Lindell Living

Jackson's Ready for Camp

2012-02-10T20:18:00.004-06:00

This summer Jackson will be old enough to go to Camp of Champions USA.

Ever since he found this out he has been super excited about it. And for the last several weeks he's been packing his backpack in preparation. (It's very full right now. We're not even sure what all he is planning on taking.)

Today he picked up a summer brochure from camp. His favorite part was reading aloud the list of things to bring to camp: "Your child will need..."

Only four more months to go. I guess luck favors the prepared.

(Pheaney however is very grateful camp is still four months away. There's a lot to get done still!)

The Caterpillar

2012-02-06T20:31:00.001-06:00

Jackson has been working really hard at school and is doing really well. His Language Arts book includes a poem to memorize and recite every 15 lessons or so. He actually memorized his first poem within a few days of hearing it. This is a video of him reciting "The Caterpillar." (During the video Espen is doing what he does best during school time...trying to distract his brothers! :) )

Here are the words:

"The Caterpillar"

By Christina G. Rosetti

Brown and furry

Caterpillar in a hurry;

Take your walk

To the shady leaf or stalk.

May no toad spy you,

May the little birds pass by you;

Spin and die,

To live again a butterfly.

The Espen Dialect

2012-02-02T20:37:00.000-06:00

At Espen's 18 month check-up his pediatrician said that he would probably be able to say about 20 words by the time he turned two. We've lost count of how many words he can say... and he uses all of them non stop. You just have to understand the dialect. Here's a quick guide to get you started:

Diyah = Dinah
Woggy = Froggy (his snuggle animal)
nackey = napkin (Used to very daintily wipe his mouth.)
moush = mouse (Usually followed by him saying 'squeak squeak')
keek = kick
beeby = baby
boke = broke
wawer = water
docksth = socks
reesees = raisins (His all-time favorite snack.)
baiyee = banana
mutt = walnuts
ees = please
ME! = Me! (We're all pretty good at thinking of ourselves. :)

Sledding Time!

2012-01-29T20:53:00.000-06:00

On Saturday we decided to take advantage of the whole inch of snow we got Friday night. (It's a good thing we did since it will probably all melt by tomorrow with our 50 degree weather! This has been such a weird winter!) We took the boys to our favorite hill and had tons of fun going up and down. It was actually kind of nice because it wasn't super cold. I wasn't sure how Espen would react to it, since he wasn't a huge fan of our last snow. But this time he loved it...minus the time he got a face full of snow. When we had our fill of sledding, Pheaney treated us all to cookies/coffee at CJ's Cafe.

Just so there's no confusion on the seeming generosity in this picture: Jackson likes to try to convince family members to "trade bites" so that he gets to sample all of the goodies. And you'll have to excuse the hat hair!

Helping Daddy

2012-01-27T20:29:00.001-06:00

Espen has enjoyed helping Pheaney with the basement bathroom project. He loves to follow him around and imitate his every move.* It seems like he's grown up so much in the last few months.

*Just to clarify, Pheaney was not working in the bathroom shirtless. Espen also likes to copy his older brothers, who were playing a manly game of soccer/basketball/wrestling in the basement with their shirts off. (Which is crazy because our basement isn't heated.) He came to me frantically pulling and saying "Shirt off!" So that's why he was extra studly without his shirt on. :)

Pheaney's Cat

2012-01-25T20:35:00.001-06:00

Dinah definitely has a favorite person in our house. Ironically it happens to be the person who claims to like her the least (but can often be found playing with her and trying to get her to chase random things).

Yesterday morning, Pheaney left early to meet a friend for breakfast. When I got up, I went downstairs to let Dinah out of the laundry room where she sleeps at night. She came bounding out and rubbed my ankles, but then looked around and meowed. I put a little food in her bowl thinking she was hungry, but she ignored it and kept wandering from room to room meowing pitifully. I'm pretty sure she was looking for Pheaney. Later that evening, instead of sleeping on the couch like she normally does, she curled up in his lap for her evening nap. I can't blame her...he is a great guy!! :)

Dinah in her favorite evening nap spot. She's kind of a quirky cat.

Here's to Snow!

2012-01-22T21:31:00.003-06:00

Jackson and Adrian loved the little bit of snow we've had this year. They're still hoping that the biggest snowstorm of the season is yet to come. Espen was a bit more apprehensive at first, but enjoyed the snow immensely once the wind died down. They all have been very excited with any prediction of snow, and very disappointed when we haven't gotten enough to play in.

Originally Adrian was making snow angels, but by the time I snapped this picture, he was just laying there enjoying the cold, wet snow. Every snowy day he stayed out much longer than anyone else and finally had to be made to come inside.

It took some convincing to get Espen all bundled up, but in the end he seemed to think it was worth the effort.

Jackson was really into throwing snowballs and snow.

Here's to some more snow!!

Connecting with the Lindells

2012-01-18T21:06:00.001-06:00

Here's a few (more) places you can connect with us online.

Pheaney's Blog: A place where you can read a little bit of what's in Pheaney's mind.
Stuff Pheaney Found Online: This is where Pheaney re-posts cool and interesting things he finds on the internet.
Stuff Brittany Likes: This is where Brittany re-posts cool and interesting things she finds on the internet.

Also, if you would like to receive occasional updates from us and our work at Camp of Champions, please comment and let us know. These updates usually come once every few months via e-mail.

Kindergarten Update

2012-01-15T20:50:00.000-06:00

This year we started homeschooling Jackson for Kindergarten. Since most of his friends either attended school already or were starting kindergarten (at a building rather than home), he was a little reluctant at first to do school at home. He kept asking when he would get to switch to "real school." In spite of that, he really seemed to enjoy all of the activities that went along with his stories and loved anything with worksheets (crazy, I know!).

One part of homeschooling we've really enjoyed is how well it meshes with our unique schedule. Pheaney works pretty long hours in the summer, so the traditional "school year" is when we have time to take vacations. He also has random days off when he has to work an evening. So it's worked out really well to flex our school time so that we can spend those times he's home as a family. This week was a bit like that, and Jackson specifically told me how happy he was that he could be home when Daddy is. And so begins second semester!

It's a...

2012-01-13T20:25:00.001-06:00

Before we tell you what we're having, let's give you a list of things you should invest in... if for no other reason than our family will single handedly keep these industries afloat for the next 20+ years.

Diapers
Car Insurance
Emergency Rooms
Meat (Any kind, the redder the better.)
Stain Remover

Can you guess? It's another boy! :)

We're excited and are looking forward to his arrival!

And so begins the name search...

Pockets for Espen

2012-01-11T21:27:00.000-06:00

Espen has been very into pants with pockets lately. This afternoon he was walking casually around the house with his hands in his pockets. I tried to snap a spontaneous picture of him that didn't turn out very well, but then he excitedly posed for this one. Immediately after the flash went off he started asking, "See? See? See?" Perhaps we need to curb his ego a bit. It would be a whole lot easier if he wasn't so darn cute!

Adrian's Independence

2012-01-08T17:04:00.000-06:00

After Adrian turned four he started to want to do all sorts of grown up things. It was amazing how quickly he became independent at various tasks around the house.

The most exciting thing, however, was that he decided he wanted to go through nap time without a diaper. We say 'decided' because that's exactly what happened. For the better part of this past year Adrian had worn a diaper at nap, and it was usually wet after he woke up.

