Ollie's 2nd Birthday- February 28th, 2008

I realize I totally did this out of order- woops! I'm still new at this blogging business.

We told Ollie if he got his jammies on he could blow out his candles again. So him and Elliott both took turns over and over. Of course there were tears when it was time to stop. Such a fun birthday for little Ollie!

Ollie loved opening his presents of course. He got a drum and music machine..........

and a fun parking garage from Grammy and Grandpa among other fun things!

Playing with cousins Benny and Elli.

With Grammy and Grandpa Swalberg. The only way we could pull him away from playing was to sing Happy Birthday to him! He was milking it!

Happy 2nd Birthday Ollie!

Ollie turned 2 on Feb. 28th. He had a really fun day!

Ollie's cake.

I love that Ollie is already blowing the candles out before I can set it on the table. He was so excited to do it and had been patiently (kind of) waiting all day.

We told him he could eat his cake, so he stuck one finger in and licked it and then stuck his fork in a few times. It was cute!

Winter Warriors

Lindsay, Rachel and Sini

With the first bits of warm weather, we can finally say it.....we ran through the whole long, snowy winter!!! Everyone said it couldn't be done. Or they thought we were crazy. Or maybe they thought we were lying. But we did it!! 3 times a week, my friends, Lindsay and Rachel and I met in our many layers of clothes and ran Harvest Hills and all of it's little ins and outs. We inhaled the icy air, sloshed through the slush, got covered in falling snow, slipped on icy sidewalks and streets, and fumbled over ice chunks in the dark mornings, but we did it!

In the fall we decided that during the winter is when we need the exercise the most and that we would keep going through the winter no matter what. It wasn't always easy, but we actually stayed pretty warm and of course there was always good conversation. Thanks girls for being so strong and dependable- it has been fun! Every morning now seems to get lighter and warmer........and we are definitely ready for it!




BROTHERS

Can two brothers look more different? I always buy the same shirts for the boys if I really like them, but I usually don't have them wear them on the same day. Lately, they want to wear the same one......and Elliott is the initiator! I think it's pretty cute, looking the same for a change. Just by looking at them, you can't see too many similarities, but they both sound the same to me sometimes. I can't tell in the mornings which one is calling, "Mom!" for me to come and get them. (Elliott hardly ever comes out of his bed unless I get him!) And when they are crying and whining I can't really tell at first either. It will be interesting to see how they both look when they are older.

High School Friends

Tonya (w/ Mason), Summer (w/ Linds' Addison), Alicia, Sini and Linds

We got together with a few friends from high school last weekend. It was fun to see what they were doing these days. It's also really weird and fun to see each other as adults, because we all still feel like we're 20!!

Jesus

Today Elliott came to me and said, "Everyone throws up sometimes Mommy, even rats." I said, "Oh really? Who told you that?" Elliott matter of factly said, "Jesus."

What goes on in their little minds all day long? I love it!!

Shoes

This is Ollie's obsession lately. He's all about the mittens and shoes right now. If he doesn't have his own shoes on, he'll put someone else's on, including mine and Adam's. But he especially loves Elliott's.



This is my favorite picture in my camera right now. It's so sweet. Our boys have both been snugglers. I love that Adam shows a lot of affection to the boys too.

Elliott

Elliott always loves to help me in the kitchen and he always wants to do whatever I do. So I usually let him do the easy things like stirring and pouring already measured cups into the mixer. But he kept wanting to use the beaters, so I finally let him! He did a good job too! (No splatters.)

I keep telling him I think he's going to be a chef someday so he can cook me some dinner, but he has decided he wants to be a fireman. Maybe he'll be the firehouse cook..........do they really have those?

Ollie

Elliott took this picture of Ollie by the way. I thought it was pretty good.

Here's Ollie helping me make cookies.......he just got done eating sugar and decides on a bite of butter.


Ollie's new phrases for the week are, "What the heck!" and "McDonald Cheese Head!" He learned that from Elliott because he's always making up funny names to tease with. Yep- he's not even two until next week and he's saying these crazy things! (Good thing I never swear eh?) He is also always talking about mean guys from movies- so today I told him he couldn't blow bubbles and he called me a "mean guy!" We just laugh all day at his little words......I guess we have two chatterboxes now. I love my mini me!

Disneyland

I'm just wishful thinking for warmer weather, so I thought I would post these pictures from our trip to Disneyland in January. It was still a little chilly there, but no snow and harsh power outages like we have been having in Utah! The boys were in complete heaven in DL, they could live there I think. We went with Grammy and Grandpa Swalberg, and my sister, Linds and her family. Fun!

Snow, snow and Ikea

We have loved, enjoyed, and now are dealing with the snow this winter. Ollie has been tasting the snowflakes on his tongue, but won't put his boots on without screaming the whole time they are on! So he hasn't really played in the snow but likes playing with it.....which means picking it up and throwing it. Elliott on the other hand wants to go out everyday, especially if the neighbor kids are out.



Our funny cat Suki. She wanted to go out while it was snowing and just sit there! It looked so funny on her black fur.




Adam and I have been organizing our house corner by little corner this winter. Thanks to Ikea moving in 15 minutes up the road, we have found cool and inexpensive shelves and organizing tools. The boys love going to Ikea too......they try out all the furniture and model rooms..........and of course the $.99 kids meals!! Elliott is making the funniest face in this picture! Click on it to make it bigger!

Our little family.

Our family picture at a farm in Salem. Our photographer was amazing.......you can see some of her work at www.nicholev.com .