April Wrap-up

So remember how I used to do Weekly Wrap-ups? Yeah me neither. It's been that long. And having Jason gone most of the month of April leaving me alone with three under three for three weeks didn't help. It was a very slow and very long month in so many ways. There was a definite lack of time for blogging and extra exhaustion, but obviously plenty of pictures that I probably took as proof to Jason that I kept them alive (especially after Olivia's hospital incident just a couple days after he left).

We had tons of support from friends in Stavanger (you know who you are and hopefully I have thanked you in person even though I know I failed to write you all thank you notes :-( ) and I would not have made it without their support. So let's get going on with these cute girls and our April Wrap-up! :-)

1. Madi loving her Olaf spoon from Ms Joy and Mr Ron.
2. Liv loves the banana!
3. Evy does too. :-)
4. Baby Benetton (outfits courtesy of Ms Daphne).
5. This girl loves to laugh!
6. And this girl loves to snuggle her mommy. (And mommy doesn't mind at all ;-) )
7. Jason's last day of work at Baker Hughes Norge.
8. Madi and her new guitar.
9. First fort with Daddy. She loved it and slept really well on the floor mattress.

1. Liv loves to snuggle on people, blankets, pillows.
2. Baby crew. We all started with one kid when we met and now we all have two. Or three in our case with the 2-for-1 special we got.
3. New umbrella stroller for future travel in the Middle East.
4. Daddy snuggling his girls before heading to the airport to go to Baku for three weeks.
5. Survived first bedtime with all three and celebrated with wine and ice cream.
6. Olivia's allergic reaction to egg landed us in the hospital for the night.
7. Dinnertime.
8. Bathtime.
9. Madi hugging one of the BFFs, Gabriel. She had many playdates with him during April and we were so grateful for her to spend time with him.

1. We had sunny, but cold weather and took the opportunity for a walk around Stokka.
2. Madi feeding the ducks and swan.
3. Hans enjoying the sunshine. ;-)
4. Climbing at one of the new training stations along the jogging path.
5. When you've got older siblings, you wear Build-a-Bear accessories.
6. Someone woke up in the middle of the night and wanted to sleep with Mommy. It happens so rarely that I didn't mind her snuggles and company.
7. Madi singing "Bjørnen sover" at gymnastics in her Cinderella tutu.

8. Beautiful Sunday dresses, but not in the mood to smile for a picture.

9. A much needed girl's night for my last Bunko Babes. 

1. Standing. The newest trend.
2. The result of bad or no afternoon naps. Two of them fell asleep in a 10 min car ride. :-/
3. Cats are still alive. ;-)
4. Enjoying the sun and her trampoline!
5. Spring flowers in bloom around the garden.
6. Sweet Evy.
7. Diaper party before bedtime. Note how everyone is in need of a diaper change.
8. Climbing pillows. And everything else around her.
9. Madi walking Hans and Kitty while I walked baby sisters.

1. CeCe snuggles.
2. Zoey snuggles.
3. Happy girls!
4. Visa pictures for Baku - first up, Madi.
5. Evy. Or is it Jason? Impossible to tell! Bahaha!!
6. Liv. Surprise!
7. Mommy and Madi coffee date before church.
8. Madi loving on Olivia.
9. Baby sisters wanting to hang with their big sister.

1. More gymnastics fun!
2. Baby #1 out cold for a nap.
3. Baby #2 out cold for a nap. And naturally these were taken at two different naps because why would they both sleep simultaneously?! ;-)
4. Evy frustrated that the circle is attached to the walker.
5. A magic bottle of wine and my favorite candy appearing on my doorstep when supplies were low. Thanks Kara!!
6. Trouble under the table.
7. Ready to go get big sister from school!
8. See above. ;-)
9. Hats a little big... haha.

1. Sushi date with Ms Chris before she headed to the US and won't get back before we move to Baku. It was hard to start saying our goodbyes this month thinking that we will be leaving Norway soon.
2. Madi and her other BFF Indira had fun running around the mall and having lunch together.
3. Beautiful flowers from Gabriel's mom Annie when they came over for dinner.
4. Last Sunday at NSBC. Totally spaced getting a picture of the family... #bloggerfail. But at least we got one of these lovely ladies! Ms Daphne and the babies.
5. Ms Lisa and the babies.
6. Dinner with good friends Liza and Adrian and their son Silas. Liza was amazing providing meals and support to our family the whole time we've been in Norway!
7. Family Starbucks date after an amazing photo shoot in Gamle Stavanger (pics to come soon!)
8. Ms Sandy with the babies. Another fabulous friend who was there for me multiple times while Jason was gone. So blessed to have such amazing friends!
9. Jason playing with his girls.

1. Sunny, but cold walk to pick up Madi from school.
2. Madi catching a ride home on Daddy's shoulders.
3. I had always wanted to do a 38 week in, 38 week out picture. That happened while Jason was gone... and I forgot and didn't realize they were actually past 38 weeks #momfail. So we took this after he was back and a couple weeks after the 38 week mark, but whatever - it's still cool. And man, I was huge!!
4. This is where Zoey spent most of the three days the packers came.
5. Can't believe we are moving and all our stuff is packed up and on its way to Baku!
6. New favorite hangout since basically all of the living room furniture is gone.
7. Goofball.
8. Dachshund babies hanging out.
9. Much needed girl's dinner with two of my closest girl friends - Hilary and Courtney. They've been amazing support and I'll miss them and our littles hanging out together.

1. Pornstar martini (basically a passion fruit martini) and the best drink I've had in Norway.
2. Taking the shot of champagne.
3. Dessert - churros and macaroons.
4. A fabulous girl's night with Daphne, another close friend who I am going to miss terribly when we move.

Overall, it was a really fabulous April... but a really hard one as well. It was challenging to go three weeks without Jason and both Madi and I really felt his absence. I am so grateful for all the support we received from so many wonderful friends. They helped me with bath times, bedtimes, watching them so I could run errands, took them for playdates to give me a break, brought us meals, prayed for us, and encouraged me that I could do this. It started to really hit me that we are leaving this truly amazing network we have established here.