Well, as soon as he turned four he made the switch. He's been dry for nearly all of his naps since then, and just recently earned the prize of going on a date with dad. Our next goal is going overnight, but he still thinks that "might take a while." If only we can convince him it could happen sooner.

The Big Question...

2012-01-04T20:12:00.000-06:00

Because you're all dying to know if this little nugget is a boy or a girl, we scheduled our ultrasound for next Friday. As long as the little guy or girl cooperates, we should know the baby's gender then. (And we're not really hoping for one or the other. We're pretty excited about this baby either way!)

In the meantime you can vote on the poll to the left whether you think it's going to be a boy or girl.

Five Going on Fifteen

2012-01-02T20:02:00.000-06:00

Jackson recently came across an old portable radio made to look like an iPod. It doesn't have any working batteries, and the headphones have a short somewhere in the line. But he still has insisted on wearing the headphones and keeping his "iPod" in his pocket.

He looks like all those hip junior high kids, except that he can actually hear what's going on.

Christmas Cards

2011-12-28T20:12:00.002-06:00

A blanket apology to all of our friends:

Thanks for sending us one of your Christmas cards! They were great. Your kid(s) were cute.

Unfortunately you won't be receiving a Christmas card from the Lindells this year. And you won't be getting a New Year's card either. We're kicking around Groundhog's Day, but don't hold your breath.

Sorry.

(We still like you!)

Happy Birthday Adrian!

2011-12-26T21:11:00.002-06:00

Today is Adrian is four years old! We celebrated with a dessert run to Avanti's (his choice!)

On Friday we had a bowling party for him. It was a blast!

Adrian had a sweet smile on his face the whole night. He seemed to thoroughly enjoy every aspect of the party.

Another one of Brittany's fine cakes.

Both Jackson and Adrian had a higher bowling score than Pheaney (but to be fair, he didn't use bumpers.) They made a run at Papa, but in the end he won!

Adrian's loving being a four-year old. He's taking it very seriously and jumping at every opportunity to be independent. We love having him in our family!

Tire Swingin'

2011-12-21T20:14:00.000-06:00

Last weekend, Pheaney put up a tire swing in our backyard for the boys. I wasn't really sure they would be able to enjoy it at all. But with the crazy warm weather we had on Monday, they were actually able to play on it quite a bit. Adrian, or course, had a whole involved storyline going about how they were pirates and that was the lookout on their ship. We'll probably have to raise it up a bit come spring, but so far they're loving it!

The Year of the Streamline

2011-12-18T20:47:00.000-06:00

A few months into 2011 we started referring to it as "The Year of the Streamline" around our house. It was mainly in reference to getting things organized and orderly in as many aspects of home life as possible.

Now that 2011 is drawing to a close we can look back and say it truly was a year of streamlining. We've straightened/organized the following:

Menu plans and grocery shopping lists
House cleaning schedule
The boys' clothing
The basement
Kitchen cabinets, appliances, and gadgets (We actually have space on our counters now!)
Most of the closets in the house.

Note from Pheaney: As you can tell, most of this work fell to Brittany. She's been reading a book that says if something is not useful or beautiful you should get rid of it. (Looks like I've got my work cut out for me!)

What was this year known as for you? What will next year be known as?

Christmas Program Spectacular

2011-12-14T20:57:00.000-06:00

On Sunday, Jackson and Adrian performed in our church's Christmas program. Jackson even had a speaking part this year. He came home the first Sunday of practice with it memorized, and he was very confident in his ability to say it up front...until the night before the program. Then he got a bit of stage fright and kept saying how he wasn't quite ready. But he pulled through and was able to say it without a hitch. :)

Adrian was an angel for the program. He kept telling us beforehand "the collar tickles my neck." He still looked pretty cute, ticklish collar and all.

The boys were very excited by some sweet friends and family who showed up to see them perform! :)

Station 220

2011-12-11T20:49:00.001-06:00

On Thursday when we went to the Children's Discovery Museum, we searched the Internet for a nearby restaurant to try. We finally settled on a "farm to fork" restaurant in downtown Bloomington, Station 220. The building was an old fire station, and you could see the big doors (now windows) where the trucks would exit, as well as the holes where the firemen slid down the poles. Adrian is currently obsessed with firemen, so he was pretty excited about all of it.

The food was delicious and service was great. One downside (or upside, depending on your point of view) of a "farm to fork" restaurant is that when food is out of season, it's no longer available to order. They hadn't printed their winter menu yet, so several things we wanted to order were no longer in season. Everything we had was really fresh and yummy though. Espen loved the hummus we had for an appetizer and licked the bowl clean when the rest of us were finished. We all gave Station 220 two thumbs up!

Mini Vacation

2011-12-09T20:21:00.001-06:00

Yesterday Pheaney took a vacation day, and we took a trip to the Children's Discovery Museum in Normal. We all had so much fun! And we took a lot of pictures! :)

By far the boys' favorite area was the Avanti's Restaurant. It was only our second or third stop, and it took a lot of convincing to get them to leave. Pheaney and I sat at the table, and all three of them continued to take, bake and deliver our pizza orders. Adrian was also curious what it would be like to be a pizza.

Pheaney, Jackson and Adrian spent quite a while playing with these air tubes, putting the balls/scarves in and watching them pop out. I'm not sure who had the most fun with it...

All the boys enjoyed the painting wall, but Espen just kept painting...and painting...and painting...long after the other two had gone on to explore new things.

Our two hambones loved the stage. The only downside was that they had to compete with each other for the audience's attention.

Just A Little Snack

2011-12-04T20:10:00.001-06:00

Between Sunday School and the service on Sunday mornings at Pekin Bible, there is always a "fellowship time" which includes some yummy snacks. Sometimes there are some healthy choices like fruit, nuts or hard-boiled eggs, and there is always a variety of sweets such as cookies, muffins, brownies, etc. On top of this, Jackson usually gets a lollipop in Sunday School for good behavior. Our family rule is that he can choose to eat one healthy food and one sweet food, but the lollipop counts as his sweet. So if he chooses to eat that, he doesn't get any other sweet treat. I know, I'm the mean sugar-Nazi mom.

This morning, however, he got down to the fellowship time first and was just throwing away his plate when I came in. He quickly came over and told me in a very reassuring tone, "They didn't have any fruit this morning, Mom. So I just had a piece of fudge and and a piece of cheesecake with my lollipop instead." Apparently we need to work on better defining "healthy food."

Salad Chef

2011-11-30T20:22:00.001-06:00

Tonight while I was making dinner, the two older boys were playing downstairs and Espen was wandering around the kitchen causing trouble. Knowing I needed to find a constructive outlet for his energy, I asked if he wanted to help me with dinner. He was pretty excited and took his job of tearing up lettuce for a salad very seriously. I was proud of how focused he was, and it was fun to have some special "Espen and Mommy" time.

He was mainly pinching off tiny pieces. It was pretty cute!

Espen + Chocolate = Mess

2011-11-27T16:00:00.001-06:00

It's been awhile since we've posted a messy-face picture of our boys. But don't worry, they are still making plenty of messes! Here's Espen hamming it up after his last time eating chocolate!

Adrian's New Kindle

2011-11-23T20:45:00.001-06:00

Recently Brittany was teaching the boys about the Pilgrims. One aspect of Pilgrim life was a "horn book." This was made out of animal horn and pilgrim children used it to learn their ABC's. A real one might look something like this.

Jackson and Adrian made a pretend "horn book" out of cardboard. But it didn't take long for Adrian to get creative. When he noticed that the black tape around his horn book made it look slightly like Mommy & Daddy's Kindle, he requested that we cut off the handle.

