She's so fly...

This morning Norah, Jones and I walked down to Starbucks to pick up coffee and scones for Ryan and hot chocolate for the rest of us. We took Norah's new wagon for a spin, which she really enjoys. The bumps are the most fun! Today she rediscovered her sunglasses collection and has insisted on wearing them as much as possible. She looked so funny all bundled up for the cold weather - but wearing her sunglasses. :-)

Aunt Lynne gave her the pink glasses and Grandma Peggy gave her the yellow. We thought it was good timing, seeing as she is sporting her princess track suit from Mari Lou. This little monkey is all ready for summer!

Where are my feet?

Yesterday Norah and I went shopping with Aunt Laurie at Washington Square. Norah didn't know what to do with the super shiny black tiles - she was afraid to walk on them - I think because they were reflective. After a while she got up the nerve to crawl across them!

The bottom step is Norah's newest fave place to hang out. I've begun placing the baby gate one step up, so she can lounge on the step. This morning she decided to hang out there in her PJs and comb her hair.

We visited Great Grandma and Great Grandpa this week. Norah is a little unsure about Grandpa (aren't we all!) but she runs right up to Grandma. They have a small stool thats just the right size for Norah to climb up on and read her books. We mosied down to their restaurant for lunch - Misty and Grandma Peggy joined us - and met LOTS of older folks, fascinated with Norah. Fortunatly she's not very shy and was happy to entertain!

Norah and Daddy, after we picked Daddy up at the bus stop (isn't that where everyone picks up their daddies?). It was wet!

Wow....a Guestbook!

I just added a guestbook to our site - very fancy blogging we're doing now-a-days. Look...its there, on your right... My, how easy to use!

Norah and Norah

Uncle Kodiak has a new hamster...named Norah. :-) Norah's (the hamster) hair color reminded him of Norah's (the Skogen) hair - and thus, Hamster Norah. Henceforth known as Norah H... Norah S. was very fascinated by the little critter.

Norah really likes climbing up on Grandma's lap to see whatever she is doing - in this instance they were looking at pictures together on Norah's blog.
Grandma had her antique riding pony out...I don't think Norah will be able to ride on that for much longer!

Hello Corvallis!

We spent Sunday in Corvallis with Gramma and Grandpa Skogen! Norah had so much fun playing with her grandparents and their big lab, Strider.

Gramma Joyce was all ready for baby visits, with books, toys, stuffed animals and a NEAT bouncy chair.

Gramma and Grandpa watched Norah while Ryan and I had lunch out on the town - all by ourselves. Fun for everyone!

Peek-a-boo

The other day Norah discovered that she could sneak behind the sofa. I heard crazy giggling and couldn't figure out where she was. When I finally peeked over the sofa she just cracked up -its not easy being that funny! :-)

Tea Party

Before...


After...
]
Cheerios and water everywhere!

Cute Monkey

Norah's cute Christmas outfit from Gramma Joyce















Playing with Aunt Kaye

Now we're REALLY out and about

Norah and I attempted another outing today. We are both feeling much better, but Ryan is still miserably ill. I think he enjoyed spending quiet time with us gone for the day. Jonesy took good care of him.

Mom let us hang out at her house and Norah was especially snuggly. Its so dear when she climbs up and rests her head on your shoulder. Uncle Kodiak spent lots of time making her laungh. We're pretty sure she said Kodiak several times - her version sounds like "Dyadka". Hehehe, I don't know how its possible for me to think my child is the cutest I've every met. :-) Mom's dog, Timberline, has become a great source of fascination for Norah. He is HUGE - a St. Bernard and Great Pyrennese mix.

In my New Years quest to get our house together (hey, its only been 7 months in our new place), I have been working on window treatments for all the rooms. Finished up Norah's today and will hang the office tomorrow. Next up is the Living Room - I am looking forward to trying somethign modern/fun/different. Which may just end up weird. :-)

Happy New Year!

It was an evening of fesitivity and fun at the Skogen home last night, as we welcomed in the New Year. OK, who are we kidding. Still sick, we were all just happy to sleep. Ryan may have been the only one awake at the strike of midnight!

Hope you all enjoyed your celebrations - many happy wishes for the New Year!

I spoke too soon...

For one glorious day I was under the delusion that everyone in our home was back in good health...haha, I jinxed us. Norah has caught a miserable version of the cold and Ryan and I aren't far behind. We're trying to keep our sniffles to ourselves! Ugh, this has been a gross winter for cold and flu. Poor Norah has such a hoarse voice, I can hardly hear her. Ahhh...fun times. Needless to say I haven't taken any pictures of how cute we've been the past couple days. :-)

Hope everyone is well and in better health than here in the Skogen household!

Out and About

After a couple of sick days we enjoyed a casual day out and about. Norah and I went to Grandma's house and dropped of a belated birthday present for Uncle Kodiak. We gave him a gift certificate to Barnes and Noble, so afterwards went to B&N to watch him spend it. Grandma and Norah played in the kids corner with the Thomas the Tank Brio extravaganza while Kodiak and I browsed around the store...fun for everyone! Topped it off with a trip to Starbucks (where Grandma likes to sneak bits of her pumpkin muffin to Norah) and we had a fun, quiet day. Its nice to be back into the regular, non-holiday, routine of life!

This pic has nothing to do with our day, but its one of my faves of Mom and Norah - from one of Neil's wedding receptions.

Go Aggies!

Norah, supporting Uncle Neil and Aunt Dannelle.
Yay, Utah State University!

The many Christmas parties of 2005

We had lots of fun visiting family this year - the week of Christmas was a whirlwind of family parties. Thanks to everyone for including us in the action!

Christanakuh 2005
Woo, was it busy exchanging presents with the 4 little ones - can't imagine what next year will be like with 5!

Sophie and Sara...................Playing with Solomon


What a cute family!.......... Glamorous Aunt Meeps

Lotsa Practice........................ I love my Grandpa!

Christmas Eve

At the Macielinskis with Grandpa and Gramma Joyce. We really enjoyed visiting with everyone and Norah loved playing with Strider.

Whew, was Norah ready for bed on Christmas Eve! She could barely stay awake while we changed her into her special Christmas jammies from Grandma Carmen - we read a couple of Christmas stories then tucked her in.
Unfortunatly Santa waited till the last minute to put together Norah's new wagon. He finished around 1:00am...
...but Norah was up at 7:30 on Christmas morning!

Opening Stockings
"Feeding" her new baby
The wagon is a hit with Norah, although Jones was not too thrilled. :-) You'd think he'd like being buckled in...

Finally off to Aunt Kaye's for the Butler Family Christmas dinner.
Snuggling with Great-Grandma Playing with Uncle Kodiak

You can't catch me! Kiss goodbye from cousin Clair

Our first Christmas tree with Norah

It was cold, rainy and muddy, but she had a great time...!

Grandma Carmen's visit

We had such a fun time during Carmen's visit! She was a good sport about Jonesy's adoration of her (he's using her as a pillow, below). One morning Norah woke up, grabbed a book and climbed up on Grandma's lap to read with her. They cuddled and read for quite a while.
Norah was exhausted after her exciting birthday extravaganza. She snuggled up with Grandma for a bottle and rest, in her special birthday jammies from Carmen.
We can't wait for Grandma's next visit!