Family Fun in Indiana: Part 2

Our family gathering took place just a couple of weeks after John and Solveig came back from Spain.  So the boys got their gifts while we were there.

 Gus loves hats.

Anders gift was the cute jersey.  But he wouldn't put down the $2 microphone long enough for me to take his picture.  Anders gravitates to anything that will amplify his voice.

After dinner on the 4th, the kids got to play with sparklers.  They all had a little lesson in how to hold the sparklers so no one would get hurt.  I was pretty sure that if one of my boys got hurt it would be because they were sword fighting with them, not because they weren't holding them right.

Gus wasn't going to take his eyes off of it even for a second.

Anders wasn't as cautious and felt brave enough to wave it around a little.

John was extremely excited.

The boys went back for more and more and more.

Mike let Michael have some fun.

Grandpa has a birthday in July so we thought it would be fitting to celebrate with a cake while everyone was there.  Grandma put sparklers on the cake and Machara didn't think that was a good idea.

Ice cream cake will get 6 kids to sit still for a good 4 minutes.

Then after 4 minutes they are re-energized and ready to go.

Anders picked Aunt Andrina over Uncle Mike.  Uncle Mike wanted to go for two out of three.  Where's the ice cream cake when you need it?

Later in the evening we went down to the park for the fireworks.  John and Eva held hands the whole way.

After we found our seats we enjoyed the music and the cute little dancers.  We should enter these two in ballroom dance lessons.

Later in the weekend we took a trip back to the park.  The kids loved the see-saws.

Anders is not scared of anything.

Michael is not quite old enough to get on a see-saw, so daddy had to step in and help.

It was a wonderful, fun-filled weekend.  We ended  the weekend with a little baby shower for Ashley.  Stay tuned for those pictures.

Family Fun in Indiana: Part 1

The Fienes made plans to all be in one stay at the same time for 3 days.  That rarely ever happens.  Since Mike and Andrina's clan and Christian flew in all the way from California, we thought it was only fitting to have a nice family get together.  The first day also happened to fall on the 4th of July.

 Of course we had to get the kids together for a picture.  These cousins are the best of friends.  I love how they can go a year without seeing each other and just pick up where they left off.  It's beautiful to see.

 Baby Michael isn't a baby anymore.

 Michael loves his dad.  His mom is his first, second, and third choice, but dad is a strong fourth.

 Michael also likes Uncle Hans.  Hans should feel pretty special because Michael doesn't go to just anyone.  I'm still waiting for the day Michael can look at me without crying.

 The children enjoyed playing on bikes and scooters and coloring on the driveway.  Anders was being an absolute toot and driving over the bricks Machara had just colored.  She was good at ignoring him.

 Machara's middle name is Ashley after her aunt and godmother.  She was very excited to see Aunt Ashley.

 The adults enjoyed good food and good conversation.

 The kids had a good time just running around.

 John and Grace, a neighbor, played a little ball with Michael.  Getting that boy hooked on soccer early.  These three were so sweet.

 At the time of these pictures Michael wasn't walking.  When he was on any type of hard surface he would crawl like this.  Now I think he has ditched the crawling and has started walking.

 We used the wheelbarrow to block the alley so the kids could play.  They all thought it would be cool to play in it.  Anders wanted to give everyone rides.  He realized he need to start lifting weights.

 John and Eva are a perfect pair.  They are such goofballs.

So much love.

 With everyone in attendance we absolutely needed to take a family picture.

The weekend was filled with lots more laughing, talking, playing, hugging and smiling.  More picture to come...

A Birthday Celebration

A couple of weekends ago, the boys and I went to Indianapolis to visit with family.  While we were there, my sister in-law and my mother in-law planned a little party to celebrate my birthday and Anders' birthday.

Andrina picked up nuggets from Chick-fil-A.  That, in and of itself, made it the best party ever.

The birthday boy with an awesome party hat from Grandma.

 Christian even entertained us with his recital piece.

There was lots of laughing, dancing, jumping, and popping of balloons.  It was utter chaos.  But I loved every minute of it.

Installation

On December 18, 2010, Hans was installed as the pastor of River of Life Lutheran Church in Channahon, IL.  It was a great service with a wonderful sermon from my father in-law, John.  Since the installation was on such sort notice and so close to Christmas, we were very surprised at the amount of people that were able to attend.

Hans' family came in the night before and we all hung out at the hotel then had dinner.  It was fun going out to eat, late at night, with 8 adults and 5 kids.

  Hanging out at the hotel.

The boys had a great time.  There is NO WAY I would let them have pillow fights or jump on the bed.  Grandpa and Uncle Christian prompted lots of rule breaking.

 My niece, Eva.  I love that cheesy smile.

 Cousins giving each other a high five.

Waiting to go the the installation.  The kids loved playing in the lobby at the hotel.

 Uncle Christian was having a great time holding Anders.  Until Anders spit up all over his suit.

Anders felt pretty comfortable with Uncle Mike.

All the pastor folk.

Cousins

After we got back from vacation we had a few days to recoup and then we met family in Breckenridge, CO.  I was very excited to see my sister in-law, Andrina, and her family.  Her girls, Eva and Machara, are very close in age to my boys so it was great to have them all together.  The kids haven't seen each other since last year so they had lots of catching up to do.

Eva, Machara and John.  I'm not sure where Gus was.

Machara was having a good time outside.  Such a cutie.

Machara and Gus are three days apart.  Everyone thought they were twins.  Look at all that blond hair.

This is my sister in-law, Andrina, her husband, Mike, and their two adorable girls, Eva and Machara.

We had some wonderful scenery behind us so decided to take advantage of it.

Andrina wanted to take a picture of me and my boys...but Eva just had to be in the picture.  Hans says Eva is striking a pose just like Andrina would do.

It's hard enough to get two kids to stay still during a picture...four was just simply impossible.  Out of all the pictures I took this was one of the best since I at least have one kid from each family looking up and smiling.  There is no doubt these kids are related.

John and Eva are a little over 5 months apart and are the best of friends.  And sometimes the worst of enemies.  They had a wonderful time all weekend.

Andrina, John, Machara and I on the gondola ride up Keystone Mountain.

On Sunday we celebrated John's (Grandpa John's) birthday.  I made a cake that looked like a present and let the older kids decorate with special food markers.  John and Eva had a great time decorating.

The cake before decorating began.  It was a dark chocolate cake filled with chocolate ganache and strawberries.  Very chocolaty.

John and Eva's creation.