So we did.

Now Jackson has a horn book and Adrian has a Kindle.

Rejoice with Us!!

2011-11-21T19:08:00.001-06:00

The missing ring has been found! Pheaney was working on our basement bathroom remodel project tonight and found the missing wedding ring lying on the floor. The laundry room is next to the basement bathroom (well, they're kind of one room right now), so the ring must have fallen off while I was doing laundry. Regardless of how it got there, I'm just happy to have it back!! :) Thank you so much to all of you who prayed for us to find it!

Bah Humbug

2011-11-20T19:59:00.001-06:00

What happened to Thanksgiving? Did it get removed from the official calendar sometime without me realizing it? Menards had their Christmas trees and yard decorations out with the Halloween ones (you know the big inflatable kinds). The day after Halloween, all of the stores (including grocery stores) pulled out their Christmas displays. Starbucks brought out their "Thanksgiving Blend" coffee at the beginning of November. But when Pheaney stopped by this past Wednesday, a FULL WEEK before Thanksgiving, "Christmas Blend" had already taken its place and "Thanksgiving Blend" was nowhere in sight. Ridiculous.

So basically we're skipping the holiday all about being grateful for all stuff we have, and going straight for the one that has become all about getting what we don't have. To be fair, I love Christmas. I love spending time with family and making special memories. I love listening to Christmas music and making cookies. I love picking out and/or making Christmas gifts. I love celebrating and talking with our boys about Jesus' birth--the greatest gift of all. But all this commercial/advertising/consumerism business is going to make my eyes get permanently stuck to the ceiling before December even arrives.

Missing In Action

2011-11-18T20:27:00.001-06:00

It's been a fairly crazy week around here... and to cap it all off, we can't find Brittany's wedding ring!

We've pretty much flipped the house upside down with no results. (Well, we do have a cleaner house as a result, but that's a minor perk at this point.)

It sort of feels like this:

“Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents." (Luke 15:8-10 ESV)

Only without the party at the end.

Time to stop blogging and start the search again! Let us know if YOU find it.

Kitty Car

2011-11-13T12:59:00.001-06:00

It's just amazing all of the creative naughtiness a cat adds to the household. Case in point:

We had a similar scenario as the video played out this morning with a laundry basket. Luckily I (Pheaney) caught it right before Dinah took a trip down the stairs.

Be Thankful

2011-11-09T20:40:00.001-06:00

In anticipation of Thanksgiving we put a "Thankfulness Tree" up on our dining room wall. The boys have enjoyed thinking of things that they are thankful for and writing them on leaves. Their blessings range from the sweet...

to the slightly naughty...

So, every night we pray together and encourage the boys to think of things to thank God for. Lately they had kind of been in a rut, always thanking Him for the same thing in a hurried monotone. Hoping to encourage them to think a little deeper and pray more genuinely, Pheaney suggested that they think of something from the Thankfulness Tree to pray about. You know which one Adrian chose, don't you? It wasn't "Baby." Pheaney walked right into that one!

(In all fairness, I too am very thankful for indoor toilets. However, the intent of our boys seemed more bent towards getting in a bit of extra potty humor.)

Early Christmas

2011-11-06T14:52:00.000-06:00

A couple of weeks ago our dishwasher bit the dust.

Probably because it was under appreciated. Trust me when I say, as soon as it stopped working, it became VERY appreciated.

Grandma and Grandma were kind enough to give us an early Christmas gift. Hopefully it helps restore a little sanity to the house.

The boys, of course, LOVED the box. It instantly became a house where all sorts of naughtiness ensued.

Thanks Grandma and Grandpa Lindell for the great box! (and dishwasher to boot!)

Goodbye Bruiser Cruiser

2011-11-02T20:04:00.000-06:00

Espen has gained a reputation as the bully of the Lindell house. He picks on anyone and everyone for the sheer joy of it. When he isn't trying to sit on her, he chases Dinah around the house trying to smack her with his Froggy. He's constantly trying to snatch toys from his brothers or hitting them for no apparent reason. We're continuing to work on some character development in this area.

Recently his most popular form of torture has been the Bruiser Cruiser, formerly referred to as "The Best Toy" by his brothers. He started ramming into unsuspecting family members and trying to run over our poor kitty. Don't be fooled by his false innocence...he's coming for you!

Since it was only being used to inflict pain upon the family, it has been returned to its rightful home in the attic. Hopefully our next little one will be a bit nicer with it.

Halloween Pics

2011-10-31T19:59:00.002-06:00

Of course we've got to share these cute pictures with you.

A mouse. He only wanted to wear the costume when he had his Nana to show off to.

A fireman. This was the least cheesy smile we could find.

A viking. Thanks to Levi for the genuine coyote skin!

Three in a Tub

2011-10-29T19:30:00.000-06:00

This morning I walked into the bathroom to find three individuals in the tub. However, it wasn't the three usual suspects I'm used to seeing. A new little troublemaker had joined the two others I left in there.

Date with My (Little) Man

2011-10-24T19:42:00.001-06:00

We had decided a while ago that when our boys reached the age of five we wanted to start taking them on monthly dates. Since Jackson turned five last month, it was time for his first ever date--with Mama!

For the first time especially we kept it simple. We picked up a Cookie Dough Chiller from the Sweet Spot and headed for the Lagoon Park. It was fun to eat our ice cream together and chat. After we finished we went to the playground for a while. Then we decided to check out the softball diamond to see if it was open. We raced each other around the bases and then sat in the dugout for a while. We had a lot of fun, and it was extra special to get some one-on-one time with Jackson. He's already anxiously awaiting his November date with Daddy!

Honestly...

2011-10-21T19:16:00.000-06:00

A few days ago, as usual, Jackson and Adrian were chasing each other through the house while I was making dinner. At one point Jackson raced up the basement stairs and rushed to hide behind the couch. Adrian wasn't too far behind, looking for him. Pretty soon he started repeatedly calling, "Jackson...you can come out now, it's safe!" I reminded him that God wants us to tell the truth. Immediately he switched to yelling, "Jackson...I'm going to get you and pull you down the steps!"

Bang!

2011-10-18T20:20:00.001-06:00

A favorite activity of all of our boys is picking up sticks and pretending they are guns. But Adrian approaches this task with a lot more gusto than anyone else... ever. Notice the leg movement with each "Bang" that is spoken. We think he has a future as a hunter.

Please ignore the outfit. We let him dress himself.

Seven Great Years

2011-10-16T12:00:00.000-06:00

Today we're celebrating our seventh anniversary!

WOO HOO!

We're pretty excited about it anyway. ;)

In some ways it feels like we've always been married, but at the same time it seems like hardly any time at all.

We're looking forward to all the years to come!

Fall Fun

2011-10-12T19:42:00.003-06:00

This past weekend we enjoyed a little piece of fall, in spite of temperatures in the 80s. Carving pumpkins has become a Lindell family tradition. We let the boys draw the faces and then carve them out (at least as much as possible).

We also did some leaf-raking, which means that Pheaney raked leaves and the boys jumped in them and threw them into the air. Espen got a huge kick out of the leaves raining down on him, and would giggle uproariously every time.

Our little sweeties...

Meet Dinah

2011-10-09T19:49:00.000-06:00

You may remember that before our vacation, we mentioned finding a kitten. Our neighbors sweetly offered to keep her while we were gone so that we could decide her what to do with her once we returned.

