Going Dark

The Swenson Scene is going to be going dark for a few weeks while Phil is away for work. I always thought that was so cool when a character would "go dark" while on a mission (think Jack Bauer on 24). Anyway, I wanted to leave you with a few images until we return...

I love chomping on my apple. No teeth as of when this picture was taken, but now she finally has two just peeking out on the bottom!

Yummy!

Little drool bubble on the chin...

This boy has been getting into Play-Doh lately. Still loving school and making big changes every week. His new favorite hobby is hiking and he loves doing "hug tight" with his family.

Crazy baby! Getting tossed up in the air by daddy.

Just hangin' out.

Moose!
The kids are really going to miss Daddy. (So is Mama.)

We've got plenty to keep us busy while Daddy is away. A visit from Gramma Ann and another from Grandpa and Grandma Swenson will be highlights to share with you when we're back. AND, we have a FIRST birthday coming up for Miss C.

Catch you on the flip side...

If He Builds It, She Will Bathe: Master Bath Reveal!

It's finally time for the big reveal!!! Phil has been building me a new bathroom and it is magnificent! He did every speck of work himself (with some much appreciated help from friends and family) and I could not be more impressed and proud of him. Yes, I'm bragging up my husband right now, but he deserves it.

Here is the old bathroom. Perfectly functional, but "builder's grade" everything and nothing special. (PS, this photo is from the listing. We did have some golden rod paint on the walls and a navy shower curtain, but unfortunately, I forgot to take a "before" shot myself.)

Hopefully you can tell from the vantage point above that the door used to be all the way to the left in the corner of the master bedroom. Phil moved the door so that you would be entering the bathroom in the middle of the room, instead of on the far left of the room, which opened up some more layout options. I wish I would have taken some "during" photos because Phil literally had the bathroom stripped down to the studs, and he moved around all the plumbing and electrical himself.

Here's the new view as you walk into the bathroom!

Phil has always wanted a frameless glass shower with a shower head tall enough for him - and now he's livin' the dream!

I have always wanted a nice deep tub with a ledge for my glass of wine, candle, and book - and Phil made sure I would have it! He even sacrificed some space in the shower so I could have my tub. It has been such a relaxing place for me at the end of the day.

Featuring the tub.

Did you notice the window treatment? Yes, that was my contribution - I made it myself!

Here is the other side of the room with the vanity.

I can't believe how great it turned out. Phil had the vision all along, but I admit I was a bit skeptical at first (which may have been due to a giant whole being knocked through our master bedroom wall???) But now I see the vision and couldn't be happier. Thank you, Husband!!!
With each new project, large and small, I feel like we make our house more "ours" and grow to love it more and more.

Waterfalls and Mountains

We've been doing some hiking lately since the weather has been so warm. Adam has really gotten into it, and let's face it, Clara is pretty much happy whatever we're doing as long as she is part of the action.

Last weekend, we decided to try out the trails around the Manassas battlefield - only a few miles from our house. We arrived after our very short car ride and I excitedly sang out, "Aaaaaall rrrrrright, Adam!" I turned around and this is what I saw.

So, we decided to keep driving and let him get a good nap in. We headed north towards one of my new favorite places, Great Falls National Park. When we arrived, everyone was awake and ready to go. Clara loves riding in the backpack.

The main attraction is, of course, the falls. It's beautiful and quite impressive.

Adam loves watching it and listening to the water roar.

Here is our attempt at a family photo. We always forget to do these. The kids were a bit confused as to why a stranger was taking our picture, so we're a little lacking in the area of facial expression.

We always hang around the falls for a while because Adam loves climbing on the rocks, which he calls mountains.

Climbing the "mountain" with Daddy.

At the end of our hike, we went into the Visitor's Center and one of the park rangers was showing off this snake. Adam was a huge fan and did a very good job gently touching it.

I also had a chance to practice with the camera. It's a lot easier to get nice photos when your subject isn't moving a mile a minute!
This one is my favorite. The clarity of the reflection in the water caught my eye right away.

These were taken in the area leading up to the falls. The water was so smooth, but you could tell the current was amazingly strong underneath.

Wrapping Up 2011

Someone was raring to go on her first Christmas morning.

Santa knew just what Mama wanted in her stocking.

Phil and I opened our presents the night before so Christmas morning was all about the kids. FYI: Phil got a big tool chest on wheels and I got a plane ticket to visit Phil in Colorado while he is out there for a month in February. We get to stay in a really nice hotel and I get to sleep in! I love my husband for thinking of me and knowing how wonderful a break will be in this season of my life.

Adam wanted to play with each gift after he opened it, so Christmas morning actually stretched into most of the day. Oh well, we were in no rush.
This is a Thomas matching game.

Gordon takes a trip through the new abandoned mine tunnel.

Clara got two dollies! She loves to carry the one from Grandma and Grandpa L. around with her because it is easy to crawl while holding it. This one (from Santa) she loves to sit and hold and give the magnetic paci - over, and over, and over.

She got a picnic basket from Grandma and Grandpa L. Notice she is also holding one of her brother's new cars that he got from Grandma and Grandpa S. What can I say, she loves trucks!

Adam got a big floor puzzle (Thomas, of course.)

The kids got to open one present with each set of grandparents on Skype - lovin' technology!
Both kids like the story reader from Grandma and Grandpa S.

The next two photos are just cute pictures of Adam that I wanted to share.

Phil and I rang in the New Year together at home while the kids slept. Well, technically Adam woke up just as the ball was dropping, so rather than listen to him cry as we tried to celebrate the New Year, we just brought him downstairs, so he got to party with us for a little bit.
We got take out from our favorite sushi restaurant - YUMMMMM!

Check out this bottle of wine - bought purely because of the name.
"I have seen the elephant!"

Merry Christmas 2011

Yeah, it's about time for this post, huh? We've been out of commission for a while due to illness, and we are just now emerging from our cloud of "blah."
What a great way to start a post about Christmas.
We stayed home for the first time this year and did not make our pilgrimage back to Minnesota. It was weird, but probably good since we all got so sick. So, there aren't many things to report from our Christmas break, but I will share a few things with you.

Everyone got a chance to help put the star on top of the tree.
This guy was the most helpful...

Here's a medium level of helpfulness...

And the least helpful...

Adam really got into the Christmas tree this year and actually understood that the ornaments were supposed to go ON the tree. He found his Elmo ornament right away and got to work choosing the perfect spot for him.

Picking out the next ornament for the tree. The kids had great fun inspecting each ornament in the box.

The finished product, complete with presents on Christmas Eve.