Yummy...

Love those Christmas treats!

SIX

We have been married for six years today. I just can't believe that it has been that long. Due to a wonderful stomach bug we spend the day doing a lot of nothing. We did manage to get our Christmas tree taken down (oh so romantic) and we went out Ben-Free (yippee) for soup and salad at the Olive Garden. This year has definately been the hardest in our life together so far, but we know each other better and love each other more now than we did six years ago. Here's to another 6 x 6 or more years together. :)

Grandma Fix

Last friday is was 70 degrees here in Asheville, so we spent plenty of time in the sunshine enjoying the amazing (non-Christmasy) weather! I love the little tongue thing. :)

11 Months Old

I can't believe that Benjamin is going to be 11 months old tomorrow! Where did the time go. He is walking everywhere, babbling all the time, he laughs with us, waves bye-bye, copies our noises and is just SO MUCH FUN! I can't get enough.

Bumpersticker of the Day

LOVE MAKES THE WORLD GO ROUND

BUT SO DO 5 SHOTS OF TEQUILA

SO WHAT'S YOUR POINT?

I Just Want to Breathe!

I have a new hate of winter... growing up I LOVED winter... the snow, the beauty etc. Now all I can think of is sickness. It just seems like I get over one cold and we are on to another. Thankfully we have had nothing serious yet this year, but I guess it is just a matter of time. I was really sick when Ben was born, then A got the flu and then Ben got really sick. Serves me right for having a baby during flu season (note to self, don't do that again :).

This year, we all got a bad cold over Thanksgiving, we were just feeling better and Ben got an infection in his eye, then I got sick and now I have a stye in my eye... and Andrew was exposed to a stomach bug, so we are just praying he doesn't get it.

How do they rest of you deal with winter sickness?

At least finals are over and I have a husband again. :)

I Survived

We have our first tooth. And MAN what an ordeal!!!!



It didn't help that Ben had a horrible reaction to tylenol and was up crying all night Friday and the screamed from 10-4 on Saturday while Andrew was at school and I was supposed to be at my choir dress rehearsal. I actually think that if it weren't for the tylenol it wouldn't have been that bad.

What a day, but we made it. I even drove the stick shift car and didn't kill it once. :-P AND I was stopped on a hill more than once. :)

Christmas Picture

Well, despite numerous efforts, this was our best picture... so you will be getting a picture of just Ben in your Christmas letter. :)

Yes Yes Mama

This nodding is his latest thing, it makes us all laugh.

Laughing at Mom

It is starting a little young for my taste... :)

GOLDEN

Aren't moms amazing? My mom sent me TWENTY-SIX balloons, on my TWENTY-SIXth birthday on November TWENTY-SIXth! She even sent them to Andrew's uncle's house so I would have them on my birthday. :)

Bumpersticker of the Day

HEAVEN WON'T TAKE US

A HELL IS AFRAID

WE'D TAKE OVER*

*seen in jacksonville, nc home of marine base, camp lejeune

FUN, FUN, FUN!!

I cannot believe that Benjamin is already TEN MONTHS OLD!! The time has gone so quickly, and he is no longer a baby, he is a little boy! It seems like he is doing something new each day! He plays peek-a-boo, gives me 5, and kisses (I love it). He is walking, almost running and climbing everywhere. Thankfully we are over the serious bruises stage, but we still have a few spills. He is getting braver every day, and I am so thankful, that he now ventures away from his mama and plays by himself sometimes for 30-45 minutes at a time!!!! And some pics!

Feeding the ducks with his cousin. At first he was paralyzed, then he started yelling at them, and finally he was chasing them into the water, and would have gone in if we had let him. :)

Thank goodness for free bibs. :) He has never had a jar of Gerber anything, but the bib was free. :) And his potato kept him busy for an hour while I made bread. :)

Andrew turned on the shower Sunday, then turned to brush his teeth. A second later this is what we found. :) He was having a blast.Playing in Mom's birthday balloons.
Beef Jerky. He finally realized that he can hold it in his mouth and still climb the stairs.
More beef jerky.


