I've moved!

....blogs, that is. Giving iWeb another try. And also trying to restart my blogging. We'll see.

Come for a visit!

P.S. If you need/want the login info, email me for it cajohansson@me.com

Dr. Jeckle and Mr. Hyde

There has been a strange creature around our house recently. He goes by the name of Matthew, but lately his more devilish side has been surfacing. I couldn't resist taking this picture of him in a most appropriate shirt from Chicago's Shedd Aquarium that says:

"Sometimes crabby, but always cute."

Although as of late I think I would reverse "crabby" and "cute"!

Jokes on me

Ah, the mysteries of children. They fight like cats and dogs for half the day, then miraculously, when put in the same room for nap time, you wouldn't recognize them. There is incessant laughter, constant giggles, even inside jokes (for some reason, if they say "cotton candy" they both break out in a belly laugh). I'd really like the secret here- but maybe that is just between them- on how to get them to love each other that way all day... not just when mommy says to go to sleep! I'll count my blessings, though. They could fight like cats and dogs during naps too!

It was bound to happen at some point

A bright blue non-washable crayon. In a dryer full of clothes.

Hurumph.

Does anyone have any laundry fairies I could borrow?

Flashback to June 30, 2001

1. Where/How did you meet? In Moscow. Russia. Totally the hand of God. Both of our families were living there as expats and we went to the same high school.

2. How long have you known each other? Since 1995.

3. How long after you met did you start dating? Three years. Despite what you might think, we did not date in high school. But I remember my mom saying then "What about that Erik Johansson? He is such a nice young man!" I'm sure that comment was followed with eye rolls at the mere thought of mom's dating advice. We didn't start dating until a year and a half into college. And by then we were at different ends of the United States. Go figure.

4. How long did you date before you were engaged? About a year and a half, all long distance.

5. How long was your engagement? 11 months

6. How long have you been married? 9 years!

7. What is your anniversary? June 30, 2001

8. How many people came to your wedding reception? About 150. It was an army of Erik's family, my family and a fair amount of our friends from a far.

9. What kind of cake did you serve? Oh, the cake! I'm drooling at the mere thought of it nine years later. It was Lady Baltimore cake, buttercream frosting with fondant icing. I'm trying to figure out how to get some for our 10th anniversary!!

10. Where was your wedding? In Minneapolis in the same church that Erik's parents were married in, his great uncle designed, his grandfather preached at, and he was baptized in. Lets just say they have deep roots there!

11. What did you serve for your meal? The most delish food stations. Not a buffet, food stations. :) It was so good, I'm only sorry that we were scarfing it from take-out containers later that night because we were so busy at the wedding!

12. How many people were in your wedding party? We kept it small and sweet- my sister as the maid of honor and Erik's brother was the best man. His other brother was a reader, as was my best friend from college.

13. Are you still friends with them all? Lets hope so!

14. Did your spouse cry during the ceremony? His voice cracked several times. I did not cry, even though I thought I would. I think I was concentrating on not tripping or passing out!

15. Most special moment of your wedding day? It was all so wonderful, and went way too fast.

16. Any funny moments? Erik's Uncle married us, and out of nerves he forgot to say "You may now kiss the bride". But Erik was by no means going to pass that up, and he planted a big one on me before we walked back down the isle.

17. Any big disasters? Not really. Our parents did a wonderful job of keeping things under control. I'm sure stuff happened that I still don't know about or have forgotten.

18. Where did you go on your honeymoon? The Carribean

19. How long were you gone? Two glorious weeks. It was our last hurrah before we had to change cities, move into a new condo in Chicago, and both start work. I didn't want real life to start.

20. If you could get married again, would there be anything you would change? I would have our reception video taped because it all went so fast, there is a lot I don't remember. I also wouldn't leave at the crack of dawn the next day for our honeymoon. I wish we had spent more time with all the dear friends who had flown in for the event.

21. Greatest strength as a couple? We really balance each other out and like/dislike the same things. Just last week I made a comment about something I didn't like, and Erik said "I really don't either- its a good thing we got married!" :) For example, we both don't like mushrooms. Neither of us are huge fans of the beach (it is beautiful, but so hot, and what's with that salty water? Give me a pool any day.) We both like fun, fancy food when we go out. I could go on. Also, my emotional and highly worked up response to unexpected things is evened out by Erik's cool and collected response. He's saved me from freaking out multiple times (or at least let me have my moment, and then makes me see that it will be alright).

22. Greatest challenge as a couple? This is easy- neither of us likes confrontation with others, which can mean we get walked all over sometimes. Also, I am very indecisive. If Erik happens to be so at the same time, it can prevent us from making hard decisions until time makes the decision for us. Right now we are struggling with pre-school for Grace.

23. What did you dance your first dance to? "The Way You Look Tonight" by Frank Sinatra.

24. Describe your wedding dress: Well, you can see the picture of the top. It also had a chapel length gown and veil, which was quite heavy when all pinned up for the reception. It was not bright white but not ivory- perfectly in the middle. I loved the dress. I wore my mother's pearls and pearl ear rings that my fiance had given me the night before (what luck!).

25. What kind of flowers did you have at your wedding? Blue hydrangeas and yellow roses. Still my favorites.

26. Are your wedding bands engraved? Yes. "EJ to CW 6-30-01 Ecc. 4:9-11". A really sweet Bible verse.

27. How old were you when you got married? 22 years young

Growing, growing, grown

This was a traumatic realization for me: on the left is what William started out as. On the right is what he is now. In two months!! How can this be?
I know my kids are growing, but whenever I have to switch out their clothes, it is a depressing time. I realize how big they have gotten over the last year, six months, or month as the case may be. I will recall hanging up the new pants thinking, "these are huge!" and now I am putting them away because they have turned into capris.

You probably think I'm nuts. (I am.)
By the way, this "Chunker", as Erik affectionately calls him, now weighs 11 pounds, 10 ounces. You may remember he started at 6 # 2 oz! They like babies to double in weight by 6 months. I think we'll make that mark. :) He now fills Matthew's lap.
His first chin is now being eaten by his second chin. And I wish I could put a discrete picture of his thigh rolls on the blog. Rolls! And they thought there was something wrong with him in utero... he just wanted to be outside eating!
Big sister is still totally smitten.

Working on a new skill set. I can tell Grace is going to be the one to teach him to crawl. And then be sorry she ever did!

More garden fun

Erik and I were left with a dilemma. More strawberries from our garden than we could eat plain, with ice cream or in a pie. What to do? We decided to try our hand at makes preserves. It took us two tries, but the results were scrumptious. Enough to make me go buy more jars and lids to see what else I could can.

Hey, I've got a friend who is growing wheat in her kitchen and another friend who butchers her own meat. I'm just trying to catch up! :)