You really didn't think we were gone forever, did you? Two little kids take up a lot of time and energy, and the beginning of the school year wreaked havoc on the schedule. Nevertheless, we are back with lots to tell.
Obviously a lot has happened since late August. Of note was an election on November 6th, although it almost seemed like nothing was going on as there were hardly any ads on tv, radio, and the like.
Oh, and you want to see pictures and videos? Buckle up as there are a few to go through.
This is from August 27th. Simon has been doing a pretty good job going to bed and staying in his bed, but this one night I found him passed out right inside his bedroom door.
From August 28th, right before little E turned five months old.
Same day. Mommy took the kids to a really neat park in Waukegan.
From September 1st.
The next day.
A little concert for you, which was performed on September 3rd.
Later that afternoon Saba and Nana stopped by for a visit.
The next day.
And the next day after that.
On September 8th mommy was working, so I took SOL to the Waukegan airshow (don't worry, I didn't leave Eliot at home with Theo. Mima was there). Then later in the afternoon GG and Papa stopped by.
Out in the backyard the next day.
From September 11th.
Later that afternoon a trip to the airport was in order.
We spent the first night of Rosh Hashanah at Saba and Nana's.
The following morning before we left for services.
And heading home from services.
Here's another performance -- this time in the shower -- from September 18th.
Building a city on September 22nd.
That same week mommy, Mima and Eliot headed to Columbus, Ohio, for mommy's OB/GYN oral board review course. This was taken on September 23rd in the morning.
What a nice view of the construction from their hotel room. Taken later that afternoon.
Back on the homefront, I took Simon to the park the same afternoon.
September 24th in Columbus.
September 26th in Columbus (it was a long week).
Same day, same place.
Next day, same place (did I mention it was a long week?)
Looks like they went for a little swim at the hotel.
Everyone was back at home (thank g-d) when this was taken the morning of September 29th.
That evening.
Now we have October, folks. This was at Eliot's six-month checkup (10/2). Someone is on the move!
This is from the next day. Take a look at Simon's head. He was running around and slammed into one of the kitchen chairs. Ouch.
From October 4th. Someone is very motivated to get moving.
Nice work if you can get it. Taken October 5th.
Taken about 20 minutes after Eliot's bath shot.
From October 6th.
Taken the same evening. All the boys seem very focused on their own tasks.
Now that's what I am talking about, son! Enough of this Packer gear garbage. Taken October 7th in the morning.
You're hired! Taken the same morning.
And yet another one from the same morning. Sharing is becoming an issue now.
A lot of shots from October 7th.
Still from the 7th. He can clean up and make a mess. What a talent!
Finally on to a new day, October 9th. Eliot is now ending up in all kinds of interesting places.
Now onto October 11th. Not only can mommy be a terrific OB/GYN, but she can also be a chaperone for a field trip to the Jerry Smith Pumpkin Farm near Kenosha.
Just waking up from a nap on October 13th.
Just before dinner that evening. Watch out Eddie Felson!
On October 14th we went to our synagogue to see Craig Taubman perform.
Later that day we met up with my old childhood friend, Tom Bivens. He had his first child, a daughter, in June. He lives in Portland now, but was in town for a Bat Mitzvah.
Lots of good treats at the house.
A couple of hours later at home.
I must have lost a bet to have agreed to be in this shot.
A few minutes later. All cleaned up and ready for PJs.
Can eating be too much fun sometimes? Taken October 17th.
Rest is at a big premium at our house right now. Taken October 20th.
The weekend of October 21st had mommy in-house at the hospital, so Mima came over and we took the kids to Patch 22 farm in Wadsworth.
The following weekend we headed to Minneapolis as the Swedish Lavens were in town visiting Grandma Fran. Uncle Dan also had a conference to attend at the University of Minnesota.
This shot was taken on our way. This was our lunch break.
Back in the car.
Watch very closely at Simon's mouth.
When we arrived at Grandma Fran's late in the afternoon Samuel and Jacob were already in their Halloween costumes.
Aunt Liz and Uncle Larry came in from Milwaukee for the festivities.
Not to be outdone, our kids had some pretty snazzy costumes as well.
The evening of September 26th, St. Louis Park had a Halloween party at the recreation center. Here's Sam and what he called "The Scary Man."
