Breakfast for 8

This past weekend I got a very tiny taste for what it must have been like for my mama-in-law with 7 kids at breakfast mornings. We had the most guests over ever in our house on Friday night and come Saturday morning, they were hungry!! :) We loved having the company & chatter!! I served onion-red pepper-eggs, cinnamon rolls, and chicken sausages! I was thankful to have made the right amount so everyone walked away full. Although it was fabulous, I don't think I'm ready for any big formal meals like Thanksgiving or Christmas. But I'd definitely do this style again.

Chicago

After Indiana fun-ness, we headed to the windy city of Chicago to explore for a few days! What a fabulous city!! We both loved the wide sidewalks, random art & architecture, and all the fun things to do. Here's a bit of what we experienced in just TWO days:
1. Chicago Architecture Boat Tour- traveling around in channels, learning about Chicago history & beauty
2. Art Institute of Chicago- can't go here & NOT experience this! But if you're like my husband, stay clear of the "Modern Crap" as he called it.
3. Deep Dish Pizza at Pizzeria Due- so thick, it'll last 2 hungry people for 3 meals!
4. Dunkin' Donuts- don't go outside of California without going here! :)
5. Millennium Park- amazing, beautiful park with the "bean", spitting fountain, and outdoor performance center
6. Blue Chicago- Cool blues and jazz music with female vocalists!
7. Walking tours around the downtown area found in our travel guide

Yummy Deep Dish!
On the boat tour
In front of the Bean

Awesome houses around town
We made it with only one night of down pour rain!!

Boys.

Indiana

We just got back from a fabulous trip to the Mid-west. Although Indiana isn't known as a "tourist" destination, there are lots of fun things to do. We loved spending time with another one of W's brother's family! Here's a bit of what we did:

1. Indiana Dunes National Park- Really great sand hiking near Lake Michigan
2. Shipshewana- Amish Country
3. University of Notre Dame- car tour of a beautiful campus
4. Michigan southern edge along highway 12
5. Lakes of the Four Seasons- hanging out at the Swenson residence stationed around awesome lakes

At the top of our Dunes Hike
Lunch at Shipshewana Random bridge in Michigan

Playing with fireworks at home

Had to

Just for everyone who told me I needed the hat. This is close enough. 8o)

Amish Bread Leads to Amish Hairstyle

When we were down south, our mama-in-law gave us an Amish Friendship Bread starter. We did the mushing and adding of ingredients diligently... well, William was more on it than me. Over the weekend, he baked the bread & added some blueberries & bananas. It was amazing. We passed out the rest of our starters to loved ones too. Last night, William decided on a new 'do...an Amish 'do. I dig it and the fact that he loves to change up his facial hair. Keeps things steamy at our place!! :)

Memorial Day Weekend

The May Bash Party (celebrating all the Swenson May bdays) was a blast-- yummy food & company!! We had such a great time with family during Memorial Weekend! We also had the delightful joy of hanging out with our lovable nephew #10. And boy, is he A-DOR-ABLE!! We had such a wonderful time hanging out with his parents too (and for that matter, Swenson baby #12 still baking in Mama's belly) Kids are such great entertainment! Who needs television when you can sit around a nephew and giggle ever time he says your name in his discipline chair!?! Hard to be serious in training children! It was so relaxing being away from home too. We can't wait to visit the O.C. again! Thanks, W & C for your wonderful hospitality and comfy bed!! Oh, and super cute child... :D(This is his "hold your face" pose!)