The Many Bunny Faces of Elzora

Dear Elzora,
Today you must be feeling hoppy because you out your bunny ears. Thank you for letting me take these pictures (you didn't make it easy for me).

Now you are asleep and in a few hours farmor will come to take us to Timmele. Mommy needs her hair done!

Tomorrow Miranda is coming!!!!!! We are so excited.

Love you bunny bun bun.

Love,
Mommy

PS If you look at these pictures close up you will see that you have a very dirty face and snot running out of your nose, but you worked it.

Welcome Morris!

Dear Elzora,
Yesterday Liisa and Jeremy welcomed their baby boy into the world.
Little Morris Heikki Duggan was born San Jose, California weighing 8lbs 2oz and measured 19.5 inches in length.

Liisa and Morris are both doing well. Mommy is so, so happy for her friends.
I hope that you a Starla and Morris will be lifelong buddies.

Congrats Liisa and Jeremy!!!

Love,
Mommy

Oh, Baby Baby It's A Wild World!!

Dear Elzora,
Two days ago the moose came back. We missed it but luckily Erica snapped these pictures of our king of the forest in the woods 15 meters behind our house. Erica called us to let us know he had arrived and you and I ran outside to try and get a glimpse, but we couldn't see anything. We also tried looking from the upstairs balcony, but we missed him.

And then yesterday Grandpa Mac sent us a picture of the bear that visited his backyard recently in St.Helen, Michigan. We need a trail cam!

I can't wait to see the Moose, again!! You can read more about the king's visit on Molly's blog.

Love Love,
Mommy

You've Got a Fever of 103! (Hot Blooded)

Dear Elzora,
After partying to the wee hours on Saturday, you came home to mommy on Sunday with a high temperature, runny nose, sore throat and a cough. So no preschool this week! Instead of of going to The Ladybug you have been staying indoors, watching a lot of Pippi Långstrump and playing with your toys. Papa said you started asking for Pippi at 5:30 this morning. The two of you were lying in bed watching Pippi Youtube videos on the iPhone until finally papa had to get up to go to work.

Starla has an appointment with the doctor today at 1:15, so we are actually going to walk to town. I called Kerstin, our nurse, and asked her if it was okay and she said that it was fine since we are the last appointment today. We don't want any other little kids to get sick!! But it will be good to get some fresh air and the sun is shining.

I love you and I hope that you are feeling better soon.

Love,
Mommy

Hard Rock, Hallelujah!!

Dear Elzora,
I took this picture the other morning when you woke up and you were angry. I think it is perfect! And you do actually listen to Slayer with your daddy. Actually both you and Starla went to see Slayer when you were still in mommy's belly.
I love you.

Love,
Mommy

New Fabulous Furniture & Party Party

Dear Elzora,
Today mommy and daddy purchased new outside furniture for our backyard, and it is so nice! I just love the pavilion. It has mosquito netting so we can spend more time outdoors enjoying the beautiful, Swedish summer evenings.

Farmor and farfar came over to help us and then we had fika together. I baked banana muffins and they were really yummy (breastfeeding makes mommy super-duper hungry).

We still have a wind wall to put up and we are purchasing a Weber Fireplace possibly this afternoon. We are going to have such a fun summer just maxin' and relaxin' with our friends and family. Your Aunt Miranda might be arriving from the US before the end of the week. I can't believe it!!

After we finished with the furniture, you and papa went to Timmele for a party. Mommy and Starla stayed home and ate Chinese take-out with our favorite neighbors and watched the Swedish version of Survivor (Robinson). You and papa are now eating breakfast at farmor's and soon you will come home. I miss you!! I heard you were quite the little party girl and fell asleep at 9pm and then woke up for some more party party at 11:30pm!!

I look forward to giving you a great, big hug when you get home. And daddy, too.

Love,
Mommy

First Husbil Holiday

h
Dear Elzora,
On May 1st, farfar and farmor departed from Timmele on their first voyage in the new husbil (RV,Motorhome). Luckily we were there to witness the joyous event.

