Spring Garden

S.N.A.F.U. Situation Normal All Fun'ed Up.

It's easier to wash them all together.

So... Soren's got the Rock in Roll Flying V-Guitar Viking Shirt on... but in this photo we CAN'T decide who he looks like. Ian, Katie, Uncle Dan...? The next photo he's got my Sh*t Grin smile I got from my Grandman. Recently he's really sprung up and thinned out in his body to be more like Ian, but his face throws us sometimes. I can't wait to cut his hair this summer and see more. Good photo. Good kid.

I (Ian) don't like doing laundry... so the boys entertain me. With some prodding... "Laundry Day is Flying Day."

We got some Pinwheels. Odin on the way home in the Jeep, after playing with the pinwheel out the window... "Daddy. Pinwheels are awesome. They're not like a sword or a gun or sompthing. Their just fun." This statement makes my efforts and frustrations of father hood all worth it. Mental note... buy more pinwheels.

Spring boy fun!

Odin's first soccer game. It's a 3 on 3 game, no goalie. Hilarious fun!

Throwing in the ball for his team. That's Coach Erik. (Ewan's dad, their family friendship rocks)
This is Ewan, aka U-U. He's one of Odin's tight buddies. :)

Some warm up. The team name is Super Hero Squad. It's a kids cartoon based of the DC comics group. The jersey's are all international teams. Theirs is Chealsea of England.

Odin is #6. He's having a blast. Doesn't have the competitive edge yet (it's not a race) as teammate #3 Oscar, but he's having a great time. All in his first game: He did score a goal and get nailed in the nuts by a corner kick, it put him down. His team mate kicked it so hard it downed Odin, then bounced back, the kid kicked it again, and downed his other team mate. Bam! Bam! Just like that... in a blink. Haha! All the adults just lost it laughing.

Malene Visits the Emerald City!

Malene is my cousin, she lives in Norway and is currently an exchange student in Orlando, FL. She's half way around the globe already... so SHE came on her Spring Break! From the Sun in Florida to the Fun in Seattle!

Gas Works Park on Lake Union. North of downtown, Space Needle, and the boys bellow.

Gas Works Park Sun Dial on the Hill.

It was exactly revenge... but we sent the boys in to wake her gently. Malene and her sister were not as kind in their youth to Kt and I.

The Fremont Troll under the George Washington Bridge. Cause the Nordic Immigrants needed a little bit of home.

Yup. That's a VW bug.

Malene reading a bed time book.

Breakfast at Lowell's in Pikes Market. Great sunny day with view of the Sound.

Malene reads Batman to Soren as we wait for breakfast :) She's got skill, though I didn't make her change a diaper... maybe she'll sit one night next time she visits? You are coming back right Malene?

A good picture. That's some tasty fresh OJ.

FOOD!

Too bad the weather report LIED and we did the Space Needle on a rainy day, the next day, see above, was glorious (even though it was supposed to be 100% rainstorms).

Here is the Blue Screen image that was taken as we wait to take the elevator to the top and we get to chose the background. This is actually a view from a nearby hill called Queen Ann Hill.

The best donuts on the West Coast. Top Pot Donuts, right down the street from the Space Needle. Oh yummy yum. Nom Nom!

They didn't throw any fish, but were very entertaining at the Pikes Fish Market. Malene gave them a tip with Odin. They like that. We liked having her visit.

Last meal in Seattle. Went to a fun Sushi place we like to take the kids to eat. We have fantastic Sushi here, even in the conveyor belt fashion. Yum!

Some more pictures to come... from our phones. Some skiing on Crystal Mountain and more! Hope you come back some day Malene and bring family... try for August or September, that's our best weather :)

Spring time...

 Odin is starting his first team sport...SOCCER! He loves to dribble the ball and run around with his friends on the team.

We joined the masses in the Cove to Clover race on March 11. We pushed the boys (with the help of a pulling dog) up Snake hill again this year. Next year, Odin is joining the crew outside the cart.

Chewie had a bad combination of new adult fur, outgoing soft puppy fur, 12 days of play in the snow and rain with two other dogs without brushing, and winter coat which left us with no choice but to shave him. He likes his new do.

 

Soren likes it, too. He keeps looking at him and declaring, "He naked!"

Arizona

 Desert birds on the Cactus

 S

 Desert adventurers!

 Pretty little flower

 In perspective.

 Norwegian Schwab/Norderud family in the desert

 Cool rock.

 Native American Eagle dance

 Odin really got in to the Western theme.

 Cactus with a tired arm.

 Tired Soren(sleeping on Ian's shoulder) and the tired-armed cactus.

 The GRAND CANYON. It was grand.

 Beautiful tree.

 Waiting for the sun to rise.

 Here it comes!

 Hiking with Odin in the Sonoran Desert

 BIG ROCK!

 These rocks looked like they were on a hike.

 Almost to the "tippy top." Odin really wanted to get to the tippy top.

There we are as little specks in front of "Tom's Thumb."