Happy 4th y'all!

Apparently the neighbs had a kid parade every year for years & years.  This hasn't happened since we moved here 5 years ago.  This year it was reinstated.  Lai could barely sleep the night before:  "Can you believe it mama, we are going to be in a real parade.  I've always dreamed of being in a parade."

Isn't this a great turn out?  This isn't even everyone.   

Miles (our buddy on the right) was a real show-stopper as he rode slow and gently handed out candy to on-lookers...

Selfies of my sillies & I:

Red, white & blue everywhere!  

Gram & Papa's for a BBQ:

Reading to Molly. 

First pop-its.  

Fun had by all.  

Thanks Gram & Papa!!!

Hair.

When Axey was a babe, he would constantly play with my (then) long hair while nursing, while I held him or laid with him.  He loved playing with hair.  When he found his own - JACKPOT!  It was such a comfort to him...  That's why I love seeing him wake up with this hair.  I think it's so cute that at age 3 he still plays with his little patch up top while he sleeps.

And note this sweet shirt that was passed down... Definitely one of my favs (sniff, sniff).  I just passed on a matching one to a guy that works with J that has a son this age too.  Seems fitting to keep them in ff families... 

Bed bug.

L is now the proud owner of a big girl bed.  This frame was my mom's when she was little!  I'm still looking for the perfect bedding.  In the meantime, she's loving it & hasn't rolled out.

Soaked!

Yesterday it poured.  I hadn't seen it rain that hard since our last day in Disneyland.  It was coming DOWN!  So, Laila & I threw on our boots, grabbed her umbrella & went out to play.

She's wearing a raincoat that was mine when I was her age!  

Face lift.

Paint, prints, switch around tables, ta-da!

Before

After 

If you've been around our home long enough, you know that things don't change.  Everything has it's place.  But, it was time.  I was getting bored with the universal cream color in every room & started asking for your opinions & ideas.  Thanks to those of you that helped give your input & a big thank you to J & M who gave us the great new print that they were getting rid of!  I want our home to be a place of refuge, sanctuary & warmth.  It's still a work in progress but, these subtle changes are a step in that direction.  

9 months.

He was in me for 9 months & now he's been out of me for 9 months.

My sweet boy is 9 months old.  He continues to grow & learn more each day.  His hair is slightly strawberry-blond, he's probably about 27 pounds, we discovered his first tooth broke through yesterday, he rolls, he sits, still doesn't crawl, feeding himself, & drinks with a sippy cup.  He loves watching his sister goof off, loves taking baths, & I'm not going to lie - he loves me.  He's a total mama's boy, his face lights up when I walk into the room -  just sayin...

We are so thankful for our little guy (& mama will be even more thankful for him to start crawling)!  Here are some pics of him with one of his favorite toys.  He loves standing while hanging on for dear life.

Happy Halloween!

 Mickey & Eiffle Tower

 little jaguar cub & Raggedy Ann

 (this dress was mine when I was little!)  

off to (the) grandmother's house(s) we go!  

 This WAS going to be Ax's costume (corn on the cob) however, it was a little too snug. (que - "fat guy in little coat"...) Thank you Seckles for lending us the jaguar at the last minute!!!  

 The Olsson side: jag, Raggedy, princess Leia & ewok

Birt side: Buzz, jag, Super girl, Raggedy, Woody 

We even snuck in a quick visit to the Thorstenson's in-between!  Happy Halloween all!  

Party #2.

Who says we can't have a party two nights in a row!?  Jason thought it would be the perfect evening to make cookies & carve a pumpkin.  It just so happened that Laila & I thought it would be the perfect evening to EAT cookies & WATCH someone carve a pumpkin... & have a dance party.  & whip out the trusty 'ol Jumparoo (or the "hopper-gym" as L called it).  What party animals I live with...

dark & white choc chip, oat cookies

Melis, correct me if I'm wrong but, I think Ax is the most current user of this great toy that has also been used by Bailee, Karlee, Derek, Brendan, Laila, Inger & Nils...?  am I missing anyone?  Hopefully it can withstand Axels "full-figured" body so that many more kids can use it in the future.  

she loved saying, "yuck" with every scoop (weird, who did she hear saying that!?)

we thought it would be fitting to honor the little fella we hung out with last week

front:  M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E

back:  BOO!

finished product, didn't J do such a great job!?  If this firefighting thing doesn't work out - look out people who carve pumpkins for a living!  
(can someone please tell me how to take decent pics at night??? ugh.)

Swagger Wagon.

Some people call this their swagger wagon...  

This is ours:  

I promise we really do buy some things for our children but, we also get so many things handed down.  Meils happened to ask me if Laila would like this since the twins weren't using it.  I think my exact answer was, "she's going to pee her pants, she'll be so happy...!" As expected - she loves it and can't wait for Axey to ride in it with her.  Thank you cousins for such a fun toy!   

Life as we know it will never be the same...

We're pregnant again!  (kidding, kidding!)  We have a new swing set!!!  My sister was trying to find a home for her fabulous little swing set.  (They are getting a bigger one from Anna's family.  Anna's moving & wanted to give hers to the Bazan's... confused yet?)  Thank you Anna, thank you sister, & thank you g-pa & papa for helping move the large pieces!  Laila will never be bored at home again...  

We didn't waste any time getting it washed & set up.  We promised Laila she could go for her maiden voyage after her bath, before bed... Here she is, in her jams as happy as a clam on her new set!  This will bring her & Axel years of enjoyment... 

My girl.

Lia was cracking me up today.  Walking home from the local park she wanted to ride on my shoulders.  Unfortunately, she takes after her mother and father and is completely afraid of heights.  So, as she was trying to be brave, have fun and enjoy the ride, she was clinging (death grip!) on to my forehead the entire time.  We tried every position possible but, she felt safest doing the forehead cling.  

Upon arriving home we broke out the scooter that her big cousin N passed down to her.  She was so thrilled to get to wear her helmet (please daughter, never loose that excitement for your 'safety freak' mothers sake...) she did great scooting up and down our walkway.  

Oops!!

Not once, but TWICE today I walked in on our little man with his jungle gym toppled over on him.   He kicks so hard - it unhooks completely!  Big sister doesn't waste a minute and runs over, "you okay Axey, you okay?"   

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