Pooped. We spent Thanksgiving with Andrew's Grandmother, Aunt, Uncle & Cousins in Jacksonville, NC near Wilmington. Ben was walking around and crying on Friday night because he was so tired but didn't want to miss anything. So Andrew's cousin picked him up and stuck him in his daughter's swing. He was a little big, but it did the trick. 1 minute later he was OUT COLD for the night.

SORRY OFFICER,

I THOUGHT YOU WANTED TO RACE

GOOP

I made (am making actually) GOOP for lunch today. It is just me, or when everything is on the edge of going bad in the fridge do you dump it all together and see what you get?

This is something I thought I would never do. My mom did this when I was a kid and stories of "Purple Soup" live on to this day. My mom swears it wasn't that bad, but she was conveniently gone that night and I distinctly remember puking it up after dinner. My poor dad had to set a good example and eat the nasty stuff... I secretly think he probably puked it up afterward too. :)

Well, I am hoping mine turns out a little better than my mom's purple soup. But as I was trying to find something fun lunch I found, mushrooms, a green pepper, cherry tomatoes, peas, sausage, chicken broth and a few other random things... mix that with some spices and rice and I think I have myself a lunch.... at 3:00pm. :-P Ah well!!

Tonight we are having Mateer Paneer (peas and indian cheese) because I had a whole gallon of milk that expired!

I do promise that we do eat things that aren't on the verge of growing things, just not this week. :)

Bumpersticker of the Day

FOLLOW YOUR BLISS

In My Humble Opinion: BABY TOYS

Item: Baby Toys

Description: Anything!!

Pros: Toys are cheap!

Cons: Are there any??

Thoughts: Andrew has banned anything that lights up, sings or makes any noise. I did get a bouncy seat that vibrates, but that was it. Last week a friend gave us a little ball that lights up and sings the alphabet song (they weren't aware of A's ban :)... Ben LOVED IT, for about 30 minutes. :) As soon as the newness wore off, his love affair was over. I am just hear to say that Ben has some expensive toys, but his favorites are a baking powder can, an empty tums bottle and an old aquafina bottle with dry beans in it. And as you can see, it doesn't get any better than a pot and a wooden spoon... this kept his busy for HOURS!! Who needs expensive toys when you have a kitchen and some old plastic bottles. :)

The Worst of It

Here is a picture of Benjamin after his big spill on Sunday. :( Fat lip, scrapes, bumps, blood... poor little boy! He is doing better already though! No blood in 3 days!!!

Just Call Me Susie...

Well, probably because I have more time (at home anyway) and less money I have been stocking up for the winter. I feel like I should be in Little House on the Prairie or something... Anyway, here is what I have done in the past few months (with a lot of help from my wonderful mother in law):

• Canned 6 quarts of dilly beans, 10 pints of chili sauce, 4 pints of peach jam and 2 pints of raspberry jam (picked from bushes near my house).
• Froze 20 cups of peaches, 8 peach pie fillings, 12 quarts of homemade apple sauce, 7 apple pie fillings, and I blanched, chopped, cooked and froze 25lbs of tomatoes for soup this winter.
• Made 32 cups of chicken broth and froze it
• Made granola
• Made and froze potato soup, carrots, sweet potatoes, pears, peach-yogurt-banana-smoothie and peas for baby food
• Made and froze 20 cups of whole wheat pancake mix
• And I just pulled 3 loaves of bread out of the oven... and 4 cinnamon rolls... I LOVE warm whole wheat bread... there is nothing better!
• And my mother-in-law and i are going to can black, garbonzo and red beans in a couple weeks!

I LOVE fall... soup, hot chocolate, fires.... I love it all...

