The Never Ending Winter!

Kieran can't get enough of his sister.  He follows her everywhere and gets into everything she is doing.  He's always looking up to her and she likes it about 50% of the time:)

 "I"m gonna get you, Mom!"

 Dan thinks Kieran looks like Svea as a baby in this photo.

 What do you think? Pretty freaky huh?

 We've made it to church for three weeks in a row! We're smiling about that.  Svea enjoyed the children's message and we sat with "JackieKayla" as the two of them are referred to as one name.  Although she wanted to sit on my lap just having them in the same pew helped her sit still for most of the service before we had to check out the toy room. Kieran slept on Kayla's shoulder.  It feels so good to be back even if they are crazy and hectic mornings:)

 Getting a car ride from Dad!  We had most of the day at home together on Saturday.  It was SO nice.  The kids slept in until around 8...whooeee! The rest of the day we relaxed and played and that is the day we made the snowman.  The sun was super bright and it felt so good to be outside. 

 Kieran had 3 nights in a row where he only woke up once!  I thought we were getting close to sleeping through the night, but alas it ended the other night when we think he was struggling with some sort pain (teeth maybe?) because he kept waking up soon after we put him to bed.  Ever since then we're back to waking up around 11/12 and 4/5.  I'm not looking forward to his 9 month appointment.  I know our pediatrician is going to give me grief!

We taught Svea our full names. She can recite Kiernan Cateh Donefeld, Bay-ya Gase Donefeld, Daddy Scott Donefeld, and Mommy Cateh Donefel.  I need to reteach her my middle name.

Snowgirl!

 Svea and I made a "snowgirl" on Saturday morning.  I have wanted to with her all winter, but the snow was never quite right. Thanks to this crazy spring weather it was possible. She named her snowgirl Emily Elizabeth after the character from Clifford the Big Red Dog.  She was so proud of her snowgirl and in combination with the beautiful sun, we had a wonderful time.

 When we put her arms in she said she was flying!

 Giving Emily Elizabeth a big hug!

I know Emily Elizabeth looks a bit scary, but we did the best we could with our yellow toy balls for eyes:)

Choo Choo Pretend

 I washed the kitchen floor yesterday and moved the chairs to one side of the room.  Svea organized them into a choo choo train and its amazing to us how much the concept of pretending has started to enter this little one's world.  If she's not making her super heroes fly then she's making us pretend supper.  My favorite is when she makes her"guys" talk to each other.

 Minnie rode in the backseat....

 Kieran and I rode in the way, way back:)

 Thanks to our conductor for the nice ride.  We were so excited about trains that we got out "The Little Red Caboose" book from Grandpa Ron  and we've been reading it all weekend!

Did You Know?

 That we went to church last Sunday and took a backpack with us full of toys, diapers, and snacks.  Svea is growing up! I told her I wanted a picture of she and her bag, but she insisted on turning around so I could see the kitties face.

 All dressed up in last year's Easter dress.  Someone sat SO nice again for the children's sermon.  Pastor Paul gave it, but Dan was a part of it too.  She didn't run to him and or expect any special treatment from him.  I'm sure that stage will come, but I was so proud of her!  I love watching her up there!

 How cute is this dude:) It was a little too cold out for short sleeves, but c'mon I am just running out and getting tired of long sleeved winter things! Dan picked this shirt out for him a couple of week ago for spring/summer.  Thank you to Dad again for running home in between services to help me get the kids in and out of the car with my bad shoulder/neck! 

This past Sunday was a special Sunday for all of us.  We all got to sit together, Svea sat for the children's sermon, Kieran made it through the whole service, AND Svea did too!  Yep, couldn't believe it myself, but we sat by another family who has a little girl five month older and the two girls played well together and shared their toys together and were quiet.  Jackie/Kayla (our babysitters) were also singing with their band this Sunday so she loved watching them as well. It was great!