Since TAPS (the no-kill animal shelter in Pekin) had a 12 month waiting list for cats, our options were to keep her or find another home for her. We told the boys that we could give her a week-long trial to see how she would fit into our family. In that week we got attached to her, so we've decided to keep her. For now, at least. She's very gentle and sweet with the boys, although she has a crazy, playful side too. We named her Dinah after the Bible character, since she has a lot of "brothers" and tends to cause trouble.

Minnesota Trip Recap: The Food

2011-10-06T20:03:00.000-06:00

We Lindells really like eating. Our boys have ravenous appetites, and vacations usually center around "What are we eating next, and when?" On most trips, our goal is to pack most of our meals, and then splurge on a couple of nice meals out. We like to find restaurants with fresh, local ingredients when possible. Unfortunately we didn't get pictures of any of these restaurants, and certainly not any of the food--we were too busy enjoying it!! :)

Three Squares in Maple Grove, MN--We took Great Grandma out, which was a lot of fun. Probably the most unique thing here was Brittany and Grandma ordered a Corn Waffle with Pulled Pork on top. It was really different, but pretty good. The boys' favorite parts of this restaurant was that they had Goldfish for the kiddos to eat and that the kids' meals came with Snickerdoodles for dessert.

The Restaurant in Rochester, MN--We stopped here after our Nature Center adventures, and might have been our favorite restaurant. They had excellent service and spectacular food. They didn't have a kids' menu, so we let the boys order from the adult menu. The waitress seemed really surprised when they ordered the Baked Brie Baguette (with apples and orange marmalade) and Maggie's Haystack Sandwich (described as "Seasonal Fresh Vegetables, Wisconsin and Swiss Cheese, Remoulade Sauce baked open face on 9-Grain Bread finished with Alfalfa Sprouts and Parmesan Cheese"). But they loved it and devoured most of it with some leftovers for dinner. Pheaney ordered the Croque Madame (which had eggs over easy on top of a ham and cheese sandwich) and loved it. Brittany had the Baklava Stuffed Toast (literally French toast stuffed with baklava), which was kind of like dessert for lunch. I didn't feel too guilty about it though, because it came with some killer sausage and bacon and a bowl of fresh fruit. :) Espen did his classic: soup and a little bit of everyone else's meal, which he always seems to enjoy. We're trying to figure out how we can work this place into every trip to Minnesota!

Landmark Cafe and Creperie in Galesburg IL--Our last stop before home. Overall they had awesome food and a cool atmosphere, and we'd definitely recommend it. But their kids' menu was disappointing...unhealthy "kid fare" and overpriced considering what it was (pbj, grilled cheese, Spaghettios...really). So we let the boys order off the adult menu, which while more expensive felt like better quality for the money spent. Adrian and I ordered the lunch crepes (Beef Burgandy and Chicken Mushroom). Pheaney had The Works sandwich, and Jackson had the Florentine Chicken Puff. The highlight for the boys was getting to sit by the window to watch the chefs make our meal. Adrian has changed his future occupation from "Garbage Man" to "Crepe Maker," which is monumental because he's idolized the Garbage Man for some time now. (and he wants to live in Kansas...we're not sure where that came from though.)

Minnesota Trip Recap: What We Did

2011-10-04T20:06:00.000-06:00

Here's some quick highlights of what we did on the trip.

Pillow forts at the Lindell's Cabin on the way.

Playing with great-grandma's homemade bags board. On another afternoon, Jackson and I (Pheaney) used every yard game known to man in 45 minutes, rotating through them at about 5 minutes or less apiece.

Jackson got up close and personal with a polar bear at the Como Zoo in St. Paul. It was definitely the closest any of us had been to a polar bear! The Como Zoo is great and free!

We stopped for lunch (more on that in a later post) in Rochester Minnesota. We visited the Quarry Hill Nature Center which had a cool little museum of sorts. Adrian wanted to pose inside the T-rex's mouth.

We also did a good amount of hiking at the nature center. Here's the three older Lindell boys on top of a quarry wall. (Don't worry, it's only about 15 feet high.)

At our stop in Iowa we went hiking even more. The boys found this HUGE mushroom. Luckily we already had another dinner planned.

We stayed two nights at Village Creek Bible Camp in Iowa. They had gigantic sandbox, which Espen loved.

Minnesota Trip Recap: The People

2011-10-02T19:23:00.000-06:00

We're back from traveling the Midwest! We just got back from a great family vacation to Minnesota, Iowa and back again. We'll provide the trip update in parts, but this first post we wanted to start highlighting the people

It was a lot of fun staying with Great Grandma VanLoon in Minnesota. It was neat this year because as we traveled, both Jackson and Adrian were sharing memories of the previous year with her. They were super excited to get to see her again. Espen also enjoyed getting reacquainted with her and was cuddling with her in no time.

Adrian loved reading stories with Great Grandma. I think she read "A Fish Out of Water" to him more times than I could count, bless her heart!

Espen loved snuggling with Great Grandma and would often ask to sit on her lap

The night we arrived, Pheaney's cousin's family came for dinner. The boys often lament not having any cousins (at least first cousins), so when we told them the plan they could hardly wait. Even though it had been a year since they played with Elizabeth and Amelie, they played like they'd always known each other.

Jackson and Elizabeth working on a puzzle

The personality similarities were hilarious. When it was time for them to go home, we told them to give hugs. Adrian and Amelie (both second-born) grabbed each other in a hearty embrace, while firstborns Jackson and Elizabeth just smiled shyly at each other. Then each of the younger two turned and grabbed their firstborn cousin in a hug before they could protest.

Pheaney also met a friend, Josh for coffee one morning. They had a great time catching up and discussing life. Pheaney didn't get any pictures with him, but he did send home some coffee that he roasted himself. And OH MY GOODNESS, is it good!!

I Cat Believe It!

2011-09-25T19:15:00.000-06:00

Friday night we had an event at the Pekin Camp of Champions. While we were finishing up our snack of Smores over the fire, a tiny little kitty walked up to the group.

We quickly had the campers go inside (not wanting them to get mixed up with a stray cat) but a few staff stayed back to keep an eye on the cat.

It followed me (Pheaney) around outside for a few minutes, so I left it a container of water and hoped it would leave. Not only did it stick around, but it found its way to any door you were near and meowed at you pitifully. I didn't think I could have it just sticking around when parents were picking up their kids, so I brought it inside.

I spent the next hour making phone calls and trying to find someone (anyone!) to take the cat home. But I failed. We spent a better part of the morning calling vet clinics and animal shelters and basically found out that our main option is keeping the cat ourselves.

I know you're thinking right now: "That will be perfect for the boys!" (I know you're thinking that because multiple people have already said as much.)

We're still considering it but we're still deciding what to do with her. As best as we can tell it's a 4-5 week old kitten. It doesn't seem to have many issues and is super energetic but not aggressive at all.

Here's a cute picture to convince you:

Pheaney wants to end this post with: "Any takers?" However, Brittany is on the boys' side. At this point the cat only has Pheaney left to convince and seems to know it. She seeks him out, constantly purring and nuzzling him.

I'm sure we'll update you on this soon.

All the fun you can have with a Cicada

2011-09-23T08:27:00.000-06:00

The other day Espen found a cicada. He was actually terrified of it and came running back for reinforcements. The rest of the family was glad to oblige.

Unfortunately Mr. Cicada didn't make it in the end, but he did give us a little fun and some great pictures!

