My babies

I have been wanting to post a few close ups that show how much these boys love each other.

I love this one because it shows off their blue eyes. I tell Nat constantly that his eyes are the reason that I married him. It has paid off with two blue eyed handsomes.

Luke, like his parents, loves to kiss his brother's bald head.

He has, however, not always been able to resist licking his bald head. Nat and I try our hardest to resist our urge to lick.

It's a good thing that Noah doesn't seems to mind it when Luke pretends to be a mama tiger, cleaning her young.

Is anyone else doing polymer physics at 3 a.m.?

Here is a call out into the lonely winter night. Is there anyone else doing their homework this late?

I got up to go to the bathroom at 2:45 this morning and this is what I found. Nat is deep in polymer physics. I feel awful for him. He needs his beauty rest. Does anyone else want to take a turn with his polymers?

Blizzard!

Get ready for a post with a lot of snowy pictures.

I am writing from within the most wonderful blizzard I can remember in my adult life. The snow that has accumulated in our back yard rivals my childhood memories of snow banks as tall as I was. It has been beautiful to sit on the couch, hold my baby, and watch the snow just keep coming.

We knew that the snow was on its way and so we cancelled our trip down to see the grandparents and attend Nat's cousin's baby shower and headed to the store to stock up on essentials (essentials for me included Brie cheese, good bread, and dark chocolate covered raisins-- Nat informed me that these were "ridiculous" essentials).

We found out yesterday afternoon that church would be cancelled today. All afternoon and evening my mind swam with the possibilites that an entire day without commitments would hold. I can't remember the last time that we had a whole day without anything on the calendar. The fact that it was a Sunday was even better-- we were free from any pressure to do chores, organize or clean house. As it turned out we spent the whole day eating treats and reconnecting with one another. I consumed lots of Lemon Zinger and Raspberry Zinger herbal tea-- a carryover from childhood winters. Luke enjoyed Hot Chocolate with marshmallows that he picked out at the store yesterday. We read books, did puzzles, took naps and made it out for a walk around the snowy neighborhood.

Here are some pictures of our day in the snow:


Here is our brave little man making his way through the deep, deep snow. Like the frugal mom that I am, I bought his boots a little bit big so that they would make it through the whole winter. I think that I bought them about a size too big-- they often get left behind him as he trudges through the snow.

Here is one of the tall banks of snow that Luke tried to climb on our "journey" (his word) down the street to the park.

My snowy boys walking through our winter wonderland.

I laid Noah down in the snow again for more pictures. He liked it until he started to slip down the hill.

He is almost grown out of his winter bunting. Both he and Luke seems to be going through growth spurts. It seems like I woke up one morning and both of their pants were too short.

Noah seems to share his father's opinion that I take way too many pictures. Doesn't he seems a little young to be resisting?

Noah rode in the Bjorn for our journey. It wasn't terribly cold today and he enjoyed being outside. When he got tired Nat just turned him in and he slept, allowing us more time at the park.

I love my baby's soft cheeks.

Noah got to try the teeter-totter for the first time. He enjoyed it. We made a new friend at the park today, a fourth grader named Mason and his dog Buddy. Mason tried to teach Luke about snowball fights but Luke doesn't always get his thumb in the right place in his mittens and it was a little difficult for him to throw. Mason and I ended up exchanging fire for a while. Why is snow so fun to throw?


These two pictures were taken yesterday when Nat and Luke did the first round of shoveling. Nat can hardly sit still if there is snow in the driveway. We weren't headed anywhere yesterday morning but they had to go out and shovel anyway. When I asked Nat why he told me that it was because his dad always shoveled first thing in the morning-- usually before anyone else was out of bed. That sounds just like Doug. A lot of the things that I appreciate about Nat are a result of his admiration for and desire to be like his dad. Thanks, Doug.


After Luke and Nat shoveled they rode the sled down the hill and then down the driveway. It isn't such a big deal to slide into the road when there are hardly any cars out there. I have really enjoyed the quiet that the storm has brought with it.

I am now experiencing Sunday night panic. The weekend has been so delightful that it will be hard to go back to the weekday routine. I do have a lot to look forward to. Mom and Dad are on their way here for Noah's blessing. Nat's family will also be here. It's always fun to have family in town. Maybe I should make a paper chain for the countdown until they get here.

Partners in crime

I walked into the kitchen the other day and found Luke undressing Noah. He looked up at me and told me, "Noah really likes it when I undress him." He seemed to have a point because Noah was smiling and laughing (it's unclear whether it was the undressing or just the fact that Luke was paying attention to him that was making him happy-- Noah smiles and laughs anytime Luke gets near him).

Rolling, Rolling, Rolling

Noah is a roller!

He has been trying for a few weeks now. He could get all the way up on his side but couldn't figure out what to do with his arm. He has now gotten strong enough to just roll onto the arm and then move it out of the way. He did it for the first time on Wednesday night and then laid on his arm and rolled back onto his back. He did it again Thursday morning but figured out how to move his little arm and was then able to scoot around the room a little bit.

While I was watching Noah's determination to master the roll, Luke was quizzing me about the alphabet. "Mom, what does crocodile start with?" "Mom, what makes the th, th sound?" It caused me to reflect on the amazing drive to develop and learn. Where did Noah even get the idea that rolling was something that he should be working on? Why does Luke care what sounds the different letters make? It's beautiful to watch these boys grow.

