Florida part 2

Since we were in Orlando - we HAD to go to Disney --- :) 

We decided on just one day so we could take the boys on some things they were too little for last time. But in true Swenson fashion - we packed in a FULL day --- 3 different parks in 13 hours! 

We started at the Movie Studios - everything had just been decorated for Christmas ! 

We did our best to beat the crowds - but everyone was headed to Toy Story land the minute the park opened. We made some good choices and got on two of the three new rides in record time! 

The whole area was pretty amazing - HUGE tinker toys, lamp posts made out of straws and my personal favorite - popsicle stick fences and benches. 

Our favorite ride is Toy Story Mania - it is this awesome 3D arcade game. Our two incredible kids were pretty excited to be in Andy's room! 

Jimmy and I on the ride. 

Once we finished in Toy story land, we headed to Tower of Terror. 

Both boys were pumped to go and did great. The theme of the day was holding on to Isaac on whatever  ride we were on for two reasons: 

1) so he would know we were there and not be too scared (laughable, I know) 

2) to prevent him from crashing into the side of the cars - he is tall of course, but still pretty tiny for big rides and just seems to get all noodley and floppy! 

Thumbs up all around after the ride! 

Love pictures like this --- so much joy! 

A quick break for lunch and to feed Anna. She was a trooper to say the least! 

After completing the main things at MGM in record time - we made a game time decision to hop a boat to EPCOT. We weren't meeting the Rubles at the Magic Kingdom until 3pm so we had  a few hours to play! 

Family photo in front of the Golf Ball --- an EPCOT must! 

We met the Rubles at the monorail station and headed into the Magic Kingdom together and again came out like champs getting on all of the mountain rides at least once and Thunder mountain multiple times! 

We even got our own boat on splash mountain --- I snapped a picture of the picture... Mom and Lisa stayed with Anna - sadly my head is blocking Benjy but he is between Buppa and TJ. 

We ended the night with some awesome fireworks and a projectile puke from Anna in Frontierland - but still managed to beat the crowds to the monorail to head home for the night. 

So much fun!!! 

Florida part 1

We decided to take advantage of my time off and take some time to go visit the Rubles while they are living in Orlando! A few days in Orlando and a few days at the beach made for a perfect week with the Swenson family! 

Anna, Mom and I flew down and the boys, Patrick and Buppa drove... we only got one picture of Anna on the plane and it isn't a good one, but it is proof it happened. She did pretty well - didn't cry a bit but I think her tummy didn't love the trip - both times I fed her, she puked everything back up almost immediately after. Glad we had extra clothes, burp cloths and of course a Grammy that was happy to help. (The lady on the other side of us was not super friendly!) 

Once we were on the ground and in Aunt Lisa's car, she was a happy girl! 

Both pictures were too cute not to include! 

The Ruble cousins were excited to meet Anna! 

I am not sure who looks more proud of themselves in this photo! 

Ben was the last one to come home and he was also very excited... 

He told us he was the best at making babies happy out of all of the boys  - so cute! 

This whole baby thing is really new to all of the boys - TJ, Jojo and James were all pretty small when Isaac and Ben were born --- hence I had to go upstairs and check on Anna after TJ told me he dressed her up while she was napping! 

We had some low key hang out time with the Rubles while we waited for the guys to complete their drive... Grammy learned to floss! 

Anna got lots of love... though nothing compared to the hug between Jojo and Jimmy when they arrived the next day --- if I had known, I would have had my camera ready! 

This is the Ruble's house and the guys taking a walk to the park... 

We also got a tour of Ed's brewery / Castle Church Brewing. 

They have used a ton of cool re-purposed items like these semi trailers that will hold and refrigerate the beer. 

We got some samples too! 

One of my samples with the brewery in the background. 

Notice the glass garage door and the palm tree! 

The 6 grand kids... now dubbed: 

The Big

The middles 

The littles 

and the itty bitty 

Getting ready for Disney the next day - hands up on the hills! 

I love the bright colored shirts --- just by chance! 

Anna's Baptism

We celebrated Anna's baptism at the beginning of November at our church. This was the first baptism on the Swenson side that wasn't at Fox Point - but now that we are more established in our church here, we knew we wanted to celebrate Anna there.  

Anna wore our family's baptismal gown and this blanket was knit by the ladies of the church.

The ceremony was during the service and they make it so special! 

Pastor Jeff carried Anna around and showed her to the congregation  - it is so cute. 

He shared that it took longer cause everyone wanted to touch her feet! 

The boys got to help collect the communion cups --- don't they look thrilled?!? 

After the service - was so glad she didn't cry! 

I think there must be divine intervention - the babies never cry! 

One of my favorite photos! 

 John and Jen --- Anna's Godparents 

Proud Grandparents 

Proud Grandparents 

 Quite a crew! 

Anna pictures

We are all settling in as a family of 5 and boys are still 100% smitten with Anna! I think I have only seen them lose it twice - both in the car when she was crying and nothing was working to help. James is always such a big helper - talking to her, giving her a bottle or a nuk, or even singing. But when none of that works or is available - sometimes she just screams. On our first trip to Mequon - I drove the last 10 minutes with 3 crying kids - they all just couldn't take it anymore (and this was just a week or two before we planned to go to Florida and drive!) 

She has joined our storytime 

She loves TV! 

She is a big fan of her rocking chair seat... and her hands --- fingers, thumb, or even the whole fist! 

Favorite hat and sweater! 

So cute! 

Tummy time 

We are working on this - but she is often a puker at this stage, so it really needs to be before she eats and then she is typically pretty hungry and therefore cranky! 

Did I mention the boys love her? 

We still say, "Give her space" and "back up" and I firmly believe she will never understand person boundaries - but she will definitely know what love is! 

Can they be any cuter?!? 

Halloween

We had some repeat traditions this year --- this was our 3rd time wearing the Incredibles costumes and this was the 3rd time we put a child in a pumpkin... 

Our little pumpkins at the pumpkin patch on a sunny fall day! 

We also visited a cool pumpkin event in Whitefish Bay -- a little colder that night! 

These two were more interested in helping scoop out the pumpkins this year... 

Or so they thought! 

Love this one! 

And this one! 

Concentrating so hard here... 

Then it was time for Anna's rite of passage into Halloween in this family... 

keep in mind she is smaller than the boys were... by a lot...

and MAYBE the pumpkin was also bigger than previous years... 

We almost lost her in there, if her shoulders had gone down under the rim, I think we would have been in trouble... you think we would have learned from Isaac getting stuck when we made the leg holes, but that was an issue cause he was too big... :) 

We made some adjustments and she was all smiles! 

A little proud of herself I think! 

And talk about proud --- these scary dudes are ready for Halloween! 

We had plenty of times to dress up this year - school, church, friends, and of course trick or treat... 

Another rite of passage - screaming in your first costume! 

But that wig though...! 

Not quite the same look as the first time we wore these outfits (at least on the left side of the photo!)  

But when your hubby is willing to go out in public in red tights and my underwear - you suck it up and do the same, even if it is just 2 months since birthing your 3rd child :) 

Anna came along to our adult party --- 

Trick or treating in our neighborhood - the boys had a blast! 

Even superheroes need Culvers on occasion 

Our Incredible Family 

Jack Jack, Elastigirl, Violet, Dash and Mr. Incredible!