april.

if you haven't noticed, the swapps' lives are pretty boring. so we need something to look forward to. planning this trip just MIGHT be the trick. you know i love me a countdown chain.

the giving tree.

i love this book. that's all.

our favorite little halloween kiddos.

maddy, ella and max. cute little ones trying to stay warm in the freezing minnesota weather. is max not the cutest eeyore you've ever seen!?

little miss aaliyah's video to derek...who is on his mission in guatemala. 

the hogle.

i forgot about these photos and figured i needed to update the blog before mama j reprimands me. here is a little storyboard on our trip to utah's hogle zoo with my brother and his family while they were in town in september. i miss them lots...and lots and lots.

aaliyah was pretty freaked out by this elephant, but we convinced her to take a picture on it. we are so cruel.
we turned around and caught aaliyah trying to scroll through the pictures on the screen like an iphone. that girls has the "swiping" motion down.

her mom told her to smile, and this is what she did.

don't you just love him!? i do. and dallas, i love you, too.

buster talking to his daddy about his belly button. 

sweet little callie and her ice cream cone.

not sure why this picture is blurry like crazy, but i love zebras. and i took about 50 pictures of this one.

weaseling a cool kids drink.

i like that he looks like, "what? do i have something on my face?"

she's my buddy.

zander attacking auntie stacie's earring. VERY entertaining.

kimber is such a good mommy.

two of my favorite girls.

the cutest little family!

the many faces of aaliyah.

so, this little one just had her third birthday. i can't even believe it. i remember when i got the call that my first little niece was FINALLY here - and i immediately made plans to fly back home to see her sweet little face. and now look at all the things she can do with that face!

it's not like we're related or anything. i love you, princess!

we also had another little niece that had her birthday last week, and a new baby nephew (sam! i love that name) born last month. ry and jenn - we need pictures stat so we can show them off. ;)

we zip lined.

see us on the zip line!? we are itty-bitty.

i forgot about these photos until today. here we are back in august enjoying a little pc olympic park adventure with baby dylski. please notice his very handsome j. crew jacket. i am SUCH a good sister. we are so lucky to live near and work in such a beautiful place!

yes. i am this boring.

i'm aware that i any free moment i have now is spent looking at decorating blogs and furniture websites, and then spending my priceless sleep time thinking about how to arrange these things in my home. do i need help? or, would someone just like to buy me this couch? that might be good...i need it in a bad way.

ps. in laws are in town! we made delicious pumpkin chocolate chip cookies (shout out to abbie m!) i leave for cali for the weekend manana. sister and i watched grey's...and i teared up, like always. my quilt is ALL done - pictures to come soon. besides these fun things, this week has been pretty funky, but hopefully the weekend will make it all much better. or that couch - that couch could make it all better...wait - ashley - you can't buy happiness. ;)