Okay, first things first. My cousin Jenny had her baby on Thursday morning! Welcome Nolan Scott Evenhouse! And congratulations Kevin and Jenny! We went to visit Nolan yesterday and he is so cute! It was great to see that mom and baby are doing well and also get the details from Kevin in a way that only Kevin knows how.

Here he is... Nolan Scott!

Jenny and Nolan

And Nolan is the first BOY to join the Wallgren clan
(not that he's a Wallgren, but you know what I mean)

So a big event for Matt and I...we celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary on September 2nd. We can't even believe it has been 4 years already! Time flies when you're having fun!

We went to this roof-top lounge downtown. We got there right around when the sun was setting and the view was so beautiful.

There's my handsome and wonderful husband!

So my camera ran out of batteries right when we were taking a picture of the two of us so we only have 1 individual picture of each of us from the night. This is the only picture of me from the night and the above is the only one of Matt. Ah well.

Since I haven't posted in so long, I guess I need to give a little recap of our lives since we got home from Bolivia. We have little things from Bolivia around our apartment like stuff from the market that we used in our house in Bolivia or gifts from friends there (like my lovely blue teapot from Kate) and when we look at them it's fun to remember all the good things about Bolivia. Of course it wasn't all fun and good things but time really does seem to soften the memories of the bad. It's strange that we have already been home for 9 months now and it does feel like a long time ago now that we lived there. The biggest difference between our lives there and here is our schedules. We got pretty used to the relaxed way of life in Bolivia and it is a big shift to go from that to working 9-5 everyday plus the normal business that comes from living in the U S of A.

Both Matt and I work at World Relief which is a refugee resettlement agency here in Chicago. I work with youth and Matt is the donations coordinator. Even though we don't really work together, it's fun to drive together and bump into each other. We love working with refugees and it brings a sense of continuity between having lived cross culturally and now being in our home country (plus we get to practice our Spanish some). It helps knowing how it feels to be the foreigner, the one who feels completely stupid, out of context and comfort zone. It's nice to be able to say, "I know how you feel" and mean it. Of course I have no idea how it feels to be forced out of my home and leave my family without possibility of returning but I can empathize a bit with how it feels to be a foreigner. It is inspirational to get to know people who have been through so much and yet can still be joyful and hopeful about the future.

When we first got back we stayed with my parents for a few months then stayed with my sister Linnea and Cam and our two nieces for about 5 months. It was a lot of fun and we all got used to living together to the point that it was actually sad to move out. But now we are living in Lakeview and loving it! We feel more a part of the city than the last time we lived in Chicago because we are so close to so many things and can really take advantage of it all.

I think that's enough for now...here are a few pics from the past months

Last week we randomly went to Starved Rock for some hiking. It was really beautiful especially since some of the leaves were starting to change already.

The Wallgren sibs at Eric's big premiere for his first short film "Furnished". It was really good! I'm so proud of you and it is a great accomplishment, Eric!

Afterglow 2010. Amazing week as always.

When Matt and I babysat for all four nieces. It was lots of fun, a little crazy but Gwen and Sonja were great little helpers with the twins.

Just a cute picture of Caroline on a perfect summer day.

And here are both Caroline and Addison

All four of our nieces on Easter (Addison, Gwen, Sonja, Caroline)

Our trip to Florida back in March. Matt and I drove to Miami for a day which was a lot of fun. This is at South Beach...and yes, those are two dogs whose leashes are tied together which is pretty ingenious.

And on the way home we took a different route and drove through Georgia and some of North Carolina. We were trying to go hiking/camping in the Smokey mountains but the main road was closed off because of snow. I guess it worked out for the best since we would have been a little cold camping considering that all the clothes we brought were for Florida. Anyway, the drive was so beautiful...one of my favorites that I've ever done! And we were able to visit our friends from Bolivia, Ted and Caroline Mosey, who live in Indianapolis. This picture was from the Tallulah Gorge in Georgia. Oh, you've never heard of it? Me neither.

I think I might be ready to come back...soon.

I'm sure you have noticed that I haven't updated the blog in awhile. I guess it has been on purpose because I haven't decided if I'm going to keep it going or not...we'll see.

Wondering about the random picture? Just thought posts are more fun with at least one picture!

Now that I have officially wrapped up Bolivia on the blog I thought I would share some highlights from our time so far in the States. We have been home now for about 6 weeks and have kept pretty busy since the moment we stepped off the plane! All good business as you will see...

First things first, we had to meet our new nieces, Greta and Scott's twins Addison and Caroline. They put me right to work with feeding Addison.

So cute! Addison on the left and Caroline on the right.

Addison in the front and Caroline in the back.

