day 18

January 18

My in the car, over the shoulder shot.

This is how Porter looks every Tuesday and Thursday as we wait outside Caleb's preschool for him to come bolting out. The moment he sees Caleb those tired eyes disappear and they sparkle with excitement and the hope of a good wrestle.

day 17

january 17

Over the weekend I crafted! I whipped up this super easy wreath for my front door. Hailey LOVES it. I think I found 25 pictures of it on the camera today.

day 16

january 16

Don't you hate it when you are trying to take a picture of your handsome boys and your handsome baby chooses to step in to show you what he is eating?

day 15

january 15

Reasons I love this picture:

The chocolate evidence on his face.
The banana in his hand. There is always a banana in his hands.
The fact that it shows my table of clutter. (this is where we dump stuff to be put away when we get around to it. Are we the only people that have that spot?)
Also you can see in the other corner my supply closet doors open with a stool there, evidence that someone needed some batteries, most likely for the wii remotes.
This picture is so our life.

day 14

January 14

The morning goodbye.

day 13

January 13

I love Amazon gift cards. I love being a hermit in January. Bring on the read a thon!

day 12

January 12

My parents Christmas gift to us finally arrived from South Africa. A nativity made out of banana leaves. Unreal the things people can do. I love it and I decided I am keeping it up all year.
Don't try to stop me.

day 11

January 11

This is our dog Porter, who likes to eat his morning bowl of fruit on the floor in the library. We love to watch him dig his face in the bowl and growl while he chews.

An no, I am not kidding.

day 10

January 10

This is my boy in late afternoon sunlight. I turned to see him standing there looking at me with that late afternoon tired look and I knew I needed to freeze his face in my mind with the camera, shadowed face and all.

day 9

january 9

Angry birds... bringing bored husbands together,  one smart phone at a time.

day 8

January 8

And then the day came. So proud of both of these people.

day 7

january 7

Conversations are being had about what to expect and what to do and expressions of nervousness are being expressed...

day 6

January 6

The anticipation is building...

day 5

January 5

This is a Swanson family first. Normally by January 1, our tree is down. Everything Christmas themed is packed tightly away. This year, I just can't bring myself to put it away. I mean, the tree never even got decorated. It will be down by the end of the week for sure...

I think.

day 4

January 4

ooohh, still pretty.

day 3

january 3

Porter's new obsession. This truck has a trunk! That opens! And you can put things inside! And then take them right out! Life doesn't get any better.

day 2

January 2

The current obsession in our house right now. Santa brought three of these bad boys. Cross your fingers that none of them break this time.

Day 1

January 1

Oooh, pretty.

day 223

December 26

This is a Merry Christmas hangover face.



{side note: This is my last picture of the year. 223 days. No, it's not 365 but it's pretty impressive to me considering how I have tried this little project for the last three years and not made it past 2 months. I vow to have a complete year next year! Stay tuned!}

day 222

December 25

This is a Merry Christmas morning face.

day 221

december 24

Christmas eve at Grammies.

day 220

December 23

One giant batch of reindeer food all mixed and ready to go...

day 219

December 22

I keep trying to get my kid to pick up his animal parts, but no matter what I say, they are everywhere I look.

day 218

december 21

A picked by Hailey fake arrangement of flowers. Makes it feel a little less like winter. And I like that.

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.