Happy New Year!

I've been so super busy that I feel like New Year's Eve should be just about Eric and I sitting in front of the television.  We might make some glogg and watch a movie, but probably not.  Right now I'm thinking about making my mom's birthday cake instead of waiting until tomorrow, but I probably won't.  I just want to veg.  Luckily it's a "no bath" and "no fussy dinner" evening.

Christmas was a blast!  I truly enjoyed everything this year, although Anna and Clara were just getting over colds and I was fighting off a really strange flu bug that made me achy everywhere but had no other symptoms (I'm grateful!).  Santa Clause came and brought Anna some play dough.  Of course that is what she remembers Santa brought her out of all of the other gifts.  Clara has learned how to clap in joy whenever you say "Yayyy Clara!"  And our tree has dropped a lot of needles and must go.  We spent a lot of time with family during four Christmas parties. 

I am feeling extremely blessed in 2012, and I am hopeful that 2013 will be just as great. 

Happy New Year!

A Swedish Christmas

I am a quarter Swedish and Eric is a lot Swedish and so we both enjoy the Swedish traditions.  My family has always made Glogg (hot spiced alcoholic beverage), served sill (pickled herring), decorated with dala horses, and probably miss-pronounced all sorts of Swedish words and phrases during the Christmas season.  I ordered two books from Amazon.com called Swedish Christmas Crafts and Christmas Crafts Scandinavian Style.  I eagerly browsed the books and picked the easiest craft ideas to do, because I have to admit that I have wayyy more important things to do than craft.

 

In our front window I strung a festive ribbon and hung the word "Jul," from "God Jul," which means "Merry Christmas." 

 

I also arranged some heritage swedish ornaments in the window nearby.  I bought this "Julbok" at the Scandinavian Festival at our local college.

 



 

Our stockings are hung on the stairs with care.  A couple of simple bows and a couple of pine swags.

 

 Our newly purchased "children's tree" is even adorned with "Tomten," which we pronounce "Toompta," again probably incorrectly.

 

A live tree is a must-have in my opinion, despite the fact that I am allergic to evergreens.  I always decorate our tree fairly simply.  A silver glitter ribbon, silver beads, and red, silver, and bronze ornaments.  White lights.  At the end of the day, simple is usually equivalent to easy.

 

My favorite feature of our decorations this year, another craft idea from the Swedish craft books, are the little gingerbread hearts I've hung in most of our windows.  The hearts are made from foam paper, and hung with a red and white ribbon.  I hung them with suction cups.  Easy, cheap, and cute! 

 

We are all ready for Christmas.  Now if only it would snow!

First Snow

Today marks the first snowfall to stick to the ground- November 24, 2012.

 

 

Anna woke up super excited to see snow and wanted to go out to make a snowman.  There wasn't enough to make a snowman, but we did get bundled up and venture out.  Her gloves came off almost immediately, because she wanted to feel the snow.  We took a walk to the barn to see the cows, and to escape from the bitter wind.

 

Anna fed the cows.  Most of them were not interested in eating from her hand, but a few ventured closer to give her a sniff.

 



 

I couldn't resist putting baby Clara down and snapping a picture of her, too.

 

 

I took this next photo of Anna at the same age.

 

 



A Moment of Thanks

 

I am Grateful...

 

For God's very apparent presence in our lives.

For my daughters, whom I am privileged to parent, and with every small moment I cherish.

For my husband, and the wonderful life we've made together.

For the land, which provides such abundance for all people.

For our family, who provides a warm and loving safety net.

 

 

Wonderful Weekends!

I had a really great weekend.  I wish all of my days could be as good as the ones I had this weekend.  It was the perfect mixture of productive activity (cleaning, organizing, baking, cooking) and lazy play time with the girls.  I started a new series of books called the "Game of Thrones," that brings me back to when I was a teen and loved reading fantasy novels.  So I got some reading in.  And some filing and QuickBooks time. 

 

 

And I got baby toys out for Clara that I had stored away in the attic.

She especially loved this one, that flashes and plays music when you hit it.  Right up her alley, because she LOVES to hit things.  Did you ever see this video of her batting her toys around?

50 Posts

Clara's baptism was November 4th.  She was sooo adorable in her little white dress that my mom bought for her.  Like a little doll.  The baptism was wonderful, and I really felt the support from our family for Clara's faith and life with God.  I attended Sunday school every Sunday while growing up, but the past five years have felt like coming home.  I love our little Lutheran church, and what it is coming to mean to our family.

 

 

Afterward, we had a little luncheon that I put a lot of thought into.  The food was all easy to prepare, but there are always a million and one small details that you have to remember (and feel bad about forgetting).  I was happy to use some of our farm-raised produce in the soups.  For the beef vegetable soup, stew meat from one of our steers, green beans, corn, carrots, onions from our garden; and for the potato soup, the potatoes and onions.  I ordered a cake and had some help with some fruit salads.  A vegetable and cheese tray, rolls, and a salad rounded out the soup.  We have a ton of leftovers!

 

After Church, I did some cleaning, but mostly played with my two very exhausted girls.  Did I mention that daylight savings time ended on Sunday?  I really appreciated the extra hour to get ready in the morning, but the girls woke up at normal time and were well past their noon or 1pm naptime.  But they were so tired that they couldn't close their eyes for more than half an hour, much to my dismay.  I was hoping to catch a little catnap.

