The celebrations continue...

We have had a lot to celebrate lately, and we've been having a great time doing just that!


Last Thursday we headed back to Swedish Days with Abby, Jeff and little man CJ. We patronized our favorite food tent- the Lion's Club- of which both Abby's and my dads are members. Marin enjoyed dancing to the live music while on Jason's shoulders, and of course we stopped for ice cream before we walked back to our house for the kiddos bedtime.

The next day we celebrated Jason's Aunt Jean and Uncle Don's 40th Anniversary. They were throwing a big party the following day, but Jason and I were going to be out of town, so we decided to invite the whole gang to our house for a pre-anniversary party, party. All of Jean and Don's kids were in town with their families, plus Jean's siblings- Jason's Dad, and their Aunt Carol and Uncle Jim and other Uncle Jim. Lindsay also made it out, and we had a happy house full of Patterson's! We walked up to Swedish Days to let the kids get their faces painted and to check out (you guessed it) the ice cream shop! Jack and Ella wanted to try out this big trampoline while hooked up to bungee cords thingy, and Amy, Lindsay and I decided to do it as well. It was a little demoralizing because we had to stand on a scale before they would allow us to ride, and then later referred to us "the bigger ladies" but I guess they hadn't ever seen grown ups actually give it a try. It was a lot of fun! A few days later when my abs hurt and I couldn't figure out why, I realized it was the flips I did on that bungee ride. Now I know why it is mostly for the kids and the teenie boppers. The "bigger ladies" could barely hack it! When we arrived back home, we all enjoyed Jason's famous pork loin for dinner. And with 8 kids running around, it seemed like one if not all of them were crying at one point, but there were plenty of hands and plenty of willing aunties and uncles to hold them. My parents joined us as well, and the "adults" (which, even with some of us in our late 30's, is how we refer to our parents) all sat around laughing and recounting their wedding days. After everyone left that night, Jason, Lindsay, their Dad and I sat on our deck talking until past midnight. Cops were called for the third time, but the joke's on the borington neighbors; we didn't move a muscle.

Saturday morning Jason and I left for our friend Katie and Sean's wedding in Michigan. Marin stayed with Pappy and Aunt Lindsay and had a glorious day going to the park, out to lunch and on stroller rides. Early that evening, the three of them went to Jason's Aunt and Uncle's anniversary party together. I am told that Marin was well behaved and once again had a ball with her cousins. Jason and I had a great time toasting Katie and Sean at their beautiful wedding and reception at a Michigan vineyard. It was a gorgeous night and the wedding was straight out of InStyle Weddings. We also celebrated our friend Sarah's recent engagement to Brendan, and are looking forward to their year of fun and preparations ahead. Sarah and Brendan are absolutely soul mates- and this was only further confirmed when we got into Brendan's car this weekend and in the backseat was every piece of sports equipment except a zamboni. It was great reunion with Stephanie and Shannon, who have both since moved to Ohio. It is rare when we are all able to get together, but it always is accompanied by gut busting laughter and a lot of inside jokes about P55's, 541T, The Lunch Lady, Rodent-like devices and doing "the show".

Sunday we headed back home and were glad to hear that Pappy and Aunt Lindsay enjoyed Marin as much as Marin enjoyed them. That afternoon Marin, Jason and I met my parents at the annual Swedish Days parade to mark the festivals end. Marin loved holding her little flag and waving to the floats as they passed, saying "HIIII!!!"

It was another great weekend!

Swedish Days!

The 61st Annual Swedish Days Festival kicked off last night, and the majority of the action is just a block from our front door.

Growing up in Geneva, Swedish Days was the greatest week of our summer. There's a carnival, elephant ears, corn dogs, the kid's parade, the real parade, live music, dancing in the streets and the ice cream shop stays open late! Plus, everyone you haven't seen since school let out is there sporting the start of their summer tans.

As an adult and a mom, I love Swedish Days for the very same reasons -including the ice cream shop staying open late. Except now I also enjoy the sales at all of the boutiques and (pending a babysitter)I have the option to enjoy the beer tents and wine tastings. The Chamber of Commerce and the History Center claim Swedish Days to be the "Granddaddy of Illinois Festivals". I haven't checked their facts, but it is definitely a favorite of our town's festivals. It's named "Swedish" Days as a nod to our towns settlers, and as Geneva celebrates its 175th anniversary this year, it's cause for extra celebration.

Jason has been out of town on business, so last night, Marin and I headed to the festivities with my parents. We all packed on the courthouse lawn with our blanket, lawn chairs and picnics and listened to a Beatles cover band. Marin was in heaven! I thought I might have to be chasing her all around the lawn, but she loved dancing to the music and eating off her small table (after she learned that it wasn't a step :)). She had never been to a picnic before, so the concept of a blanket spread out on the grass was fascinating to her. It's one of those things you don't think about as an adult- you just bring a blanket to a picnic. But to a child who is used to blankets being used at bedtime, or in the winter, it seems really silly to put a blanket on the grass and sit on it to eat. At one point Marin just laid on top of the blanket and giggled. Through out the night she kept going back to the blanket to lay on her back, just kicking her legs in the air like she was the happiest baby in the world.


We have plans to go back to Swedish Days all week. Can't wait to watch Marin take it all in!

Two other ways Marin made me smile this week:

I caught Marin dancing to the new song "California Girls" in her car seat the other day. When we pulled in our driveway I pulled out my camera to catch it on video because it was cracking me up. She was dancing along like she agreed with every word Katy Perry was singing about. Of course, once again, by the time I got the bit on film she had tamed her moves, but you still get the picture. In the end she's more interested in getting her hands on the keys in the ignition of our car than the bikini clad beaches of California.

Marin has really missed her Daddy since he's been out of town. Yesterday she saw a picture of Jason on the computer screen and she went berserk. She got SO excited and was "dadadadadadada"ing all over the place. She started squealing with excitement at the site of his face on the screen and wanted to climb up to get a closer look. When she got up close she started waving and saying, "Hiiiii!!!!! Hi Daddyyyy!!!" I think she might have thought that he was on Skype and could wave back to her. Really the only time she is in front of a computer screen, is when we are on skype, so she was waving and "hi"ing her heart out. It was so sweet!