Nut Free Chocolate!!!

I am so ecstatic right now!! This morning I was making my "easter bunny" list for the boys (as everyone knows, I love to plan ahead). Easter (and every other holiday/day of the week) is frustrating for me because I can't really buy the boys any Easter candy for the baskets because of allergies. And I had already previously searched on a website that my sis-in-law Roxcy had given me, but the chocolates on that site may contain traces of nuts. So while making my list, I had this crazy idea that I should google "nut-free easter candy" on the internet (I then had a moment of "duh, why haven't I done this before?" since you can find anything on the internet). I found the store of my dreams!!!!!! Vermont Nut Free Chocolates!!!! EVERYTHING is peanut and tree nut free!!! The store was founded by a mother whose son had a nut allergy. I can't wait to make my first order purchase!! This will be the first time in Kristjan's life that he'll be able to eat a chocolate easter bunny. And just knowing that I can order chocolate, jelly beans, etc at any time of the year for him is wonderful! I even found granola bars for him!!! If you know of someone who has nut allergies and they haven't found this site on their own, seriously pass it along to them!

www.vermontnutfree.com

Apples, Apples, Apples

My in-laws gave us a box full of apples when they came for the boys' birthday party. I didn't want them to go to waste (I can only bake so much!), so I decided to dehydrate them (i would make applesauce and can it, but we don't have the equipment. that would make a great xmas gift to us-hint hint). With the weather starting to get warmer and us planning on doing more hiking this year, I want to make our own homemade gorp (trailmix). We can't buy the stuff in the stores because of allergies. I have tons of recipes that I've been wanting to try. And I can add apples to the mix. I was hoping to do it last week since the boys were on vacation, but Pete decided to share his germs with me and I was sick the entire week. Today I had more time to spare and decided it was a great time to start dehydrating. I'll finish up some more apples this weekend. I think I'll pick up some bananas and pears when I grocery shop on Friday and dehydrate those as well!

the start of my mess

More of Clifford's Projects

Birthday Dinner

We're starting the tradition of letting the boys decide what they would like to have for dinner on their birthday. Like Clifford did for his, Kristjan requested pizza. We wanted to bbq that evening as well since the weather was gorgeous. So Pete tried his hand at bbqing the pizza! The dough and sauce was homemade. It was gorgeous and delicious!

Kristjan is 4!!!!!

Kristjan Glenn Nielsen is four years old today!!! These last four years have been amazing to watch him grow and develop into his own. It still feels like it was only yesterday that he was born. Unlike with Clifford, we knew 100% he was a boy. In fact, when I had the ultrasound the nurse even typed in "boy" next to the one picture where all his goods were hanging out for all to see! After that appointment, I called Pete to excitedly tell him we were having another boy!! Kristjan was born via c-section (my body just never went into labor). When he was born, there was an issue of him having low oxygen. Pete said we were literally a minute away from having to be transfered to Childrens Hospital. Luckily, all was well; his oxygen level went up and we spent the week in the hospital. Kristjan was spoiled as soon as we came home; he would only sleep on his dad's down sleeping back, which was stuffed in its stuff-sack (he seriously would fuss if you just laid him in the bassinet without it!). Kristjan is, and will probably always be, a 'momma's boy'. I of course don't really mind it. He loves his daddy a lot, but boy can the two of them butt heads. Clifford and Kristjan are typical brothers, with a love/hate relationship. As they get older, they get along much better. For the longest time, Kristjan would call Clifford "brother". It's only been recently that he'll actually call him by his name. Kristjan is definitely a lot like me. He's loving and caring; loves to cuddle. And he can be super sensitive. He can pout really well and makes the cutest face ever (he's had the same look ever since he was a baby!). He embarrasses easily. He loves women, especially if they have long hair. He'll just sit on your lap forever, twirling and playing with your hair. He has this annoying little habit of when he's tired, he'll either twirl your hair or his own, and at the same time suck on his lip (when his nose is stuffed up, he sounds so annoying!!). His favorite color is purple. He LOVES princesses and barbies (he annoys his Papa with this). But he also likes "boy stuff". When he was a baby/toddler, he loved wearing high-heel shoes. When I'd come home from work, instead of running up to give me a hug, he'd bend over and ask to wear my "slippers", as he called them. He is a sweetheart, but once you really get to know him, you see he really is a "piss ant". As his daddy would say, he's full of piss and vinegar. Pete's nickname for Kristjan when he was a baby was 'small fry'. Now, his new nickname is "broski". Kristjan is a klutz. That kid makes so many trips to the doctor/hospital than the rest of us in this house combined. Kristjan was even first to get stitches! He unfortunately has a severe allergy to peanuts/tree nuts, dogs and cats. We hope that he'll outgrow this in time. He loves all his family and cousins, but his favorite is Emma and Joci. This kid just has so much love in him and super cute and funny. We are so grateful to have Kristjan in our lives and look forward to watching him to continue to grow strong and healthy!!!!

