Valentine's Day...Malcolm style

I love Valentine's Day. It's one of my favorite holidays. I think it's mostly because I love the decorations. (pink!) And chocolate. However, I have been SO BAD at eating sugar. I already have been born with the vice of a sweet-tooth. This has gone into high-gear since being pregnant, and with the holidays and birthdays, let's just say I've been hog-wild. And so, I assessed my "problem" and vowed to be better, starting the day AFTER valentine's day (why set yourself up for failure, right?) Matt surprised me with some LOVELY roses and TWO (yes TWO) boxes of chocolates. Mmmm. I said "Honey, you did too much" and proceeded to taste half a dozen chocolates.

Having my fill, and saving the rest for "later", I was content. Enter Matt into our room with a PF Chang's bag. He then proceeds to give me, not one, but TWO slices of their chocolate cake!

Now, anyone who has eaten PF Chang's chocolate cake knows of it's oh so delicious delectibleness. They also know that one slice feeds five easy. I thought the other one was for Matt to eat with me (a little romantic chocolate cake tete a tete). Alas, NO, he doesn't like chocolate and knows how much I love it, and got them BOTH for me. I looked at him like he was insane...thanked him nonetheless, and made mental notes of how I would eat the one and to whom I would give the other. Ha ha...such high aspirations...but then I ate them both. YES BOTH! It took me a couple of days, but, I did it. As I was thus stuffing myself, I thought of a random episode of "Malcolm in the Middle" I happened to watch one day. The mom was pregnant, and the dad, finding her bulbous pregnant self intoxicating and alluring, made it his mission to keep the pounds coming, changing her milk to whole milk, adding all sorts of fattening things to what she was eating. It cracked me up, but the resurfacing of this memory has made me suspicious. I'll have to keep my eye on Matt. I mean, TWO cakes....REALLY?

Happy Valentine's Day!

Out with the old.....

(Goodbye little blue minivan...you have served us well. *sniff*)

And IN with the NEW!!!


Love, love, LOVE our new car. (as does Matt - he feels that he has regained some lost masculinity. What is it with guys and minivans?). It's roomy, it's leather, it drives like a dream, and it's NOT BLUE! AND it's paid for!!!! Woot! Woot!

It's SUPER SWENSONS!

In order to make things "simpler" for our families, we have one big party for all of our kids (since they all occur within 2 months). This year's theme was "Superhero" and the kids had a BLAST. They all dressed up in capes and went through "Superhero Training". Matt was the Super-hit of the party - as STRONG MAN. I love that he isn't ashamed to make himself ridiculous. :) The kids loved it as he taught them how to walk like a superhero, talk like a superhero, fly like a superhero, leap tall buildings and shoot villians. At the end of "training", each superhero was presented with a medal and we then had not-so-great hot dogs, delicious cupcakes and cake. The kids were spoiled by aunts, uncles, and grandparents and loved it! Thank you all who came and made the day special!

Matt as "STRONG MAN"


STRONG MAN teaching them to walk like superheroes


The superheroe trainees, awaiting their next task


End of "Target Villian"


Fun with signs...




Some fun gifts...


(this is Eli's "lady friend"...she terrifies him. It's pretty funny.)


A sneak peak at the decor...


Superheroes...AWAY!

Happy Birthday, Maddi!

No, we're not running out of steam with all these birthdays! Today was GREAT. I woke up Maddi, singing Happy Birthday (with Keith and Eli trailing behind me) carrying her breakfast - bagels and pink milk - AND my video camera and regular camera. Yes, I have skills. She got to eat her breakfast in the TV room and watch a show of her choice. I made her birthday cake while the kids played Wii (something I usually only allow on Saturday, so it's a real treat).

We then dropped off the kiddos at my friend Olivia's, except for Maddi who got to go with us to see the baby's ultrasound. After our appointment, Daddy took her to lunch and Build-A Bear.

After they got back, we opened presents and enjoyed Maddi's reactions. She's a hoot.


We then had homemade burgers and watched Maddi's birth and baby videos (um...anyone else experiencing major dejavu?) while we ate. We sang "Happy Birthday", had delicious Lemon Cake and ice cream, Matt played more Wii with the kids and I prepared for the all-family Birthday Bash the next day. Whew!

Maddi is such a little sweetheart. Kind hearted, she loves everyone, wants to help, wants to make things better, loves animals (horses and dogs especially) and is an AMAZING artist. She too can sing beautifully, but is a little unsure when asked to do it publicly. She's a wonderful big and little sister and we are so SO thankful to have this lady as our daughter. I love you Maddi!

OH! I forgot to mention....(nah, I didn't really forget, I just thought I'd draw out the suspense a little longer.) At our appointment, Dr. Lovelace whispered in Maddi's ear what we were having so that she was the first to know. She got her big Maddi-grin and said ........

We are so excited, we can hardly stand it. :) Here's a pic of me in my current state of 22 weeks. (Sammi wants everyone to know that she took this picture.)

Did I mention we're excited?!?!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MADDI!!!!

Happy Birthday, Cho-Cho!

Yes...."Cho-Cho". Matt has the knack of giving our kids the most ridiculous nicknames that actually stick. No matter how hard I try, I call my kid "Cho-cho". And I find myself feeling absolutely stupid when I do it in public, yet the habit remains. Nevertheless, that is a subject for a post all it's own. Our focus in this one, is Cho...er, Eli!

Well, after Keith recovered, Maddi fell sick with the same illness. She was recuping on Eli's birthday, and then Sammi fell sick that night. Happily, the birthday boy began the bout of illness in our house the week before and was healthy as a horse on his day!

I made him banana muffins for breakfast and then took him to get the traditional 2 year portrait taken (pictures to come). Then, after Matt got home we opened presents and had pizza, watched his movie of birth and baby-days, and had birthday cake (in which we barely escaped with the birthday hat catching fire...whew!) Eli loved it and it was so fun to see him open presents (especially the little scooter Matt got him...he's terrified of it) and sing "Happy Birthday" to himself. This little guy brings so much joy to our home...he loves to be tickled and has the funniest, heartiest "chuckle-laugh" that cracks us up. He loves cars and trucks and trains and music. He dances like his dad, but that doesn't take away from his gusto. :)






Happy Birthday, little buddy!