Synnove's 1st Dentist Visit...and More

So, Synnove went to the dentist today. I had slacked in making an appointment for her, as I hadn't been in a couple of years and hadn't established myself with a dentist in the area yet. Back when I was in college, the dentist that I had had since I was 5 decided to take an early retirement. I was pretty bummed cause he always made my dental visits painless and fairly enjoyable. Yes, I actually liked going to the dentist! It wasn't until I went to the dentist a couple of years ago in Hillsboro that I became quite afraid of the dentist. Granted, I wasn't up on my cleanings/check-ups...it had been a handful of years...so, I was prepared to get some fillings and expected some discomfort. Anyway, I ended up with a crown (long story on that one...has to do with the braces I had for 9 years) and had a horribly painful experience that lasted for weeks. I recall the dentist and his assistant basically telling me I was a wimp and that I must have extremely sensitive teeth....all as tears are streaming down my face. This is all after he ground my tooth to a tiny nub and placed a permanent crown without any Novocaine. ANYway, my crown started to hurt a couple of weeks ago, so I decided to make an appointment with a dentist.

When I moved back into town I had heard that Dr. Smith (my childhood dentist) had returned from his retirement and set up shop back in Astoria! Hooray! He's kind of a goofy guy, but always takes great care in making sure his patients are comfortable and pain-free. I made an appointment for myself, and also for Synnove. I went a couple of weeks ago and told Synnove that she was gonna go too. She was so excited to get a bag of goodies (floss, toothbrush, etc.). Last night, however, she had a hard time getting to sleep as she was a little nervous for her upcoming appointment.

This morning, even though her appointment wasn't till noon, she had her toothbrush all ready and couldn't wait to go. I took my time getting ready this morning and did a few chores. It was 10 minutes before we were to leave and I went downstairs to gather the kids from playing. Both Soren's and Synnove's mouths were covered in marker!!! I couldn't believe it! Just before going to the dentist, of all places, the kids decide to paint their mouths...inside and out! The marker was semi-washable and I tried to get the remaining with a bit of rubbing alcohol with no luck. So, she went to the dentist with remnants of red marker on her lips.

Dad watched Soren and Synnove and I headed to see Dr. Smith. The hygienist was awesome (same one I had)...so gentle and sweet with Synnove. Synnove was a bit shy and non-responsive (as I expected), but there were no freak-outs and she did very well! The only difficulty she had was that she kept scooting off the side of the chair (moving away from the "scary" tools) and the hygienist had to ask her to scoot back probably 4 different times.

Synnove and Sandy, the hygienist

When we got home, she was so excited to start using her bag of goodies. I let her go in the bathroom and use the different things. As she did that, I went downstairs to write an email. I then went upstairs to find that both of the kids had painted their fingernails! Ugh! I don't know how many times I have told Synnove that she is not allowed to paint her own nails. First, marker lipstick, then gobbed-up fingernails. Oh, toddlerhood...

Soren's freshly manicured hands

Roommate Reunion

I've done a lot in the last few days, and haven't had time to catch up on the blog. But, the highlight of my week/weekend was when Natalie came for a visit! I met Natalie almost 11 years ago when I moved onto the 3rd floor of Hobson Hall at GFU. She was shy and quiet and I didn't really get to know her that well until the latter part of the school year. Nat and I went on to be roommates for the rest of our years at Fox...along with a few other of my dear friends that I hope to blog about in the future. It is hard to keep in touch with everyone after college...but it is true what they say...the friends you make in college are the ones you keep forever.

Nat had planned to come over for the day on Thursday, but, thankfully, she brought some "in case I stay overnight" supplies. Once we get to chatting, we just don't shut up! Of course, the kids were quite a distraction, as they loved Natalie and wanted her undivided attention at many moments during her stay. So, with all of the many interruptions, she just had to stay till Friday so that her visit could be complete. She didn't need an excuse to stay...that just sounded like a good one to me :)

We had a great time just hanging out and enjoying the day. We colored in coloring books, visited the chickens and the bunnies, gave Nat a couple of 4-wheeler rides, went to Elise's coffee shop, took a quick jaunt out to my grandma's, ate pork chops, played with play dough, looked at old photo albums, caught ourselves up on The Office on DVR, drank coffee, and did a LOT of talking! I can't wait for her to come back and stay for a few days!

At The Wheelhouse Coffee Co. (my sis's shop) in Astoria

When I Find a Spare Moment...

Back in my early high school days, my mom got me started on cross stitch. At the time, we were living in a tent/trailer while my parents built their house. It was fall and the weather wasn't that great. We also didn't have TV. So, my mom tried to find some fun activities for us kids to do. Mom gave me a little Christmas greeting card kit to complete. The kit she gave me wasn't really for a beginner, but I attempted anyway. I remember I found it very tedious and frustrating. I would do a few stitches and then find something else to occupy my teenage brain. I kept it and worked on it over a period of several years. It still isn't finished...it needed some fancy stitching that I didn't want to figure out how to do. Anyway, I dug it up...

