day 217

December 20

This was the one and only picture I got of Hailey's art party. A dozen little girls in a little house was a little more than I bargained for .  Yes, I am a little slow.

day 216

December 19

Hailey got Just Dance 2 for her birthday. I think we just danced all day long. Great birthday.

day 215

December 18

Hailey had a little pre-birthday party with her Grammie and Pops and her Grandma Jo tonight. Eight is shaping up to be a good year for this girl.

day 214

December 17

Preparations for Hailey's birthday party... Check.

day 213

December 16

Accomplishing activities from our daily activity advent calendar... check.

day 212

December 15

Not the cute homemade teachers gifts I was planning...check.

Day 211

December 14

Presents wrapped and under the tree...check

day 210

December 13

Annual tradition of kids picking out weird ornaments.... Check

day 209

December 12

Letters to Santa... Check

day 208

December 11

I have to say there is this weird sense of pride I get in seeing this in my son's room. I am raising him right...

day 207

December 10

I started re-reading this lovely book this week. After I am finished, I think I will start to write JK Rowling every week, begging her to write more. You know you want to too.

day 206

December 9

What? Your kid doesn't have constant bed head and constant drool stains on his shirt?
hmm. Must just be mine.

205

december 8

'

'Tis the season to waste perfectly edible candy and decorate with it.

day 204

december 7

The king on his throne being entertained by the jesters after bath time.

What a life this kid has.

day 203

december 6

This kid is great. Before I even get to cleaning off the dinner table he is there, eating everyone's scraps.

You'd think we don't feed him.

We do, by the way.

day 202

December 5

This won creepy picture of the day award at our house.

I think it could win creepy picture of the month, 

and I am crossing my fingers for creepy picture of the year.

day 201

december 4

All you need are socks.

All you need are socks.

Socks.

Socks are all you need.

(to be sung to the tune of  "All you need is love")

p.s. yes, it's blurry, but this kid is on the move. CONSTANTLY. It's the best you are going to get, kids.

day 200

December 3

Somebody please tell me why children are so anti-coat? Scarves, gloves, boots, hats... these are all okay. But a winter coat? Never. 

12 degrees outside is jacket weather around here.

day 199

December 2

What? You little boy doesn't play dress up with his little girl cousins and love it?
Huh. Must just be me.

day 198

December 1

December is here. So are the Santa hats.

day 197

November 30

The other day, as I was enforcing bed time, Caleb began crying for his "sleeping hat". I was unaware my child had a sleeping hat.

He does.

This is it.

I learn something new everyday.

day 196

November 29

Jonas' choir concert at the Sandy city Hall. He's the kid looking at me in the back. you know, the cute one.

day 195

November 28

This baby Jesus is Porter's new favorite thing. He was missing for a few days (baby Jesus, not Porter) and turned up under Jonas' bed. Porter can't resist carrying it and kissing it and showing everybody his new baby. At first, I discouraged it, but then realizing that this was the closest he will ever get to a baby brother, I relaxed.

This is Porter's baby now.

day 194

November 27

The tree is up. It is only decorated half way (thanks to a certain 18 month old), and it was only decorated by three smallish children, but it's up and we love it.

day 193

November 26

This is how much Grandpas like perfect report cards. Pay attention in school kids; it pays.

day 192

November 25

This was taken about 30 minutes after we cleared the Thanksgiving table. If pictures gave sound, you would hear the groaning this kid was doing due to his uncomfortably full belly.

day 191

November 24

It's pie time.

day 190

November 23

These little guys resemble the way my children were today: wild.
Wild with excitement of the impending blizzard.
We got flashlights and food and blankets and told stories in the dark while watching the snow fall.
Blizzard or no blizzard it was still a wonderful night.

day 189

November 22

The Swanson kids are in full swing with their Thanksgiving preparations...

So are the moms.

day 188

November 21

My view outside my door at 12:01 this morning:

So it begins.

Sigh...

day 187

november 20

My husband's way of kicking off a weekend.

day 186

November 19

My idea of kicking of a nice long weekend.

day 185

November 18

Nothing says thanksgiving like American Indian attire!

day 184

November 17

I spent the day crafting in the craft room. I love that room.

day 183

november 16

This is the second favorite spot, under the kitchen table. I love that this picture also shows a random shoe. He loves taking shoes. We can almost never find a pair around here anymore.

day 182

November 15

This child has taken a liking to hiding spots. This is his current favorite, under the computer desk.

day 181

November 14

This little guy is a hot item around our house. He is constantly on someone's finger. I have found him in every room in this house. Today though, I found him in my toilet.

Now, that was a new place.

day 180

November 13

It was mom's night out tonight. And while I thoroughly enjoy mom's night out, this little guy doesn't. Hailey kindly took this picture for me as evidence.

   

day 179

November 11

Today Caleb re-discovered his little photo album of the day he was born. I had so much fun pouring through that album with him, looking at every detail of that baby, and marveling at how much light and laughter that baby who is now a handsome 4 year old boy brings to me every day.

day 178

November 10

I love looking at this wall. It shows so much about my kids where they are in their lives right now.

Jonas into drawing bloody pictures that rock.
Hailey into being a model student and writing awesome stories.
And Caleb learning numbers, letters, and how to make turkeys with excessive quantities of glue.

Love these days.

day 177

November 9


Porter, mid splash

right smack in the middle of his favorite past time.

day 176

November 8

 

 

Saying goodbye to the kids every morning is always a heart breaking event for Porter. Good thing they come home everyday.

day 175

November 7

I have hoped, and I have dreamed and now, finally, they write my biography. You love me, you really love me.

day 174

November 6

A friendly game of basketball. Okay, an intensely friendly game of basketball. One of the best Saturday afternoon activities.

day 173

November 5

We have so many leaves; they are covering our grass, our patio, our swings, our garden and our children.  While raking today, we made this grisly discovery:

 Creepy.

day 172

November 4

Tonight, we celebrated some fabulous report cards with some fabulous frozen yogurt. Nothing says good job like large quantities of sugar.

 

day 171

November 3, 2010

Soaking up these last few days of fall. The kids keep wearing shorts and no shoes trying to get it all in before they can't anymore.

day 170

November 2, 2010

 

Isn't he menacing?  Try having this kid for an older brother. Poor Porter.

day 169

November 1, 2010

 

Hailey taught family night tonight. She did a marvelous job. Even with the half naked baby dancing on the table in front of her most of the time.

day 168

October 31

The afternoon was spent making creepy lego creations. The afternoon ended with our family room looking much like a volcanic explosion of legos.