The kids were just as interested in the Zamboni cleaning the ice rink as they were in the party.
The next morning at Grandma Fran's.
As we saw in Sweden, Jacob loves little kids. That interest is still in full effect.
Storytime with the librarian.
Grandma Fran, please feed me!
The next morning we visited our friends, Chad and Dina Blumenfield, at their house in St. Louis Park. Here's their oldest, Aiden, and Simon playing in their yard.
Later in the afternoon at Grandma Fran's.
Aunt Maria loves to bake, but unfortunately one cannot get chocolate chips very easily in Sweden. So we figured we'd stock her up before she went back home.
Oh no, my baby turned into a Badger!
Taken October 29th. Check out Simon's left hand. He fell asleep listening to music on my phone, and the hand kept the position.
That morning all of us headed to the Minnesota Zoo. I don't think I've been there in 25 years or so. It was a lot of fun!
After we got back it was bathtime. Certain areas had to be cropped to keep this blog G rated.
Storytime with Aunt Maria.
Believe it or not, that night the four of us were able to go out to dinner without the kids!
We had to head back home the next day. Here was a lunch break at a McDonald's Playland.
And the final pit stop for potty/custard.
Theoretically the kids should've been tired after that long drive home...not exactly.
The Halloween party at Simon's school on October 31st. Don't mess with this security guard.
Fast forward to November, the 3rd that is. Very tastefully done, mommy. No cropping needed.
November has also brought Eliot being able to pull himself up. This was from November 11th.
That afternoon.
Same story on November 13th.
November 15th before nighty night.
Sometimes experimentation can be painful. From November 16th.
Uh oh, I think we'll have another talking person in the house soon. Shot same day.
More stories to tell the next day.
From November 17th. This is one of their first -- of probably many -- baths together.
The next morning.
Remember when I wrote earlier that Eliot is ending up in interesting places? This was taken November 19th.
Ok I tried to be a little artsy here. This was taken November 20th near sunset in my office parking lot.
Taken Thursday morning before we headed to Madison for Thanksgiving. Who is still the man of the house, huh?
The family was together again on Friday morning in Milwaukee.
Friday evening after dinner we saw our friend, Stephen Huxley, who was also in town for Thanksgiving. Stephen is soon moving to Denver. Good luck!
Yesterday morning on our way back home. The car was completely packed, including Theo in the back who you can't even see here.
From August 28th, right before little E turned five months old.
Same day. Mommy took the kids to a really neat park in Waukegan.
From September 1st.
The next day.
A little concert for you, which was performed on September 3rd.
Later that afternoon Saba and Nana stopped by for a visit.
The next day.
And the next day after that.
On September 8th mommy was working, so I took SOL to the Waukegan airshow (don't worry, I didn't leave Eliot at home with Theo. Mima was there). Then later in the afternoon GG and Papa stopped by.
Out in the backyard the next day.
From September 11th.
Later that afternoon a trip to the airport was in order.
We spent the first night of Rosh Hashanah at Saba and Nana's.
The following morning before we left for services.
And heading home from services.
Here's another performance -- this time in the shower -- from September 18th.
Building a city on September 22nd.
That same week mommy, Mima and Eliot headed to Columbus, Ohio, for mommy's OB/GYN oral board review course. This was taken on September 23rd in the morning.
What a nice view of the construction from their hotel room. Taken later that afternoon.
Back on the homefront, I took Simon to the park the same afternoon.
September 24th in Columbus.
September 26th in Columbus (it was a long week).
Same day, same place.
Next day, same place (did I mention it was a long week?)
Looks like they went for a little swim at the hotel.
Everyone was back at home (thank g-d) when this was taken the morning of September 29th.
That evening.
Now we have October, folks. This was at Eliot's six-month checkup (10/2). Someone is on the move!
This is from the next day. Take a look at Simon's head. He was running around and slammed into one of the kitchen chairs. Ouch.
From October 4th. Someone is very motivated to get moving.
Nice work if you can get it. Taken October 5th.
Taken about 20 minutes after Eliot's bath shot.
From October 6th.
Taken the same evening. All the boys seem very focused on their own tasks.
Now that's what I am talking about, son! Enough of this Packer gear garbage. Taken October 7th in the morning.