Then, one day a few years ago I was doing some Christmas shopping. I had this coupon for Michael's craft store for 50% off one item. I drove ALL the way to 185th (25 minute drive from my house at the time) with Synnove just to look for a particular gift that I was hoping to get at 50% off. Of course, I couldn't get it, cause it was already on sale...as was any other gift idea that popped into my head. I was ticked, and gosh darnnit, I was gonna find something to buy! I wandered to the cross-stitch section and found a birth announcement kit that I thought was alright...so, I bought it. Just so you know, I've grown to very much dislike Michaels's for their sneaky/misleading ads, and rude customer service....but on with my story.

When I purchased the kit, I knew that I was going to be trying to get pregnant within the next month, so I bought one that could fit a boy or a girl. It wasn't my favorite, but I tackled it anyway. This was my first real cross-stitch project and it was bigger than I had expected. I worked on that thing for hours at a time and finished within 6-7 months. Of course, I was pregnant at the time, so I wasn't able to completely finish it till Soren was born (had to put in name, and info). In the meantime, I had felt bad that I didn't do one for Synnove, so I found a really cute one online at Brooke's Books Publishing (check out her "Sunshine Lines" collection...she has quite a few!) and started it up immediately. It only took me 1-2 months and it turned out smashingly!

I finished Synnove's just before Soren was born, so I didn't have time to start anything new. When we moved in with my parents I had some free time and decided that I wanted to do a different birth announcement for Soren that he might want to keep in his room a little bit longer. The one I did from Michael's was so generic and babyish. So, I ordered another one from Brooke's Books Publishing. I started it up in November of 2007, quit, and got ready to move. While I was still living at my parents house, I decided to order a couple of wedding cross-stitch charts. My sister wasn't engaged yet, but I knew it would be soon, so I ordered one for her and one for myself.

Within a week of us moving, my sister got engaged. And, as soon as I was able to get all of the materials, I started up the project I picked out for her and Chris. I hadn't stitched on linen before and it took some adjustment. I also used hand-dyed thread that has variations of color for a vintage effect. The linen was also "aged" for effect. I worked non-stop on that project for at least 4 months. I was able to get it framed and have it ready just one month before the wedding. I don't have a photo of it, but this is the chart I used...and it shows exactly what mine looked like with different initials, of course.

After that, I was burnt out on cross-stitch for a while. I finally picked up the birth announcement that I had picked out for Soren and began to finish it a couple of months ago. I'll be picking it up from the frame shop next week. I love the way it turned out.

I have now started on the "wedding row" that I ordered for myself back when I got the chart for Elise. I haven't gotten very far yet...but here's my progress...

For anyone who wants to find some great cross-stitching sites...here's a FEW of my favorite:

La-D-Da

Bent Creek

Heart in Hand

Blackbird Designs

And for the ultimate selection in old-fashioned/antique stitching: Wyndham Needleworks

A Home for Our 2nd Home

What a beautiful and productive weekend we had! It was the perfect weather to continue our project to open up the end animal stall to make a home for our trailer. If you recall, when we bought our trailer exactly one year ago, we brought it home to find that it was too tall to fit in the shop. And after tossing around many ideas over the period of several months, we decided to tear down the animal stall. There's more pics and details here. We had been waiting for the weather to get a bit better, and waiting for a time when we (mostly Adam) could devote an entire weekend to the project. We didn't want to tear down the wall and leave the inside of the shop exposed any longer than we had to. Adam already had a plan for how to make a door in place of the wall and had already purchased all the supplies a few weeks ago...so we were set!


Friday night, Adam came home from work and started to tear down the metal panels and stall door. It was a good head-start for the next day. Saturday he continued to tear the wall down and assembled the framework for the doors....and I just sat around an watched...ha ha...kidding! I was hard at work cleaning the trailer that had been sitting outside for the last year. It is amazing how much green gunge can grow over the period of just a few months! It took me the entire weekend to clean the trailer inside and out. I know, you probably don't believe me, but it's true. Much of the cleaning required a toothbrush =) The hardest part of the cleaning process was scrubbing the awning. When we bought the trailer, all was quite clean...except for the awning. It was heavily dirt-stained! I took a harsh scrub brush and some heavy duty cleaner to both sides of it. That, alone, took me about 2 hours.

