Thanksgiving, last week already?

Where did the last week go? Where did this month go?

We had a good Thanksgiving 2011. A relaxing weekend and there are no complaints about spending time with family, friends and eating good food!










And, of course, we all went to the Water Park on Friday and then headed over to Uncle Travis' afterwards for pizza. The kids enjoy the water park more and more each year.

Our peanut butter boy

November 14th, 2011

Happy Birthday Travis! We love you! Thanks for being such a great brother and Uncle.

Dancing Queen

Here is Faustina in all her 3 year old glory. She is growing so fast and learning so rapidly, it is hard to process everything that is going on with her all the time!



Last night Mike and I went to the movie "Courageous" which we both thoroughly enjoyed. It has an excellent message about parenting, specifically directed at fathers, and it reflects on all sorts of different relationships between family and friends. It was fun to come home last night and after we put Jude to bed, Mike layed in bed with Faustina for at least an hour and they just 'talked'. They talked about all sorts of things - we couldn't believe it! It is so fun to see her mature, see how she responds to the loving attention of her Dad, hear what is on her mind, listen to her opinions (which are very very strong!) on all sort of different random topics ranging to what her favorite animals are and why, to all her friends and relationships to what she thinks about heaven to her looking forward to her "first holy community (translate communion)". Fascinating.

She is growing into quite the young lady and she helps Mom with things around the house and babies. She is cleaning up her room and messes around the house. She is changing clothes outfits about 100 times (if Mom would let her) and she loves her dance class. She can't wait for the baby to come and I am sure she will be a big help!

Paper dolls

In the winter of 2010 I made a 'Paper Dolls' quilt and gave it to one of Faustina's best friends, Belle. I learned a ton making it, it was very fun and I was thrilled with the results! It was the first time I had used the 'free lance' quilting needle and learned how to do my own designs and maneuver the quilt to produce the look I wanted. It is especially fun for kids because it is an interactive quilt. There are 9 dolls on the quilt and then there are clothes that the little girl can put on the dolls to dress them.



I made a second one more recently and Faustina was thoroughly enjoying playing with this quilt. I plan on making more, they are so fun for little girls! There is a pocket on the back to keep the clothes.

Mystery Baby #3

Well, I am most certainly in full fledged 'baby mode', and have been for the past several weeks. Although my due date is Christmas Day, I plan on being ready a few weeks early since Faustina and Jude came 2 weeks early. That gives me 4 more weeks.

Last weekend Mike and I were able to take a 'Baby Moon', I guess some people call it. We were able to take a whole day Saturday to hang out and do whatever we wanted and then stayed at a hotel nearby (compliments of Grandpa and Terry's anniversary gift - thank you!) It was wonderful!! Uncle Travis and Auntie Kim held down the fort here with the kids - these guys just hang on Travis and Kim they can't get enough of them.

Although the baby is not here yet, I officially feel the constant presence of our 3rd child. This baby is kicking me nonstop, I feel the tiny toes and fingers tickling, its elbow and knees are visibly sticking out all over the place. That part is very fun! And thankfully, I do continue to feel very good.

I am excited for Thanksgiving coming soon - this week I plan on making some lefse with Faustina. I, believe it or not!, am looking forward to a pretty snowfall. Advent starts in a few short weeks here. The seasons are in full effect and it is such a fun time of year. And then excitement of the baby grows every day! With this little one, I really will be surprised to find out the gender and we do not have names picked out still! As Faustina and Jude get older, mature, and we learn more of their personalities, it is so fun to imagine what personality #3 will be like.

Beautiful things

Every woman loves beautiful things. I know. But lately I have been obsessing over filling my eyes with images of beauty. It could be that I am in 'nesting mode' with the baby coming only weeks away from now and my belly seems to be growing daily. I want to do my best to get organized, cleaned up and be prepared. It could be that with little people running around the house creating chaos, any beauty quickly turns into...well, chaos. Or it could be this lovely time of year, probably my favorite, when the weather gets cooler and it is ideal to get a down blanket and cozy up with a cup of tea and a book, or a cup of tea to work on quilting. It is probably a combination of all of them.


I am especially prone to find things that I can create and give to people or hopefully hand down to kids as time goes on. I have found much inspiration lately! I'm not sure how much time or energy I'll have to be productive in the next few months, so sometimes flowers are all I need. :) These are from dear husband for my birthday and anniversary.

I am excited about this quilting book I received from my SIL. The quilts, material, inspiration are overwhelming! I'd like to imitate this purple one for Faustina and the patchwork blue and yellow looks like it could be for Jude.




I got this gorgeous yarn in the mail from my brother in Madison and can't wait to figure what to do with it.

I also am very excited about this wonderful cookbook I received from my SIL! It is one of those 'healthy' ones. But I love this stuff and I every so often need inspiration to get back on track with eating and preparing food the way I really want to for our family.


Cheers to fall time in MN! Thankfully, there still a good number of trees that are full of colorful leaves.

All Soul's Day sweets

Yesterday we celebrated All Saints Day, and today we commemorate and pray for All Souls in purgatory preparing to enter heaven. We made cookies this evening with the imprint of the cross to celebrate this feast day.