Bumpersticker of the Day

RELIGIONS ARE JUST CULTS

WITH MORE MEMBERS

Happenings

• BLOOD - This learning to walk this is hard work! Two week ago we had blood for the first time, and we have had it multiple time since, the poor little boy can't catch a break! Despite it all he has been a really sweet baby! I have been meaning to post his 9 month pictures, but I delayed taking them so his face wouldn't be all banged up, then I just gave up and while taking the pictures he had his worst spill yet! :(
• JOB - Well, I feel like I am watching ping-pong. Two weeks ago Andrew was let go, 1 1/2 weeks ago he was hired back, last week his boss had another no-meds-bi-polar-freakout, and as of yesterday we are jobless again. However, he has lined up a few jobs doing some small business consulting type things, so God is taking care of us!
• CAR - my little Cord has been acting weird all week. There is nothing that rattles your nerves like a car not starting! Thankfully it was only a battery!! And talk about a God thing, someone slipped Andrew $100 at church on Sunday, and the car total came to $99.60. God is Good!!

Tagged

Well, it took me a few days... but I have been tagged... to go to my picture file and pick the 4th file and the 4th picture and tell you about it... so here it is:
This is our dear sweet friend Sarah H. This picture was taken almost 3 years ago. I surprised Andrew on his Golden Birthday (he was 24 on January 24th) and instead of going to the Melting Pot in Charlotte we flew out of Charlotte and met our great friends Dave & Jennifer for dinner at the Melting Pot in DC. And then we had a huge party at Sarah's house the next day. :) It was great fun and I think I totally surprised him. :)

So, I am not going to tag anyone specific, but if have you a minute and want to do it, please do and leave me a comment so I can come and check it out!!!

Bumpersticker of the Day

GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS

ESPECIALLY OUR SNIPERS

Vote Early & Often!

As you can see Ben is a fan of both. :) Have you voted yet?

Bumps & Bruises

The past week has been a rough one, both for Ben and for us! The picture doesn't do it justice since I didn't take this picture until 2 days ago, but in the past week Ben has 1. Had a run in with a chair that involved a cut lip and LOTS of blood, 2. a collision with a rocking chair that resulted in a nasty bruise on his cheek, 3. A bump with the tile floor that caused his lip to reopen and bleed and a fat lip AND 4. A fall on the concrete that left him with a scrape on the cheek and nose. Not to mention the fact that he has a cold, and has closed his fingers in numerous drawers and I managed to pinch his little fingers in a door this morning. :(

And his parents haven't done much better. Andrew lost his job again last Monday, and then his (bi-polar) boss called him back on Thursday and offered him half of his job back. Needless to say, Drew is still looking for a job. I had a dud of a bookfair this week AND our house is still on the market until Friday when it will fall off and there is just no point in relisting it. We have had 1 showing in the past 6 weeks.

Oddly enough Andrew and I spoke in Sunday School last Sunday about God's provision. :) Oh the irony...

Bumpersticker of the Day

CHANGE

What is left in your pocket

after tha Democrats tax you

Daddy Makes Me Laugh

Weekend Fun

"It took me a little while to warm up... but I think I like her..."

Rachel came to visit us and we loved having her! If only she could have stayed longer! I love catching up with friends!
" I don't know about Pad Thai... but these things I LOVE!"
Friday Night Football!
Ben was up two nights in a row until 11. He loved the football... or more likely all the noise going on around him.
Gotta love those bananas.

Where is my Baby???

10-9 First attempts at more than one or two steps

10-13 Practice Makes Perfect!

10-19 No going back now!

Green Grass & Grumpy :)

The Babbler

All of you who think... or have told me... "oh, what a quiet child you have." YOU ARE WRONG! Here is proof.

Aaaa CHOO!

I LOVE baby sneezes. And I finally caught one on film... I make a big deal out of it when Ben sneezes, my secret goal is to scare/make him laugh out of the sneeze. It has only happened once but I will keep trying!! :)

The Ben Monster

This little man is growing up SOO fast, and we are loving every new thing! He is becoming SO much more expressive and responsive. He laughs WITH us, laughs AT us, talks TO us... This morning I wasn't watching for about 2 minutes and I found him standing on a box, holding on to a lamp and banging it against the wall. NEVER a dull moment. He has taken a few steps, and is flying around furniture and has been standing up in the middle of the room for 20-30 seconds. He tries to walk, but if you are remotely close he just does a head-long trust fall. :) here are a few pictures from the last week or two.Mom, I HATE the grass... don't make me stand in it!!!