You're hired! Taken the same morning.
And yet another one from the same morning. Sharing is becoming an issue now.
A lot of shots from October 7th.
Still from the 7th. He can clean up and make a mess. What a talent!
Finally on to a new day, October 9th. Eliot is now ending up in all kinds of interesting places.
Now onto October 11th. Not only can mommy be a terrific OB/GYN, but she can also be a chaperone for a field trip to the Jerry Smith Pumpkin Farm near Kenosha.
Just waking up from a nap on October 13th.
Just before dinner that evening. Watch out Eddie Felson!
On October 14th we went to our synagogue to see Craig Taubman perform.
Later that day we met up with my old childhood friend, Tom Bivens. He had his first child, a daughter, in June. He lives in Portland now, but was in town for a Bat Mitzvah.
Lots of good treats at the house.
A couple of hours later at home.
I must have lost a bet to have agreed to be in this shot.
A few minutes later. All cleaned up and ready for PJs.
Can eating be too much fun sometimes? Taken October 17th.
Rest is at a big premium at our house right now. Taken October 20th.
The weekend of October 21st had mommy in-house at the hospital, so Mima came over and we took the kids to Patch 22 farm in Wadsworth.
The following weekend we headed to Minneapolis as the Swedish Lavens were in town visiting Grandma Fran. Uncle Dan also had a conference to attend at the University of Minnesota.
This shot was taken on our way. This was our lunch break.
Back in the car.
Watch very closely at Simon's mouth.
When we arrived at Grandma Fran's late in the afternoon Samuel and Jacob were already in their Halloween costumes.
Aunt Liz and Uncle Larry came in from Milwaukee for the festivities.
Not to be outdone, our kids had some pretty snazzy costumes as well.
The evening of September 26th, St. Louis Park had a Halloween party at the recreation center. Here's Sam and what he called "The Scary Man."
The kids were just as interested in the Zamboni cleaning the ice rink as they were in the party.
The next morning at Grandma Fran's.
As we saw in Sweden, Jacob loves little kids. That interest is still in full effect.
Storytime with the librarian.
Grandma Fran, please feed me!
The next morning we visited our friends, Chad and Dina Blumenfield, at their house in St. Louis Park. Here's their oldest, Aiden, and Simon playing in their yard.
Later in the afternoon at Grandma Fran's.
Aunt Maria loves to bake, but unfortunately one cannot get chocolate chips very easily in Sweden. So we figured we'd stock her up before she went back home.
Oh no, my baby turned into a Badger!
Taken October 29th. Check out Simon's left hand. He fell asleep listening to music on my phone, and the hand kept the position.
That morning all of us headed to the Minnesota Zoo. I don't think I've been there in 25 years or so. It was a lot of fun!
After we got back it was bathtime. Certain areas had to be cropped to keep this blog G rated.
Storytime with Aunt Maria.
Believe it or not, that night the four of us were able to go out to dinner without the kids!
We had to head back home the next day. Here was a lunch break at a McDonald's Playland.
And the final pit stop for potty/custard.
Theoretically the kids should've been tired after that long drive home...not exactly.
The Halloween party at Simon's school on October 31st. Don't mess with this security guard.
Fast forward to November, the 3rd that is. Very tastefully done, mommy. No cropping needed.
November has also brought Eliot being able to pull himself up. This was from November 11th.
That afternoon.
Same story on November 13th.
November 15th before nighty night.
Sometimes experimentation can be painful. From November 16th.
Uh oh, I think we'll have another talking person in the house soon. Shot same day.
More stories to tell the next day.
From November 17th. This is one of their first -- of probably many -- baths together.
The next morning.
Remember when I wrote earlier that Eliot is ending up in interesting places? This was taken November 19th.
Ok I tried to be a little artsy here. This was taken November 20th near sunset in my office parking lot.
Taken Thursday morning before we headed to Madison for Thanksgiving. Who is still the man of the house, huh?
The family was together again on Friday morning in Milwaukee.
Friday evening after dinner we saw our friend, Stephen Huxley, who was also in town for Thanksgiving. Stephen is soon moving to Denver. Good luck!
Yesterday morning on our way back home. The car was completely packed, including Theo in the back who you can't even see here.
