Trick or Treat

Halloween Party !

Trying to eat a donut off a string. Kaleb had a little help as

you can see. You are not suppose to use your hands, but

he had lots of fun. Nothing like a bucket of candy and a

chocolate donut.

Tyson looking for candy. He spent a long time in this

Newspaper.

Ready to leave with Mr. Incredible and Tyson the Lion.

Kaleb and his Stash

Tyson could have eaten his whole bucket of candy in one

night if we would have let him.

We also went trick or treating on Halloween night and the

boys loved all the house decorated. We went on a street a

couple of blocks away from our house that really goes all

out. It was a pleasant surprise, since we didn't know if they

would have much luck trick or treating in the city with all

the apartment living. Thankfully my friend told us where

her family goes so we thought we would try it out. The street

had as many lights as some homes have at Christmas, but

of course with Halloween colors and lots of decorations. Many

of the owners were dressed and ready to meet any visitor that

came to the door. The boys did really well with some scary

masks. It was a fun night for all of us and wish I would have

taken my camera, but didn't know what to expect. With all

the people I can't imagine how much candy those houses have

to buy.

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween

This Halloween season has been lots of fun with the both

the boys excited about Halloween and their costumes. It

all started when we spent the weekend at my parents

house and my mom and the boys put up all their Halloween

decorations and then carved pumpkins. They had a blast.

Kaleb then asked when we were going to put up our

Halloween decorations, but I said we already had. He was

disappointed. My mom has a lot of Halloween decorations

so compared to her it looked like we had nothing.

Carving a pumpkin at home for Family Night,

since the ones from Grandma and Grandpa

Shurtleff didn't make it to Halloween.

Pulling out the Guts!

Two becomes Four

Ben and Karen

Addyson and Avery Shurtleff new additions. Ben and Karen

Congratulations on your beautiful baby girls. They were

born on Oct. 2nd and will share a birthday with Tyson. It will

be birthday central in October for our family.

Wedding weekend and more birthday Celebration

Went home this weekend to celebrate Rachel and Nate's

Wedding. It was so fun to be with them on their special day

and to see them so happy. I wish I would have taken more

pictures, but we were all just having too much fun.

Ashley, Rachel, Lisa, Me, and Nicole. What a beautiful

Wedding.

Carved Pumpkins with Grandma and Grandpa Shurtleff

That cupcake and Ice Cream must be delicious. Look at

that face.

Happy Birthday Grandpa! Tyson and Grandpa's birthdays

are only two days apart.

Grand Lux for his birthday dinner.

Birthday Boys!

Tyson's #2 Birthday

I can't believe it Tyson is 2 years old. He is doing so well

and has become such a big boy. He is talking up a storm,

even right now while I am writing this he is getting all

excited about this picture. We had a fun day with him

opening presents and going out to the Grand Lux for his

birthday dinner. It was a rainy day, but we still spent time

outside with his Grandma and Grandpa Ekenstam who

came up to celebrate his birthday.

Tyson's Birthday!

Opening Presents

SETTLED IN!

We pulled out of Peoria Friday August 14th to make the

three hour drive to Schaumburg where we would be spending

the night in a hotel until we could move into our apartment

the next morning. Driving to Schaumburg was not as easy a

trip as usually, it was a continual down pour from Chillicothe

to Schaumburg.

Saturday morning the 15th of August we arrived

at our home in Chicago. We are on the second floor of

the brownstone and are enjoying the short time that

we have spent here already.

The view from our front window. You can see the lights

from Wrigley field and enjoy watching all the people walk

down the street before and after the game. It is crazy.

We have enjoyed the conveniences of public transportation.

We have taken the train twice downtown and have ridden

the bus 3 times already. The boys are enjoying riding the

buses/trains. They play and flirt with all the ladies during

the rides.

We took the bus (a 15 min ride) to Lincoln Park Zoo this

morning and walked around and enjoyed this great

attraction in our neighborhood. It is only about 2miles from

our house and is free. The boys and I will probably be spending

lots of time here.

The Safari Carousel

The Gardens at Lincoln Park Zoo. So Beautiful.

