The Junebug

Ever had the inclination to befriend a junebug? Perhaps you have wished to tickle one under his bejeweled chin with a feather? Allie loves beetles, and she doesn't discriminate. Today was her day. With junebug and feather in hand, she went for it.

"Tickle, tickle!"

Potty Time II - It's In the Small Victories

There is a new sound in the Riis household that makes one and all rejoice, throw high fives, shed tears of joy, take victory laps around the playroom (and pass out reward stickers). No, not a bathroom sound; rather, a potty sound. I am referring to the musical princess potty itself (note pictures below). Allie has finally begun using the princess potty as more than just a great place to watch cartoons, and it rewards all with a rather successful sounding tune each time she "goes". We haven't perfected the exercise yet, but we're counting the small victories...

So, yeaaa Allie! Yeaaa princess potty! And Yeaaa lower diaper bill!

"My Morgan"

This is simple, and there were no pictures to capture the moment. But it's post-worthy.

While looking at photos from our recent family trip to Norway, Allie turned to me and said, "It's MY Morgan - my best friend!"

Then she noticed and requested her teak elephant that Bestafar gave her on the trip. When queried as to where she go the carving, Allie replied, "in The Norway, from my Papa."

Let it be noted that Allie forgets nothing and no one. Her family in Norway is in her heart as much today as they were in May. She talks about "her Madalyn, her Marcus, her Besta, Dagfinn..." as if they were down the street. Possible, she believes that "The Norway" is down the street. Whatever the distance is in her two-year-old mind, they are close in her heart.

Potty Time

According to Allie, potties can be used for a number of things - not including elimination. Panties and or training pants, however, are an integral part of "doing one's business"

Fagre Norge (Part II)

Allie with her very best Aunt :)
Madalyn and some sour-faced child dressed up for May 17th
Allie gets to do "bump-a-dee" with her second favorite guy. Uncle Morgan turned out to be her sweet heart. She even feel asleep atop her uncle half way back to the car.
Besta and Bitty by the Sea
You get sugar from this sweety any way you can!
Here they are - the most beautiful grandchildren Besta and Dagfinn have ;)

Fagre Norge (Part I)

One cold baby girl on May 17
The proof! Allie can make ANYONE get up and dance!

Allie instantly fell in love with her familiy. She had an immediate recognition that they were hers - no explaination needed.

Sweet Spring

Our very own

Hanami In The Rain

Amazing Grace

Another Sunday after worship services

Allie is ready to be out of her dress but indulges a picture or two

The most recent comic relief - Allie has learned to sing all of the words to Amzing Grace by hearing me sing it over her the last two years...

That's precious enough. But the great part is HOW she sings it. Allie has noticed the vibrato in my voice and is comitted to making her voice "bounce" at key points in the song. So, here's her version:

Ah mazin' gray oh swee the sown

That sabed a wrehhh like me-he he he he (vibrato)

I won was loss but now I foun'

Was bline but now I see-he-he-he-he-he (vibrato)

"...one so fresh from Heaven."

Eggspert Hunter

Allie's very first Easter egg hunt was today. All the kiddos had a great time...here are some of the highlights -

Allie and Kaelie both adding eggs to Kaelie's bucket

Allie and Parker HAVE to be related somehow. Either Farrah and I have some distant crazy uncle or these two are spiritually connected, but it's gotta be something...

Taking inventory of her loot.

Playtime

Allie loves to do some many things these days. I'm continually taken aback at how she is becoming such a "big gur" now instead of my tiny new baby. So here are just a few pictures from play time; Allie playing dress up (anyone regocnize the scarf?), coloring pictures for her sick Mimi, and playing the "panno".

There are no better days than these!!!

On a side note, mommy is playing a lot more piano these days too... I'll be opening up my very own musically ambient restaurant soon. I'm calling it, "Bring Your IPOD".

Allie's Big 0-2!

Just a few photos from Allie's second birthday. Not much to say as most toddler birthday bashes are about the same...

Thanks for the birthday card and gift Besta - we got it a few days ago!

Lil' Punkin's Visit from Besta

Just a few photos from Besta and Dagfinn's visit this September. Allie had fun looking for Dagfinn every morning then rolling around in Besta's bed. "Da-fin....w'are you??"

She also had her very first bunad fitting and helped mommy and Besta decorate for fall. Allie and Mr "Punkin'" were fast freinds.

Little Princess

Allison Grace is surely going to be a little glamour girl. She is already intrigued by shoes exclaiming, "joos, joos!!", whenever she fancies a pair. We found this princess dress-up outfit at a thrift store and gave it to Allie today. She HAD to put it on, then twirling and jumping about the room, she let everyone know that she was pleased with her new frock. She chose a pair of black, glittered mary janes and pink socks to complete the ensemble (mommy added the bow).

I'm sure she'll wear it outside the next time she plays with bugs and scales the slide in reverse... such a paradox this one....

A Visit from Dear Friends

Allie had sisters for the week!

Just Some New Pictures...

Here three new pictures of Allie Grace from the last few weeks. She's finally growing

hair (at almost 18 months), so she's had her first pig tails and french braid. She's becoming quite the little girly girl, loving to play dress up and dolls. TAFN!

Blue Eyes

Daddy's favorite picture from Allie's birthday, added chiefly at his insistence

Earlier That Easter Morning...

So, here are pictures from before Allie took off her Easter dress. She wore the ring and Bracelet from Bestefar og Bestemor Else with her bright pink dress - everyone said she was lovely. And she sat in her little red rocker that day like a rather big girl. (The rocker happened to be given to mommy by her pappaw when she was nearly the same age).

The weather has once again turned cold, killing almost all of our fruit bushes and early blooming flowers. So, not much swimming or going for walks these days. both Allie and mommy are suffering from cabin fever. Might as well be in Skien with these temparatures ;)

Happy 32nd birthday to daddy!!

Easter Bunny Visits

A precious, but dirty little face takes a peek into her Easter basket -

More pictures to come...

Bathing Beauty

This weekend it was warm enough to play in Allie's swimming pool - over 25 celcius. So here is a picture of Allie playing with her pool toys and one of Allie and Holly drying off. Fortunately, there were no pictures taken of the giant mommy squeezing into the baby pool with Allie...maybe next time ;)

We hear that Tante, Onkel, Madelen, and Marcus have been feeling sick lately. We hope all get to feeling better soon. Sorry that you didn't get to go to the circus Madelen :(

Love you

Happy First Birthday!!

...Please Allison, try to contain your excitement...

(We celebrated Allie's first birthday on February 20th. She had a new outfit from Tante, Oncle, Madelen og Marcus; CD's from Besta; toys from mommy, daddy, am-mimi, and Papa; and her turtle sandbox. Score! She also had her first tastes of cake and icecream...not a big hit just yet)