 

Despite being extra tired, Clara happily sat playing with toys.  Yes, she sat.  For a long time... until she fell backward with a clunk.  I'll keep the boppy behind her just in case for another week or so until she's a little more steady. 

 

Such a simple accomplishment.  But so momentous for babies!

 

Another momentous occasion?  Over 50 posts on Ginny's Happy Family.

Clara, almost 6 months old.

Halloween!

In preparation of Hallowen, we carved a giant pumpkin.  See previous post for an adorable picture of Clara in a pumpkin.  Here is Anna's pumpkin picture:

 

And Anna's pumpkin picture from last year.  Can you believe how much she's changed?  She's not facing the camera because she wasn't too thrilled about this idea.

 

Here are some more pictures of Clara's pumpkin adventure.

 

At first, we're loving it!

 

But then she gets tired and her legs give out...

 

Ugh, mom, this is hard work trying to stay up!

 

Annnnd, she gives up.  And bites the pumpkin.

 



Anna was a doctor/nurse.  She loves her doctor's kit and giving people check ups.  She's even got the "ga boom, ga boom" sound effects going when she checks your heart.

 



 

She was pretty excited about trick or treating, and actually understood the concept this year.

 

I watched in dismay as she devoured her candy. She's never really tried a Twix, Reese's, Snickers, or Milky Way. I would not win the mother of the year award for her balanced meals every day, but I do try hard to not let her consume candy, cookies, and pop on a regular basis (actually, no pop EVER).

So Anna's third Halloween ended in a sugar rush as she tried various different candies, including a dum dum sucker, twix, whoppers, and a very chewy snickers. 

Clara was a cow, and she tolerated the whole ordeal of being carted from house to house with good humor. 

Happy Halloween!

A little pumpkin

 

Happy Fall!

 

Love,

A Little Pumpkin

Fall Fun!

 

A windy fall day.

 

But a good time to play.

 



 

Leaves and babies.

Picking Pumpkins

 

Eric threw some seeds out in a compost pile, and pumpkins and squash grew wild.  We took the girls out to pick some pumpkins a few weeks before Halloween.

 

 

Anna looked at the pumpkins when I asked her to sit on one and said, "Cold I think."  She didn't really want to touch them because they just might get her hands dirty, but she did sit on one for a picture, anyway.

 

Baby Clara watched from her carseat.  At times she was not amused by being so bundled up.

 

Anna sat in the bucket of the tractor as Eric loaded pumpkins.  She especially liked the big ones, heavier and bigger around than her.

 

Eric did all of the heavy lifting, while we watched and took pictures.  :)

 

Anna got to ride on the tractor home. 

 

 

What a fun way to spend a Sunday afternoon in the fall!

A work in progress

Happiness depends more on the inward disposition of mind than on outward circumstances.
Benjamin Franklin

 

The outside of our house shows a work in progress.  Actually, the inside does as well.  The lack of molding anywhere, the lightbulbs hanging bare of fixtures, and the windows bereft of curtains tell the story that we are slowly but industriously restoring our farmhouse home. 

But inside this house lives a happy family. 

 

 

Baby Bites

And the moment you've all been waiting for...

A picture of baby Clara eating.

Clara has been getting breakfast and dinner for almost 2 weeks now, but I've been remiss in capturing these messy but adorable first tastes.  For one thing, I'm super busy trying to feed myself, coaxing Anna to take a few bites, and catching up with Eric to remember to get the camera out. Which is unfortunate, because she really enjoys eating.  She also has her two bottom teeth already, at just before 5 months old.  So cute!

Mama and Bapa Knight's Farm

On Friday I dropped the girls off for work and when I returned "Bapa Knight" was combining, so we hopped in the combine for a little ride.  This was actually my first ride in the combine, but I recall many hours of riding with my grandfather or dad on tractors, usually while they spread manure over the fields.  I always enjoyed watching for wildlife, and the silence was never a bad thing.  In fact, there was always a comfort in the quiet nature of my dad and grandfather as they drove.

 

If you've never ridden on a combine before, here is a video so that you can have a first hand experience, too.

 

 

We were competing with rain that afternoon, so when my dad dropped us off, we ran back up the hill to the house.  I had fun taking Anna's picture as we ran up the hill.  In a few of them, I really think she looks like me when I was little and playing around the farm.  I'll have to dig some of those pictures out.

 

 

 

Do you like her bib overalls?

 

What I've Been Up To...

Here are some pictures that will capture some of what I've been up to the past month...

Working Hard

In September I took a trip with other agricultural agents in New York State.  One stop was Hurd Orchards up near Lake Ontario.  This room was located in an old re-built barn, and was where they did some entertainment events.  I just loved the decor!

I also got to pet a zebra at Hidden Valley Animal Adventures.  Definitely one of the highlights of the trip!

 

 Getting my Sister Hitched!

Julia got married on September 29th.  Here is one of the few pictures I took on that day of her and her Maid of Honor.  She looked beautiful in her dress!  Everything went so well and it was such a beautiful day.  I will definitely post about this later...

Anna really loved dancing at the reception.  She was a flower girl.

 

Building an Addition!

We decided to do a mud room project this fall, but the project evolved into a much bigger undertaking.  The garage was in sore need of repair and we thought we'd tear it down eventually.  The mud room was supposed to be built within this old structure, but we were worried that it would be too difficult to remodel the garage around the new mudroom.  So here we are- a torn down garage and the shell of a new addition!  One half will still be a shop and the other side will be a new mud room and laundry room.  Yipee! 

 

So so excited!  I can't wait!