Rock Painting

Mara wanted to paint rocks this afternoon. A good idea! I think the large one in the forefront is actually part of the landscaping but I didn't really think about it until after it was painted. If you look closely you'll notice Sonna had an outfit change in between pictures. She changed into her swimsuit, something she does at least once a day these days, no matter it was only 60 degrees with a cold wind.

Jedd is working long days for his Memorial Day Weekend Work Retreat at camp. Solo parenting is wearing me down. I heated up chicken noodle soup for the girls for supper. When I put it on the table and turned around to get napkins both girls protested loudly. Sonna said, "I wanted Macaroni and Cheese!" Mara said, "This doesn't taste good at all". And she was right. It was low sodium/Healthy Choice. So, I got the salt shaker and invited them to add a little salt. All better.

Daddy's Birthday

We bought a cheesecake and fresh strawberries at Costco for Jedd's birthday cake. He loves cheesecake and now I do too. We gave him an i-Pod for his birthday and he was pretty pleased. The girls made lovely cards. It was a good evening together.

Baby-to-be

Three cheers for baby girls! We learned that baby #3 is a girl. Sonna had been hoping all along for a baby sister. The night we found out, Sonna leaned over my stomach and said, "I WANTED a girl! I WISHED for a girl!" So very sweet. We know how to do girls around here and we are so thankful to know all is well with our baby girl. We had another ultrasound this week because baby was breech and the tech could not get a good look at her spine. Her spine looks great. And previous concern that she might possibly have dilated kidneys was also shown to not be an issue. So we are grateful and excited around this house. Jedd said, "I'd much rather have three girls than three boys". (:

During the second ultrasound at 20 weeks, the baby turned directly toward the girls' voices when they came over to the exam table and began talking to me. That was pretty sweet.

Yesterday Sonna came into our bathroom and took one glance at me in my tank top and underwear and said, "Mommy, you are so pretty with our baby." Such a lovely thing to say AND to hear!

At bedtime each night the girls pull up my shirt and kiss the baby and talk to her. Mara said, "Baby, I'm your biggest sister." Sonna said, "Can you hear me? . . . She said "Yes!" Another time Sonna said, "She said, 'Doe A Deer'!" Funny kids.

In the car Mara said, "Mom, I love you". Then Sonna said, "I love our Baby".

The girls have mentioned several names they think we should name our baby. Sonna initially said Fiona (a la Shrek?) and then settled into Katie Leu (after her favorite camp counselor). Mara decided she liked the name Lila but when encouraged to name her new stuffed puppy dog that instead, she liked the idea. (:

At 24 weeks, I am quite round and in need of more summery maternity clothes. I've never been pregnant in the summer and the only place to buy maternity clothes within 100 miles is Target. I look forward to shopping with my mom in MN next week! I'll see if I can take a picture of the baby's ultrasound picture and post it here. So far the flash has washed it out.

A Much Anticipated Camping Trip

The girls have been asking to go camping since January. When I looked at the forecast on Monday and saw that it was going to be 70 degrees by Friday, Mara asked if she could start packing! (Note the girls' Hello Kitty suitcases, plenty of wood for campfires, and the four inch think foam pad on the bottom that Jedd brought especially for me - his pregnant wife who gets sore hips at night. I actually slept well!)

We went to Lake Mary Ronan State Park, just 25 miles south, and found this secluded campsite. When we got there, Mara said, "There are so many trees; that's weird". I responded, "That's because we are in the forest". Mara said, "We are? . . . Are there bears?!"

We arrived around 5:30, started the fire for roasting hot dogs and brats, and set up the tent. I think it would be fair to say that we all experienced a bit of euphoria. We definitely have two little campers on our hands!

The girls received these cute red chairs from the neighbor kids for their birthday. They were so happy to have their own chairs to scoot around the campfire.

We spent several hours by the lake throwing rocks, resting, and watching the boats come in and out. I think the girls found all the action at the boat lift very exciting - a truck backing up with a trailer pulling a boat and suddenly seeing the boat floating in the water and a few minutes later, speeding across the lake.

Love Sonna's face!

Roasting marshmallows for Smores! Mara LOVES fire. She was always poking it with a stick or adding a small evergreen branch to watch the sudden flames.

Jedd made us eggs and sausage for breakfast! It was a three course meal: cereal first, then sausage and eggs, followed by more Smores. We were on a mini-vacation.

So happy.

Mara doesn't go on any trip without her Word Finds!

At the boat launch (which doubled as a jungle gym).

We were gone less than 24 hours, but it sure felt like a 'get away'. After packing up our campsite, we drove 10 miles further south to check out another State Park on Flathead Lake where the girls could swim the next time we have a camping overnight. Maybe next weekend?

Jedd's Beds

Jedd made the girls each a doll bed for their birthday. The girls have loved setting up their babies in the new beds inside their cardboard box homes. (Yes, the boxes are still in our living room and continue to be enjoyed!)

When I first saw the way the girls had situated their dolls and the bedding Mara exclaimed, "Mom, we both have two babies without anything broken . . . Not even legs!"

I can explain. One of the dolls we have has lost an arm and a leg and although Jedd has tried to throw her out a few times over the year, I always reason that it's good for the girls to play with a doll that isn't perfect, one with a disability of sorts. I don't know if it has made any impact or not, but maybe it's similar to my parents giving my brother a black baby doll when he was little?

Grandma Joan's Birthday Visit

Grandma Joan always makes a special effort to come for the girls' birthdays and it has become a much anticipated tradition!

The girls received wonderful new art supplies and the girls had fun drawing and coloring with Grandma.

Mara's silly pose at her birthday breakfast with Grandma.

We even got to celebrate Grandma's birthday the day she arrived! (one day late)
We all wish we could see each other more often.

Sonna is 3 years old!

After a week full of birthday celebrations, we decided to forgo more cake and head to the Dairy Queen. We met Jedd at the DQ after lunch and sang Happy Birthday to Sonna complete with a tiara candle in her chocolate dipped cone.

Early morning breakfast with dad before he's off to work. Proud Daddy!

These pics are out of order, but later in the day the girls planted seeds in a mini greenhouse they received as a gift from friend Lilly.

Sonna and her baby doll enjoying the sunny evening in her new chair.

We went to the playground at the elementary school in Lakeside where Mara will go to kindergarten next year. The girls played on the equipment, rode their scooters, and even made a new friend.

Since "Mean Mom" is no longer heard in our house, Sonna received a new scooter to replace the one we had taken to the Salvation Army as a consequence a few months ago. She was so pleased!

This pic was taken on Mara's birthday but it is SO SONNA!

So is this one!

Sonna is a wonderful little girl! She is so expressive, snuggly, compassionate, sing-songy, bright and chatty. It is a joy to be her mom and dad. She will be a fabulous big sister to our baby-to-be!