three. {3}

Three years ago today, at 6:40PM, (all my boys make night appearances) you, Evan John Swanson came into this world.

Even before you were born, I knew you'd be full of energy...you kicked so much!

When you were born, I sobbed.You were beautiful at 8lbs. 8 oz.
Your older brother Maxwell took your arrival well. He was always by your side, making sure you were alright at ALL times.

You have always been a smiley boy. You have this sly smile, a hilarious wink and great laugh.
You are FULL of energy...since the day you were born. You are a handful, the complete opposite of your older brother Max, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

One of my favorite things about you is your love to cuddle with your Mama. Almost every morning, you come sit with me when you get up and rub my arm. You are a cuddly one, and I soak it all up, because I know it will end one day.

When you were 4 months old we moved south, into our first home where you learned to crawl, and then walk.

You have a VERY tender side, you tend to attach yourself to certain people wherever we go and you make sure they are doing well and have a constant eye on them. It's pretty sweet.

You love being outside. Nearly every morning you head out into the backyard to do some exploring, check in with the neighbors on their back porch.
" Hey, hey, what are you doing?"
You even go out and mow if they are out mowing their lawn.

You and your older brother Maxwell are the best of friends. For the most part, you two get along great. You're inseperable. I hope you two remain close all your lives.

You also have a tender side for your brother Liam. When he was a newborn, you really didn't show much interest in him, but now that he is getting older and more mobile I see you love for him beginning to florish and grow as an older brother.

Dirt, cars, water, the outdoors, trains and bikes are some of your favorite things. You talk about dogs all the time but when we actually see one you shy away until you warm up to him and he to you...and then you are dear friends...you LOVED Grandpa and Grandma Swansons dog, Scholar.


You have a killer smile, one to melt anyones heart.



Happy 3rd Birthday Ev. LOVE you so much.

blocks and a see-saw.

Some fun with blocks and the see-saw from Grandpa & Grandma Swanson.

twenty-nine.

At six this morning Justin peeks in our room...
"Uh, Evan took a HUGE dump, I can smell it all the way downstairs"...Then he turns on his heel and bounds down the stairs to help himself to some fantastic smelling {and tasty I might add as NOW I am drinking some} coffee.
Of course at the time, I couldn't smell the coffee since I was overwhelmed by the scent of a nasty.
It was awful.. I mean straight from the depths of hell.
I can tolerate stinky diapers,{unlike Justin who moans and groans like he is GIVING BIRTH when changing one} I mean I've changed my fair share, but I literally went into shock for a minute...I knew Justin couldn't handle it.
I had to make sure Max was still breathing, and the fumes didn't kill him.
I went for it, held my breath, fully loaded with plenty of wipes on hand, and it really was MINOR in comparison of the stench it was giving off.
Gross.

That tied in with my SECOND trip to the dreaded MALL this weekend..makes this Monday just SUPER.
As much as I would LOVE to be one of those women who can dress up and make it look effortless and comfortable, IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN FOR ME.
Did you know that a dress at Banana Republic or J.Crew these days will run you upwards of $120?
That’s more than a week’s worth of groceries, and YES, I know what a cranky old hag that makes me sound like, but these days I just cannot justify these kinds of purchases.
And anyway, I finally found something, but I'm not completely SOLD on it, but I don't feel like the whole process of going and trying things on AGAIN.
T-shirts and tank tops are SO EASY, and so cheap, we NEED to just have more casual weddings these days!
Also, as a side note, I still only own two bras that ACTUALLY fit, one of which is a nursing bra, that is working out just fine for me.
I'm not complaining though, this is just reality folks.
What a crazy start to the week...but then this guy woke up, looking all sweet and cute in his monkey pj's...don't you think?

I have to thank Chad & Mel for a fabulous dinner and little celebration last night. We laughed so much and I laughed so hard my stomach still hurts this morning ...although it could be the the spice in last nights dinner since I'm an old lady now.
Love you guys.
Thanks for a GREAT night.
Well, Evan and Maxwell just arrived downstairs, and Evan has informed me he is feeling FINE and has NO recollection of earlier events.

On to TWENTY-NINE.

a letter.

Dear Mr. Chester Mouse,
While I know we have open fields behind our home, where you most likely appeared from I'm writing to inquire why you have taken permanent residence in our home.
While we don't mind you passing by, we'd give a quick wave (and wave you along) and smile as you moved on to a nice abandoned cardboard box or secret place not in an ACTUAL HUMANS home.
You see it's not that we hate you, it's just that you don't belong here...it's just the way it is.
We apologize for the death of Rodney,and of Pip, but we have had to resort to drastic measures to move you all along.
We haven't seen 'evidence" of you in a few days in the tupperware drawer (and I thank you for staying away from the food) so we are hoping you are happy in your new home, far, far away from here.
best(firm and stern) regards,
Mrs. A$ Swanson

ps- I'm thankful you are NOT a rat...because then I would have to move.
And poor Mr. Swanson would surely scream like a girl and pass out.

tee for ethiopia.

tee for ethiopia., originally uploaded by olives on a monday.

Ev. & the L-man

Ev. & the L-man, originally uploaded by olives on a monday.

some brotherly love.

Ev. L-man. Maxo. 06.28.2009

Ev. L-man. Maxo. 06.28.2009, originally uploaded by olives on a monday.

Rough day today, but looking at this picture reminds me how blessed I am.

7 years.