I love my auntie Kristin, she is the best babysitter EVER!!

Bumpersticker of the Day

DIRECTIONALLY

DYSFUNCTIONAL

I have lived in Asheville for too long...

Today's To Do List:

• Finish knitting Drew's scarf
• Make Bread
• Make Granola
• Make Baby food from organic sweet potatoes, pears, squash & carrots

But, in case you are worried that I have gone off the deep end, yesterday's to do list was:

• Fill car with gas
• Go to Walmart
• Buy disposable diapers & draino

I live such a tortured life... :)

Bye-Bye Baby Girl

We had to put our sweet puppy Ivy down on Saturday night. Things had just sort of spiraled downward VERY quickly in the past few weeks. She had lost over 20lbs and a number of other things. She was at a friend's house (who had two other labs) on Friday and Saturday to see if we couldn't perk her up a bit, and when we picked her up we could tell that things had gotten A LOT worse even in the 48 hours we hadn't seen her. She was glad to see us, but is SOO much pain she couldn't get comfortable. It was heartbreaking, but we are glad she isn't in any more pain.

She wasn't even 2 years old. As much as she annoyed us, we loved her and it is still hard to think about life without her. We will miss not having to ever vacuum the kitchen floor, and not having anyone to lick the peanut butter knife or greet us in the morning, and it is hard to think that Ben won't even remember her. She will be greatly missed.

Where Would You Be If You Were:

• 100 Yards from a razor wire fence


• Down-wind from a dumpster


• Sitting in the sun


• Under power lines


• Without picnic tables


• AND surrounded only by the coordinators of this delightful little gathering?

Give up???

No, not prison. You would be at our Church Neighborhood Care Group Picnic!!

Never would have guessed?? Well, sometimes despite A LOT of planning, calling, emailing and mailing you can pick a park you THOUGHT was the the right one, and pick a date that worked when you started, and manage to find the one park in the area without a flat area, picnic tables or shade.

It is really not as bad as it sounds. We had a wonderful time with friends, the weather was PERFECT... 65 and sunny, and eventually a few more people did show up. AND I got to eat some AMAZING potato salad, chocolate cake, apple cider and a few other things I didn't make... does life get any better?

Like His Daddy

Eating Greens in a Special Treat

It Grows LOONG Ears and Great Big Feet

But It Sure Is An Awful Thing to Eat!

New Tricks

We can't get enough of this little man!

The wave

The nose

The stairs

P.S. No babies were harmed in the making of this video. :) This was his first time ever on the stairs, I just found him half way up. The next time he made it all the way to the top without any problems. Yikes!

Taming the Snot Monster

The title says it all. That is what I have been up to ALL week. Benjamin came down with a nasty cold a little over a week ago so I have been wiping a snotty nose, holding a crabby baby, desperately trying not to get it myself and watching my house go to pot for the last 8 days.

Thankfully he is on the upswing, and seems to be feeling much better the last couple of days. He is back to his old -cupboard opening, book chewing, stair climbing, dirt eating self and we love it!

L

Baby, Baby

70's Baby

Avacado Baby


Messy Baby


Active Baby

Our other Baby... all prim & proper after she got a bath and her nails trimmed.

In My Humble Opinion: ROBES

Well, it has been a while since I announced it but it is finally here... please let me know your opinion as well! Humble or not!! :)

Item: Robes a.k.a. Bath Robes

Description: The can be silky or towel material, but just the thing that you find hanging up at expensive hotels for you to wear (I have seen this in movies, although I have never experienced it, Super 8 doesn't have them).

Pros: They can be warm and fuzzy or they can cover up things you don't want people to see...

Cons: They can be bulky... and let's face it... sometimes hideously ugly.