Slowing Down

 I know I don't post as often lately.  I was finding that with working and two small kids I just couldn't keep up with that many posts in one week and keep my sanity.  I still take just as many pictures, but throw more of them on here at a time.  I'm sure I'll have more time this summer when I am home with the kids....I can't wait!

 Svea and Kieran were hanging out by the gate the other day.  These two are fun to watch interact with each other. Kieran adores his big sister and wants to eat her sometimes, I think:)

 Dan and I were nervous last week a little bit.  No, it wasn't our finances or a sickness. It was just that we gave up our cable! Ha!  We both admitted our apprehension and then laughed at the atrocity of being nervous about giving up something so trivial.  We did it though!  We'll be saving around $120 dollars per month and that with a few other things we are doing to cut back is leaving us in a much better place overall to save some money for the kids' accounts, our retirement, savings, vacations, etc.  We now have hulu+ and netflix, which we stream through the internet and pay a measly $16 dollars a month for. We cannot watch our favorite shows on the exact night that they are on, but have to wait one day (gasP!) until the following night.  I think I'll only feel it when "The Bachelor" is on:)  Dan has been enjoying all kinds of cartoons and I have gotten into "Downton Abbey". There is no Clifford so we had to order a DVD of Clifford to appease the big red dog addiction.

Speaking of Big Red Dogs...I've been telling Svea about the Big Brown Buffalo that lives in Jamestown up on the hill by Gaga and Grandpa Ron's house.  She talks about him non stop sometimes.  I know who we'll be visiting next time we are in North Dakota!  I finally can move my neck more normally again today after a full week of it being locked up and super sore.  I want to thank my husband for waking up with me the other night at 4 a.m. after an insane lock up that was so painful I was a whimpering mess.  He stayed up for over an hour massaging my neck and shoulder enough so that the muscle would relax enough for me to fitfully fall asleep. Thank you!!!  I WILL BE buying a "bag on wheels" next year for school.  No more carrying my 50 bags for school on my shoulders!

What's New

 Dan and I are starting a new workout regime.  We are trying the 30 day Shred.  It might take us more than 30 days, but we'll get there.  It's only 20 minutes and intense cardio, weights, and abs.  I threw out my neck (didn't know that was possible) after the first night, but we'll get back on track.

 This is before church last week Sunday.  This is Svea's new dress from Grandma and Grandpa D that I am obsessed about:)  Later in the day Dan dressed her in black pants underneath, jean jacket, and pink cowgirl boots.  So eclectic and cute.  I'll get a picture next time she wears it.

 Holy Week is over and hopefully that means for a less intense month:)  We are trying to be patient waiting for that spring weather to arrive.

 Svea's recent favorites:  Clifford the Big Red Dog, pretending she is Emily Elizabeth, being SO good at daycare, eating better (less picky), Jekyll and Hyde with her brother, refusing sleep at home, and the best part....occasionally asking if she can snuggle with us!

Kierans' recent favorites: Pulling objects out of baskets, analyzing everything, exploring, putting anything he can get his hands on into his mouth, puffs, FINALLY getting interested in solid foods, waking up twice a night still (still partly Mom's fault), loves to give hugs and rest his head on your shoulder, still doesn't snuggle unless he falls asleep, and babbling babababababa!

The Many Faces of Our Boy

 Bright Blue Eyes!

 Not so sure about this:) If it would warm up soon we can wear this to go on some spring walks!  As of now we are under a winter storm warning right now....crazy! Enjoy a few videos of Kieran that I've taken over the past week:)

 8 Month Video #1

 8 Month Video #2

Kieran and Meeko

Pigtails

 And our hair is finally long enough for a pony tail here and there and now pigtails!  Svea came home from daycare the other day and Lynda had put them in.  They are now a a go to for us:)  Gaga gave Svea a new doll and she has pigtails too!

 I love my pigtails!

I love all of these faces!

Pure joy!

Loving life!

My favorite one!