We got married in Janesville, WI...not the most glamorous city in the US but, we did get the BEST place for a wedding reception, thanks to a colleague of my Dad's a private Country Club. They had some BEAUTIFUL grounds and the hall was just as nice. We had a live band and people still tell me how fun our reception was, even though I hardly remember it! Holy cow we were kids when we got married!
And I CANNOT believe I cried all the way down the aisle, sobbed through the ceremony, and started to get control of myself just after we were pronounced man and wife.

WHAT a baby.
I remember very little about our wedding day, it was so crazy, butI do VIVIDLY remember what I was thinking when I stepped to walk down the aisle with my Dad. I walked into the doorway, and seeing Justin I just lost it.
All my emotions came crashing together and the only thing that came out was tears. I was SO happy to be marrying Justin, seeing of all our family and friends there to celebrate with us, I was devastated that Jared wasn't there to be with us (to be Justin's' best man), the emotional roller-coaster we had all been on since his accident in February, and the start of a new life together was just too much for me to handle when I saw Justin standing there waiting for me. What a day it was!

What a seven years it has been!
But, they have been the best seven years of my life! I can honestly say, that today I love him more than I did seven years ago. It is a different love, not that newlywed puppy love but a deeper love that I pray continues to grow and florish.
According to the US Census Bureau, the average marriage lasts just over 7 years. Yikes! We're ready though...bring on that seven year itch, we'll kick its little behind.

May God continue use our marriage to make us more holy and draw us closer to him.

Happy Anniversary Just! I love you, always!

bags for Ethiopia.

My friend Marian, and her husband Nathan are in the process of adopting a child from Ethiopia. They have three young boys and after watching some friends adopt, they decided to start their own adoption journey!

Marian and I first "met" ( we have not met in real life...only online...)in fall 2007, and as I type this I cannot believe that! I found an article she had written for Radiant, and asked her if she would like to write for Ungrind. She said yes, and we have been in touch with each other since. When I read about her adoption adventure and that she was sewing to raise money for the costs, I hopped right on that bandwagon.

And guess what?! You can support them too! Check out their journey here.

chalky

chalky, originally uploaded by olives on a monday.

Happy 30th Jared Paul.

evan & jared (2006). I know I posted this picture last year, but I love it.

Today my brother-in-law Jared turns 30. When his birthday rolls around each year, Justin and I always reminise about the GREAT times we had. He even throws in some great childhood stories.

I met Jared right after he turned 18. I'll never forget the first time I met my now in-laws.

I was about to enter my senior year of high school, and "too cool" to go hang out with some family,because I had plans with friends, duh! I remember my parents said something like "but they have two sons your age!"...like I cared, I already had like 5 crushes going on!!
I'm glad I went though. I remember I felt so welcome in their home from the start. Jared really sticks out in my mind that day (I actually hardly remember Justin at all, he was so shy, and so smitten with me, and my beauty from the time he first saw me...ha!), he was so kind, fun, and energetic.
Anyway, I left thinking what a great time I had...and after that we became close friends. For the next two years, Jared, Justin and I spent endless hours together with other friends, and soon Jared was off to Wheaton College in Illinois. This was after Justin and I started dating, and I remember calling Jared more than once on advice in dealing with Justin :)...he was such a good friend to the both of us.
Happy 30th Jared! We love you and miss you very much!

06.27.2009

"God moves in a mysterious ways.
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea
And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never failing skill
He treasures up His bright designs
And works His sovereign will.

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dreadAre big with mercy and shall break
In blessings on your head.
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace;Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.

His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.

Blind unbelief is sure to err
And scan His work in vain;
God is His own interpreter,
And He will make it plain. "
William Cowper

Happy Independence Day!

Liam's bum sporting his latest g-diaper.

Happy 4th of July!

Zoo.

Last week the boys and I went to the zoo.

We saw a Lions bum.

We saw a Tiger.

We saw no bears, and then...
Maxwell threw up.
Oh My!

He started feeling ill about an hour in, so we had lunch and sat down for a bit and he didn't look so good, so I had him come sit on my lap and as soon as he did... a nice strawberries, crackers and grapes mixtures (a fun sight) came out.
Twice.
So...we got cleaned up. Some lady and her husband were nice enough to go get some water and some towels to clean up...and alert the zoo staff that there was cleanup on aisle just past the tigers but before the gazelles.

Afterwards Max claimed he felt like a million bucks and he did look much better but for good measure I made him ride in the stroller for a bit.
So here I am, walking past the jaguar's and maned wolves with Liam in the Bjorn, Maxwell in the stroller and Evan (who was such a trooper that day!) walking up Mt. Everest.
Well, it felt like it anyway.



...but, we did it, survived and actually it was an AWESOME day.

the oldest two.

Evan.

He is so ridiculous. He wanted sunglasses but I couldn't find a pair of his, so he wore mine...and I think they look better on him than me. Sheesh!

I love this picture of him marching through the grass in his boots.


Then there is Maxwell.
So suave, this kid doesn't mess around. He's so much like his Daddy.

They sure do have a lot of fun together. These two.

Love these two....and love their extreme fascination and obsession with Poke'mon even though they haven't the SLIGHTEST idea what the heck Poke'mon is. (thanks to my brother Pete who gave them his cards...circa 1994 or something like that)...they carry those cards around like they are a prized possession.

beach bums.

Great Grandparents.

We have the only Grandchildren in both of our families.
We also have the only GREAT Grandchildren of this wonderful couple;
Grandma Ruth & Grandpa Paul.
Grandpa is a WWII veteran and is 95 years old.
I am so thankful to have them in our lives...and thankful to be able to visit them while we were in Wisconsin.

home again.

homeagain., originally uploaded by olives on a monday.

back from our holiday.
more to come...