Addison

They were so tiny when we first saw them.

Gwen just loves to hold them.

Even while she's playing game-boy.

It was so great to be home for Christmas. Here was our attempt to take a picture of just the kids and grand kids. Its getting harder and harder now with all the kids!

Sonja was excited about her new Radio Flyer tricycle.

The day after Christmas we did our annual tradition of going to tea at the Drake with all the women on the Wallgren side.

We had a fun New Years with some friends. I have to admit that when "Sweet Home Chicago" played on New Years I almost cried because I was so happy to be home for the holidays.


Then we headed to Washington to visit our family and friends out there. After getting back I realized back that I didn't take any pictures with family! Also, I didn't take any pictures with Nate and Emily in Portland. I guess we were just having too much fun. Here are a few pics that I did take...

We went to Gas Works Park in Seattle which I had never been to and even though it was raining it was fun to see.

Matt, Debbie, Jeff and Mark

Of course we had to go to Pike's Place Market. I had actually never seen the famous "Public Market" sign so that was fun to see.


Another highlight of our time home has been going to my cousin Anne's wedding. I couldn't imagine missing it so the timing worked out great! It was so fun to be a part of Anne and Pete's special day. We love you guys and so excited to hang out more now that we're both in Chicago.

Beth helping Anne get ready. She looked gorgeous!

Some last minute details before seeing Pete and taking the first pictures.

Anne and Pete

Sonja was the life of the party at the reception and had tons of fun dancing.

I think this is the only picture of the two of us from that night.

Looking over our blog I realized that I never really posted about our last week in Bolivia so I decided to do so even though it was over a month ago. We didn't take pictures with everyone we said goodbye to but I picked a few pictures from our last few days with some friends, at the Center and at church.

Hanging out with Katie Stewart for the last time in Bolivia but not the last time ever cause we know we'll see her again in the States. I loved not having to say goodbye forever to everyone!

Of course I had to have one last IC Norte hot dog! They are loaded with tons of good stuff, they're spicy and one of my favorite foods in Cochabamba! I think I may love these hot dogs more than anyone cause everyone in Bolivia always made fun of me for loving them.

Our last activity at the Center was the Christmas program a few days before we left. Each class put on a little play about Christmas around the world and this class was showing how people in China celebrate Christmas.

The girls in my class did a play showing how the first Christmas was celebrated.

Then we played Santa and gave gifts to each child. The gifts were donated thanks to the Navidad en Bolivia program. Thanks Adrian for all your hard work to make that happen and all of you who donated! The kids were so incredibly excited to receive a Christmas gift!

Our last Sunday at church and my last time singing on the worship team.

Then Moises, Howard and David invited us up front to pray for us.

Our last team dinner...I guess I already posted this picture.

Hanging out with Ted, Caroline and Jude for the last time in Bolivia. We didn't have to say goodbye to them either cause we know we'll see them again in the States too!

At the airport saying goodbye to the Spies. We just couldn't say goodbye forever to them cause we can't imagine not seeing them again...either they gotta come here or we'll have to go to Australia, or both!

And saying goodbye to the Quirogas (plus Daisy Spies) at the airport. Again, we can't imagine never seeing them again. I'm sure we'll find ourselves visiting them in Bolivia someday!

We're home!

This is the weather that we left behind in Bolivia...

And this is what we came home to! (Well, this is a picture from last year but you get the idea. A little more snow in this picture than right now.)

We have been home in Chicago for about a week now. We had a wonderful Christmas and it was so great to spend it with our family here in Chicago. Now we look forward to going out to Washington soon to see our family and friends out there.

In one way it feels like Bolivia was one long dream and in another way it was very real. While at church at Christmastime I found myself praying for all those sweet little children we know in Bolivia. My hope is that their families will be a loving refuge for each one of them during this Christmastime and always. Also, I often find myself thinking about or talking about our friends in Bolivia and recounting the many good times we had with them. We made such close friendships there that we will continue to miss them as long as we are apart from them. And now that we are home I realize just how much we learned from people in Bolivia. Our lives are forever changed in many ways after living there.

While there are things we miss about Bolivia it feels really good to be here in Chicago. There is a peace about it that is hard to describe. I can't put my finger on what it is but probably has to do with finally being with family and Chicago friends again and enjoying all those little familiar things that we had been missing while in Bolivia. We really didn't know what we had here til it was gone and it feels good to have it back. I feel like a more whole version of myself. So now we are looking for jobs and will be looking for a new place. Life will inevitably get busier and more hectic but we will always try to integrate the lessons we learned in Bolivia into our lives here and never ever forget the people in Bolivia that loved us so well.