On Saturday night Uncle Don brought over his little bulldozer so that Adam could dig out and level the floor of the bay to make sure we had enough clearance. Don kindly left it so we could use it for a few days. We skipped church the next morning cause we needed to be able to finish by the end of the day. Adam had mistakenly purchased the wrong sized bolts and had to take a trip into town to pick those up and do a couple of other things. He was back in 2 hours. While he was gone, I finished cleaning the inside of the trailer. When I was finished, you can bet the trailer was spotless and had the fresh smell of Pine Sol. And, no, the inside of the trailer wasn't really that dirty, I was just extra thorough. I also started cleaning the green gunge off of the white shop doors and gutters. I only got to 4 out of the 6 doors...maybe I'll finish today.


Adam continued to fix the doors, so I started to mow the lawn. About halfway through, I had to stop so I could help put the heavy doors on their hinges. Ugh...that was dangerous with just the two of us! We then did a dry run with the trailer before dinner.


We took a break to eat some BBQ'd burgers, then I went to mow some more lawn while Adam placed some underlayment in the newly cleared bay. We then put the large rubber mats that were already in the horse stall on top of the underlayment to make a nice surface for the trailer to park on. Then, we parked it!!! I was SO excited!! Finally, a home for our trailer!! No more cleaning off green gunge and worrying about water leaks and sun damage!!!

We weren't able to completely finish the doors. Adam still has to put the green metal panels back on, but that "should" be the easy part =)

First Fishies!

Since we didn't catch any fish before, we decided to wait a week and go right after the 3rd trout planting of the season. Yesterday, we had a little dinner gathering for my brother's 20th. So, after cake, Dad took Adam, Henry, Synnove, and Soren out to the lake to see if they could catch anything. Fortunately, they got some action and Synnove caught her first fish on her little princess pole! Soren snagged one too, but it got away. I posted two videos of the two events. I didn't post the video of Synnove reeling the fish in...but she did it all by herself...Dad just helped her get it in the boat. Sorry, you'll have to view the videos sideways, as the camera was in the wrong position.

A lesson on gutting a fish...

Synnove came in to show all of us at the house what she had caught!

The weather was decent again today, so Dad called me this morning wondering if we wanted to give it another go. We went out again at about 1:00 and trolled the lake with the kids' poles for at least 2+ hours...nothing...not even a bite. The kids were quite patient despite the circumstances. Two toddlers in a boat with no snacks, toys, or potty! Dad then decided to try something different, so we turned off the engine in the middle of the lake somewhere. Then Dad and I used the cast and reel method. We decided to give it 10-20 casts and then head back if we had no luck. At about that time, the fish started to jump and about 15 minutes into it, we started to get a bite here and there. We eventually got a fish and let Soren reel in and actually catch his first fish! The kids took turns catching fish till we caught 4. We were out on the lake for a total of 4 hours!! I can't believe Synnove didn't even complain about having to go to the bathroom! We brought the fish back, Dad cleaned them, and we took them home and ate them for dinner.

This is right when I snagged the very first fish of the day (after 2 1/2 hours of fishing!). I love how we were all SO excited. You can even see Synnove's fist as she's got both of them up...and squealing! This is right when I handed the pole over to Soren to reel it in.

He was very happy...hard to tell from this pic, but he was screaming with joy for like 5 minutes...literally.

Soren wouldn't touch the fish...and he didn't want to eat them either...he said, "dey have bodies, and mouths, and eyes, and no nose...I don't wike to eat fish, day're yucky!"

When we finally made it home...

Longing for Summer

This morning, the kids slept in. It was nice. I woke before they did, and Soren woke shortly after. I went downstairs to his bed to snuggle with him while we waited for Synnove to stir. I opened his blinds and he promptly said, with much inflection, "It's a beautiful day outside!"

For some reason, we stayed in our jammies for most of the morning. Usually, even if it's pouring outside, Synnove begins to beg to play outside shortly after breakfast. Anyway, I spent the morning doing laundry and vacuuming up pink and blue Easter grass. As usual, the kids created their own fun. I took a shower and got out to find that the kids had ventured out onto the deck. They had found some blankets and decided to lay outside in the sun. They can't wait for summer. When the sun comes out, Synnove will often ask, "can we play in the pool today?" even if it's 40 degrees out. Well, the sun was out intermittently this morning, so they figured it was a good time to lay outside and catch some rays. I snapped a picture and then checked the outside temp. It was 44 degrees.

Easter Pics Galore!

Heidi "aka" Fifi came over in the morning and we went to the Easter egg hunt at the church in Svensen. Adam was springer fishing.

Afterwards, we came home and Fifi helped with the egg coloring and hunts in the yard. It was great fun despite the crummy weather.

"Cheese"

Looks like the Easter Bunny stole an egg...

We went to our Easter church service the next morning, and then headed to Steve and Kathi's for lasagna. Here's Kevin, Uncle Steve, and Adam chatting in the living room.

We had a relaxing time visiting...notice the two dweebs on the left...

Henry and Jenessa playing toys with little Lyndel (sp?)

