I hope that eveyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving.
This year we spent Thanksgiving at Kirsten's. Hans had a blast with Luke and Levi. They were so wild and crazy!! Hans loved the turkey dinner especially his favorite corn. Hans and Kari spent the night since I had to work at Best Buy at 4 am. Fun. This was the first year that we didn't get up at the crack of dawn to go shopping. Kari and Kirsten went to the mall during the day on black friday, but just to Kaybee to get toys. I got to go to toys r us to by out all the boxes of diapers at $10.

Hans loves the Christmas tree! He has to say hi and bye to the Santa ornaments on the tree. He helped me get the last ornaments up. I left an area so that he can touch them.

Kirsten's Kreations Jewelry. Here are some of the pieces. I know many people have been asking what it looks like. Here are some examples although each piece is unique and not duplicated. My favorite pieces sold right away. Although at each party there are new pieces.

We had a big party at out house for Kirsten's Kreations all of my neighborhood friends came over and loved the jewelry and purses. Hans had a blast because Caleb and Andrew came with their mommies. He just as always entertained everyone. He was hilarious! He was laughing so hard he started to snort. It was so cute/funny. Then as people were leaving he was yelling BYE,BYE so loud that they could hear him down the block. The comments about Hans was he is a bruiser and he cracks everyone up. I got swedish flop for the guest and as you can see Hans enjoyed it! Next time I will take a picture of all the jewelry. My friend Joanne got my favorite piece which was a double wrap strand of swarovski tahitian pearls.

Kyle came over in his Halloween costume. Although Hans was down for a nap.

Hans and I were knocking on the door while we waited for auntie TT to come so we could go to the playoff game at Grant.
Hans hates wearing a hat, but he knew that was the only way he was going to get to go to the game. He loved watching the football game and playing will all of the kids. Of course he took all of the attention off of the game and entertained everyone. He is becoming such a good dancer.

Hans, Daddy and I went trick or treating today. Hans would knock on the door and try to go into the houses of his friends. It was really cute they would give him candy and he wanted to just go in and play. Hans was winnie the pooh as a bee. He only kept the hat on for getting the candy once he got home to hand out candy it came off.
Hans favorite thing to do was dump out his candy everywhere then he sorted it out.

Mark and I went to the Packers vs the Redskins game. Of course Mark got us great seats on the 30 something yard line in the third row. It was such a fun time we totally got along with the people we sat next to although there was a crazy drunk lady behind us. It was quite entertaining. Then Mark with his sense of humor got the reaction from the redskins players. Portis gave Mark a few signs and as Mark razed him about think dog fighting was a sport he turned around and pretended like he was fighting a dog. Everyone was laughing hysterical and Mark became a crowd pleaser. I also was on TV how fun!? Actually I didn't see myself I was just told and Mark saw me on replays at ESPN. We went with Mark's dad and Cindy. I wasn't going to go because I didn't get to see Hanzie all weekend and with the 16th birthday party the night before I thought it would be to much, but I am definitely glad I went.

oops missed this picture of me, Kelsey and Alysa. I had Alysa in class and Kelsey and I have been close for a while. Kelsey is one of my favorite people to see at school. She is so much fun!!

Ynez had her sweet 16th birthday party so I got to hang out with the high school girls that I just love. Here is me and Robin she was one of the cheerleaders that I coached. She has been since her freshman year one of the best.

Here I am with Katelyn. I have known Katelyn since she was a baby, and it is funny to think she is one of my bff. Katelyn and I went to Ynez party together since Mark couldn't go and her boyfriend Dan is at college.

Derek came over to play with Hans. They loved the bubbles and playing in the tunnels.
Here is Hans trying to beat Levi in the race. He figured it is quicker to pick up the vacuum and run with it.

Levi caught up with Hans quickly. We had such a fun weekend the boys and t came up on Friday and stayed till Tuesday. Hans hasn't been able to see his cousins much so this was definitely the best weekend for him. He just loved being with them.

Hans has been having so much fun lately! He is really enjoying the kids in the neighborhood. He has become buds with Andrew and he is starting to love all the girls. He enjoys Abby the most. This weekend there was a fair in the neighborhood so we went and Hans got to ride the train around the hood with Andrew. We also tried the pony rides but Hans, Andrew and Christian definitely did not want to be on the ponies. He also got to meet all the high schoolers who came because they heard I would be there. Its not like they get to see me all week in school they also need to see me on the weekend.
Hans is now a year and a half. He is such a little man except for his attachment to his bottle.