Thoughts: In a nutshell, anyone that has time for a piece of clothing BETWEEN pajamas and getting dressed has too much time on their hands. If you are a millionaire who doesn't work (or are married to one) go ahead, knock yourself out... but for those of us normal folk, who has time for a robe??? I know I don't. I am lucky to get out of my pajamas in the morning and if I do manage a shower I don't have time to put a robe on THEN change AGAIN into my clothes! It is more like "Oh man, I hope Ben isn't getting into anything, I have 3 minutes before I need to be out of here... I have so much to get done and I need to get Ben ready, so I guess I won't be doing my hair, and I will skip the make-up, but at least I will be clean!"

Bumpersticker of the Day

BACON IS A VEGETABLE

Happenings

Hello dear readers. Life has been a little crazy in the Zetterholm household. And it doesn't seem to be slowing down! I feel like we are stuck in hyper drive and here's why:

• Benjamin is REALLY on the move. He is into EVERYTHING in the blink of an eye. In two minutes he will crawl in the fireplace, eat dirt from the plant, lick dog hair off the floor, dig in the garbage can & smile up at your in a way that makes your heart melt. As you can see in the picture above he also loves to climb under the bar stools.
• And it has officially begun... we have been using the "N" word... multiple times a day. He sort of responds... well he looks at you, smiles his beautiful baby smile, and keeps on digging in the trash can. :) So we flicked him today... and STILL nothing. He just kept smiling at me... sigh... I guess I should have expected nothing less since he is his father's son. :-P
• My business has been keeping me quite busy. Tomorrow I am working 11 hours at the fair... with Ben. Pray for me if you think about it. :) I am working 3 other days this week, one of them the same 11 hour shift!
• A CAR!! After much searching (and by that I mean checking Craig's List every 4 minutes) we have found a car... and not on Craig's List... someone was selling one in our church. It is a complete answer to prayer... 1. Cheap 2. Good gas mileage 3. Fits a HUGE dog 4. No major problems... now just pray that we both learn to drive stick.. AHH!!
• School... it seems to be a four letter word some days. School is in full swing for Andrew. Weekly papers, presentations, 100 lbs of books and weekly 2-day trips to Charlotte.
• Work... as some of you know, Andrew got a job a few weeks ago... for which we are SOO thankful... however it has been a sort of roller coaster ride. We are learning that our security is in Christ alone, not a job, a house or any other thing. A few days after Andrew started his boss had a mental break down and was admitted to a mental health facility. It was surreal. He is back now, but still has good days and bad days. The company is a small residential construction company and so from the beginning it has been up and down as to whether or not Andrew will have a job the next week. Yesterday it was looking like two more weeks, today it is looking much better... maybe 8 or more months... but tomorrow may be back again, we just never know.
• Finally, our poor Ivy - in the last week she developed this huge tumor looking thing on her neck, and she was not eating... she wouldn't do anything but sleep. I cried a few too many times thinking it was cancer or some horrible thing. (I never ever thought I would cry over a dog). At the vet yesterday (another bill we can't afford) they tested it and found out it wasn't cancer, but they don't know what it is, so they gave her some meds and sent us on our way. So please pray that Ivy will get better!

So there you have it. :)

A Much Needed Break

As you can see from Ben's face, we had a great, and much needed, time away. We had a great time hanging out for a few days in the Twin Cities and then driving thorough 2 1/2 hours of cornfields to my grandfather's farm in southern MN for his 80th Birthday Party! Here are a few pics from the week.

Benjamin, as usual, was a great traveler... we had a direct flight which made if WAAY better than last time (plus the fact that Andrew was there) and, as you can see from the picture, he got to use daddy's ipod!

The weather was beautiful, Andrew had a good time reading and relaxing.

Ben was the center of all his uncles' attention.

I just thought the chair was cool.

Ben wasn't quite sure if he liked the grass.

Micah and I in front of the boat before we got to go for a ride up the river and back... and dinner too! Yumm...

The boat. It was a wonderful, peaceful evening.

The view of downtown Minneapolis on our walk around the lake.
One of the amazing houses overlooking the lake.
Just havin' fun waiting for everyone to get back to the car. :)
We love Uncle Buzz!
No trip to the Twin Cities is complete without a trip to the Mall of America. Ben got to see it all... backwards. :)