Anna wanted to do our makeup together and then Katie wanted me to do hers…
She can stop growing up now.
Playing with makeup
Tag Archives: Chang-Yen
So this happened out of nowhere.
Tom randomly found a Facebook marketplace listing for a used GE Profile double oven for a price we could kinda afford…
So out with the 20yo original oven and in with the new! It’s super fancy! But now all our appliances match!
Anna christened it with seven layer bars and white chocolate cranberry oatmeal cookies! Tomorrow I’m making Chex mix!
Honey & Katie
Christmas at the Shanty
We were looking forward to great food at the Shanty Christmas party…but long story short we were idiots and didn’t realize that “passed plates” meant hors d’oeuvres and not family style so we were all bummed. The things we had were decent, but not worth the wait or the cost. At least we got to meet up with a friend of ours for a little bit.
Let Christmas begin!
Anna, David, and the kids came over to stay with us for a few days! The impetus was a huge storm that was supposedly coming (the kids’ last half day of school was preemptively cancelled because of it) but also because we generally spend a lot of time together so why not just stay in the same house?!
Of course, Anna brought one of Kai’s old sweaters for Olive… But he got dressed up as well.
Two sleepers.
Cuddles at the bar!
I’m sitting at the bar and she crawled over from David’s lap…
to cuddle behind me in my chair.
Botanical Gardens Lightscape
Admittedly I bitched a lot beforehand about Anna making us go to Lightscape (I’m turning into a major homebody as I get older!)…but it ended up to be super cool and I have apologized.
The doggo welcome!
Every. Single. Time.
If we’re holding Olive she becomes so frantic we literally cannot hold her. The sound of pawing and barking and yipping is deafening.
We usually let her free as soon as we get inside — and then shoo all three outside — but today we just let them do this.
Sangria & Buddy
I feel like I’m just gonna leave both of these here.
Pysanky lessons!
David wasn’t going to do it but then Evan didn’t want to finish his so David took it over! He did really well and it turned out cute!
Anna swore up and down she was going to suck at this but she did amazing with her very first egg! Now she can’t wait to do some more!
Our first hosted Thanksgiving dinner!
I was so busy with a houseful of guests and dinner prep that I barely had time to look at my phone (so most of these are from everyone else)! But it was so worth it to have everyone together — from Georgia (Filipek), Michigan (Schwalm & Coe), and Illinois (Schwalm & Hudson). And our best friends joined us, too…and fit right in!
Then we did some reenactment shots!
I can’t believe it was 22 years between these photos. But we all still look the same, right?! Also: no kids in 2000, six kids in 2022!
Let the family festivities begin!
We excitedly volunteered to host the Schwalm side family thanksgiving this year—Filipeks usually host in Atlanta but they’ve recently downsized and didn’t have room. We had plenty of room for everyone (most even stayed with us—kicking the kids out of their rooms of course)!
Everyone had varied arrival times, but by Wednesday afternoon everyone was here! It makes my heart so happy to see my kids having fun with their cousins.
Dinner for 21 is served! Charcuterie that takes up our entire kitchen island!
You know she’s really tired when she lays somewhere like this!
Career exploration at the Shedd Aquarium
After some initial super frustrating snafus with actually getting everyone INTO the aquarium, the three boys (and three parents) took a “deep dive into the day of an aquarist—the animal care staff that work with animals ranging from fishes to reptiles to birds—and learned more about this profession.” They all seemed to have fun!
Trick or Treating
Owen didn’t decide until the day before that he wanted to go trick or treating so his choice of costumes was limited… I didn’t even get a picture of Katie because so much was going on.
Olive loved everyone! She would wait patiently and wouldn’t bark or go crazy.
But she loved the attention.
Of course, Katie refused to wear her wig at the last minute, so Tom put it on instead. It looked epic.
And he and Anna made a cute couple.
This is what dogsitting looks like.
Anna and David went to New York so we got their two dogs—Olive’s bestie, Honey, and Kai. Unfortunately you can’t hear Kai barking like an asshole at everything—we had to keep the front door shut or he barked like a madman at every little thing. He even nosed the side curtains out of the way in order to look and bark. And all his barking made both other dogs bark. Good times! At least Olive was kept busy playing with Honey… Honey is so good with her.
She’s so cute when she sleeps.
Resting Besties
We took Olive when we went over for dinner and of course they all go apeshit bananas for a long time…but then they do eventually settle down.
Ope!
Our foursome went to Charlie Berens tonight and he was hilarious. If you are from the Midwest and haven’t seen him, you’re missing out! Stop what you’re doing and go watch some of his videos on YouTube (and you can get merch here).
She does sit with Anna sometimes.
Forced cuddles!
Too Many Zooz
We took the kids to their first concert! Anna and David and the kids also went—and we took one of Owen’s friends (Lucas).
The planning and prepping was exhausting (trying to figure out what we need to pack and take to eat since we’d never been there) because apparently the thing to do at Ravinia is arrive early and picnic and hang out)! Plus we had an early access pass (but only for four people!) from a neighbor…so Tom and David went first with Owen and Lucas to get everything set up and our spots staked out!
The boys started with their fancy drinks. (Yes, David brought glass glasses!)
As Anna and I were on our way with the other three kids, we got this pic via text:
Owen was in heaven!! He got to meet Leo P of TOO MANY ZOOZ before the concert! He’s been listening to their music for years and playing their songs on his bari sax for months! Tom had seen him walking around and told Owen to go meet him! We were all so excited for him!
The kids went up to sit right in front of the stage. We ate our charcuterie and drank our drinks. The boys made more drinks.
I thought I took one more with everyone looking…but apparently I didn’t.
Our view from our seats. The kids were right in the front row!
Overall everyone had a great time and Anna and I decided we would maybe do it again.
Here’s a video of the band:
Anna couldn’t resist buying Olive a new sweater.
Kudos to David!
David surprised me and Anna with purses we adored (but didn’t want to splurge on!) at the craft fair in Eagle Harbor!
The waterslide has arrived!
Owen invited some friends over to use the waterslide—and we looked out and saw this. This is apparently how teens use a waterslide. If they don’t use it more tomorrow this might be the last year!
In Chicago for Comedy
Tonight the four of us went to Chicago to see comedian Dave Attell. I wasn’t really looking forward to it (long story) but I ended up having fun!
Yes, more Olive.
And playing with her bestie, Honey!
Don’t let all the smiling faces fool you—leaving Agate sucks.
Until next year…
A bit misty and chilly up at the top today.
