Walker: Part 3

I have to apologize for the lack of picture for today's post, mama wasn't on the ball and didn't get her camera out in time...

Last week was VERY crazy, we drove all over the place, stayed at a bunch of different places, and saw a TON of family.  Auntie Megan was moving, Mama had to work on Wednesday, and Daddy had to visit with some suppliers too, all of this coordinating meant that I didn't get to see my mama for over a day and a half!

Mama left Alexandria before dinner on Tuesday and then met Daddy and Grandma Carolyn at the hotel in the cities Wednesday night after I had already gone to bed.  On Thursday morning I was very happy to see her and wanted to do something special to show her how much I love her.

It took me a little bit to figure it out, but then it came to me!  For 10 months she has been anxiously awaiting the moment I say her name, she was more than happy when I exclaimed "MAMA!" when I saw her!!  In the heat of the moment I decided to top myself...not only did I decide to take my first step, I decided to take 5 steps across the living room!! 

Mama was so excited and proud of me!  I also think it brightened Grandma Carolyn's day that she got to see it too.

I must admit, after taking so many steps on my first try, I was pretty tired.  I really tried taking more steps for Grandpa Tim, Great Grandma Joan,  Grandma Nancy and Auntie Heidi,Wendy and Missy, I just couldn't.  I can't wait until the next time I see them, I have been practicing, both at daycare and at home, I know it won't be long until I am running all around.

Have a good night!
Linden

You are never going to believe this...

My mama has done a lot of crazy things, but I think she has topped herself this time.  There is a TREE in the MIDDLE of our LIVING ROOM!

I can't exactly say that is was a complete surprise, we did go to the tree store and pick one out.  I do think that I did a pretty good job picking a tree, but I must admit, I was expecting it to go in the front yard.

Tree shopping was a lot of fun, and at the end I got my first Candy Cane!  (daddy only let me eat it for a few seconds, then he took it and ate the whole thing in one bite).

I have pretty mixed emotions about this tree thing.  It is really pretty, and makes the house smell so nice, but mama won't let me touch it.  Not to mention, it is in the MIDDLE of the LIVING ROOM!  I am certain mama and daddy have lost their minds!

Not only do we have a tree upstairs, but we also have another one downstairs.  To all of my faithful followers, I hope if you have a tree in your living room that it is as beautiful as ours is!

Merry Christmas,
Linden

First Snow

You are going to have to excuse the lateness and dis-order of the posts over the next short while...Things have been a little chaotic and random around here, and that is how my blog is going to have to be until I catch up...

Last Saturday was the first snowfall of the season!!  Of course, the first snowfall means one thing, and one thing only, cookies!!

The cookie jar was pretty cute, it had a fun top hat, coal buttons, and a bright red nose (I knew it wasn't made out of a carrot like in the books!)  This snowman cookie jar even had a little sign that he held in his hands, it said "My Tummy's Empty"...

Seeing that it is called a cookie jar, I figured it had to have cookies inside of it...turns out, I was WRONG!!

Mama knew just what to do...Chocolate Chip Cookies to the Rescue!!

Daddy's Aunt Naomi gave him and mama this cookie jar a few years ago.  Inside was a special note that said to pull it out on the first snowfall and tuck it away at the season end.  Each year we are supposed to write the date of the first snowfall on the bottom and enjoy the yummy cookies all season long.  This year not only marks the first snowfall but it also marks the date that Great Grandpa Glen became an angel, we will remember this date and think of him each year as we fill the cookie jar for the first time of the season.

I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving!  And I hope you loved the snow as much as I did!!
Love,
Linden

Great Grand-Angel Glen

I've been away from the blog for a few days and unfortunately now that I am back I have some pretty sad news.  My Great Grandpa Glen passed away this morning. 

My Great Grandpa was a pretty amazing man (if you didn't already know from reading other posts).  He loved his family (he was married to Great Grandma Joan for 62 years), his work (he didn't quit working until he was close to 80) and being on the lake (he enjoyed fishing, water skiing, boating and sailing).  He also gave the best hugs.

The first time I met Great Grandpa Glen I was just a few weeks old.  We spent the entire time just staring at each other. 

Great Grandpa always had a look of peace and happiness, he always had a smile and encouraging words.  He made it a point to tell me how special and wonderful and loved I am. Looking into his eyes made me think about all of the wonderful and amazing things life has in store for me.
 

