"Oh let Your will be done in me
In Your love I will abide
Oh I long for nothing else as long
As You are glorified ."

As Long As You Are Glorified. - Mark Altrogge
Sovereign Grace Music. - Come Weary Saints CD

unaware.

I think....




...some of the best photographs





...are taken...




(photo credit- Ellen Mischler)
...when the subject...



...is unware....



...of the fact that you....



...are taking their picture.

some major randomness.

1. I LOVE babylegs! They are AMAZINGLY convenient for quick diaper changes and protect legs when baby is crawling on hardwood floors.
I think they are fabulous. Justin on the other hand was calling Liam Rainbow Bright yesterday.
Alright, I admit they are a BIT girly, but they are so dang cute on his chubby little legs, and dang it, they are so great for crawling around in.
I told Justin that I don't let him wear them in public.
It's all about compromise folks.




2. Justin was in his little brother's wedding this a couple weekends ago and he had to rent a tux which included an aqua blue vest which was very bright and very much didn't fit. Justin has a long torso but he looked like a, " FAT MAN IN A LITTLE COAT"...or vest...pretty funny....and he isn't fat...well maybe a little...well no, he's not...but kind of...but not.


3. We are at Target, I have Evan unloaded into a cart and am getting Liam out when I hear Evan say.... NO he screams,

"GRANDMA! Hey, GRANDMA," {and he pauses...then in his best sing-songy voice} "GRAND...MA! GR.......AND...............MA!"

I look back through the door window (which is tinted, thank goodness) and see a woman {who is CLEARLY over 60, but trust me, he has called people in their late 30's Grandma, which is embarrassing let me tell you, what do you say?} making her way into the bulls eye...she heard Evan.

While she was clearly old enough to be a Grandmother, I'm still not sure if she felt alright with Evan hollering it at her across the Target parking lot. She wasn't sure if she should ignore him or come over and say hello. I could read her mind like that.

She chose to keep on trekking into Tar-jay...wise choice.

Pretty much anyone who has even a HINT of grey hair is Grandma to Evan.

4. While we were waiting to pick up Max after school last week, a form appears over the hill....clothed head to toe in denim. I KID YOU not, I went back to 1989. I time traveled folks.
The ONE day I leave my cell phone at home this woman appears in the best
Anyway, appears this woman, with NOT ONLY white washed jeans (that I'm pretty sure are hard to find these days) that are tapered but to top it off she is sporting a pale denim LONG SLEEVED top.

Did I also mention it was 90 degrees out yesterday, and EXCRUCIATINGLY humid?
Now this top was not just any ol' jean shirt. It was a scoop neck with the biggest, craziest, frilly jean collar. It was INCREDIBLE. Then with the tapered jeans to complete the look... it was PRICELESS.

I hope she makes an appearance in that get-up again soon, and this time I will have my cell phone ready.

5. We always pick up Maxwell via walking. There are two exits from the school. The bottom is kids who aregoing by way of bus, daycare van, or whatever else. The upper level is for walkers and kids getting picked up by car. I've never picked Max up in the car, we've always walked since we live close and it's been such great weather! As cars arrive they are to line up in an orderly fashion and show thier number in the car visor which matches a number on their childs backpack. It seems to be a great system and once kids are out of school the line goes fast.
Here is the thing...you know how people like to be first in line at things? Well this is NO exception. The earliest I personally have gotten to the school is about 2:50...and that was because I was DYING to know when people got there to get in the car line. The line was halfway down the drive (which is probably 2 football fields long) at 2:50! School doesn't get out until 3:15. I think these people get there at like 2;15 and wait in their cars for ONE HOUR for thier child to get out of school and so they can be first OUTTA there.
This are the things I wonder people.

Here is a typical walk home from school for us:






Maxwell gets to ride his scooter, Liam and Evan get a nap, and I get a nice little workout.

How is that for random?

Hope you are having a good week.

ps- did you watch the video below...It is SO worth it.

The Best Wedding Entrance Dance

I applaud this couple for thinking outside the box and
having an absolute BLAST to begin their ceremony.
When that bride appears, I lose my mind!
I cried! The last wedding I cried at was 2 years ago, and I didn't even ATTEND this weddding!
Bravo to this fun couple!

{5} five.

It really is INCREDIBLE how time flies.

You've always had the sweetest, kindest heart.

I have always loved this picture from the first week Evan was home. I remember there was a terriable storm that night and we all cuddled into bed together.

You are shy and quiet upon meeting, but after you get comfortable you are talking to everyone and very alert to anyone who might need attention if they get hurt or are sad.

That tender heart of yours. You are so sweet to both of your brothers, so kind to them and giving. You make a fabulous older brother. You took the role on so well when Evan was born and you were beyond thrilled when Liam arrived.

At age five you are in love with skateboarding, Transformers, Pokemon (even though you really have NO idea what pokemon is, you are obsessed with the cards!), cars (particularly Nascars) and you still love to read. You came home from school yesterday THRILLED that you had gotten a book about peguins from the school library.

Did I mention you are a great older brother? You really are, so good to Evan who knows how to push your buttons but you so often rise above the ways he likes to try and get to you. You talk to him about everything and I'm so glad you two are the best of friends.

Happy 5th Birthday my sweet oldest boy!

Your Daddy and I love you very, very much.

"O fearful saints new courage take: the clouds that you now dread are big with mercy and will 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.
So God, we trust in You. O God, we trust in You. When
tears are great and comforts few, we hope in mercies ever new. We trust in you."

This song has been a great comfort, refuge and reminder of CHRIST love for me lately.

1st day of school.

Today, my oldest,Maxwell, nearly 5 years old started school. Hard to believe. Even harder to believe I have a school aged child! I also DO NOT have a working camera, so a big THANK YOU to Chad & Mel for lending me theirs for the day! He was BEYOND excited.
It was the first time we had all gotten up before 7:30 in a LONG time. I am NOT a morning person. I got up around 6 :45 and Max was up by 7 on his own. We got ready, had breakfast and headed out the door.

I've commited to getting up earlier on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays though. A mom in our hood (whose hubby is in the army and deployed right now) needed to be at work at 7 and school doesn't start until 8:20 so she needed to drop her son of somewhere, so I offered.
Which means rising earlier.
I'm glad to help her out though.
Back to the 1st day of school!

Max loved entering school, soaking up every Hello he got from teachers, and pure joy in his step.

Once in his classroom, they had the kids sit at thier tables and color as they settled in and little frog name tags.

Evan on the other hand...

wanted to stay. He really believed he was going to stay at school too. Poor boy. He cried the half the way home, also asking when we'd pick up Max.


Liam however, was none the wiser.

He just loved being outside walking!

We've been home about an hour now, and I've already noticed Evan paying closer attention to Liam and playing with him. I think he will adjust just fine, but I know he will be thrilled to go pick up Max from school this afternoon.

So will I.

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.