#2

These pics are from the 2nd reception. Here's what I think of when I look at them:Sometimes I forget that Ollie is just 3. In this picture he looks so small. Love my cute little family.
My boys are TERRIFIED of the dark and this is what they do for fun with the cousins. They took the tea lights from the tables and wandered around the dark hallways of the church.

Lisa and Baby Linc.

Busty.

The happiest baby on earth. Always smiles for the camera... for now.

Friends in town

Thanksgiving week was busy. My bro got married and had two receptions, my family was all in town, Adam's family was all in town and friends were coming home left and right. It did make for a CRAZY week. Seems like all the fun happens at once. But I'll take it.

Jenny with Ethan, Ange, Jill with Ella, Me with Baby Linc, and Ollie. E graciously took pictures of us. These three babies were all born in March.

Jill and Jenny grew up next door to me. We played lots of "house" and always fought over who got to be Crystal Gayle. We always used their mom's old purses to put our things in. And lots of roller skating. We would ride our banana seat bikes all day, around the neighborhood, to the dirt hills (every neighborhood should have those) and back again, until it was dark. Their mom was like Martha Stewart and always had yummy treats to share.

Ange grew up 4 houses down. We had tons of sleepovers in her basement. We would stay up all night and halfway through would get the munchies and sneak to her kitchen for a piece of bread. (I never liked eating a piece of bread plain, but everyone else did. Plus it was fast, easy and quiet.) We watched "Thriller" at her house and played on her old apple computer- old school black and white 2D olympics. She has three boys too. My face is so red in these pics from all the laughing I did. (Oh- and wrangling three boys at a crowded lunch place.) It's fun that we can pick right back up and laugh. I love it.

Jessica came into town from California. She is very pregnant and still so beautiful. So not fair. We had a good chat- although it was much too short. I think I met Jessic in our 8th grade gymnastics class. "Warm up your wrissss!" (From our teacher with a lisp.) We started hanging out and ended up living at Snow College together. She was also the only reason I went out in high school- it always seemed too scary to go to parties or stomps. I would always try to back out at the last minute, but Jessic would always be there making me go. (And I would end up loving it.) She is so funny and quick, so spiritual yet down to earth and quite the writer. She's turned out to be an amazing person. It's funny to think back on our little class together. We were just tiny little girls.
{Lindsay S, Charlotte, Katie, Jill, Marci, Stephanie, Rachel, Emily, Me and Lindsay N.}

On Saturday morning we got together with my friend Lindsay who was in from CA too. She moved about a year ago from our little neighborhood where we've lived the past 6 years. I hated to see her go. She has a little boy the same age as Ollie and the cutest little girl who was just tiny when she left. We met because we were visiting teaching partners for a couple of years. Then we were in a baby-sitting group together, a dinner group and a book club- (although we both have our fascinations with magazines...) I've laughed and cried as she's shared her life experience. I've learned a lot from her. It was fun to hear about her new life and I'm so glad she can be near her family again.

It was fun catching up all you girls. I love that even though life changes and takes us different directions and places, we can still reminisce and learn from each other. I'm so thankful for blogs. And for my busy week meeting up with everyone! There's nothing like live interaction. And I love the bonds of friendship- there's nothing quite like it.

Thanksgiving '09

The turkey that Megs made. Isn't it beautiful? She (along with others) treated us to a scrumptious dinner.
Christie and Scott= kid magnets. I love the hustle and bustle in the background.

Christie and Linc

Ames and Collin

Baby Collin and Baby Linc -3 months apart. I can't believe Collin is going to be one soon!
Swalberg cousins- Elliott-6, Collin-11 mo, Kenzie-4, Lincoln-8 mo and Oliver- 3.

Ollie and Great Granny

Hula Hoop Contest

I made E do this pose. He wasn't thrilled with it- but he looks so cute.
Ollie even got the hang of it. Love how E is wiping his sweaty forehead... they were dripping.
Cody, Amy, Megs, Christie, Karen, Linc and Elliott.
The night before Thanksgiving my sister Lisa came into town. Here she is with the kiddies: Benny, Elliott, Ollie, Linc, Elli and Addie.

Mikey's Wedding

My little brother, Mikey got married last week! Joy is so fun- we are excited to have her in the family...

Mike and Joy

The cake. It was banana inside.

My little family. So many boys.

Right before the ceremony. I should have known this little arrangement wouldn't work out for the quiet factor...

Some of my big family: Elliott, Elli, Benny, Oliver, Leena (my mom), Me. Tagen, Eric, Jeremy, Adam, Baby Lincoln, Linds, Addie, Brian, Ari, Jim (my dad.)

It was so fun seeing my relatives! Riko, Mike, Estacia, Michelle, Baby Linc, Aunt Penny, Aunt Marcia, Linds and Annika.
My brother, Ari- in from Chicago, and my sister, Michelle- due in one week! P.S. Thanks family- for not telling me my hair was crazy in the back the whole night....
Me and my cute Mom. I love this picture of her.

My Mom and Mike.

Mike, Tagen, Aunt Penny, Eric.

Adam and Uncle Wayne. I've always thought that Wayne looked a little like Adam in his younger years- so I made them take a picture.

The Guzzi

The other day I drove behind Adam as he drove to his parent's to park his bike for the winter. I thought these pics were cool. (Maybe because I usually only see him ride for 5 seconds in front of our house...)

Elliott's tooth, etc.

I can't believe how busy we've been around our house! And I can't believe Thanksgiving is next week. The calendar for the rest of the year is getting so booked already. Here are a few of our latest happenings:

Elliott's tooth that had been wiggly for a few months finally came out. Because I pulled it out with a string. Turns out Adam's a softie and couldn't actually do it. So I did. I actually tried getting it out for a few weeks, but Elliott got wise and knew to not let me get near it. It's so cute to see him and hear a little tiny lisp. It makes him seem so big.

This is how my kids watch t.v. Ollie looks comfortable... And my couch cushions were destroyed long ago because this is Elliott's favorite seat in the house.
We put Elliott in a wrestling club with his best buddy, Noah. He had lots of fun. It was funny to see him so timid in a wrestling atmosphere. At home he wants to wrestle non-stop with anyone who will go at it with him. He has loved it since he was tiny. And he is tough. But here, he would just laugh and giggle with Noah. He learned a lot though.





And this little guy has been sick. He never sits still like this. Usually he's air drumming or twisting around and wiggling. I just had to take a picture because it's so rare. Poor little guy. He's finally getting better, but his little voice is hoarse, I can barely hear him cry. It's pretty cute when he's babbling though. Hopefully we're done being sick for a while...