Field Trip to Ackerman Farms

2011-09-20T19:46:00.000-06:00

Today we went to Ackerman Farms in Morton with Nana to pick pumpkins and apples (which are fantastic!). The boys had a loved every minute of it. My mom and I took turns pulling the boys all over the place in one of the big wagons they had there. By the end of our time the boys still had a ton of energy, but I was ready for a nap!

Espen was excited to see one of his favorite animals up close. There were a handful of cats roaming around and he would start signing wildly and yelling "Diddy, diddy!" any time he saw one.

In spite of all of the cool things to see and do, it took some convincing to pry the boys away from these fun toys in the Kiddie Koop.

My sweet little pumpkins. We tried to get all three of them to pose at once, but it just wasn't happening.

Backyard Bounty

2011-09-15T19:32:00.000-06:00

We've been blessed with an abundant garden this year. It's still pumping out produce. Here are a couple of unique veggies we've harvested this week:

I couldn't get a picture that really showed how huge and odd-shaped this tomato was.

The boys were super excited about this purple cauliflower. It was our first year growing it, and this was the only plant that actually produced anything (as of yet).

Front Yard Mayhem

2011-09-13T19:36:00.002-06:00

The other day we had a little bit of mayhem in the front yard. (Okay, most days we have a lot of mayhem all around our house...)

But we caught a video of Jackson riding a bike, Espen pushing his walker, and Adrian attempting cartwheels... all at the same time. Enjoy!

Little Artists

2011-09-08T19:35:00.004-06:00

Yesterday Jackson and Adrian were painting Symmetrical pictures during learning time. They painted one half of the paper and then folded it to make a completely symmetrical picture.

Since Espen decided to start dropping his morning nap right when we started our school year I've been trying to let him participate when possible to keep him occupied and out of his brothers' way. So I decided to let him paint like the older boys. After putting him in his highchair, I offered him blue or red paint, to which he responded "Boo!" (Blue is his favorite color.) I was surprised by how much he enjoyed fingerpainting. Even after his first piece of paper was covered, he wasn't ready to be done.

He did take a little taste when my back was turned, but apparently the taste was bad enough that he didn't want any more. Luckily it was non-toxic!

Happy Birthday Jackson!!

2011-09-06T19:10:00.004-06:00

Wow, can our little guy really be FIVE already?! It's hard to believe how quickly Jackson is growing. We're so proud of the sweet young man he's growing to be. He has such a zeal for life, an insatiable curiosity, and caring attitude toward his brothers. We feel so blessed to have him as part of our family!

On Sunday we celebrated his birthday at the pool with both sides of the family.

Every birthday, I let the boys pick out what kind of cake they want and attempt to create if for them. This year Jackson requested a puppy cake for the occasion.

Then to celebrate the actual day, we had burgers on the grill and went out to Emack & Bolio's for ice cream. Jackson even got to wear his new Vikings hat that he got for his birthday.

The Fantastic Four

2011-09-04T19:22:00.003-06:00

First, there was Jackson. Dependable, responsible, smart.

Then came Adrian. Clever, resilient, sensitive.

Espen was third. Charming, flirtatious, funny.

Now we're excited to announce a fourth little Lindell, expected to arrive May 1, 2012.

The Final Peachy Hurrah

2011-09-02T19:34:00.003-06:00

When I was clearing off a pile of papers from the counter, I came across a recipe I had saved from a magazine for Cheesecake-Stuffed Peaches. (There's a link to the recipe, but you know I tweaked it. ;) I've never completely followed a recipe in my life!) I remember when I saved it thinking that it sounded good, but using six whole peaches in a dessert seemed like kind of a waste. It was perfect timing because it would have been a waste not to use them, as they were quickly heading south. It was heavenly!

Feeling Peachy

2011-08-30T19:04:00.002-06:00

On Sunday, Mom and Dad Lindell came to visit bearing a large gift. They had a huge basket of peaches from their peach tree. Upon weighing the basket, we discovered that we had 32 pounds of peaches.

What does one do with 32 pounds of peaches, you may ask. Well, so far we have frozen a couple of gallons of sliced peaches, dehydrated a bunch of slices, made a boatload of peach salsa and have peach jam on the horizon. Not to mention having peaches in our oatmeal each morning, slices with every meal and as many snacks as we can eat. We are loving it and feeling extremely blessed! :)

Old Money Bags

2011-08-27T09:59:00.002-06:00

Espen has a fascination with bunnies in our neighborhood. So when he found this bunny bank from when I was a little girl, he was hooked. Recently he discovered that it also contains money and has become obsessed with emptying and putting all of the coins back into the "money bunny." It's his new favorite activity and occupies him for quite a while.

Wild Ice Cream

2011-08-23T19:25:00.002-06:00

Yesterday the boys and I had an ice cream discussion. We were talking about flavors we had tried, memories of ice cream runs, and favorite flavors. The boys' unanimous favorite was "squirrel cones" (you know, the ones with both chocolate and vanilla). I gently corrected them that they are actually called "swirl cones." Adrian immediately responded, "But, we get Kitty Cones at Dairy Queen. I like those because I like kittens." Squirrel or Kitty cones, anyone?

Readers, Readers Everywhere!

2011-08-21T19:13:00.003-06:00

This has been the summer of reading! Jackson has been reading for a while now, but just this summer he started diving into chapter books. He also starting picking up books and choosing to read for enjoyment. Walking to complete another task while reading a book was a common sight at our house.

Adrian started reading on his own! Hooray! We're so proud of him! His favorite books are usually Elephant and Piggie books. We find them quite entertaining too. (The video is a little long...but I love the chubby fingers following the words across the page.)

And last but not least, Espen started to enjoy listening to books! For the longest time he would squirm and fight to get down any time we tried to read to him. But now, he is constantly bringing books to us and trying to wiggle his little buns our our laps so we can read to him. It's especially sweet when he convinces one of his brothers to do the reading. :)

Summer Camp Update

2011-08-18T19:07:00.001-06:00

We'd love for you to read about how we saw God work at Camp of Champions this summer.

Follow this link to read an end-of-summer update letter.

Thanks for all of your prayers and support!

Birthday Bash

2011-08-16T19:10:00.003-06:00

This past weekend we took another trip to Oak Run. The boys and I came at the tail end of our annual staff retreat, and then we stuck around for a couple of days to celebrate Pheaney's birthday. As usual, fishing was a big hit, especially since Jackson caught a huge catfish...twice...except that he snapped the line both times. We had actually decided to get Pheaney fishing stuff for his birthday before we planned to go up to the cabin for his birthday. The boys were extra excited and insisted on giving him his gift as soon as they got up the first morning (which was still a day early).

Fruit of the Spirit

2011-08-12T06:24:00.003-06:00

After the boys did so well memorizing a phone number, I had the thought that maybe we should memorize some verses together. We started with Galatians 5:22-23, which is the fruit of the Spirit. I chose it partially for the fun "fruit" theme and also for its ability to speak into some of our current issues, namely kindness and self-control. The boys both picked it up pretty quickly. I was able to get a video of Adrian, but Jackson declined. (We had just had a conversation earlier in the day about how he doesn't like to get up in front of people, which he probably gets from me.)

Mr. Toad's Wild Ride

2011-08-08T12:30:00.000-06:00

Yesterday we went swimming in the camp pool, probably for the last time of the summer. When Jackson and Adrian went to get a ball out of a crate, they were surprised to find a little toad hanging out in the bottom.
Espen, who loves frogs (probably due to his Snuggle Frog), was fascinated and kept peering into the crate making the sign for "frog."

