NO MORE BOTTLE!

Well Annika and I decided to spend this snow day indoors. Today is usually a daycare day, but maybe I'll be in the mood to venture out tomorrow. It has been snowing ALL day today and we are supposed to get more tonight. It has warmed up quite a bit--but I still ain't going out in it!

Annika hit a new milestone today. She has made it 24 hours without a bottle and is now drinking from a sippy cup! Last week we started introducing milk, so she is now getting 2-3 oz. of whole milk with her formula. I am counting the days until ALL milk and NO formula!

Reading a book with dad.

Annika the big girl with her sippy cup!

Our side yard this, taken this afternoon.

Our neighbors water feature (it is supposed to be running water).
This was a couple days ago so it has built up even more ice.

7 DEGREES!

SEVEN DEGREES.... as I sit here and type it is 7 degrees!! We have snow, not as much as the surrounding areas. Were kind of in this little belt where it is usually warmer and does not get as much severe weather as the towns around us. I got a good laugh today as we were out and about. The streets were full of packed snow and here everyone was going about their day calm as could be...and then I thought about what it would be like if I was driving around Hillsboro while snowing...CRAZY...everyone would be freaking out! I also got another laugh this evening when I heard that schools over there are already called off. UH.....we will be very lucky if Gary gets a two hour delay. For me I still am expected to see students unless their local school district is closed. I am very thankful I don't have to go Tygh Valley (Maupin) this week!

Tomorrow Annika and I are going to head into Gary's school and be part of their Child Development class. Students will get to interact with Annika and I will sit on a parent panel and answer questions. YES, me answering questions on parenting...who woulda thunk it! You know I do have a degree in Child Development--scary but true.

A Visit with Santa!

Today we took a trip down the road to Redmond's, "Operation Santa Clause." A reindeer farm that is home to over a 100 head of reindeer. However, this time of year most of them are on the road spreading the holiday cheer. The farm has been around since the 1950's and they have a viewing area year round--so next time your in town you'll have to stop by.

Annika had her first picture taken with Santa who was joined by his reindeer, Ornament. Apparently, Dasher, Dancer, Vixen, etc. are resting at a nice Spa at the North Pole relaxing and preparing for Christmas Eve night...so they sent their cousin to do the PR work. Ornament was kind of grumpy and actually had to take a short walk before our picture--must be camera shy.

Here are some pics of our day.

We didn't know this reindeer's name, but we decided to call him
Rodney, The Redneck Reindeer.

Annika and her daddy looking at all the reindeer in the pasture.

Ornament and her elf friend.

Keeping up with the Hedin's

Today it was 68 degrees and absolutely gorgeous! By the weather you wouldn't have known it was mid-November. It was the perfect day for a drive over the mountain, for I had to meet my Vice Principle in Detroit to pick up a student computer. On our way home we stopped in Sisters at the Christmas Store and bought Annika her "First Christmas" ornament.

I guess it was a pretty busy weekend for us as the Columbia River Circuit Finals Rodeo was in town and we had some friends here. We spent a lot of time with friends, Susan and David and their dog Mattie. Saturday, I helped with the Send Off Party for our Miss Rodeo Oregon who will be leaving in a week or so for the Miss Rodeo America Pageant. We never did make it over to the rodeo. It felt kind of odd as it was in my backyard and here I used to travel 4 hours with a sometimes "snowy" pass to get here. But Gary and I are really enjoying our quiet weekends now that football is over. We have the office ceiling done and the walls primed in the office. Just hoping that next weekend we will find the time to put the color on the walls and be done! I found a desk on craig's list and I am just looking forward to moving my office out of the dining room and upstairs.

Annika is really moving around the house and climbing on everything. She has taken quite a bit of spills on the hardwood floors. However, there has been so many that it doesn't really seem to phase her anymore when she wackes her head. This weekend she started eating Stage 3 foods that are more chunkier with a thicker texture. She wasn't quite sure what to think of it at first and I think she really started liking it. So far she has had mac and cheese and will try sweet potatoes with Alaskan salmon tomorrow or the next day. mmmm (NOT!) :)

Here are some recent pics:

Eating in her high chair!

MRA Good Luck Party with "Aunt" Susan (the white bread aunt) ha ha

"What is that thing on her hat?" Annika with 2008 Jr. MRO Staheli Wilkenson

Saying good morning to Mattie!

9 Months Old Today!

Annika is officially 9 months old. We go in for her check up bright and early in the morning.

More Pumpkins

Can I just say that again I have NEVER seen anything like it. Today we attended the Pillar Pumpkin Carving Party. WOW! Do these people know how to carve pumpkins! It was amazing. About 100 people gathered at the Pillar's (co-worker of Gary's) for chili, potatoes and prizes. Sally and her husband Scott have been doing this for 16 years. The weather was perfect and we had so much fun. I hope were invited back because we already can't wait for next year. :-)

The set up.

Waiting for dad so we can get started!

Annika is not sure about this getting dirty stuff.

The Hedin Family work on carving their pumpkin (actually Gary did all of the work.)

Gary and I thought this pumpkin was kind of cool--but of course we are hard core conservatives! :-)

Over 50 pumpkins were carved--they said it was a new record.

The Pumpkin Patch

Happy Halloween From the Hedin's

We took Annika over to Terrebonne for her first Pumpkin Patch experience. I don't remember EVER seeing anything like this and going to a pumpkin patch this cool! They had a HUGE corn maize, a pirate ship made of hay, draft horse hay rides, a kids train, a pumpkin cannon, petting zoo, pony rides, a market, food booths galore and a pumpkin patch. I am not quite sure what Annika thought of it all, but she looked like she enjoyed it. It was sunny and almost 70 degrees--perfect pumpkin patch weather. Annika took in the pony rides but I am not sure she was all that impressed, it was like she was thinking, "ehh what's the big deal, my neigh neigh is bigger!" :-)

Halloween is a week away and we decided to not do the costume thing this year. Gary's last football game is Halloween night and it would be too cold to have her in a costume. Plus, everyone we would take her trick or treating to has an important part in the game so they wouldn't be home to take her.

