Dahl kid photo update

Spring brings a new sense to the word busy, so a photo update will be this week's post!

Doodle and two of his favorite things: Football and Mattie.




Queen Bella (the "crown" is the insert to a construction helmet! Oh, the power of imagination!):




The annual egg-dye at Great-Grandma's!

Off to Celebrate!

We've been enjoying BE-A-U-tiful weather in the northwoods and EVERYONE in the Dahl house is lovin' it! The kids have been out as soon as the books close in the morning. Noah suddenly has an urge to be homeschooled again, as "you get to play more!" This from a kid with two recesses! TWO! I swear I grew up in the dark ages. one measly recess...
This morning I dug through my freezer madly trying to figure out what I could bring along to Easter at mom and dad's this weekend. NOT because of pressure of what to contribute, but rather a gentle reminder from my husband that the 1/2 a pig we ordered is coming next week! AHHH! So, Grammy Bird is going to be the lucky recipient of some frozen zucchini (I come from a long line of zucchini bread eaters), and a frozen ham bone (in a long-looked-for rubbermaid container). Not being a fan of pea soup, I'm not real sure why I saved it (except that I was raised very German and the thought of throwing away something that would cause a depression-era German to gasp ... I just felt the pressure to throw it in the freezer).

So, we're just awaiting the arrival of DH. The van is packed and ready and the children are snacking on non-chocolate things (we've had bad experiences with chocolate, the car and vomit. ugh). We're off to have a good old-fashioned holiday with the extended family. Easter is a very big deal in my family. My siblings, as well as the 3 cousins and now our spouses (as 20-somethings, anyway, I'm not sure if it crosses into 30-somethings) have had basket hunts to end all basket hunts... Hid 15 miles away, crawlspaces, open fields... We're talking hard core. Oh- the TRUE reason of the season is celebrated as well. :)

Happy Easter everyone!

My life... in fours

I've done one similar to this, but I'm game! (I'll try to give some new answers)

4 Jobs I've Had:
1. Mommy
2. server at a Relais and Chateau property
3. CNA in a nursing home
4. Office Assistant in the Student Senate office inn College

4 Movies/Shows I've Been Addicted To:
1. ER (Used to be)
2. Dateline
3. Law and Order
4. Jeopardy

4 Places I've Lived:
1. Small town in east-central Wisconsin
2. Small town in north-westren Wisconsin
3. Medium sized town in northren Wisconsin
4. a summer camp cabin (ya know, for a couple weeks at a time!)

4 Countries I'd like To Visit:
1. Brazil
2. Yap (Micronesia- we have friends that are missionaries there)
3. Ireland
4. Scotland (return visit)

4 Popular False Assumptions About Me:
1. I am confident
2. I have this organization thing down (closet and cupboard doors hide a lot)
3. I have led a pristine life
4. I have a storybook marriage (does anyone?)
(the last two are in agreement to Ruby...)

4 People I Look Like:
1. RG from church!
2. a boy from Green Bay, WI (funny story... I attended the Shopko fireworks in Green Bay with friends in early college and as we were slowly leaving we were behind this truck and the boy sitting on the tailgate looked like he could have been my brother. At the time my friends and I were convinced he was, as I was adopted! I have a photo of me and the poor kid.)
3. ???
4. ???

4 Things I Hope To Do Before I Die:
1. Instill in my children joy and love of the Lord, and watch them walk with Him
2. Hike the AT (right, Jaker?)- OK, probably only a portion af it.
3. Travel round the world with my husband (kids, too if they're in!)
4. Spend time with short(long?)-term foreign missions

There, now it's your turn Laura!

Stain season

It is upon us again... grass stained knees and ground in dirt. I need to go out and load up on some sort of stain treater. I love Biz for soaking, but I'm searching for a good spot cleaner. I've never used Oxyclean (that's for soaking or adding to a load, right?). I've tried Spray and Wash with mixed results. One thing I do like and have had success with (especially on grease-based stains) is Goop Hand Cleaner. What do you use?

'tis true...

Yesterday was a milestone in my life as my 20's ended. I had a great day... One of the highlights being an hour and a half of football in the front yard with Doodle!

Here's an excerpt from the big game,
Doodle: Mom, you have to have a move that you do when you score.
Me: I do?
Doodle: Yeah, and mine's this (Ball spike followed by a muscle stance with a super tough face to boot), so you can't do that one.
Me: OK, can I do this (Funky Dance with thumbs up sign)?
Doodle: I guess so.

He then went on to let me know when I could or could not perform my funky dance. When I did it at an inappropriate time I was quickly chastised with a "MOOOOOOMMMMM! Not NOW!" We had a blast.