We ended up taking the little guy home with us and setting up a toad house in the garden. We were hoping that he could devour some of the pesky bugs that have been attacking it. And we thought it would be a safer spot for him than right next to a chlorine-filled pool. Unfortunately we haven't seen him since, so we're not sure if he's taken off, or is just very good at hiding.

Waterful Activity

2011-08-06T13:57:00.000-06:00

My mom pointed me to this post by Moneysavingmom with activity ideas for toddlers. I had used the water scooping activity for both Jackson and Adrian in the past, but had never let Espen try. He's been especially fussy during dinner prep this week, so I decided to let him play with water to occupy him. He had a great time until he started dumping water on the floor and slipping on it. We'll probably try it again sometime though...and limit him to smaller pouring utensils.

Calling Daddy

2011-08-03T09:11:00.001-06:00

Last week the boys and I played outside one morning before it got too hot. (It was already pretty hot, but we were so tired of being inside!) I've been thinking that they're getting to the age where they should know how to call us in an emergency. Since Pheaney pretty much always has his cell phone on him, and I couldn't think of a situation where they would actually need to know their home phone number, we opted to memorize Daddy's phone number first. I drew a phone on the driveway and they hopped from one number to the next. After a couple of tries they both had it memorized. (Adrian was actually the one who had it memorized first, which pushed Jackson to perfect it...you know, a little brotherly competition. :)) They were even able to tell Daddy his phone number when he got home from work that night without even reviewing.

Summertime Date

2011-08-02T08:00:00.000-06:00

This past weekend, my (Brittany's) family watched the boys while we went on a date. We started out by checking out the new Leaves & Beans coffee shop that just opened in Morton. (Which we have deemed fantastic, by the way!) It was fun to sip our drinks and enjoy some uninterrupted conversation. Then we went to a local park for a romantic picnic dinner. And what's a summertime date without a little ice cream? In the midst of a busy summer, it was fun to relax and spend some time together. Almost seven years of marriage and we're still so in love! :)

Hairy Legs

2011-07-31T13:28:00.002-06:00

The other day our neighbor came over to chat. Between vacations and the hot weather, it had been a while since we had seen them. She commented to Jackson how big and grown up he was getting. My normally shy son flashed her a huge grin and said, "Yeah, I'm even starting to get hair on my legs!"

Great Fishermen

2011-07-26T19:47:00.003-06:00

On Monday Pheaney was able to take a day off, so we took the opportunity to take a quick trip to Oak Run. We did some swimming and fishing and a lot of relaxing! The guys caught a total of six fish. The boys were really hoping to catch a fish to eat. So when they finally caught one, they were begging Pheaney to fillet him up. Hoping to garner a some sympathy for the tiny fellow, Pheaney said, "Well he's pretty small. Do you think we should eat him or let him go?" With no hesitation they shouted (in unison), "EAT HIM!" In the end, however, the parents won and the fish was set free to grow bigger for a future dinner.

Adrian fishing

Jackson fishing

Pheaney showing off his huge catch (can you see that little fish on the end of the hook?)

Kids' Day

2011-07-20T19:19:00.003-06:00

On Sunday we celebrated Kids' Day, which has become an annual Lindell family tradition. This year we went to Mineral Springs Park for the morning. It was definitely hot, but not unbearable and the boys still had a wonderful time. We played on the playground, rode the paddleboats and had a picnic lunch. To top it off, we went out for ice cream. (We ended up choosing Culver's because all of our favorite local places didn't open until naptime.)

Espen watching the ducks and squirrels

Putting on life jackets

Three good-looking sailors

For dinner we made Veggie Bean Burritos, which are one of the boys' favorite meals, and I let them choose a special dessert in honor of Kids' Day and they chose fruit pizza.

Swimming at Camp

2011-07-16T19:21:00.006-06:00

Sometimes when Pheaney has to check the camp pool on the weekends, we go for a family swim. Jackson, our ever-cautious son, wears a flotation device of some kind the whole time. Adrian loves to jump off the edge. We're still working on only jumping when someone's there to catch. Espen usually takes a little coaxing into the water, but enjoys it in the end. It all looks a little like this:

A New Tricycle

2011-07-13T15:24:00.000-06:00

As we mentioned a while back, Adrian had been praying for a new tricycle. God answered his prayers! Great-Grandma found a tricycle that I remember riding as a little girl and passed it on to Adrian. He was ecstatic and has been riding it like crazy ever since (to deliver pizzas and raspberry pies).

We knew before it arrived that it would need a little work to restore it. However, since the crazy summer schedule had just started, we just made it usable until we had a little more time. This past weekend, we finally got around to finishing it! It ended up being a really fun family project.

Adrian's current favorite color is blue, and he was quick to pick out that color of paint at the store.

Pheaney had a couple of great helpers to take the tricycle apart and put it back together.

Adrian is really proud of his snazzy new trike and excited that he got to help with it.

Tag Games

2011-07-10T12:26:00.003-06:00

Just yesterday we were playing outside when Jackson requested that I (Pheaney) play tag with him. Being that it was so hot, I was already feeling lethargic. We started out with Jackson being it and me running. (He is now fast enough that I have to actually run to stay away from him.)

After about one time around the yard I was gassed and I let him tag me. Then the tables were turned and I started chasing him.

We got about 5 paces into the chase when he yelled out: "Dad, Stop! You're making me tired!!"

If you only knew Jackson, if you only knew.

Jackson's Outdoor To-Do List

2011-07-07T20:46:00.003-06:00

These are the things Jackson checks of his list when he's playing outside:

Ride bike or scooter 5 minutes (Just enough for exercise.)
Choose game to play with Mom.
Thoroughly explain the rules (to Mom) of whatever game is chosen.
Switch game (or game rules, whichever is most convenient).
Pick a project (working in the garden, sweeping, digging a hole, making a bow and arrow)
Complain about being hungry.
Go inside.

Adrian's Outdoor To-Do List

2011-07-05T19:24:00.002-06:00

These are the things Adrian checks of his list when he's playing outside:

Ride tricycle. (Stay off of sidewalk and driveway as much as possible.)
While riding tricycle, pretend to deliver pizza and pie to everyone.
If a rabbit, bird, or butterfly is sighted, run and grab toy gun. Proceed to shoot said creature.
Pretend to be a garbage man.
Pick dandelions and bring them to Mom.
Narrate everything, preferably in a sing-songy voice.
If we go on a walk, take time to sit on fire hydrant.

Espen's Outdoor To-Do List

2011-07-03T20:37:00.004-06:00

These are the things Espen checks of his list when he's playing outside:

Play in any dirt, mud or sand I can find
Eat a mint leaf off of the mint plant.
Go on a walk by myself. (Most of the time Mom ends up going with me whether I invite her or not.)
Stop and smell the flowers.
While on walk, pet ceramic chickens in the neighbor's landscaping.
Find rabbits that no one else can see.
Pick up sticks and yell 'bang' at anything that moves.
Eat another mint leaf.
Attempt to pick up ants or other insects that crawl by me.
Put on Jackson's bike helmet and walk around looking cute.

Special Day

2011-06-29T19:43:00.000-06:00

This past Friday, Jackson got to go to work with Daddy. He had so much fun traveling from camp to camp and helping Pheaney out with all of his 'director' tasks. When he came home, he was glowing as he recounted all the highlights of the day...hanging out with Daddy, getting to ride with the windows down, eating cookies and bananas, watching a Veggie Tales. He loved every minute of it!