As I got older mama and daddy took me to Alexandria many times so we could surprise Great Grandpa, I think he really liked it. I loved getting to see him and put a smile on his face, Grandma Carolyn told me that he always wanted to know when we were coming next.

Grandpa had such an amazing spirit. He taught me to always look on the bright side. Appreciate every moment. And above all, that God will be with me every where I go.



We were very lucky as a family that Great Grandpa Glen was able to enjoy life until just a few weeks ago.  Grandpa was a neat man with lots of stories and wisdom, I wish I had more time to spend with him so I could get to know him even better.  Now he is living in heaven with God, looking down on us and smiling. 

God gained a pretty amazing angel today, I am going to call him my Great Grand-Angel.  Mama, daddy, Grandma Carolyn, Grandpa Tim, Auntie Megan and all of his other family and friends are going to miss him very much.  We appreciate all of the love and support that has already come our way and want to say thank you for the prayers and comforting words.

I miss you and I love you Great Grand-Angel Glen.  There will never be another man like you.

Love,
Your Doodlebug

Dear Santa...

I was walking through Target with mama yesterday and saw all of the pretty trees with lights and bright shiny ornaments.  Mama had mentioned Christmas before, but I didn't realize that it was going be be this amazing!!

I saw a picture with a big guy in a red suit with a long beard and a pointy hat, mama told me his name is Santa.  Turns out, all you have to do is write him a letter telling him that you have been a good girl and tell him what you want, then on Christmas he goes around the world with reindeer, lands on the roof, climbs down the chimney, and brings lots of presents!!

I have never written a letter to Santa so I thought I would start here as a rough draft, feel free to give me any suggestions!

Dear Santa,

I have been a very good girl.  I was so nice to my mama that I came three weeks early so she could meet me!  I eat all of my veggies, try really hard to be a good sleeper, and use my indoor voice most of the time.

This is my first Christmas and I am pretty excited.  There are only a few things on my wish-list this year...

1.  Books - I love to read.  Mama loves to read.  Enough said.
2.  Paper - my own paper.  I LOVE to crinkle, rip, and eat paper, but mama and daddy always take it away from me.  If it is my own paper then they can't take it, right?
3.  Puzzles - Mama said this next year is going to be all about learning and figuring things out, what better way to do that than puzzles?
4.  A cell phone and laptop - Once again, mama and daddy won't let me play with theirs...I'd settle for an iPad.
5.  More Hair - I am sick of people asking if I am a boy.
6.  Imagination toys - Dr. Bob said this next year I am going to start playing pretend.  I already love to play with stuffed animals, and I love my play kitchen.
7.  College fund - I am pretty sure I overheard mama and daddy say that they would match any money that is contributed to my college fund...don't tell them I told you...
8.  Teeth - I am sick of trying to get all my big girl teeth to come in.  If you could just bring them for Christmas it would save me a lot of pain and trouble...
9.  Warm Lotion - It is always so cold...I HATE lotion, I get out of my warm bath and mama slathers me in freezing cold lotion.

See, my list is pretty short.  And I think they will all fit down the chimney quite nicely.

Love,
Linden

Ps. Mama is a pretty good baker and we are already discussing what kind of cookies to make for you.  Daddy wants us to make his favorite kind, not sure why, he isn't getting any.



Let me know what you think of my letter to Santa...
Linden

Walker: Part 2

I'm back!

The rest of the weekend was spent in Walker, MN...It is a little town (population 941) about 40 miles east of Brainerd.  There are tons of cute shops down town, an amazing Mexican restaurant (Cafe Zona Rosa), and a fantastic fireplace company (Wilkening Fireplace).

Even though it may seem that I am biased, I don't know what that word means, so there is no possible way that I am...but, I must admit, my mama's uncle owns both businesses  :-)  Either way, my reviews are accurate, if not an understatement.

The reason we drove 5 hours to Walker wasn't because of cute shops, wasn't because of the delicious kiddie margaritas (mama wouldn't let me have one, but she said hers was delicious), and wasn't because of the efficient warmth of a Minnesota made Wilkening Fireplace, nope, none of the above.  It was to celebrate mama's cousin Jessica's Confirmation, and her sister's, Christina, baby shower.