Happy Birthday Kristjan!!!!

Today was Kristjan's birthday party. He decided to go with a 'Sponge Bob" theme. I was super excited a few weeks back to come across some Sponge Bob party supplies at both Good Will and the Dollar Tree!! I love finding what I need at a bargain price!!! I wanted to keep this party short, sweet and simple. All I had planned was cake, gifts and the pinata. Then the kids could run around and play or color in between each of those. The party was fantastic!! Five of Kristjan's classmates plus one sibling attended (Kristjan's class size is under 10 kids), so we had a nice, small turnout. All the kids had fun. Pete and I enjoyed getting to know the parents. It was a fantastic day!!!

birthday cupcakes (I admit, after throwing a total of 3 birthday parties, i didn't feel really creative. but kristjan still loved it!)



making a wish and blowing out the candles

kristjan LOVED this gift; it was all he really wanted. his friend Mitchell gave him a pink princess cell phone!!

the whole birthday gang

pinata time

Kristjan, Mabrey, and Isabelle (Kristjan "likes" Isabelle, who is in purple)

Kristjan and Mitchell (he's in the other preschool class, but they always play with each other before class starts)

Kristjan and Morgan

Kristjan and Kelda

No More Potty Training!

I'm so happy, I just had to blog about it. As of today, my boys are 100% potty trained!!! No more diapers (well, it's been like that for a few years now), no more continuously wetting the bed, and no more having to wipe a kid!!! Kristjan has finally figured out that he is a big boy and can do it himself!! Hallelujah!!!

Valentine's Day and the Science Center

We had an awesome Valentine's Day yesterday. The night before Pete and I sat out the boys' valentine gift bags filled with a few surprises. While we were getting breakfast going the next morning (yesterday), the boys opened their gifts as well as some valentine cards they received in the mail. I convinced Pete to make heart-shaped pancakes using a cookie cutter. We topped them them with fresh sliced strawberries, whip cream and powdered sugar. After eating, cleaning up and getting ready for the day, we headed to Seattle to spend some time at the Science Center. Last year Pete's parents bought us a family pass to there, which expires this coming June. Well, for the boys' birthday, their Aunt Janet bought them a pass to the Science Center as well. So the Science Center just tacked that new membership on to begin when our other membership expires. So we still have another year to explore! The nice thing is one of the exhibits is always changing about every 3 or 4 months, so that way you can see something new. Last time we went, it was "gross-ology". The new exhibit they had up was "facing Mars". Pete and I liked this exhibit a lot better than the last one. Unfortunately is was really busy and crowded that day, so the boys didn't get a chance to fully enjoy everything. Luckily, with having the family membership pass, we can go back again before that exhibit leaves in June. I'm hoping to take the boys at least once a month to the Science Center, and even more once summer begins. Anyhow, we hit up the live butterfly exhibit and caught an imax movie before we left. We saw "Roving Mars". The boys thought it was boring but Pete and I were entertained! Oh well, can't make everyone happy. All together we hung out there for about 4 hours before heading out. We stopped over at our friends Gordon and Michelle's place to say hi. They invited us to dinner, so we all gorged on some delicious bbq ribs!! (thanks to Gordon cooking an awesome meal!). Michelle brought home with her two balloons for her two little valentines (the boys loved it!). The boys fell asleep "camping out" on the living room floor while we watched "Couples Retreat". We didn't get back home until about 1am! but it was an awesome day!!!!!

(oohh! notice the picture of Pete with a butterfly on his shoulder. that was his little buddy that stayed attached to him the ENTIRE time we were in the exhibit.)