Road Trip

Waiting for the food...Audriana is getting impatient for more jelly fish salad...yes, jelly fish salad!

...still waiting!

Haakon and Daddy...the morning after the wedding festivities...father like son!

Last weekend, we got to go my Auntie Terrie and new uncle Joe's wedding in D.C. It was a beautiful wedding! Despite the humidity and heat, they threw a stunning traditional Cambodian wedding, Chinese wedding ceremony, Buddhist ceremony and Catholic ceremony...all in a span of less than 24 hours! After a day long of ceremonies, we were rewarded with a 10-course traditional Chinese wedding banquet. One of our three appetizers included a cold spicy chicken and jellyfish salad. Audriana did not like the chicken in the salad, but LOVED the jellyfish. If you have never tried jelly fish, do try it. Its actually quite tasty!

It was quite the drive from Jacksonville to D.C. But we all made there and back in one piece! And we still love the kids :) They were really great considering that they were both locked in their car seats for at least 10 hours each way. Such troopers, our little babies!

Home Sweet Renovations!

Since we've moved into our home in Florida, pictures of updated kitchen and bath have been floating through my mind. And after a year of making ourselves comfortable, we decided that it was time to make-over the kitchen! Initially, this was going to be a simple "replace-the-countertops" project. Now, it is getting a little bit bigger than that.

We decided to lop off the breakfast bar so that the yellow-river granite countertops can be showcased. In addition, we thought that the ceramic tile backsplash was a more appropriate accent for the bathroom, rather than kitchen. So, we will be putting in travertine subway tiles as our backsplash. And finally, we found the most amazing copper apron sink! The sink is going to be the most difficult component since our base cabinets are not designed to hold those types of sinks. Bjorn, to my trepidation, will be altering these base cabinets to fit this sink.

For right now, I am without a microwave and useable counter space. So meals have been consisting of one-pot wonders! I am so excited to see the finished product. Bjorn has been doing a stellar job of the carpentry so far (thus, when I say "we", I really mean Bjorn. I only keep the kids out of the work area and Bjorn's way). More pictures to come...

Happy Anniversary to Grandma and Grandpa Te

Happy 31st Wedding Anniversary to Grandma and Grandpa Te!! What a wonderful privilege it is to share in this occasion with you (even if it is only in spirit from Jacksonville!). We are so lucky to call you Mom and Dad. Audriana and Haakon are so blessed in having such loving and doting grandparents as you both.

In 26 years, we hope to have a replica of the picture above with our grandkids! Congratulations and to many, many, more years of wedded bliss. We love you both and can't wait to see you in a couple of weeks!

Summer Update

Well, its hard to believe that our Baby Audriana is almost 19 months! I swear it was just yesterday that I held in my arms for the first time with her big brown eyes staring back at me....how time flies! Haakon and I took Audriana in for her 18-month check-up and she is a happy and healthy toddler! Here are her stats:

Head Circumference: 95th Percentile

Height: 85th Percentile (33 inches)

Weight: 43rd Percentile (24 lbs.)

So based on her measurements, Audriana is a tall skinny kid with a big head! We'll take that any day of the week. She also was such a big girl when she got her shots. Barely even cried and was quickly placated with stickers. I just love her!

Audriana and Haakon now officially share a room (and occasionally Scout will join them!). They are doing BEAUTIFULLY together. We are still completely shocked that they don't wake each other up. I love waking up in the morning to each baby talking to his/herself in the crib. Audriana LOVES to join Haakon in his crib when they are both awake. She loves to try to give Haakon his binky. And when he doesn't want his binky, she'll pop it right in her own mouth!

Haakon now is officially a solid food aficionado. I initially gave him a lick of my fresh peach and after one lick, he grabbed my hand and pushed the peach right back to his mouth for more. He also loves sweet potatoes and oatmeal....I think he has more of his daddy's palate. Audriana is a big help when it comes to feeding Haakon solids. She'll provide sound effects to help him enjoy his food more thoroughly and also help him eat his food if he is not eating it quickly enough....quite the mommy's little helper, that one.

