cows, college and contentment

We experienced all three when we took a drive down to Northfield a couple of Sundays ago. It was a beautiful day with nothing on the calendar - so we decided to take a ride down memory lane and visit Northfield for the day. We ate lunch at Hogan Brothers, walked around Division Street and visited a very different looking St. Olaf. It was a wonderful, wonderful day.

get out the vote

At the last presidential Voting Day Bergen was about 10 weeks old. I remember the three of us going first thing in the morning and standing in line for about an hour while we made our way around the winding lines at our voting station.

This year we were expecting to wait longer than the 60 minutes we waited last time. Lars left early from work so we could head over to our voting station after Annika was up from her afternoon nap. We packed the diaper bag full of snacks, drinks, toys, books. . . anything to keep the kids busy while we waited. We, however, were in and out of there so fast that Lars said "this was faster then a McDonald's drive through". And it was. No lines. No wait. It was shocking - especially given the massive number of people who came out to vote this year.

Bergen participated with us every step of the way and even fed our ballots into the machine. He was VERY excited to get his own "I voted" stickers after he voted in the "Kids Election" sponsored by the MN League of Women Voters and he wore them proudly. . . . as did we.

alabama reunion

We had our third annual Alabama Avenue Reunion with our old neighbors from SLP (our first was in 2004, but we took a couple years off between 2004 and 2007) in early November. Three of the four families were able to get together for a wonderful dinner and to catch up on the past year (although Facebook helps between our yearly dinners!).

It is very fun to see how much the kids grow each year. . . and now they are all running around playing together. Makes us miss the old 'hood, but thankful for the friends we found on ol' Alabama Avenue that continue to be a part of our lives . . .

January 2004

August 2007

November 2008

music to my eyes

Lars and I have really enjoyed watching Bergen and Annika start to play together more and more. With a 3 year span between them, it has taken Annika awhile to be able to really play with Bergen. They can entertain each other for small amounts of time and we often have to break up a fight or two during the day (which I know is just the beginning!), but it has been a great transition for us to witness as parents.

boo!

We had a GREAT Halloween. . . it was actually quite warm for a change! Each year the holidays become more and more fun as Bergen becomes more aware of the traditions and he gets so incredibly excited. Your own child's excitement is very contagious.

We had a second annual pizza dinner with some friends of ours in the neighborhood before hitting the streets for some Trick or Treating. Grandma Peg came over to hand out candy with Annika and me. . . and Megan and Michael as well as Grandpa Dan made a visit to see the kids all dressed up.

Bergen was able to pick out two treats from his stash when they got home from Trick or Treating - and I think he picked out the two smallest chocolates in the lot (see picture below of him holding two gold wrapped chocolates). And it amazes me that he hasn't even asked about the candy since - I guess out of sight out, out of mind!