Elisabeths first week!

I was waiting to get some more "perfect" photos, but its not so easy with a newborn to get those, so here are a few photos from our first week with our sweet newborn, Elisabeth Evangelina.

 And I thought Markus was still a baby......

 Leave us alone....we're sleeeeeeping.

 A very happy big sister....

 Home from the hospital!

 A 3 am photo shoot at the hospital, since Elisabeth anyway didnt want to sleep.

 We get this fancy tray of sandwiches and coffee after all the hard work of giving birth, not bad, Sweden.

 Fresh out of the oven!

 Dont I look ready to get that baby out?  (Soon on the way to the hospital).

Happy Birthday Lydia, 4 years old! (part 2)

Here are a few photos from our full weekend...not just one but TWO birthday parties for Lydia. 

(although I think she and I agree that one would have been enough!)

Second party, kids galore!

 
a TON of kiddos (10 kids) came, but it went smoothly overall.

This green cake was supposed to look like this guy, the Liseberg Rabbit 

(from Gothenburg's amusement park)

 A lot of people (adults and kiddos) even went along with getting their faces painted.  Markus was not so easy to paint, but fun!

Fun guests...

 Daniel was so kind to paint my face....

 No Swedish birthday party is complete without fishing for a goody bag!

Markus birthday cake...

A few things to take note of here:

Lydia is sharing and helping Markus
Markus was very tired but still thoroughly enjoyed that cupcake
Swedish family was continuously talking about this "interesting American tradition."

Birthday morning tradition...

 March 5, Markus and I BOTH share this birthday day...

And in Sweden that means all the celebrations start first thing in the morning!
Of course most people do not look so good that early, us all included.

But presents, singing in bed, breakfast in bed, and kids with their happy faces are a great thing to wake up to. 
 Markus got his presents in bed too...haha!

 It's Markus' birthday, but he doesn't seem to mind Lydia opening all his presents!

This COULD have been a cute pictures...oh Lydia, stop picking your nose!

 Markus is "learning how to smile for the camera,"  I guess he still needs some practice. :)

 Here's another "smile"....Happy birthday to my sweet son Markus!