If you think Hans eye is bad you should see the other kid. Just kidding, Kari woke up to seeing Hans like this an yelled for me. I took him to the doctor and now he is on benadryl for a mosquito bite. Who would have guessed? It has been an eventful last week. After Kari got run into by a student running through the halls. She had to go to the hospital. The good news was that the baby is OK. Kari just has to rest. Hopefully, things will start to calm down.

This picture was taken back in June. This is when Hans first started to eat with a spoon. Now he is an expert! Also he is drinking out of a cup. He is getting ready for his brother or sister on the way. For those of you who don't know Kari is pregnant and due in March.

Morgan and Landon's 3rd birthday
It was so wonderful to see Debbie's beautiful children. I was so thrilled to finally be able to see them. They were so adorable and Hans loved playing with Landon. Morgan is just the most beautiful sweet little girl I have seen! It was such a special day for me! It is amazing to see my dearest friend with her children and how they have so many of her wonderful traits.


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We spent our last day of summer in Door County. Prior to going Mark took Hans to his first convention while I went to my friend Diane's baby shower and then spent the weekend with Karen. After that we left for Wisconsin. We spent the night at Grandpa and Grandma's house, and then headed the next day for Door County. Stopping off to watch the Packers practice. In Door County we went to a fish boil, did lots of swimming and site seeing. All the way up in Gills Rock we found an old fashion playground with teeter-taters. It was so fun! It was a nice end to the summer. Today I headed back to work and Hans went to Grandma Judy's house.


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Kevin had a big birthday party this year because they will be in Oklahoma next year at this time. Hans and Larsen ran around playing with the balloons. Then Hans also got a turn to hit the pinata so did daddy, Auntie Marlene and Auntie Karen. It was so good to see Karen's family. Hans tried to jump the fence to play with the neighbors toys, but then he decided to go around. The kid is resourceful. Luckily he found some rocks that he kept on bring to Karen's brother in law Rich. Kevin got just what he wanted money!

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This is our second year going to the Wisconsin Fair with Grandma and Grandpa. Last year Hans was to little to go on the giant slide, but this year he was able to go on it. Dad objected but I won and he went on it. We ran into some friends which was a nice surprise. Hans and a goat became good friends. Every time we walked past the goat it jumped up to see Hans. Then we went to Grandpa's house and Hans ate all his watermelon and cantaloupe.

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Hans loves being at the beach

Hans Getting out of his wet, sandy suit
We spent some time at lake Geneva. Hans loved playing with Uncle Erik, who is now back from Boston.

We went to see Auntie Gracey's house. Our usual stop is Stockholm Inn for the best Swedish Pancakes. Then kids decided that they wanted to go to the water park, so I took them on the rides while mom and Gracey watched Hans. It was so much fun Hans loved the splash pool. They all have the best time together. Then the boys decided they wanted to sleepover. The next day they played with Christine's girls and went on their water slide.

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We have been home almost a week. This week we got to go to Russell's and you can see Han's licking the sauce off the plate. We also had Christine and Art over for dinner with the boys. This weekend we got a patio set and since we have had it we have had many visitors sit and stay a while. As you can see Hans playing outside with the kids. Also this weekend we took Hans to the pet store and got a fish. He loves to show it to everyone who comes over.

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We are home from Michigan. We left for Michigan the morning after we got back from Florida. Mark was unable to go with because he had to work. We had a great time even without him. The first thing Hans learned was how to pick raspberries. He saw auntie Patti pick them then about two hours later he walked down to the garden and started picking them. When I go to Michigan I have to go to 4 places Charlevoix, Alden, Traverse City and Elk Rapids. In TC Inga took us Patisserie Ami. It was so good although they didn't have high chairs so Inga and I did our best to keep Hans entertained. Traverse City has the most places to shop so we did that too. Inga and i also spent a day alone there and we had to go to Poppycocks to get the Pita Chips, Hummus and Jarlsberg Cheese, which I have been craving for a year. Inga and I attempted to recreate it but it didn't turn out as well. Then in Charlevoix we went to Weathervane and ate by the channel. Hans was entertained by the bridge going up and down. In Alden there are my favorite clothes boutiques and I love the curried chicken sandwich I get there. I found some really neat yard art. While we were there we went to they toy shop and Hans fell in love with the toy cars so of course Grandma Judy got it for him. When I think Michigan I think FOOD, but the best food of all is what my aunt Patti makes. Besides the food we swim and hike everyday. Hans enjoyed swimming in Torch even though it is COLD. Although he did like when we went to Elk Rapids and swam in lake Michigan, but most of all he likes playing in the sand. Hans liked being at the house the most, and seeing the dogs. Garth took him on the tractor, and played with him so much. Garth was Hans best buddy. Patti played the piano a few nights and Hans freaked out. He loved it so much his eyes got so big and he had to see what was going on. We couldn't have had a better time, but it is nice to be home. We have a couple more little trips before I head back to school, which is nice.