Ouch!

Here's a picture that makes me feel like a terrible mom. I cut Luke's finger really badly when I was cutting his nails this week. I apologized profusely and Luke said, "that's okay, (sniff, sniff) no harm done." He's so forgiving.

Snow Train!

Every February the nearby train museum has a "Snow Train". They only run the trains for one weekend every winter. We got to ride on the train this year. We had a great time. Luke was so excited-- he could hardly get his words out. It was the perfect day for a train ride. It was fun to watch the snow sparkle on a perfect winter afternoon. Here are a few highlights.

Luke stands on the platform. He loved getting in and out of the train and climbing those big stairs.


All aboard!

We went with our friends. Here are Bea, Liam, Luke, and Sam all looking out the back of the train. The conductor got off the train when we stopped to turn around and the kids were fascinated.

Luke and Liam have a conversation as Bea and Reed look on. Who knows what they are talking about-- Thomas, Percy, or James? Your guess is as good as ours.

This is how much Luke enjoyed the trip!

Noah also enjoyed the trip very much. He is already being set up for a life of train loving. He just smiled at anyone he could get to look at him.

The boys enjoy a more calm moment.

Bea and Luke-- does it look like they are flirting to you?

Oh, the excitement!

Here's the family.

Thanks to our good friend Shelley (a.k.a. social director) for organizing a great excursion.

Not so sure about things...

Noah has the funniest facial expressions. I think that he is so expressive because his eyes are so huge. He's a fun one.

Worst dollar I ever spent...

We went to Target for Family Home Evening on Monday and I made the mistake of letting Luke go through the dollar aisle. "What's the harm?" I thought. Well, he emerged with this Hello Kitty whistle. He found it in the bag as soon as we got home and ripped the package open and gave it his all. The sound was awful! This is the highest pitched whistle I have ever heard. If it were any higher I think that all the neighborhood dogs would have been on our doorstep. Noah HATED it. Every time Luke let out a whistle his lower lip would stick out (a Fredin boy trademark) and he would cry like his heart was breaking. I thought that I should send out a warning-- stay away from the Hello Kitty whistles! I have to hide it again before Luke gets up from naps.

New Blog

Several of you have told me that you have been unable to post on the blog since I have switched over to the new blogger. Here are some easy instructions on how to switch over.

At the top-right corner of this page, click on 'Sign In'

Click on the blue button that says 'Switch now'

Enter your current/old blogger username and password and click on continue.

Then if you already have a Google account (e.g., if you have a gmail address) you can enter in that information. Otherwise, you can set up a Google account.

Then when you want to post in the future, you will click 'Sign In' at the top of this page, and then at the top of the next page, select 'New Blogger' and use your Google username and password.



We couldn't have a post without a picture. This is a picture of our favorite swimming spot in Samoa.

Rattle Toes

Noah got a little package last week and this is what we found inside-- rattle toe socks! I put them on Noah today and then sat him on the couch to look at them. He was really interested. Oh, the simple pleasures of motherhood.
Ashley, you better have a boy first because we have a lot of boy stuff. Samuel-- right?

This is his interested face. He makes his mouth into a little O and squints those huge eyes as he focuses on the object of interest.

He is learning to use his hands. He was trying really hard to figure out how to reach those socks.

Look at those piggies!

A train named Charlie and other cute things that Luke has said and done lately

Luke LOVES Mr. Rogers. I have been letting him watch "The Neighborhood" while I get Noah nursed and down for the afternoon nap. Luke answers all of his questions, tells him that he loves him frequently throughout the show, and heartily agrees to be his neighbor every day as we watches. We were at dinner last night and Luke says, "I really love that train named Charlie". Nat asked him if one of the trains from Thomas was named Charlie. Luke responded that no, it was Mr. Roger's train that was named Charlie and that he took us to the land of make believe. It took us a minute to realize that he was talking about Trolley. We'll let him think that his name is Charlie for a little while longer.

The other day Luke and Nat were talking and Luke burst into tears. When I asked Nat why he was crying he told me that it was because he told Luke that we couldn't go to Bear Country (from the Berenstain-- pronounced "Derenstain" Bears).

When I was putting Luke down for his nap yesterday I was sitting on the bed with him and I had Noah in my arms. Luke laid there and fell asleep really well holding my hand. When I pulled the covers back I saw that he had been holding Noah's hand with his other hand. Break my heart-- isn't that sweet.

I should really sit down at the end of the day and write down all the sweet things that Luke says and does each day. I could fill books and books. What a blessing to be his mom.

Couch Potatoes

LUKE!

Look at this boy!

Memories of Elm Lane

Luke helped (I am using the word "help" liberally) me make a sled run this morning in the front yard. It was very fun. The sun was shining and it was a great morning to play outside. I am still wondering whether it is worth the half hour investment that it is to get out of the house to play in the snow. Today's fun seems like it was.

Luke enjoyed being outside when he wasn't whining about being cold and tired. He kept telling me that he needed to rest. He laid in the driveway for quite a while.

I had Noah in the babyBjorn inside my coat at first but then he fell asleep. I put him in the bouncy seat on the front porch (which really confused Luke-- he told me that the bouncy seat belongs inside) to finish his nap. When he woke up he sat happily and enjoyed being outside.

I couldn't resist laying him down in the snow to snap some chilly pictures. He was a little bewildered about what was going on. Look at that nursy mouth. Couldn't you eat him up?