Glacier!

I went to Glacier National Park before the snow closes it down. It was beautiful. I saw a black bear that wasn't too big. The mountains were big. That's me with my binoculars. We stayed at a cabin in East Glacier.

First day of school

I go to Ms. Chad’s Discovery School two mornings a week. Mom had to stay with me for the first couple of days (including my brief battle for daily line leader), but she can just drop me off now. I love school! We sing, play outside, create art projects and always have a snack.

Garden update

Our garden is growing lots of things to eat. The zucchini has taken over about half the garden!

I have eaten carrots, beets, lettuce, rainbow chard, tomoatoes (Dad loves those tomatoes!), peans, beans, peppers, spinach, radishes and even a few strawberries. Onions are coming. I'm good at picking lettuce and other leafy stuff. I'm not so good at eating it, though.

"I want to be everything"

Sometimes Mama and Dada will say something like, "Maybe you'll be a dancer some day." Or: "Maybe you'll play soccer some day." "Maybe you will be a bug scientist." "Maybe you'll be a good skier."

As I told Mama and Dad, I want to be EVERYTHING.

World Cup and Folk Fest

Forgot to tell you that for my birthday I wanted (and received) a pink soccer ball. Dada hopes I'll win the Golden Boot in the 2031 World Cup or something. But for now, I'm working on my throw-ins and washing it.

The day before this year's World Cup final (Editor's note: and Spain's unfortunate win), we went to the National Folk Fest in Butte, Mont. It was crowded, but we saw country, zydeco, polka and Arabic musicians. The picture is me, my mama, my buddy Leo and his mom, Freda. We were dancing to Geno Delafose and the French Rockin' Boogie!

My very first haircut

It's easier for Mama to brush my hair, after I got my first cut last week. A nice lady took off about three inches of platnum-colored curls. But don't worry, my curls haven't gone away.

Catching up: I'm 3!

It has been a busy summer, as you can tell from my few blog entries.

First: I'm 3! And ready to be 4. Although my party was a little smaller because I was exposed (but didn't get) the "chicken spots," we had fun on a hot day in our backyard. Mama's blueberry chocolate cake (with yellow cake ice cream) was a hit. Grandma and Grandpa were there, too.

Before my birthday, I visited cousins in Iowa.

Ski season

Ski season is officially over -- I was playing in my pool yesterday!

I did go (downhill) skiing five times times this year. I even rode the chairlift.

At first, I just wanted to go fast. But now, I can snowplow pretty well, even with long skis. (I got skis and boots from my friend Aase andAstri.) I even rode the chairlift with Dada!

Dada says he isn't a very good skier; he'd better get good next year!

Olympics

My parents had a bad case of Olympic fever, so I joined in. We had fun rooting for our favorite athletes: "Go Bode go, Go Bode go." And the Norwegian biathlon team had a Solveig on it!

I think I want to ski fast...and ride one of those sleds.

Ice fishing

The ice is about two feet thick around here, which wears Dada out when he drills a hole.

Dada and I fished on Spring Meadow Lake with my new fishing pole, which I got from John and "Pretzel" Paula.

We didn't catch any fish, but I had fun playing with the maggots we used for bait.

I like skiing. And ice skating. (I have better luck staying upright on skis.)

Watch me descend the slope off Discovery ski area's "magic carpet." Wheeeeeee!

Good teeth!

Mama and Dada got an early Christmas present during my visit to the dentist.

Dr. Rencher said my teeth looked great and that I (or my Dad) was doing a good job brushing. Yea!

Extemporaneous

I like to sing, I like to yell. Here I'm giving an impromptu yell perched on a stump at the Billings Zoo (before it got cold and snowy in Montana). We saw a tiger and a red panda there!

Wheee

This is me at Beattie Park in Helena.

Pumpkin guts

I wish Mama and Dada would let me use the knife. But I'm pretty good at scooping out the guts of a pumpkin. I also ate a pumpkin seed and decided that Mama should roast those first.

I am going to be a "nice" witch, not a scary one. So is Mama and maybe Dada.

Beetles

If I see something big and crawly -- a beetle -- I pick it up. And those are "beetles," not "bugs." I have identified many as "stink bugs." Mom and Dad think I'm a pretty good entomologist.

Late birthday shot

This picture is actually from Ole's birthday. He got a hamburger from the drive-in down the street and we went to "Slide Park" to eat it.

My birthday was fun, with kids, moms and dads, hot dogs, ice cream cake, "grandpa and grandpa" and lots of presents: a trike, a picnic table, a sandbox.

I've come up with a new way to sing "Happy Birthday":

Happy Birthday Sol-veig

Happy Birthday to you...

Mama

I love my mama. I love her so much Mom sometimes has a hard time getting away for a walk, a run, a beer or even a shower. But Mama is very patient with me. And when she says "no," I usually laugh.

Morning headline: Significant potty chair event and a teeth-related update

Before I put on big-girl underwear this morning, I sat on my potty chair like I always do. (Mom has to remind me to do this.) But then I told Mom to "go away." When she came back, I had pooped for the first time in the potty! Mom called Dad on the phone to tell him. They were excited. I guess I am, too. Later, I went back to the dentist to see if my teeth look OK after my big visit. I wasn't very happy to be there, but Dr. Rencher said they looked great. I won't have to go back there for six months. Whew!

Spring

It's been a long winter wearing sweaters, hats, coats, socks, boots, another sweater and mittens (when I'm in the mood for those. I am glad the sun is shining and flowers are out in Montana. This is me in a field of balsam arrowroot near Missoula on Mother's Day.