We went out for dollar burgers at the local watering hole and came home to a phone call from Mommy at Helms Deep that they had a treat to bring over. Mmmmm... Ice cream cake.... Thanks, Helms Clan :)

All in all, I'm sure this decade will bring joy. I do tear up a little to think that before this decade ends I'll have three teenagers. Two of them will be driving. My first baby will graduate from high school... I have to stop.

I'll leave you with a photo from yesterday's football frenzy:

 

THIS is true joy. 

 

Doodle's favorite spot at the "Bay of Dreams." 

 

Noah's reaction to the indoor waterpark last week! 

Week in a nutshell

So I started writing this long post about all our ramblings lately and Blogger ate it. Ugh.

I'll give you a short synopsis of our last week. We returned from the farm to our heavy quilt of snow, only to see the forecast. More snow, 6-8 inches of it, and right to our weekend travel destination. That left Wednesday last week as a unpack, launder 6 loads, repack for 5 people for four days, motel, waterpark, and food. Prep van(vacuum and wash) repack said vehicle, make supper, head to church and be on the road again (3 hours south this time) by 8pm.

We got there through little weather and enjoyed an indoor waterpark (our first experience) the entire next day as it snowed and swirled outside. AHHH...
It. was. a. BLAST!

Friday it was on to the boys State Tourney where my DH enjoyed guy time as he almost never has before. Jake, a good friend, and our BIL, unlimited basketball dawn to dusk. He so deserved some good R&R- I was thrilled for him.
The kids and I had our share of fun, too. We got to hang out with a friend and her daughter. We were on my sister's stompin' grounds and she graciously navigated us through the traffic to the Children's Museum, Noodles & Co., a HUGE Kid's Expo (thus the rock climbing). My Mom also joined us (treating us to meals out galore) and brought the kid/adult ratio to one on one- we had a lot of fun. The only bummer of the weekend was that the friends we traveled with were sick, one after another.

We got home Sunday and after two and a half whole days home are hitting the road again this afternoon- this time to a conference that just so happens to be 30 minutes from my parents house... So a short visit to mom and dad's- thanks to the school. We'll be back tomorrow night- just enough time to see the boatload of color they've doused their house with over the past few weeks!

So- the road trips continue (no complaints here!) and the Dahls will check back in over the weekend.

What kind of flower am I ?!?

You Are A Lily

You are a nurturer and all around natural therapist. People see you as their rock. And they are able to depend on you. You are a soothing influence. You can make people feel better with a few words. Your caring has more of an impact than even you realize.

What Flower Are You?

(And then somedays I'm a Venus Flytrap!)

  

The Quilt!

I left home Sunday night with the two little kids and headed to Jake's parents.
My Mother-in-Law, Joyce, graciously offered to make us a quilt, and it was time to begin! I have never done quilting, so I listened, then jumped in- cutting and sewing and here is (most of) the top! I brought it home to see how wide we want the remaining strips to be. (Our current quilt is sticking out from under it in the picture) Joyce and I had a LOT of fun (Despite the fact that Noah and Jake were home for TWO SNOW DAYS IN A ROW! Doesn't it figure? I leave town and THEN they get 18 inches of snow and two snow days!!!) and I don't think we did bad for a day and a half! Can't wait for it to be all the way done. I'll keep you "posted." hee hee


  

Enjoying a mild Wisconsin winter...

 













Some days I wish I could just wrap 'em up and keep them this way forever! 

A newsy update...

Oh, how time flies! First of all tomorrow marks one year of Doodling with the Dahls...We're a lively bunch!

Secondly, I thought I just posted a day or two ago, and here a week has already passed. Sorry.

Life rolls on. I am thoroughly enjoying the Bible Study we started at church, "Living Your Life As a Beautiful Offering" by Angela Thomas. She touches on so many basic areas that I have head knowledge of, but not heart knowledge. I'd definitely recommend it.

We're enjoying our first basketball-free week! Last night Jake came along to the last night of swimming lessons! It was so nice to have him there! Noah and Bella both passed to the next level, and Doodle did incredibly well for his first time in Level 2.

School with Doodle is going well. His reading improves each week! We are working double time this week as I intend to take the week off next week (a "spring break" of sorts). The little ones and I are headed to Jake's parents to work on the quilt and visit for 2 1/2 days. Wednesday will be a big laundry/packing day and then early Thursday morning we're headed to the state tournament (with a night at an indoor waterpark resort on the way!)