Grandma, Stan, Auntie Kathi, and Uncle Don

The kids in their Easter garb that they got from Grandma Balensifer. They had a BLAST this Easter. They even got a new Little Tykes basketball hoop from the Easter Bunny!

Dexter Had to wear a muzzle and wasn't too happy about it. He's a little edgy since being brutally attacked a year ago.

Craig entertained us with some tunes on the guitar...and Jacob with his recorder =)

All the men were sitting around the table while the ladies were laughing up a storm in the kitchen.

Singing and Special Sauces

Synnove's newest thing is dipping her food in whatever is within reach. Her latest dips have been:

-Teriyaki stick dipped in vanilla yogurt

-Apples dipped in ketchup

-A cheeseburger dipped in applesauce

Soren LOVES to sing. He sings in the car with the music, sings to his teddy bears, sings while he and Synnove dance, etc. It is especially cute in the car when he's trying to pick up lyrics here and there with that serious singing face. Anyway, here's Soren (and I) singing Jesus Loves Me...

Novie's Black Eye

A couple of weeks ago Synnove got a black eye. She got it when she was riding her little scooter up a grassy hill. She got caught up and fell forward. Her upper cheekbone hit the end of the handlebar. I took pictures of the progression...some of the pics aren't very good. Someday I'll learn how to use a camera properly =)

Right afterwards...it's hard to tell, but I knew she would have a black eye the next day.

Day 2

Day 3

Day 5

My Mother's Sweet Revenge

I could scream....every day. My kids frustrate me to no end sometimes. I'm sure all moms feel this way at some point...but this mom feels it on a regular basis. If there were toddler report cards, my daughter would get an A+ in whine, and an A++ in fit throwing. I just think that some kids are better at it than others! Most folks who know Synnove would disagree, and I suppose I'm proud of that. At least she's decent in public =)

Anyway, there are many days, including today, that start out quite awfully. Synnove wakes up whining and crying...loudly at 6:30AM. What is this 4-year-old whining about?? Well, your guess is as good as mine. There is absolutely NO reason for the uproar, other than the fact that she's probably just in a bad mood. Now, I'm no morning person, so waking to this so early in the morning takes me straight to my limit. I have absolutely no patience for it whatsoever. I get up quickly to try to calm her before she wakes Soren (who, thankfully, wakes up chipper about 95% of the time). There is no calming her. I ask her what the matter is SEVERAL times...no answer...just louder. By now I'm over my limit, and I'm beginning to sound pretty angry. I offer the TV...still more whine. She is completely unreasonable and unresponsive. I throw up my arms and leave the situation, as there is obviously nothing I can do. Keep in mind, this happens OFTEN...and it happens the same way every time. At about the time I start to walk away, she invents a problem. Problems vary from morning to morning...this morning it was..."I want daddy...I'm mad at him...he didn't give me a cereal bar." In the last few months, Synnove has been waking when Adam goes to work. And because it's so stinkin' early, he often gives her a snack and lets her watch TV while the rest of us sleep. Well, this morning, he had to get up extra early, so Synnove slept through it. SO, after about 5 minutes of uncontrollable whine, I finally get somewhere. Then, of course, my anger flares again, as Soren has been woken up and isn't too happy about it. He'll often sleep till 8...so at 6:30 he was still tired. He calmed down fairly quickly...but his coming upstairs triggered more whine in Synnove. Insert "me screaming" here!!

That was just one of many episodes from today...and it wasn't even the worst. I'm not proud of it, but I did raise my voice today...and I raised it pretty loudly. It was the only way I could assure that my kids could hear me over the whining/crying. Who likes repeating things over and over and over again? I certainly don't. My kids do though...they like asking the same question over and over and over again...and then asking "why?" over and over and over again. Ahh! I'm amazed that my brain doesn't bleed through my ears every day!

Mom, I love you, and I'm sorry for all of the pain I caused you as a young child. I'm now realizing that you had more patience than I ever gave you credit for. ~Nicole

Things We Do "In The Sticks"

We check mole traps in the rain while skipping...

We create our own version of Ax Men logging episodes...

Just look at those three Stihls in action (Adam, Uncle Don, and Dad)! Henry's (far right) Husqvarna broke earlier in the day...ha ha ha!
Ax Men groupies playing in the dirt...

And we go trout fishing with Papa...and still have fun even though we didn't catch anything.

Mom, The Years Haven't Been Good to You...

It's not uncommon for me to go a day without makeup. Today was one of those days. In the past, Synnove has made comments about it, but nothing too earth shattering. Here's what was said today during lunch...

Synnove: "Mom, your face looks old."
Me: amused, I say, "Hmm."
Synnove: "Remember when your face was new...like when you got married?"

I've only been married 7 years. I shutter at the thought of what she'll say when I've been married for 20!