Introducing...Gracie!

An interview by Norah L. R.Skogen

Name: Gracie Theodore Skogen
Age: 7 years old
Birthday: December 25th (from Grandpa and Gramma Skogen)
Hair color: Brown
Eyes: Brown

Best friend: Norah
Favorite colors: Fuschia and Blue
Favorite drink: Apple juice
Favorite food: Grapes
Favorite book: Fancy Nancy and Dragon Books
Favorite game: Tag
Favorite toy: Jonesy's toys
Favorite dress: Polka dots

Gracie says: "I love Norah and her whole family!"

Twirly Dress

Gramma Joyce made a fun twirly dress for Norah!

Thanking Gramma and doing a little dance...

The Dancer - Portland Art Museum

Girl time! Norah and I went on a mommy/daughter adventure today. We had the best time! The Portland Art Museum is showing an exhibition called The Dancer, featuring works from Degas, Forain and Toulouse Latrec. Norah loves Degas (he painted many ballerinas) and was really excited to go see the paintings in person. She had so much fun listening to the walking tour and looking at the pictures and sculpture - it made it even more fun for me. After we went through the exhibit we had a yummy lunch downtown, where she showed off her best manners. What a perfect day!

Am I blue?

How many times do I need to learn this lesson? Don't leave a child alone with markers. :-

)

Blue - Norah's favorite color - she painted her entire and and all the way up to her elbow.

Obsessive Craft Time

Since I purchased my new embroidery machine, I haven't been able to stop crafting. Its become an obsessive compulsive activity...

Blanket, bib and burpee cloth for Baby Nephew Alestair (he's due in July)
I can't quit embroidering things! Anyone need their belongings personalized? I love it.
I made this dress/purse for Norah a few months ago, so today we made a matching set for her baby Gracie.

Blastoff!

Emerson has been so cute today! He is begining to be silly and tries to tease/make jokes - really cracks me up. Is it wrong that I have to retrain myself from biting him? He is so yummy and loveable... Blastoff! Enjoying breakfast and the Little Einsteins

Chillin' in Dad's manchair. Any time Ryan leaves his chair empty, Emerson runs as fast as he can to hop up in his place. :-)

Welcome to the world, James Neil Lorren!

This afternoon at 1:47 (ish) the world welcomed in my sweet nephew, James Neil Lorren Butler. He is such a beautiful baby! Dannelle and Neil let me be there for his birth and it was one of the most special and amazing moments. Neil, James, Josie and Dannelle


Dannelle actually looked PRETTY while going through labor - she did a great job. Neil looked pretty too. :-)

What a blessing for our family!

Milestones

Norah's first signature
(there are two 'A's :-))

Lewisville River hike

The weather has been so phenomenal we headed up North to explore a new area. The trails were rather short, but the scenery was beautiful. This would be a better place to bring a picnic, but we made the most of the hiking opportunities there. We only hiked a couple of miles and Norah walked almost the entire way - woohoo! Norah brought her magna-doodle (she kept a map of our trail) and sunglasses. Her hiking prep is pretty funny.

Emerson was SO happy to get out of the backpack and run around. Unfortunatly much of the trail was along cliffs and he had to be locked up. :-)
Jones, greatly in need of a haircut
Emerson trail mix - cheerios and raisins - !

Little bit o' sunshine

Ryan came home a bit early today, so we headed to the park for a bit of sunshine.

Emerson is so much fun! He runs everywhere and is so excited about everything he sees. I love this age!

The kids LOVE this toy - its a wobbly bucket/chair that spins around. It would make me sick...

Primping

While getting dressed today Norah decided that she was going to go all out - she spent a half hour with me, doing her hair and putting on makeup (lip gloss and fairy dust). Then she started posing herself around the house and telling me to take her picture - she also insisted on taking several pics of me, but I'll spare you all of those. She kept telling me to look at her head and smile my REAL smile. Too funny, I guess I take her pic waaaaay too often. Flatironing her hair - no worries, this is an old flat iron with the cord cut off. Do you see her fancy vanity in the background? Lots of good times.

Very meticulously doing my hair (yikes, I haven't put my eyebrows on yet). Norah's lips have about 50 layers of lip gloss on them...
Yes, she came up with these herself - I was following her around the house following her directions. I was LOL much of the time!
Our self portrait!

Dress Up with the Bug

Hadley loves to dress up in Norah's Cinderella Halloween costume when she visits us - here they are as princess/fairies.

Hadley Bug is one sassy fairy princess!

Salmon Creek Greenway

There are several pretty walking trails along the Salmon Creek - this morning was sunny, but by the time we got out of the house it started to drizzle and the kids were verging on grumpy. That didn't stop us from a little walk!

Emerson, on the run from Grammie

Ryan told Norah that elves live in trees - when I asked her what she was doing here, she told me she was wondering if there were any elves in THIS tree.

Twins or Cousins?

Emerson and Josie - Josie is 4 months older, but they look almost like twins...

Sewing and Cute Emerson

I recently purchased a sewing/embroidery machine and have been going crazy with the crafts. Wow, its amazing what a new machine will do! Thank goodness, now Norah and her doll Gracie have semi-matching pjs.

Emerson just cracks me up nowadays. He decided to lick out every bit of his lunch from his plate - he spent more time licking the plate than eating the meal off of it.

Leikarringen ~ Norwegian Dance

This afternoon was Norah's first Leikarringen (Norwegian children's dancing) performance at the Portland Sons of Norway Grieg Lodge. She was SO excited to dance on the stage. :-) Dannelle, Josie and Grandma came along with us to the event. We'll (oh yes, its a WE - I have to dance with Norah until she is a little older) next be performing at the 17th of May Norwegian Constitution Day - in case anyone is in Portland. :-)

Skohl!


Dancing the Nose Grinder
Norah's bunad - Mom and Norah helped me pick out the fabric. I may be exceptionally bias, but she looks darn cute it in. :-)