happy halloween

Kate and Annika had a costume party at daycare today in preparation for Halloween tomorrow. They were so excited to show off their costumes. Everyday for the last week their costume ideas have changed. They had some very interesting ideas. Annika changed her mind daily between a Barbie princess, Dorothy and maybe a cowgirl. Kate even thought it might be fun to be a fire fighting duck inside Thomas the train. What!? I think it's funny how excited they were for this morning, because their costumes are just outfits from their dress-up bin at home and they wear them every day!

Our Halloween plans are pretty simple. We are planning to make Halloween cookies, carve our pumpkin and make some pumpkin bars tonight, maybe do a little shopping on Saturday morning while Jason runs a trail marathon in Prior Lake, MN. Then later on Uncle Chad and Aunt Jenny are coming over to hand out candy, play with the girls and have a sleepover. The girls don't think that there's anything better than waking up early and jumping on Uncle Chad!

It should be fun and of course I will take plenty of pictures. And just in case you're wondering....Annika is Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz and Kate is Thomas the Train in these pictures. It might change by tomorrow night. We'll just have to wait and see.

little girls

Baby girls...one of the most beautiful miracles in life, one of the greatest joys we can ever know, and one of the reasons why there is a little extra sunshine, laughter and happiness in your world today....

A daughter is a bundle of firsts that excite and delight, giggles that come from deep inside and are always contagious, everything wonderful and precious and your love for her knows no bounds.

I thank the Lord everyday for my two little girls.

swimming lessons

Last week Kate and Annika started swimming lessons. It is an understatement to say that they were excited. They were practically shaking with excitement. Annika of course, the little daredevil that she is, wanted to "swim" across the pool immediately after getting in the pool for the first time. Kate, was a little more hesitant, but warmed up to their teacher rather quickly.

Their lessons take place at the FOSS swim school in Lakeville. Jason and I were VERY impressed. It was as if we were at preschool, but in a swimming pool. They were singing and playing, doing "monkey cheeks", scooping and kicking and doing a humptey dumptey into the water.

Tonight we bought the girls their first pair of goggles and they can hardly wait to show their teacher next week.

a new look

I bet you're wondering about my blog's new look. Well...... you can get one too at http://leeloublogs.blogspot.com/. They are so cute and the staff is SO helpful. Check it out!

nebraska

GO BIG RED!

This past weekend was filled with red. Red jackets, red shirts, red shoes, red hats, red faces, red pants, red mittens, red flags, red everything! Jason and I, along with Jason's brother Chad and his wife Jenny spent the weekend in Lincoln, Nebraska along with 85,000 other Nebraska Cornhusker fans. It was a sea of red. And Chad was in heaven!

Jason and I surprised Chad and Jenny with tickets for this past weekend's football game. It has been a dream of Chad's to one day attend a football game at Memorial Stadium. That dream came true this past Saturday.

We left Friday right after work and headed south. After spending the night in Iowa, Saturday morning we finally crossed over into Husker Nation, otherwise known as Nebraska.

We spent the morning touring around downtown Lincoln and taking in the sights of what I will call Extreme Tailgating. We saw people with small versions of their kitchens and living rooms, complete with big screen televisions attached to their truck hitches, stoves, grills, coolers, tables and chairs.

The weather forecast was 60 degrees and sunny.....if only I could have a job where I could be terribly wrong all...the....time! It actually was 40 degrees and cloudy, with a little rain mixed in during the fourth quarter. Nice!
A few trips to the Husker Athletic Store provided some much needed warmth, as well as winter hats, blankets and warmer clothes. Thank goodness for my long underwear!

The game was awesome! Unfortunately, Nebraska lost. They had eight turnovers, four of them within the five yard line, within inches of scoring four touchdowns. Major bummer! They lost to Iowa State, which by the way they haven't lost to Iowa State in Lincoln for 32 years! Final score Nebraska 7, Iowa State 9.

To our surprise Chad wasn't even upset. Usually Jason won't even talk to Chad for a couple days after a Nebraska lose because Chad will be SO mad. Despite the lose, we still had a fun evening. We even ran into former NU star Grant Wistrom at Old Chicago and Chad got his picture taken with him. Cool!
Jason and Chad wanted to stay out all night, forgetting of course that they are NOT 18 anymore. After a full day out in the cold, we settled into our hotel and rested up for the 7 hour drive home on Sunday morning.

Now that we all had a "taste" of what a Cornhusker game is like at Memorial Stadium...there might just be a few more road trips to Lincoln in our future.

GO BIG RED!

three and a half

I can not believe that my girls...my little babies....are three and a half years old. Where does the time go? I wouldn't trade the last three and a half years for anything! Life with Kate and Annika just keeps getting better and better. Especially while eating spaghetti...hehe! I love you girls!

word of God speak....

I'm finding myself at a loss for words
And the funny thing is it's okay
The last thing I need is to be heard
But to hear what You would say

Word of God speak
Would You pour down like rain
Washing my eyes to see
Your majesty
To be still and know
That You're in this place
Please let me stay and rest
In Your holiness
Word of God speak

I'm finding myself in the midst of You
Beyond the music, beyond the noise
All that I need is to be with You
And in the quiet hear Your voice

Word of God speak
Would You pour down like rain
Washing my eyes to see
Your majesty
To be still and know
That You're in this place
Please let me stay and rest
In Your holiness
Word of God speak

halloween cuties

I know it's a little early for Halloween...but the girls were just too cute in their fun tee-shirts. A week from now, we'll be trick or treating! I can't believe it!

october adventures

October has always been one of my favorite months. It might be the colors on the trees or the crunch of the leaves in our yard, the yummy smells that fall foods bring to our home, or the cool air reminding me that soon it will be winter. But, mostly I love when our family travels in October. Taking in all the sights that fall in Minnesota has to offer.

We spent the beginning of October on the north shore of Minnesota with my parents. Hiking up "the hill" and visiting "the big water", otherwise known as Lake Superior.

We also made our way to southwest Minnesota to visit with Grandma Bakke and Grandma Great on the farm, visit Auntie Brenda's apple orchard and play in the snow! Yes! Snow!

Over the long MEA weekend Grandma and Grandpa Cloutier came to Lakeville. We had a girl's shopping day, complete with lunch out at Red Robin. Kate and Annika then took Grandma and Grandpa to Pahl's Market to pick out pumpkins.

This weekend Grandma Bakke is coming to Lakeville and spending the whole weekend with the girls. All by herself! Jason and I, along with Jason's brother Chad and his wife Jenny are road tripping to Lincoln, Nebraska to watch the Cornhusker football team play Iowa State. We surprised Chad and Jenny with this early Christmas present. We are all really excited. Chad nearly had a heart attack when he found out, so we are hoping he doesn't have a real one once we get to the game. I promise I will take a lot of pictures.