Every day it is something new and exciting with these babies. I just cannot believe how fast they are growing. Trying to savor every new moment....

Trip to MN

Twins game at Target Field

Grandbabies with Grandma & Grandpa Anderson

Grandbabies with Grandma and Grandpa Te

Ahhh...Mr. Haakon.

Miss Audriana

Our trip home to MN was wonderful. The grandbabies got to spend lots of time with both sets of grandparents and we got LOTS of free baby-sitting...what a deal! It was so much fun to help Grandma Te celebrate her 50th Birthday, catch a Twins game in their inaugural season at Target Field, visit the last free (non-charging) zoo in the country (Como Zoo), go boating, spend time at the family cabin, see friends, and catch up with family. With all that we had on our plate, it was no surprise that our 16-day visit whizzed right by! Now that we are recharged, time to get on with our Father's day present: kitchen remodel!!!! Pictures to come!

Haakon's 4-month Appointment

Haakon had his four-month check-up on Monday....and all we can say is, WOW! Our doctor says that he looks like a million bucks and meeting all of his milestones. We cannot believe that he came to us only four months ago...every day more and more of his personality comes out.

At four months, he smiles like just like his big sister. Haakon LOVES to tell stories and is so expressive with them...his brow will furrow in the serious parts of his stories and suddenly a smile will appear when a happy part of the story comes by. He loves to be showered with kisses and is very ticklish. Audriana loves to love on her brother...sometimes its a too much love and we have tell her that Haakon gets the message. Audriana and Haakon now wear the same size diapers!

And, here are the stats of Haakon's appointment:

-Head circumference: 42.5 cm (75th% percentile)

-Length: 25.75 cm (85th percentile)

-Weight: 17.5 lbs. (95th percentile)

Handsome Haakon...

Haakon has changed so much in these last few months. His little personality is starting to show more and more each day. He's a very vocal baby...loves to tell me stories and I love watching how expressive his face is when he tells those stories. Sometimes, when I am playing with him, I think he reminds me of someone. And every time I try to think of who, it eludes me. Finally tonight, as I was perusing through Jack Johnson's website and watched his Upside Down video and it comes to me: Haakon reminds me of Curious George! Its all the cheeks and the eyes...do you see it?

Easter Egg Hunt Pictures

My handsome guys at the Easter Egg Hunt!

Audriana and her bunny ears (thanks to Amelia)

tentatively approach the Easter Bunny.

Daddy tries to encourage a closer greeting with the Bunny.

Look how friendly the Easter Bunny looks! Unfortunately,

Peanut never got any closer to the Bunny.

Our little Peanut striking a pose for the camera in the middle of the hunt!

Just caught sight of the Easter Bunny again!

And she's out of the hunt...keeping track of the Easter Bunny is a

full time job!

All that work makes a little girl hungry.

Snack break on the sidelines!

Finally, the Easter Bunnies are leaving the premises.

And Peanut's job is done.

Here's some belated Easter Egg Hunt pictures from our neighborhood. The kids were all divided into their appropriate age groups. Audriana and her friends, Andrew and Amelia, were all in the two and under group. The egg hunt went pretty well for most of the kids. Audriana, however, abandoned the hunt and insisted on keeping her eyes on the suspicious Easter Bunnies...they were not to be trusted!

Playing around with the camera!

Here are some spring pictures I took of the kids. If any of you can recommend a good digital camera (not a point and shoot type) to take portraits, please send them in. I think I want to be in the market for one soon :)

Audriana the Conqueror

I was sitting on the couch with Haakon when Audriana climbed onto the couch, threw one leg over my hip and strandled while her brother was still laying on my lap. She thought it was an opportune time to shower me with her sweet kisses. It was and Haakon didn't even mind :)

The outfit that Audriana has on is one of Haakon's new outfits (Bjorn busted it out on Audriana to see if it would fit her). Its designed for 3-6 months. Audriana is 15 months old. She definitely is a little peanut compared to her butterball brother!

More Savannah Pics

Triple Duty: Hauling Haakon, Audriana and Emma

Charlie and Bjorn hauling the boys around

Zonked out...the drive home.