mountains outside of Stavanger for a Thanksgiving celebration.  Kjetil had to work but we hitched a ride with my in-laws and spent a day with other members from the ward.  Lydia was slightly under the weather that particular day and she wasn't in the mood to socialize.  Chris tried to help her out of her funk but she wasn't having it!

Nathan made sure to utilize his time with farfar as soon as we arrived.  Throwing rocks into the icy creek was at the top of his list.

Nathan even allowed Lydia to tag along which was a rather nice of him.

Later in the afternoon, more families arrived and that meant more children.  Needless to say, Nathan and Lydia were glad to see a few other little people.  Dinner was running late so we had an extra snack and then got down to business.

As you can see, I am raising a thug.  

And his little homie Lydia rocks her beanie like no other 2yr old can!

Between nursing Joseph, helping him sleep, chasing a cranky little Lydi and keeping Nathan active, there just wasn't much time for another else.  I did get a few moment to talk to these two lovely friends...

That was their best attempt at an awkward picture - I think it worked!

We continued to brave the cold but after awhile, Lydia was absolutely done.  

(a few days later we found out she had double ear infections and she had a chest cold that had to be treated like bronchitis!) 

We went back into the cabin to anxiously await the call to dinner.  These two really did do a great job even though they were hungry, tired, slightly sick and in a cabin stuffed full of adults.

Dinner was delicious and Joseph slept through most of the day.  

He was a perfect angel.

At least until I told him that he wouldn't be able to have any pumpkin pie!

We headed home just shortly after dessert was served.  It was a fun day trip and I'm glad that we got to go.  The only thing that would have made it better was if Kjetil had been there with us.  

obsessed

As I have been going through my pictures lately I have realized that I have a certain obsession - 

sleeping babies!

I mean, really, there are few things in life that are sweeter than a sleeping baby.  

Granted, the dead leg and the rumbling stomach that comes when such a sweet baby pins you down on the couch aren't always as lovely but as long as there is a good show on or a griping book close by, it is all worth it.

Joseph was extra snuggly a few weeks ago because he happened to catch a respiratory track infection.  It was awful to see him suffer but the snuggles were in full supply!

He is quickly becoming a wonderful sleeper and I have my sneaking suspicions that he sleeps better in pink...

Teaching another person to sleep is no easy task but when they are this cute, I'll endure a few more hours of coxing to help him figure it all out.

Sibling love

The amount of sibling love is questionable around this house but when I look back at these pictures, it is easy to see that these little ones love being together...even if they do act like they are ready to kill each other some days.

Just after Joseph was born, Nathan asked if he could sleep in Lydia's room.  We ceased the opportunity and made the move that same day.  They slept well the first few nights and then we had to start putting them to bed a different times because they just goofed off all night long.  A few weeks of doing that and suddenly they wanted to go to bed at the same time and it actually works!  Nap time is a whole different bag of worms but we won't go into that.

 If there is one thing Nathan and Lydia love to do together, it is being outside.  They run up and down the street yelling, riding bikes and laughing together.  At least until someone takes something from the other one and the battle of mine starts in all of its awful glory.

 Nathan is incredibly tender with Joseph.  He asks frequently if he can hold Joseph which melts my heart.  Joseph is lucky to have such a kind brother and I hope that gentleness can remain as Joseph gets older and more curious.

 Nathan has become more interested in watching tv and while he doesn't mind sharing his space or tv time with Joseph...

 he's REALLY not a fan of letting Lydia get too close!  That is the toddler rendition of the Berlin Wall made out of pillows between the two of them and wo, wo, wo, to whomever tries to cross over that wall.  Watch out world, a war might just break out!

 Oh...but book time in Lydia's crib - no big deal.  Best buds.  

Ahhhh, the ups and downs of living with toddlers.  One minute we are fighting battles left and right, the next moment we are best frenemies!

Lydia is fascinated with drawing and her love for doodling has worn off on Nathan.

 I have tried so many times to color with him but it wasn't until Lydia joined in that it became interesting.  And I learned the hard way that doodling on anything other than paper is waaaaaaaay more fun than sitting down at the table with paper.  I will definitely keep that in mind!

 Nathan is growing up so quickly and that means more talking, more curiosity and a lot more silliness.  Here he is trying to shave like pappa while wearing my necklace.  

We're fancy like that.

 And here he is carrying Ruggles around like I carry Joseph around.  

Such a character.

 Lydia is usually the ring leader when it come to mischief though.  She is a hot mess of curiosity and sticky fingers.  She just can't resist a good mess and she most definitely doesn't let her hair get in the way of eating every last bite of oatmeal.

 Nathan doesn't like her to be the only one to receive a full spray down after breakfast either!  These two copy each other all day long.  If one of them drops their fork, the other one throws their fork on the ground.  If one of them screams, the other one does too.  If one of them gets a drink, the other one is suddenly thirsty.  They are like two peas in an ever exploding pod. 

 Their fascination with Joseph never ends and soon it won't be two peas in a pod but instead it will be the 3 amigos.  Nathan will be the one making sure everyone follows the rules...

Lydia will be the one making everyone laugh with her silly expressions and her adorable face!  

(This picture cracks me up every time I look at it!) 

 And Joseph will be the one who keeps us guessing since we still don't know much about his personality.  If he is anything like his siblings - he will be mostly fun with a side of sass.  

NO, LO and JO - the 3 amigos

Watch out world, the Olsen siblings are on the loose!

(and their mother is somewhere close behind them trying to keep up!)