Winter at Pearl Lake

We made plans for a winter weekend at Pearl Lake in early January - but sadly it was way more cold than there was snow. We made our own fun on the VERY thick ice -- who needs snow?!? 

It was great to be outside in the fresh cool air and there was certainly plenty of room to run! 

The dads pulled the kids on the ice and then sent them flying or spinning across the smooth glass. 

The boys LOVED it! 

We had gotten new sleds for Christmas and they were gonna be used one way or another! 

Action shot of Isaac trying to pull Ben - 

he is mid fall in the picture about to be on his rear end! 

We were all super impressed with Isaac's balance skills - he was pretty steady most of the day. 

(video to come!) 

Just relaxing on the ice. 

Jojo riding on our favorite Childhood toy - the steerable kid snowmobile! 

this thing is now probably 35 years old (at least) and the only thing wrong is the decal from the front has peeled off - it is awesome! 

Daddy giving James a ride around the ice. 

And after plenty of ho cocoa - everyone cuddled up with Grammy to look at pictures of warmer summer days at the cottage. Here's hoping spring is early this year! 

Swenson Christmas

Yikes - I am behind! That is what the flu will do to you!

We got to Mequon late on Christmas Eve so the boys woke up to find the Ruble cousins sleeping in the same jammies! 

Stockings to start the morning --- love how Ben still looks half a sleep in this photo! 

And this one too! 

I am not even sure what these two are looking at - but there is such great joy from both of them! 

We got both TJ and Jojo books with cool facts and questions - and they way this kid reads - I am guessing he finished reading it on the way home! 

Grammy got matching jammies this year too! 

Buppa declined - but we still let him in the photo :) 

Santa came for a visit and as the boys are getting older we had a mix of emotions - from left to right:  scared, spellbound (both of ours), full knowledge (and proud of that knowledge), and nervous excitement. Isaac pointed out at the end of the visit that Santa reminded him a lot of his Buppa.... :) 

Happy to answer Santa's questions 

Group photo - all smiles now! 

Love this picture for so many reasons - 

A) there is a new version of Lite-brite 

B) the "cheese" smiles 

C) the upside-down box 

These two are trouble! 

Dinner photo minus Grammy who was taking the photo - not sure why we didn't set the timer?!? 

And I just realized Isaac is missing too - oops! 

It was a lego Christmas - more for the older boys - but Isaac has jumped right in as well - pretty fun to watch - though trying not too lose those tiny pieces and the havoc they cause to my finger nails is NOT cool. I have started using a "handy helper" which is really just a small sharp knife - so far only one casualty!