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We have spent the month of July away. Mark Had to go on a trip to Florida for work and wanted us to come with. I decided to ask my mom if she wanted to come with and of course she did she had never been to Disney. We got to stay at the Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort. When we got there they were out of double rooms so they gave us a parlor room. It was huge it had a table to seat 10. From our room we could see the fireworks every night. To get to the parks there was a shuttle or water taxi depending on what park we went to. We spent three days at Magic Kingdom and Hans loved Its a Small World After All. Also he loved the parade in the evening. We also went to Epcot. The first day there we ate at fish restaurant and the second time we went to Norway to have the princess Meal. Hans liked watching the fish swim around him as he ate. My mother enjoyed getting her picture taken with all the princess. The princess meal was on our last day so we left Hans with Mark. Mom and I loved the food at Norway. We spent Wednesday at Animal Kingdom. IT WAS SO HOT!! I had never been to this park I enjoyed it, but it was not like the others where we want to go back a second day. Although Hans loved the lion king show. Thursday we went to MGM. Hans had fun playing on Honey I shrunk the kids. We even found Star Wars figures for Mark. On Friday Mark came with us to Magic Kingdom. So we took him on Hans favorite rides, since we had been there Sunday and Tuesday. We also were able to get my favorite treat the pineapple float at the dole shop. I was curious how this was going to work with Hans, but we came back for an afternoon nap and while he was napping we took turns swimming in one of the 5 pools. We liked the one with the waterfall the best. Then when he woke up he would come swimming and ate at the cabana. Then we would head back to the park. Hans was so great! We just had the best time. It was a nice break after a stressful June.

We spent the fourth of july in Lake Geneva. Hans loves playing with his cousins and in the sand. He has four cousins close in age to him so he had fun trying to take their toys although the other boys are a little older so they would take them right back.

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Downtown at the Taste and Millennium Park



We met up with Andy and Diane. Andy was running a race at the Taste. We went downtown by the train. hans loved the train and all the kids who played with him. On the way back he fell asleep. We went to the water wall and hans was getting so much attention from people. He was having so much fun. Most of all he liked the pizza and the water wall.

Hans has been having a great summer. he has been doing lots of swimming. In the pictures above We were swimming at Lake Geneva, but what Hans likes doing most of the time is playing in the sand. He also had a wonderful time at Christian's birthday party with all of the kids. We decided to start the bowl haircut and it fits him. People stop and say how adorable he is and how he looks like a precious moment. It definently fits him.

Mark, Ryan and Jay
Here is a picture of mark and I at ryan's wedding. His wedding is still going on, but I had to get home becuase of the babysitter. Hanzie was having a hard time going down. Mark was the best man, so he need to stay so I had to be the one to miss out on the fun. It was such a beautiful wedding! Vivian had a gorgeous dress which I didn't get a chance to get a picture of. Ryan and I have been friend about seven years while working at GNC, then Mark and him became friends. It was also good to see friends like Jay, who also worked at GNC. We also got the good news that two of our friends are moving 2 minutes from us.

Mark and I off to Ryan's rehearsal dinner.
Hans is finally home. We didn't get to spend time with him because we had our friend Ryan's rehearsal. Hans was so excited to see us!!! He practically jumped out of his car seat. Life is so much better with him around.

Hi everyone! We have had a week without Hans. I started my master classes so Hans has been at Grandma Judy's house. He is having so much fun swimming and doing boy stuff.

Hans is getting to be such a good helper he tells me he is ready to eat when he goes and picks out a bib and then goes back to his high chair.

We went to see Uncle Norm, who was in from Texas. It was wonderful to see him. He is just as funny and kind as I remembered. My father always loved him and I can definitely see why. Also we got to spend time with Uncle Chuck and Auntie Gracey. I love being with them. Auntie Gracey and I had a total Ellefsen moment. They are building by her house and have all these really pretty rocks, so we took a wagon and filled it up with rocks. I put the rocks in my landscape at home. We were laughing the whole time and I made the comment that dad would totally be doing this with us. She said she was thinking that it is a Grandpa Ellefsen thing. Mom took Hans for a walk. Remind me next time to take pictures before we get all sweaty and dirty!


Uncle Chuck, Uncle Norm, Hanzie and me
Auntie Gracey and Grandma