Snow!

We got a little snow last night and I though it was time for Lauren to experience the white stuff. While we were visiting Jack and Rebekah yesterday, I mentioned that Lauren had never been in the snow. I still think of her as a little baby and I need to start thinking of her as a toddler. So, into the Pepper snow suit she went and out into the snow. It was a little too close to nap time, so she didn't move around too much, but she played a little bit in the snow. Here are some pictures. What is on my mitten? This stuff is kinda cool. Will and Mollie playing together. Eating teddy grahams and drinking hot chocolate to warm up! Lauren's first hot chocolate!

Mollie, SIT!

Mollie has been enrolled in training classes. Part of the training is homework - I have to work with her at home. Mollie is doing great - this week we're working on her sit-stay and trying to get her to stay for one minute! Will likes to help with the training, so I thought I'd get a video of him working with Mollie.... He usually just does the "sit," but today he tried the lay down. He feels too vulnerable to put the food on the ground with his hand, so the down doesn't really work for him. I just thought these videos were cute.

My favorite part of this video is that he tries so hard to get her to go down, then he gives up and says, "Oh, she's sitting!" and gives her the food.

I wanted to let you know that he was feeding Mollie cheese - that's why he was eating the "treat" at the end! Enjoy my messy house! Two kids and four sick people doesn't make for much time to tidy up - though we've been doing laundry and sanitizing around the clock!

She's walking

Here's a picture of Lauren in her new big girl shoes - pink/grey/white New Balance. She had been wearing her brother's size 3 1/2 and we took her to get sized and she was a size 5! WOW!
Will set up a snack in the play room. He loves these little chairs - I think it's because he and Lauren have their own chairs and they don't have to share. I though it was just so cute!
Will and Mollie earlier this week. Mollie is becoming a great dog and Will is starting to enjoy playing with her. In fact, they're playing fetch right now.

Here's a video of our little girl walking. She started walking earlier this week, but this is the first video we took of her. Lauren has had a stomach bug since Tuesday and she seems to be feeling a little better today. She managed to share it with Will and Mommy and we're starting to feel better, too.

Grandma

I guess when it rains, it pours. My Grandma Niedermuller passed away on February 9, 2008, three days after her 92nd birthday. Grandma had not been feeling well and her death was not completely unexpected. One of the main reasons I made the trip out to California and Oregon was so that I could say goodbye to her. I remember the last time I saw her and how emotional I was when I said goodbye.

As I reflect on her life, I think of all the stories that she used to tell Paul and me. Those of you that knew my grandma, knew her to be a great storyteller. She always had a lot of details in her stories and I enjoyed listening to her tell them. I loved the stories she would tell from her childhood and the depression. It made history come alive for me to know that my family was effected through that time. I also enjoyed the stories she would tell of my daddy when he was little. It was fun to picture him as a boy!

There are a couple of vivid memories I have of Grandma. On is of their home in Redwood City. They had a giant stuffed bunny (I'm not sure exactly how big it was, but by my memory it was around 4-5 feet tall) and I loved to play with it. The bunny was in the office, right behind their dining room. Inside the dining room was a china cabinet filled with dolls. I loved to look at all of grandma's dolls inside. She had the most beautiful dolls and every little girl would have loved them!!

Grandpa and Grandma had a strong love for animals, especially dogs. This was definatley passed on to my Aunt Fran! After Grandpa passed away, their little poodle Buffy went to heaven, too. Grandma quickly got another dog (and another....) and she finally ended up with a poodle named Cindy. Cindy was always with her and Grandma took such great care of her. Grandma taught me a love of animals and to always respect our four legged friends.

An early memory of Grandma took place at our home on Bella Drive. I remember Grandma brushing my long hair before bed. Not being a very patient child, I was just ready to go to bed, but Grandma insisited that she brush my hair before bed. I did not see the good in having nice hair before bed, but now I cherish that memory!

My family has been through a lot this past month, but I seem to have a peace with everything that has happened. I know this peace comes from God. I've been involved in a six week study of the Psalms of the Ascent and we've been discussing a lot about pilgrimage. Our life is a journey - a journey that must come to an end. Unfortunately, Grandma's journey here has come to an end, but her life has really just begun. I'm sure "Billy" is enjoying being with his "Boss Girl."

Happy Valentine's Day

Here's a video of the kids today. Will got a new car seat and they were playing with the box. Life with two kid is definately full!!!

She's ONE!

Well, Lauren has officially entered the toddler years! Wow! It's so hard for me to believe that I don't have a baby anymore. She is 17 pounds 4 ounces and 29 inches long. She is in the 2nd percentile for weight (same as Will) and the 50th (or so) for height. She's doing great and she has transitioned to milk great. I actually started her on milk a couple of weeks ago when she started weaning herself.... I didn't really want to introduce formula for 2 weeks. She loves cups (she never had a bottle....) and she just sucks her milk down! She loves food - I don't really think there's anything she doesn't like. She's been on table food since 8-9 months.

Lauren the morning of her first birthday - February 6, 2008!

For her birthday, we had Papa John, Diddy, Nonnie, Morri, and Tina over for dinner. We had a great celebration of dinner, presents, and banana splits! It was a great night! Here are some pictures from that evening.

Will and Lauren opening birthday presents.

Will and Lauren reading books.

Laruen eating her ice cream sandwich! Happy birthday baby!

On Saturday we had her birthday party. Her friends Heidi, Mason, Anna, and Wyatt all came and they even brought their big brothers over to play with Will. Grandpa, Grandma, and Nonnie were here, too. Lauren had so many friends and family around to wish her a Happy First Birthday! We had a bug themed party and I made little bug cakes for everyone. The kids had a great time choosing which bug they were going to eat! Laruen and Heidi playing in the playroom. Mason and Heidi eating dinner.

Will and some of his friends eating dinner - you can see the bug cakes on the table.

Lauren's friends Wyatt (with Tiffany) and Anna (with Nonnie). You can also see Heidi and Mason at the table.

Lauren's big present this year was a kitchen. The Osmundson side of my family all chipped in to purchase this kitchen for our little girl. She (and Will) LOVE playing with it and Joe and I love it because it is so compact and very well made. Enjoy those pictures, too.