We had a great time at both parties, unfortunately, we had so much fun that we didn't have time to take any pictures.  Since I have no pictures, I guess I am going to have to sign off...

Just kidding!!

The confirmation party was fantastic.  I got to meet a bunch of mama's aunts, uncles, and cousins.  The food was fantastic, and plentiful.  And I had an entire household full of adoring public.

The baby shower was equally fantastic.  There were fantastic decorations.  Lots of food, cupcakes and punch (not that mama let me have any of it...) and great games.  I was pretty excited when I WON!!  Auntie Heidi was showing everybody this great book with lots of different textures, and I found them all before anybody else!!  All the other people were watching Christina open presents, either way...I did pretty great at the "touch and feel book".  I am very excited to meet Baby Brock, I can't wait to have another "mama's cousin's baby"...

Anyways...before this post rambles on any further, I will get to the pictures...

The best part of being out of town is getting to stay in a hotel with a pool.  The only thing better than that is staying in a hotel with a pool AND Auntie Heidi!!!

Auntie Heidi is a lot of fun, she twirled me around, splashed with me and taught me to put my face under the water (thanks to Auntie Wendy's tested swim training plan...)

 I also got lots of play time with mama and daddy in the pool...

Unfortunately, daddy didn't want to get out of the pool so mama did all of the picture taking so all of the pictures are of me with daddy. 

Mama brought a lot of my bath toys which made the pool even more fun...I was pretending to swim like my turtles...

Like I said, Auntie Wendy has a well tested (mama, auntie Heidi, and cousin Tyler, and probably a couple more) swim plan...Here is a picture of me and daddy blowing bubbles in the water!!

We had a fantastic weekend.  I loved getting to see all of mama's family.  I know I have said it before, but I am such a lucky girl to have so many people in my life who love and care about me...I am even more lucky that so many of them I can call my family.

I can't wait until next time!
Linden



Walker: Part 1

As usual, I am a couple of days behind in my posting and this time I don't even have a good reason.  None the less, I am back.

Last weekend Mama, Daddy and I went on a long weekend road trip, and got to hang-out with all sorts of family.

We left Thursday night around my bedtime and headed off to Alexandria  to visit Grandma Carolyn and Grandpa Tim.  I was kind of bummed when I got there because mama wouldn't let me play with Grandma, she made me go straight to bed!

The next day I got to play with Grandma in the morning and then I got to visit Great Grandpa Glen and Great Grandma Joan!  Great Grandpa Glen is still recovering from his surgery and was pretty excited to see me.  After playing and talking for a little bit we got to go help him with his therapy!  I really wanted the girls to teach me how to walk, but they said they had to focus on Great Grandpa.

After our visit we headed out for the next part of our weekend, Walker, Minnesota.  On the way to Walker we passed Itasca State Park so mama and daddy decided to stop and visit.  It was a beautiful fall day.

Turns out, this is where the Mississippi River starts (I learned that by reading the sign)   :-)

Daddy wouldn't let me touch the water because he said it was too cold, but I had fun anyways.  Mama saw this bridge and wanted daddy to take our picture.  Aren't we cute?

One last photo opp before leaving the park and heading to our final destination!

It was pretty fun.  I really like hiking and being outside with nature.  I had a great time!

Next time I will tell you about all the fun I had once we got to Walker, stay tuned!
Linden

Pumpkins!

I think one of my favorite parts about Halloween was decorating pumpkins. 

I got to go to work with mama and pick out my pumpkin, I think I got a pretty good one...

Mama didn't think having me use a knife was a very good idea so she found a fun pumpkin decorating kit.  I think it was called "Mrs. Pumpkin Head", kind of strange, if you ask me, but it was pretty fun.  I tried to put it together by myself, but it didn't look quite right...

With a little help from mama I got it put together and it looked great!



 I really wanted a carved pumpkin so mama said she would help.  I wanted a cupcake on it because I was dressed as a cupcake, and it just seemed to make sense...I think it turned out pretty great!

This is another one that mama carved...

This is the one daddy carved.  I don't know why daddy did this one, he kept calling it a mommy...I don't get it?

Now that Halloween is over mama said that Thanksgiving is just around the corner (I think we should go for a walk to find it, mama is making me go to bed...)  And after Thanksgiving it is Christmas time!  I can't wait!

Love,
Linden