Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Christmas in pictures

Guys, how was your Christmas? I'm finally getting around to posting some Christmas pictures. Ridiculous, I'm aware.

We spent Christmas in Indiana with Eric's family. Lots of fun happened, even after our day in the city.

























friends // pretty presents // presents under the tree // Amaretto & Coke // Sangria I made // ...more alcohol/where my bro-in-law took over the camera? // HUGE flame // presents! // for sure stealing that wrapping technique // Munchkin // Munchkin + wine // a glimpse of the Dr. Who sweatshirt

I love the holidays. ::sigh::

Sunday, December 23, 2012

In the city

Yesterday, after getting to Indiana late late on Friday night/early early Saturday morning, we ventured to Chicago for a day of seeing "The Hobbit", walking around Navy Pier, shopping on Michigan Avenue and ending the day with dinner at a Bosnian place in Lincoln Square. It was a good, tiring day.













Monday, November 26, 2012

Babies!

For the first time since I was a senior in highschool, I got to spend Thanksgiving in South Dakota. It was fun for many reasons, one that I got to spend some serious time with adorable babies.

The first was my newest cousin Emersyn. She's a newbie and precious.





The second was Abrie, a 5-month old that is the kin of some great family friends. She's so beautiful, and I got teary-eyed when she waved and smiled at Eric one day. 

(My family says it was an arm twitch, but believe what you will, it was freakin' ador-uh-ble.)



Let it be known that this should not be any indication of a Swanson soybean coming in the near future. We love babies, but give us a few years, guys.

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Random & vintage & beautiful all over

So last weekend in Des Moines, I decided before I left that I had quickly grab some shots of my cousin Erika's room. If she had a blog, I would link you to it because she's genius in all senses of the word and essentially my third sister. (Take the hint, Erika - start a blog!)

She transformed her room into a place filled with vintage and thrift store goodies. I'm amazed at her ability to put old things together in a way that freshens them up. While it's hard to choose what my favorite aspect is, I think it's the photo frame collage full of pictures of Erika and her dad. It's beautiful, eclectic and perfect.










Sunday, November 11, 2012

A sew-sew weekend









































I spent the weekend in Des Moines visiting some family. Saturday my cousin Erika and I crafted/sewed all day, and it was the best. I came home with four scarves and feeling revived for the week. Family is it.

breakfast with a protein shake // blank canvas // she takes beautiful photos // on-the-spot art // "I hope you don't mind.." // fabric hand (...?) // the sewing begins // helping with touch ups // love that old man sweater // where we parked for the day // sewing another scarf // gorgeous hair // snack time // some office art // my first homemade scarf! // the beginning of an infinity scarf // machine + hand // focused with a blurry hand // G-man doing his homework // lemon water in mason jars for life

It was a good weekend.

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Little brother musings

A year ago, my teenage brother created his first Gmail account and tried convincing the sisterhood that we should call him ‘Diesel’. Why? No clue. But for all intensive hilarity, consider my brother’s official name to be Diesel.

To honor Diesel’s 15th birthday today, 10 reasons why my baby brother kicks butt.

(You thought I was going to give 15 reasons, didn't you?

1. He wanted to be known as Diesel. ‘Nuff said.

2. The suggestion of ‘Diesel’ prompted us to bestow a slew of other nicknames, including Dog Tags and Shrew. I'll skip the back stories and just go with 'yesssssssssss'.

3. He has the best heart. Like, on Earth. The sisterhood was brutal on D, and history would show that he should be a big bully. But seriously, this kid wouldn’t hurt a fruit fly. Example:  he’s a 6’3” 15-year-old that gets picked on by a teenage turd half his size, and Diesel still befriends him. I wish I was like that. And I can't forget to mention the phone calls I get every two weeks from D asking when I'll be home next because he misses me. Heart.breaker.

4. Titanic love. I thought I had an affinity for all Titanic-related things, but Diesel takes the crown. Give him a book title containing ‘Titanic’, I guarantee he’s already read it.  

5. One-man show. My brother is and always will be an entertainer, and even though he gets carried away quite often, he’s still a riot.

D (on the right), and his floating-head, mysterious-hand sister. 
6. Like grandfather, like grandson. Diesel has this enthralling connection with our grandpa, and no one really understands it. Inside jokes, conversation topics and key words ("fellowship") are the base. Don’t try to jump into their conversations when it’s really going – you’ll likely be ignored. It’s not you; it’s them.

7. Brainiac. Big-time history/spelling-bee nerd, and I couldn't be prouder. 


8. Brothers (in-law). D has always really admired E, and I get all sentimental and stuff thinking about it. I just really love that my husband and brother have the relationship they do.

9. HP for LIFE. I've talked before about my Harry Potter obsession, and it's only gotten worse since. Probably because I introduced Diesel the world that I unashamedly wish we lived in, and every time he visits, we watch as many of the films possible. Victory.

10. Because every sister needs a brother. Especially if you're older. Girls always feel like older brothers are worse on the over-protective scale than parents. But it's also true (I think) if it's vice versa. I'm always asking D who he's texting, what girl he's "dating," how fast he drives, how many bags of Doritos he's eaten this week or if he's drinking enough water. So all you 16-year-old cougars out there thinking about finding out what D has to offer, don't. Because I will be all over that. 

Sunday, May 27, 2012

[un]Photogenic.

I get a real kick out of some the photos my family takes. My mom is famous for her hate of being in front of an camera, and while she claims the other five of us are photogenic, we find ways to prove her wrong.

I know you want to see more of my family's (lack of) ability. Behold, the newest gems.


I snapped these at mini-me's graduation party, and can't decide which is better. Dad's "I look high" face, or my cousin's creeper smile.

By the way, it's totally kosher to laugh at these. In fact, please do.