Chicago or Bust!

Erich and I have finally made a decision to where we will be spending the next three years of our lives while Erich attends Law School. We are excited to say it will be DePaul University School of Law. We will live in the city and look forward to the many different experiences that a big city provides.

Virginia, Tennessee, and Ohio

Reds Vs. Cubs

Erich Surprises me with Baseball Tickets!

Washington and Lee University Lexington, VA

Gatlinburg, TN

On the Lift over looking Gatlinburg, TN

Southern Virginia University we just thought it was

beautiful.

Robert E. Lee Chapel on Washington and Lee campus.

Erich and I made a quick road trip a couple of weekends ago to visit a law school and have an anniversary trip. It is our 5 year anniversary at the end of this month. First we drove the 12 hours to Lexington, Virginia. Wow is it beautiful there. The Appalachian Mountains have so many trees I can't believe how green and lush they are. Washington and Lee University that we visited sits in Lexington in the Shenandoah Valley. Well we were able to visit the school and meet with admissions for Erich to tour the Law School and interview. It was very helpful in our decision for where we will be at the end of the summer. We then headed to Gatlinburg, TN to site see. Big touristy place, but still a lot of fun. We went to the Ripley's Believe it or Not museum which was cool, but way over priced. After a night there we headed to Cincinnati, OH where Erich suprised me with Reds vs. Cubs tickets. We had so much fun at the game of course the Cubs lost brutally, but always fun to go to a major league game. Then the next morning we headed home. Lots of states in 4 days, but what fun alone time with Erich.

Happy Birthday Kaleb!

Sporting the tool belt he got for his b-day!

Blowing out the candles. He did well this year and no spit

on the cupcakes. What a success.

The morning of his Birthday! He was so excited!

Growing Up So Fast!

The boys riding their bikes early Wednesday morning.

Kaleb's Growth:

Height: 3'6" (90%)

Weight: 37 lbs (66%)

Can't believe his height is now in feet and inches and not

just inches. He is growing so fast.

Tyson's Growth:

Height: 32" (38%)

Weight: 21lb 12oz (5%)

Head: 48 cm (55%)

Still our little guy. We are loving him being so little and still

easy to hold.

Both the boys had doctors appointments this week. Kaleb his 4 year well check-up and Tyson his 18 month well check-up. They are both health growing boys. It makes me laugh to see the difference in their two bodies. Kaleb is our tall boy and Tyson is our little guy. Almost completely different body types. It will be interesting to see if they continue on these growing curves. Kaleb in clothes is always 6 months ahead and Tyson is 6 months behind.

Birthday!

I had a wonderful 29th birthday. Erich and I went out to dinner and to a movie. Then we had my parents and Erich's parents over to have Ice Cream cake. I felt loved and spoiled on my birthday. Though birthdays can't compete with when you are a kid it was a good one and I felt very special. Erich was in charge of the camera so only one picture from my birthday.I can't believe I am in my last year of my 20's. Time goes so quickly. Thankyou to all the family and friends who made this a wonderful birthday.

Where have we been?

Nowhere! It has been a long winter in the Ekenstam house, filled with lots of illnesses. I don't want to go back and explain everything I just want to say I am seeing an end in sight. We are finally feeling better and had a fun Beautiful Saturday out. Erich the boys and I all went to the Children's Museum in bloomington in the morning and then had lunch together. We then headed home and dropped the boys off atGrandma and Grandpa's and Erich and I saw a movie together and were able to also go to Red Lobster. Then picked up the boys and had a nice night together at home. It was a fun day which we haven't had for awhile. This spring is going to be greatly appreciated in this house if not only for the fresh air. Here are a couple of random pics of the boys playing.

Tyson 15 Month Check-Up

HT: 31"(43%)

Wt: 20 lbs 8 oz (4%)

Tyson is starting to understand so many things and communicating in his own way. We love watching him point to everything. He can say mama, dada, all gone, bah(ball). He is constantly waving hello or goodbye even when he goes down for naps and bedtime he waves bye bye. We love our little man.