Cousin time in Kazoo!

Last weekend we traveled to Michigan to visit the Rubles. We typically try to get there in February to celebrate Thomas and Patrick's birthdays with the Swenson family.

We had a great time hanging out and playing with the kids and James liked to watch all the action.

Here are the 3 boys - thank goodness for digital cameras!

We would be broke if I took as many pictures as I do with an old film camera!

As you can see, they aren't all keepers!

Thomas and Jojo like to play inside the toy box - we put James in there too!

Jojo rushing to get in on the action!

James had a great time in the exer-saucer - New Toys!
Jojo took him for a ride holding onto the outside and walking him in circles.
 I think at one point someone turned him around so they could both "un-wind"!

Working on a puzzle with Buppa and Ed - hats optional :)

Jojo and Grammy are showing James how to play with the big boy toys.
For those of you that don't know, Jojo takes after his momma - sticking out his tongue in concentration!

James and Patrick doing the sexy pose!
I love how his little foot crosses over the other leg!

Five months!

 James turned 5 months over the weekend

(actually on Thomas' 4th birthday - more pictures from that later).

New tricks: consistently rolling over from back to stomach - not yet figured out he can go the other way, but he is close (just crying at the same time!) Starting to sit with support and grabs at everything - toys, hair, food, water cups, spoons, hair... :)

We are having fun!

The little drool bubble on his lip has also become a regular thing --- those teeth are probably on their way.

After his 5 month pics we put on his MSOE shirt and took some more pictures. I think he might end up in a newsletter or something... he was pretty smiley so I thought I would include a couple here!

 Have a great day!

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Meet Allie Ellestad!

Last week we met the newest addition to the Ellestad family -- Allie Lynn Ellestad!

Eric, Tara, Landon and Elise welcomed this sweet little peanut to the world on Wednesday, February 13!

Here are a couple photos of our visit to the hospital. Everyone made themselves right at home!

Silly faces with Uncle Patrick!

It seems like ages ago that we were in the hospital and James feels like a tank compared to Allie.

She was just 7 lbs at birth so there is a big difference between our chunky monkey and sweet Allie!

I am sure they will be buds and crawling around together in no time!

So glad you are here Miss Allie :)

We have an Eater!

We decided to try James on some cereal last weekend and boy did he love it!

Already trying to help hold the spoon and jam it in as fast as possible.

Here is a short video

Veggies to follow in the next couple of weeks...

looking forward to testing out the Baby Bullet and making some food for him!

Happy Valentine's Day!

So last weekend we had a mini Valentine's photoshoot!

It is very obvious that James was thrilled and that Patrick was not home :)

Hope you enjoy some cute/funny photos of our little man on this love filled day!

Shocked it is already Valentine's Day... where did January go?!?

 Very interested in these tiny colored things... if only he knew they taste delicious!

No worries - just looks like he is eating one :)

My first idea was to fill his little bathtub with candy hearts ---

but that seemed just a little too ridiculous/pricey!

 I opted for just one bag and a zoomed in picture!

Not cool Mom... not cool!

Happy Valentine's Day :)

Winter Weekend

Some cute pictures from the weekend --- lots of time at home,

which was wonderful on a nasty rainy/ cold weekend!

Caught a great smile on Saturday afternoon!

Snuggling in with Uncle Scooter on Saturday night.

Playing with Uncle Jojo on Sunday morning!

Bounce

Fun at home!

So not a very exciting video -
 but for those of you that don't get to see James everyday... it may be worth a minute of your day :)  

If nothing else he looks cute sitting in his bumbo!

Here are a few photos from the same night too.

Also, this past weekend, Molly came over to play for the afternoon.
After the Stelse family babysat James the weekend before, Molly was excited to take care of James again.
She helped feed him and and the 3 of us made cookies together. 

You can see James' head in the corner of the photo -- it was kind of tough to take a picture that included him as well since he was strapped in the bjorn hanging from my shoulders!

Thank you Kitchen Aid for hands free mixing!

Super Bowl!

So even though no one really cared about the teams in the Super Bowl - it is still a reason to get together and have delicious food! Anne, Dusty, Derek and Connie came over bringing pizza, snacks and home-made football cookies with them! We also made a white chicken chili (Mad About Food Cookbook). The soup was in honor of my Grandpa who always made delicious hearty soups for their "Soup-er Bowl" Party.

Anne and Dusty worked very hard on the cookies - cutting out the football shaped treats by hand!

Anne vowed they will never make them again - but they were pretty tasty!

They went pretty fast, but I did manage to snap a picture before they were all gone!

No Packer gear this year :(  --- so Patrick decided to sport his Barry Sanders jersey. James is wearing a Dinosaur football outfit courtesy of the Ruble boys - though it already appears to be too small!

 Big smiles!

James got passed around a bit and loved it when Connie would kiss his hands!

He did pretty well - only getting a little fussy when we got too loud.  (I guess one positive for the Packers NOT being in the big game - doubt he would have appreciated all of THAT noise!)

Most of the cheering was when somone got points for our Super Bowl game. 

We made a list of questions/guesses about the game and the commercials... length of the National Anthem, first beer commerical, first animal seen in a commercial, first commercial with a lady wearing a bikini, etc. 

Then you got points if you guessed right.  It was entertaining - though we already have more/better ideas for next year!

Derek and I tied in the end --- so we split the last big cookie as our prize!

I may or may not have dozed off at the end of the game - hence the extra squinty eyes!

Oh and in case you are wondering, the answers to the questions listed above,

2minutes 35 seconds (I believe the longest on record for the Super Bowl), Budweiser, an Ostrich and       E-Trade... no one guessed those last two!