Adrian was initially very excited about Jackson being able to go to camp, but teared up a little when it actually came to dropping him off there. But we ended up having a really fun day together too. We painted, played board games and went out for ice cream. Instead of the regular vanilla cone, we split a Cookie Dough Chiller, which was a huge deal for him. He was also really happy to get to play "all by myself" for a while. He occasionally enjoys a little space to himself, and doesn't always get opportunity for it in our crazy house.

It was a bit of an experiment, but it went over so well that we're thinking of trying it again sometime! Adrian's already asking when it can be his turn to go with Daddy! :)

Berry Picking

2011-06-26T19:01:00.005-06:00

Today Grandpa took us to his secret berry patch and we picked raspberries to our hearts' content. (Yes, Espen is completely covered with a stroller 'mosquito net.' I know I'm an overprotective mom! :)) We had a lot of fun and brought home a lot of berries!

If you've ever read the book Blueberries for Sal (one of our favorites), we definitely had a Little Sal on our hands. Adrian ate every single berry he picked. He would literally eat all of the ones he could reach, and then he would try to sneak some out of the bucket Pheaney and I were filling.

Tent Time

2011-06-22T19:19:00.000-06:00

I was talking to my mom last week, and she was reminiscing about making tents over the clothesline as a little girl. The boys and I were inspired to make a tent of our own. They wanted to take a nap in the tent, and even went so far as to bring out their pillows and snuggle animals, but we decided it was probably best just to hang out and read in it. Which they did...for a long time. Great summer fun!

Happy Father's Day!

2011-06-19T12:27:00.003-06:00

I'm so thankful for a husband who is such an awesome Daddy! He loves his boys and is teaching them to follow Jesus! Happy Father's day, Pheaney!

Red-Letter Day

2011-06-14T05:48:00.004-06:00

Yesterday we took our first trip to Urgent Care. (Hopefully it was also our only trip, but I'm not counting on it!) With all of the crazy stunts these boys pull, I'm surprised it hasn't happened sooner. Ironically, however, the injury occurred as Adrian was innocently walking up the steps for lunch. He tripped and hit his mouth on the top step, sending his teeth through his bottom lip.

Thankfully, a friend from church was able to watch Jackson and Espen while Adrian and I headed a few blocks down to the hospital. (Normally we'd go to Grandpa's office, but he was out of town at the time!) Adrian was so cooperative and brave! In the end, the doctor cleaned it up and wasn't able to do much with it. It was too small to stitch and they didn't want to glue it because of the location (too close to a curious tongue). So we're keeping it clean and watching for infection. And Adrian is eating a lot of soft, mild foods.

Overall, Adrian wasn't too worse for the wear. By the time his nap was over, he was back to his old tricks--jumping off the couch, wrestling with his brother, climbing over things, etc. Pheaney came home early, with ice cream, which lifted his little spirits. It was a little wearing on Mama, however, and I'm hoping it will be a good long while before we have to make another such trip.

Turkey Rides

2011-06-12T12:46:00.003-06:00

Just a quick story from our recent visit to the Tremont Turkey Festival.

While we were buying (overpriced) tickets for the boys to go on a smaller ride, we pointed out some of the "big-kid" rides.

One ride in particular was pretty impressive. It spun you in circles while at the same time swinging you back and forth (and nearly upside down). After Jackson and Adrian watched for awhile I (Pheaney) asked them each if they would want to go on it someday.

Adrian gave an enthusiastic "MM-HMM"!

Jackson, ever the first-child and super-cautious one said very solemnly and emphatically: "I never want to ride that!"

Picnic at the Park

2011-06-09T20:15:00.003-06:00

We took advantage of the cool day and had a picnic at the park with my (Brittany's) mom, Uncle Levi, and a friend the boys call "Becky." We all had a great time!

Stopping to pose on our walk around the lagoon.

Espen spotted the swings from across the playground and kept pointing and beckoning them to himself. He loves swinging!

The boys hanging out with Uncle Levi

June 5th

2011-06-05T09:28:00.000-06:00

It's the day between staff training and the start of camp.

Just a quick note too let everyone know we're still alive. (for now...)

First Steps

2011-05-29T18:56:00.003-06:00

After spending the last three months (or more) cruising around everything in the house, Espen finally took his first steps. We knew he could do it, if he would only give it a try!

We thought it was extra sweet that Jackson kept encouraging Espen and cheering for him. (He's the first 'yea!' you hear in the video.) And after he finally walked, Jackson kept saying how cute Espen looked and how proud he was of him. It's so neat to see the boys loving each other.

First Popsicle

2011-05-25T19:35:00.003-06:00

This week, we celebrated approach of summer with the first Popsicles of the season. It also happened to be Espen's first Popsicle ever. He wasn't too sure what to think of it at first.

After a few bites, he got the hang of it and gobbled it down. He actually was one of the first ones finished, second only to Adrian.

Big Eaters...Messy Faces

2011-05-22T19:03:00.004-06:00

If you didn't already know, our boys are big eaters. Not only do they eat more than I (Brittany) do, but they also thoroughly enjoy the process of eating. It's a full-body sensory experience for them.

Adrian polishing off the last of his burritos...finger-lickin' good.

Espen enjoys his smoothies to the last drop.

The cleanest boy of all...only a slight residual burrito mustache.

The Death of an Heirloom

2011-05-18T19:35:00.002-06:00

About 20 years ago Brittany received a red tricycle. After she out grew it each of her four siblings put it to good use.

A few years ago we fixed it up for Jackson, who enjoyed it tremendously.

And, of course, it passed down to Adrian. We don't want to say he was rough on it... but the picture above was the norm, not the exception.

At the same time, it was 20 years old. And after seven happy trike riders it finely met its demise.

Adrian has been praying for a new bike. Every time we get the mail he asks "Is there a new bike in it?"

Three Boys

2011-05-15T19:19:00.003-06:00

We've recently been telling people we've moved from having two boys and a baby to having three boys. The previous post showed a little bit of that, but here is some more pictorial evidence:

The newcomer to boyishness: Espen emptying Pheaney's Tshirt drawer in less than a minute.

And pretending to be a pirate!

This is Adrian's "Terrifying Crocodile" outfit. (Complete with "Guard-Shields" on his shins and cowboy boots.)

Last but not least. This is how Jackson has greeted us the last several mornings. Before he comes out of his room he takes the time to don this super-hero outfit.

It's crazy here, but we love it.

Mud Magnet

2011-05-13T18:59:00.003-06:00

One of Espen's new favorite activities is playing in mud, dirt, and sand. Any of the three will do, as long as he can bury his pudgy little hands in it and swirl it all over his body. He gets multiple baths and/or wipe-downs each day. And he's definitely testing my (not-so-great) stain removal skills.

Oak Run Fun

2011-05-10T19:29:00.004-06:00

Last weekend we got away for a day at Oak Run. As usual, it was a blast and full of plenty of activity.

Is there anything better than running?

Jackson is obviously a well-practiced fisherman.

This picture just proves that we were there too!

Working Hard

2011-05-08T18:48:00.003-06:00

Cleaning the tub has always been a dreaded job for Pheaney and me. We put on our weekly job list, but it generally only gets done half the time because both dislike it so much. We even try to take turns doing it, but always excuse each other because we feel bad making the other person do our least favorite job. (I'm not sure why it's such a big deal to us...our tub really doesn't get all that dirty...unless we put off cleaning it for too long!)

