Monday, August 3, 2009

Julie's Here!


She's here!

I took a video of her getting off of the plane, but as soon as she got closer I stopped so I could hug her. The video is...well...you'll see...

We made her cry. I think it was a good cry...at least that's what we tell ourselves ;)

She had a 36 hour stretch of no sleep from Friday to Saturday so we tried not to overwhelm her too much. I'm not sure we succeeded, but I just keep telling myself she's young and she'll bounce back...without even needing excessive amounts of caffeine. Oh to be 17 again...

Blogging about a teenager is a weird thing. I have a new empathy for all you bloggers with kids who can actually read your blog...or better yet, your kids friends who can read your blog. It's tricky...figuring out what you can share without embarrassing them. Chances are I'll be embarrassing her enough in real life without broadcasting it all over the Internet.

Here's what I've learned from being a mom of a teenager for less than 48 hours:
  • Going shopping with them will make you feel old. Really old. And you may go into the store and grab the same jeans, even the same size, but they will look approximately one-zillion times better on her than you. You will then go back into the fitting room and reassure yourself that you've earned those stretched out hips, thighs, and stomach the hard way, their names happen to be, in my case, Noah, Eli, and Jake.
  • Dropping her off at volleyball camp today with a bunch of girls she didn't know felt the same way as dropping my boys off at school on the first day. A mixture of excitement and nervousness followed with pleading prayers that God makes everyone be nice to her...and that she finds those friends that are gonna make this next school year unforgettably great.
  • You will have to resist the urge to "hover" (I learned that from the Twilight movie ;)
  • It will be endlessly entertaining to ask her how to say things in Norwegian. And every Norwegian name that I've read through facebook for the past 6 months, I have been pronouncing wrong...very wrong...and no matter how many times I try, I can't get it right. Apparently this Iowa girl who never thought she has an accent actually has one...it's called American. It's very thick.
We like her. We like her a lot. God ordained her for us, and us for her for the next 10 months...how fun is that?!?

32 comments:

  1. Blogger won't upload my video for some reason...I'll try again later.

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  2. That's so exciting for all of you! I'm so there with you, especially the Iowa girl accent! Blessings, SusanD

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  3. I don't know whether to laugh or cry at the Lego Julie sign! Stinkin' adorable.

    Welcome Julie!!!!!!!

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  4. awesome!!!

    hey julie!!!

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  5. Yay! It all sounds so awesome. Looking forward to hearing more.

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  6. Oh pooh! I was hoping to drop in and overwhelm her with me!
    I guess I'll have to wait!

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  7. Love the Lego 'JULIE'.....not so much a fan of 'son holding it's shirt' but you'll have that....Go Hawks ;)
    I'm excited to read your life as a mom of a teen daughter--how fun :)

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  8. That is SO exciting!!! I am so happy for you all, 10 months is going to fly by- have so much fun! :)

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  9. How great. I' just curious: did you prounounce my name correct? :)

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  10. So happy Julie is there! I know you've been anticipating this time for months! Praying for a smooth transition at school and an awesome experience for all of you! = )

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  11. Yay Julie! Welcome to the USA!!!

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  12. WOO HOO! She's here! We got a box of goodies in the mail for our Japanese student the other day.... Once they are i your family, there is a connection for life! Enjoy it! :)

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  13. Audhild...I'm sad to say I butcher your name in the worst way :) I'm gonna make Julie and I do a video with me pronouncing stuff and then her pronouncing it the right way, you'll like it :)

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  14. Yay! At last she is with you in the flesh! Hope you have a wonderful experience!

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  15. love the pics...saw them on FB...can't wait for the video!!!

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  16. Sarah, I think you are gonna be surprised at how much you and the boys will pick up from her!
    I couldn't speak a LICK of Icelandic, but by the end of summer I could say things I never thought possible.
    Can't wait to see the video you told Audhild. Now I'm wondering if I'm pronouncing that correctly! HA.
    I wonder if Norwegiann is that different from Icelandic...

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  17. Yeah! She made it safe and sound!
    Praying for you all as you enjoy this time!!

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  18. Can't wait to meet you!!! You have the coolest host mom on the planet. Hope v-ball isn't way overwhelming. Stick with it. It will be worth it! :)

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  19. I know exactly how you feel-- like she's one of your own! My oldest's best friend moved in with us a few months ago, and I'm trying so so so hard not to over-mother her, but it's hard! LOL

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  20. Yeah!!! She's here and she's tall...or are you just kinda short? Love all the pics! They are precious. I'm looking forward to reading about all your adventures together.

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  21. Jamie, I'm 5'5 so she is TALL! I'm gonna have to start wearing heels all the time so I don't feel like a little gnome ;)

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  22. Wheee! Yay, Julie is finally here! You are going to have such a great time together.

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  23. Lots of great blogging material to follow. Can't wait. Hope you can get that video up.

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  24. So, I was just showing Mike Julie...and he said, good thing the boys aren't older or they'd be chasing her around, she's pretty cute! haha! Have fun!

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  25. You are so funny! And quick!! You picked up all the "issues" of shopping with a teen in one shopping trip :} So excited for you and jealous too. Our student doesn't come in until next Monday night. Enjoy her while you can, these 10 months will FLY by!

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  26. So excited for you all!! Have a blast!!

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  27. HOORAY! Welcome to Tiny Town, Julie!

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  28. YAY!

    How many moms get to practice on someone else's teen before they parent their own? Lucky you! :)

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  29. HAHA, You have to do that. Can't wait to see it! ;)

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  30. This is so exciting. I'm so bummed I've been so far behind on your posts. Too much summer (good), not enough time (bad).

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