Noah's homeroom teacher is back after his paternity leave. Noah came home from school with two big folders full of corrected homework and did extremely well. He also brought home a "High Five" award for good behavior. We're still really happy with the choice to put him into public school this year. I miss him terribly during the day, but see him growing and maturing in a lot of ways and he hasn't been "ruined" by his peers just yet! :)

Bella was up most of the night Sunday night with a sore throat and ear. I brought her in to the clinic and it took everything in me to hold her as the doctor tried to peer into the sore ear to no avail. She is one tough cookie. The doctor asked if we had been swimming as the tenderness indicated an outer ear infection. Ah, yeah. Twice a week now for a month! Her throat was very red and swollen, he could see the ear pain, though not internally, so he gave her drops and Amoxicillin and she is a different girl. Our kids have all had numerous ear infections in their first 3 years, and I've been trying to hold off bringing them in at the first complaint, but a night where neither Jake, Bella or I slept was too much. I'm thankful it will be better by next weekend!

Well, just a "newsy" post, but I've gotta run. There's a pie and coffee cake in the oven and Turkey Phillies to be grilled!

She's singing...

Basketball season is officially over.
Banquet next week, and the marathon has ended.
Ahhhh...

Cruel and Unusual Punishment

Am I alone, or do others feel it should be illegal to have those #!$?%! (darn) TOENAIL ADS running on ones sidebar while online?! I break out into a full palm sweat every time Lamasil pops up... and quickly refresh / reboot in hopes that I get "scantily-dressed-singles-ad-girl" instead of yellow toenail being pried... ugh.

Why can't Tide advertise on my sidebar? Cheerios?

Doodle, Doodle, Doodle...

Those of you who know our Doodle in person KNOW how he pops in, blurts something out, then is off to the next thing while you are left to wonder...

I hustled the kids out on this beautiful spring-like day (after -20, 34 feels like spring!) and suddenly Doodle burst in, "MOMMY!"

"What!?"

"I FOUND AN EGG SHELL!"

(I closely examine his find, yep, it's an eggshell.) "oh, yeah..."

"Mom, I found it by a TREE!"

"Really?"

"YAH!"

"I don't know, Doodle, it's kind of cold for birds to be laying eggs yet..."
(thinking, "Sweetheart, that is definitely last week's breakfast pulled out of our trash can by those wayward crows.")

"Well, (huge snarfle of snot being sucked back in... arm swipe to nose),
Prolly a rabbit." (SLAM, he's out again)

Oh, my. I don't think I'm doing his education justice. Time to talk mammals/birds.

(I am rocking from laughter and he is whipping around the loop of our driveway on his bike. He saw me laughing and stopped, waved and laughed with me... Oh, I love this kid!

Nearing the end...

We are nearing the end of the basketball season. This is the last week of the regular season, and next Tuesday is the first regional game. It's been a long haul lately... Not many wins for the Bulldogs. I admire Jake's* character through it all.

We're doing well so far in our busy week... Yes, it's only Tuesday, but one day at a time, right? :) Today we have doctor appts. Swimming lessons this evening. I had a clean up/vacuum session upstairs and have one drawer I need to organize before lunch. I desperately need to get to thank you notes for Bella's birthday gifts! Tonight? Maybe during swimming lessons...

The bookends each got invited to separate sleep-overs on Friday, so Doodle and I are headed out on a date! He whispered, "How about Mc Donalds, Mom?" I'm thinking,"How about Mc Donalds, then grocery shopping, Dood?" :) Practical, I know... that's me.

Have a good week, all. I'm not sure how many times I'll get back to blogging this week!

*spell check didn't recognize "Jake's" and suggested maybe "jack***" is what I intended! Nope, not my man! :)

A Whirlwind of a Week to Come

Ahhh... Though it is still frigid, a sunny, laid-back Sunday is just what is needed in the Dahl house. Jake and Bella are upstairs napping,& Doodle and Noah are in the basement playing away. I had some quiet time in the new bible study I'm working on. I think I may sleep a bit before I go out to work.

Here's the run-down of our week:

Monday- by God's grace we have vacation for President's Day! In the evening Jake has a home game


Tuesday-Pediatrition appts. for the bookends (Bella and Noah) about 30 minutes to the south mid-afternoon, Jake has parent/teacher conferences 4-8, kids have swimming lessons 20 minutes to the north in the evening

Wednesday- Pinewood Derby in the evening... Jake has late practice, so won't be there until the end.

Thursday- Chaperone Noah's class to "Seussical" after lunch, Coference with his classroom teacher at 4, Reading teacher at 4:15, Jake conferences 4-8, Swimming lessons at 7.

Friday- Home Game

Throw in all the misc. and we've got a crazy week on tap!
I think I'll be taking that nap now...

Happy Birthday, Bella!

Can it be that four years have already past?

You've taught me a lot about being a mommy. You've taught me patience I didn't know I needed, but God did. You've taught me to chill out over the small stuff (I'm still working on this one). You've taught me that pink isn't so bad afterall.

We love you, angel. Happy birthday.