Lately Jackson has been really into doing jobs to earn money. He has a few chores that are required, but we let him do extra jobs for quarters.

The other day he was in a working mood, and was begging me to think of a job for him. Seeing that "Clean the Tub" was not yet checked off our list, I asked if he wanted to do that. He was so excited! He put on swim trunks and had a great time scrubbing the tub. (We use baking soda to clean the tub, so he wasn't breathing in any toxic fumes.) He did an awesome job! And I'm not just saying that so I don't have to scrub the tub anymore. Both Pheaney and I were very impressed with how clean he got it. Adrian and Espen watched him the whole time, and Adrian is already asking if he can have a turn to scrub the tub next week. Score!

(And I actually paid him two quarters instead of the standard one, since he was taking over my least favorite job for me.)

Imaginations Gone Wild

2011-05-05T14:19:00.007-06:00

With the advent of some warmer weather (finally!), there have been more opportunities for creative play. We've had our share of pirates, hideouts, hunts and swordfighting.

More recently, however, Jackson and Adrian began working diligently on "the pit." Our neighbors are having a window well put in, and it inspired the boys to dig into our basement. Since we wouldn't actually let them dig next to the house, they started digging near their garden. Currently it's about one foot wide, three feet long, and two feet deep. Pretty impressive for such little guys! (And don't worry, we told them that we're putting all the dirt back in the hole this weekend.)

It has been a constant project this week, taking up almost all of their time outside. They did pause for an hour or so to put together this scarecrow, which they suddenly deemed essential for their garden. You know, to keep out the rabbits and crows. :) They did have a little help with the actual construction, but the ideas and plans were completely theirs.

It's definitely been an exciting, busy week with these guys!

The Bubble Park

2011-05-01T13:27:00.005-06:00

On a rather windy Saturday we visited "The Bubble Park". (Note: Those of you who live in Pekin may know it as James Field.) It was fantastic to have a field in which our boys could run like wild. Pheaney enjoyed booting a kickball as far and high as he could without fear of hitting the neighbors.

Jackson loved the track. He zoomed around the whole 2 acre park at least 4 times.

A Peek Into Learning Time

2011-04-27T18:59:00.005-06:00

Here's a peek into a few of our recent "Learning Time" activities...

In honor of Earth Day, we made some "recycled" crayons from our old broken ones. We had planned to make more, but found out that peeling the paper off is a lot of work! We ended up with a ladybug, earth, and sunshine.

L is for lemonade! To celebrate our letter L week, we made lacto-fermented lemonade. Look at that determination and strength!

"N is for Nest" is our theme this week, so I made one of the boys' favorite dinners: Eggs in a Nest. (Note: the eggs hadn't yet fully cooked when I took this picture!)

Celebrating Easter

2011-04-25T19:02:00.004-06:00

Over the weekend we celebrated Jesus coming back to life!

We also ate a lot of good food with both Brittany's family and Pheaney's family.

And we had an Easter egg hunt in our backyard. Here are some pictures of the mayhem.

Espen's job was to look cute.

How many of you thought we would actually give our boys candy? :)
These 'resurrection eggs' helped tell the story of Jesus death and resurrection.

Unrolling the Burrito

2011-04-22T19:48:00.001-06:00

Does the title have you curious? Just another video of the craziness that's always going on around here.

Demolition Man

2011-04-19T19:24:00.002-06:00

Since I (Pheaney) ruined the toilet in our downstairs bathroom, we thought "Eh... why not go for the whole thing?"

We had wanted to remodel/replace this bathroom since we moved in. Just recently the demolition began. Jackson took to it like a duck to water.

Hopefully we can keep him focused on just the bathroom and not the rest of the house!

Pheaney the Builder

2011-04-17T19:02:00.005-06:00

We already shared the proposed pilot episode of "Not-So-Handy Pheaney," but now we have a new show in the making..."Pheaney the Builder." After building our raised garden beds, I mentioned wanting to make a shelf to help organize the overflowing crate of shoes in our sunroom. I spied a pallet in our neighbor's dumpster and had the crazy idea that we could use it to make the shelf. After I shared the idea with my amazing husband, he pulled the pallet out of the dumpster, then designed and built this shelf all by himself. He's so talented!

Well, he actually didn't build it entirely on his own. He enlisted the help of two zealous builders. They had a great time helping Daddy and were very proud of the end result!

Adrian keeping Daddy company

Mr. Safety (yes, he put this ensemble together himself!)

Espen's One Year Stats

2011-04-12T19:32:00.005-06:00

Our big one year old went in for his 12-month appointment today. He took it like a man...er baby... and didn't cry when he got his finger pricked or when he got a shot!

He currently weights in at 17 lbs 8 oz
He is 29 inches tall. (We can say tall now since he mostly stands!)
His noggin' has a circumference of 46.5 centimeters.

And here he is enjoying his first tooth-brushing!

The Mispoken Word

2011-04-10T19:17:00.002-06:00

Jackson, after getting some food stuck between his teeth: "I think I need to flossen my teeth."

Adrian, remembering how last year he did not like the car wash: "It won't set me up this time." (Upset me?)

Jackson: "I learned to play a new game... it's something and robbers."
Brittany: "Cops and robbers?"
Jackson: "Yeah, crops and robbers."

A few weeks ago we were setting up to act out the story of the Good Samaritan. Adrian was instructing everyone in their role: "I'll be Uncle Levi and you be the police." (You have to work harder at this one... but in the story a 'Levite' and 'priest' both walk by the hurt man.)

Family Gardening

2011-04-06T19:39:00.006-06:00

Gardening season has hit full force here at the Lindell house. Pheaney built these great garden beds...all on his own! He's such a wonderful husband! :)

Jackson and Adrian got these new shovels to celebrate the arrival of gardening season. We even gave them some space for a garden of their own. Adrian got right to work planting...a brick.

The boys have been helping get the big garden beds ready to plan too. They both seem to really enjoy working in the garden and have mentioned it as their "favorite part of the day" at bedtime.

Espen's job is testing the quality of the dirt...squeezing it, crumbling it in his hands, tasting it (smiling at me with a completely muddy grin). It's his new-found hobby. Even when we took a break to play a game in another part of the yard, he kept crawling back over to the wheelbarrow to play in the dirt.

Happy Birthday Espen

2011-04-04T19:43:00.004-06:00

On Saturday Espen turned the ripe-old age of 1.

We're blown away that this first year went by so fast! Did you realize we only have 6,208 days until he turns 18?!?

Here are a few highlights from his party.

Opening Presents

"These hangers are the best!"

The First Cake!

Vacation Wrap Up

2011-03-31T19:51:00.005-06:00

Who knew that we could still be posting about our vacation from 3 weeks ago?

Just two more pictures and then we'll realize that it's April (tomorrow!)

Our first night at Camp Reynoldswood we ordered pizza for a small group of friends. We tried a local place for a little fun (Maria's) and the guy taking my order from told me that they had 24-inch pizzas that fed seven people each. I (Pheaney) had estimated we might need to feed about 20 people. We ate less than half of the 3 pizzas I ordered. And I think they were bigger than 24 inches.

While we were in Michigan, Adrian asked if he could play with the cowboys in the bathtub. Much to Adrian's dismay, Espen's version of "playing cowboys" was chucking them over the side of the tub when Adrian wasn't looking. The cowboy set also includes an Indian canoe. At one point Adrian yelled, "I need to go poopy!" At first glance, the brown canoe scared Pheaney into thinking he was too late.