We're going to carve the pumpkins this evening after we are done visiting with some friends that are stopping by. So I will probably post some more pics tomorrow.

First Stop: The Petting Zoo

"Hey mom, what is this funny looking thing?"

Then: The Pony Rides

"Hmmm, I'm not impressed."

"We don't need to go to the patch, they got pumpkins right here by the ponies. Can I have this big one?"

"Whoa, that's a big boat!"

"Uh Mom, I think we look like dorks!"

"This Pumpkin Patch stuff is EXHAUSTING!"



Central Oregon Pumpkin Company, located near Smith Rock in Terrebonne.

"I know it's green, but I pick this one!"

The Hedin Family at the pumpkin patch.

Just a Few Pics!

Here are a few pics taken over the past month!

"Mmm...this sock tastes good!"

Annika's morning face.

"Do we have to get up?"

Annika's first encounter with the glass sliding door.

"Mom, can you tell my why I can see those plants but I can't touch them?"

Our Growing Girl

As usual things have been pretty busy around here. Football season is in full swing so Gary’s time has been consumed with practices, coach’s meetings and film watching. The Outlaws have lost 2 games in a row so it has turned out to be quite a different season than in the past. Their actually playing down South tonight. Gary text me just before the game to tell me it was snowing—so sorry I am missing it!

I am finally settling into my job and really liking it. Sometimes I feel more like an organizer than a teacher. But when I do get to work one-on-one with my students I really get to teach them and feel like they truly understand the material. I also get to have a real relationship with each and everyone one of them and their families—and I have GREAT families. I have 16 students 1st through 11th grade. So it can be a challenge to teach the high school subjects, but so far so good!

Annika is now home with me 2 days a week on Mondays and Fridays. For the most part she is pretty independent and enjoys playing on her own while I work on the computer. Just today I noticed that she is really trying hard to pull herself up to stand. Crawling is pretty difficult here at our house with the hardwood floors throughout the whole lower level. I am looking forward to getting my office done so that she can be turned loose upstairs on the carpet and I don’t have to worry about her falling on her face on the hardwood. She started eating chicken this week and last week had blueberries and kiwi. She doesn’t care too much for the Kiwi, but LOVES the blueberries. Unfortunately, prunes have had to become part of her regular diet which she could care less for. I try to be sneaky and mix them with apples or pears and then she usually doesn’t have an issue. She really likes her daycare and is so happy when I drop her off, which makes me feel better about leaving her. She is literally about 6 houses down the street which also makes it nice.

Well it is almost time for Grey’s…can’t miss that!

Annika's first pumpkin!

Wow, that looks like it would be fun to play with!
From blueberries ....
...to prunes.

A Nice Relaxing Weekend...

So far we've been enjoying a nice relaxing weekend. Friends Susan and David came into town to visit with their family and were nice enough to invite us out to dinner with them. David had so much fun with Annika until....:-) she decided to do her business at the dinner table. Courageous Dave decided to do a finger check to see if she really had and well....he got little surprise (AND more than he bargained for. It was quite the entertainment for the evening.

Susan and David came over for a "cocktail" after dinner.

Uh O....Annika enjoys watching high school football film with dad. BTW the Outlaws won their first league game Friday night...their now 4-0!

I love this picture! Annika all ready to go church this morning.

Keeping Up With the Hedin's

As usual things have been busy around here. Football season is in full swing and so far the outlaws are 3 - 0. On Saturday I traveled to the valley and back for an MRO fundraiser and Annika was able to spend some time with her daddy. They haven't got to see to much of each other lately and I think they both enjoyed getting to spend the day together. Sunday we lounged around house--or I guess I should I lounged around the house. Gary spent the day watching football film and getting ready for his coaches meeting and Annika played with all her new goodies. While on my way back home yesterday I stopped at Babies R Us. Places to shop for baby are pretty limited around here so I used that as an excuse to stop and SHOP.

Today Annika played with her new basketball toy and sat in her new high chair and tried finger food for the first time. She had a little trouble pinching to pick up her sweet potato puffs but I am sure she'll get the hang of it soon!

Hangin' out at the Outlaw game!

Happy Annika!

"Hmmm...what are these funny looking things?"

"This toast is good mom! Do you think I can have another piece?"

A Visit with Grandpa and Grandma Hedin

This past weekend Gary's parents drove over for a visit. Friday night we all headed to Gary's football team's second game of the year. Of course Annika had to stay awake for the entire game including the after game huddle. When there is party she just can't seem to miss it. She loves everything about the game--the band, the cheerleaders...and okay the actual game itself! And yes we did win 40-14! Next week league games start and then it gets down to business.

Saturday was a long day of relaxing! We had a BIG late breakfast followed by some napping, a late lunch at the infamous Big Bear Diner then again followed by some napping, and then milkshakes for dinner (we won't tell Annika we did things like that when she gets older!) Cousin Billy even stopped by with his girlfriend Tessa who now lives in the area. We were happy to see them as it had been a long time. Actually, we just wanted to see Tessa I guess Billy was a bonus. JUST KIDDING BILLY!

All in all Annika had a fun weekend having visitors at our house and spending time with Grandpa and Grandma Hedin!

Cousin Billy and his Girlfriend Tessa. Billy just got home from three months in Alaska fishing and brought pictures over for us to see. Were sure glad he cut his hair, shaved and showered before he came over! JUST KIDDING BILLY!

Playing with Grandpa!

Hangin out with Grandma!