Winter Beach

Cloudless skies and 80 degree weather...

Few people on the beach...

50 degree water, but stayed in it forever...

Taking 2 days to fall in love with the sand...

Knowing your child loves the beach as much as you do...

PRICELESS

Ella's 1st Birthday!

 

Ella's first birthday 

Let me finish what I started.  It was Thursday morning, I called the hospital, they wanted me there at 8:00 a.m.  While I was getting ready, I started getting these funny painful aches.  Hmm... were they contractions?  You bet they were contractions.  They started out not so bad, then by 7:30 a.m. when we left for the hospital, I started to brace myself because the pains became so intense.  Finally, we arrived the hospital, and into a nice room by 8:30.  The nurse got me all hooked up to the drugs and then checked me. I was dilated to a 4, so I could get the epidural when I was ready.  I was ready! After the epidural, I was able just to sit and enjoy myself, my conversation with my mom and sisters, and watching the contractions on the computer (Brennan was in another room waiting for the "all-clear" sign -- he's not a fan of hospitals/blood).  I couldn't feel a thing.  After about an hour, the nurse checked me again, I was dilated to a 10.  I could start pushing.  I pushed for about an hour and a half, and at 12:45 p.m., Ella came into the world.  It was an incredible experience.  I will never forget that day,  Brennan and I are so lucky to have this amazing person in our life.  She is the joy of our lives.  Ella, we love you and are the luckiest parents in the world.  

Ella minutes after she was born

Almost 1 years ago

Let's see, exactly 1 year ago, I went to work.  My daughter was to be born the next day. Yes, some people thought I was crazy but, I wanted to spend as much time with Ella after she was born.  I only had 3 months before I had to go back to work.  Anyways, It was a very busy day at school. Papers here, papers there, sub notes everywhere!  I said goodbye to all my 4th graders, stuck around until about 5:00,  then I went home to get ready for the next day.  I was going to be induced the next morning.  Boy, or Girl was I nervous...

The night before Ella was born

Technologically savvy!

So Bren and I are "late" bloomers.  For some reason, when a new sort of technology happens, Bren and I shrug and say "We're not going to do that."  or "this is stupid" or "Why do you need that?" Well, I guess it started with the blog, and then Facebook, now we have given in and just got texting.  Some of you are probably saying "What!?!"  Yes, it is true, we just got texting.  So now we will answer your texts if you text us. 

A Merry Christmas and a Great New Year!

The Nativity  

Starting from the left:  Max, Lily, Lucy, Kate, Anna holding Jack, Jacob, Sally, and Ella.

Andrew not pictured.

I hope you all had a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year.  We Snows, had a great Christmas and a wonderful New Year.  We were able to enjoy great company, eat loads of excellent food, and drive in horrible weather.   A couple of years ago, Grandma Swensen along with Kate and Lucy decided it was time for our family on Christmas Eve to do the Nativity.  Now that the Swensen's have 10 grand children (We are missing one in the picture.  Andrew was sick and wasn't able to join us that evening.), this allows the nativity to be more than 4 persons. This year Ella was able to join the fun.  She got to be the Sheep.  She made her dad very proud. By the way, One Christmas present Ella gave me is she started walking about a week before Christmas day.  I am so excited, no more dirty knees, no human vacuum!  But, like I have been told by many, different kinds of trouble come with walking!  Oh well... We hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and a very joyous New Year. 

Daddy's little girl

P.S. I want to change my back ground but don't want to loose all the info.  Can anyone help me?

Never mind... I got it taken care of!  Thanks!

Yeah, she finally looks like me!

Ever since Ella was born, most everyone would tell me that Ella looks "just like Brennan". Even my own sister said that Brennan and I need to have another child so the next one can look like me.  As a mother, you want your child to look like you.  However, after time, I got used to the fact that Ella wasn't a Swensen.  She was more Snow, which is just fine.   

About a couple months ago, I was looking though some old pictures looking for Swen's retirement.  Then, I came across this picture.  Of course, I got some hope that maybe Ella does look like me.  Yeah, I finally got my wish.

I knew she got those ears from me.

Bed Head

About a week ago, I heard Ella talking after her afternoon nap.  So, I went in the room to get her and to my surprise I saw the most crazy bed head I have ever seen from her. I know she sleeps on her forehead with her legs under her but, this day I am not sure how she slept to cause this kind of hair.  Classic!

I like to call this one "The Wave"