Last weekend Siri joined her mormor and morfar and soon you too will travel with them to a beautiful, Swedish, seaside destination.

Congratulations Bengt & Bojan!!

Love,
Mommy

UPDATE: You spent your first weekend away from home on a RV trip with farmor and farfar last weekend (June 26 - June 28, 2009).

Happy Birthday, Aunt Jessie!!

Dear Elzora,
Today is your Aunt Jessie's birthday and I know that she would like nothing more than to spend her special day with you. On days like today it is tough living so far away from mommy's family.

Jessie has a lot to be proud of on her birthday. She is going to school, working 2 jobs, helping Grandma Mary Jo with the house and taking care of Kayla. She is becoming quite a role model for you and your sister. I admire her strength.

So, Happy Birthday to Aunt Jessie!! We love you.

Love,
Mommy

PS I think Mommy needs a scanner.
PSS Look at Jessie's feet in the photo of her playing the organ. So cute!!

Happy Birthday, Grover!!

Dear Elzora,
Today is the birthday of our dear friend Grover G-Money Johnson. She is also the founder of Bulges Gym. Mommy lived and worked with Grover for many years in Berkeley and Oakland, California. G-Money is coming to visit us in September and mommy can not wait to see her friend. Happy Birthday, Grover!!

These pictures were taken in a photo booth at Benders bar in San Francisco before it burned down and they rebuilt it. That was a fun night!! Grover, Sarah, Alex and Tracy are some fun gals. You met everyone except for Tracy when we were staying in Berkeley last year.

Love,
Mommy

Easter Revisited

Dear Elzora,
I have to confess that I have a little catching up to do when it comes to your blog. But here are some pictures from Easter at farmor and farfar's house this year. You got a totally hip outfit and some raisins. I think you liked the raisins most of all!

We had Easter dinner with Linda, Morgan and Siri. Of course, it was delicious!

Mama and papa gave you a wheel barrow and a watering can for playing outside. You love to water the garden!

I promise next year we will color as many eggs as humanly possible since we skipped that this year.

Love,
Mommy

Linda's Birthday Party!!

Dear Elzora,
We may have been celebrating Linda's 34th birthday, but you were definitely the one partying.
I am so happy that you are enjoying your life!

Love,
Mommy

PS If anyone wonders what a good present would be for Elzora, a fake cake would be a terrific choice.

Open House at Nickelpigan

Dear Elzora,
On April 23, 2009 you had the opportunity to show mama, papa, Starla, Morgan and Siri your beautiful preschool. What a wonderful, cozy and creative place!! During our visit you and Siri got to play with toys, paint, hop on the pillows, play outside and visit the big school that you might attend when you are 3 years old.

We had a great time and mommy can tell that you are loved and well taken care of on the days that you go to Nyckelpigan.

Love,
Mommy

Photos from Johanna

Dear Elzora,
Johanna, papa's cousin, just sent us these pictures.
Both the pictures and you are beautiful.
Here is the message from Johanna that accompanied the pics.
"Hon har riktigt fina ögon :) hälsningar johanna"
Thank you, Johanna!
Love,
Mommy

Scary Monster at the Biogas Station

Elzora and the Magic Sandbox

Dear Elzora,
You don't really have a magic sandbox. Well at least you haven't figured out if it is magic, yet. I had a magic sandbox when I was a little girl that my daddy built for me. It could grow cucumbers! Nobody believed me until I actually planted the seeds in the sand and the lovely green vegetables appeared just a few weeks later. Everyone was amazed but I knew that it was a magic sandbox all along.

Your daddy built you this beautiful sandbox and of course you LOVE it.
You love it so much that I couldn't get you to look at me to take a picture of you playing in it for the very first time.

I just want you to know that I am having a hard time finding the time or the clarity to write any very interesting posts with 2 little babies to take care of at home. For now I may be posting mainly pictures but I have the rest of my life to add the text. What else am I going to do when I am old besides sit in front of the computer and update your blog? Oh wait, daddy and I may be busy snorkeling and drinking margaritas when we live in a hut on a tropical island somewhere.

I love you more and more every day.
Mommy