diff --git a/src/saml2/__init__.py b/src/saml2/__init__.py
index c59cf33..ab3d839 100644
--- a/src/saml2/__init__.py
+++ b/src/saml2/__init__.py
@@ -228,6 +228,35 @@ class ExtensionElement(object):
 
         return results
  
+    def loadd(self, ava):
+        """ expects a special set of keys """
+        
+        if "attributes" in ava:
+            for key, val in ava["attributes"].items():
+                self.attributes[key] = val
+        
+        try:
+            self.tag = ava["tag"]
+        except KeyError:
+            if not self.tag:
+                raise KeyError("ExtensionElement must have a tag")
+        
+        try:
+            self.namespace = ava["namespace"]
+        except KeyError:
+            if not self.namespace:
+                raise KeyError("ExtensionElement must belong to a namespace")
+        
+        try:
+            self.text = ava["text"]
+        except KeyError:
+            pass
+            
+        if "children" in ava:
+            for item in ava["children"]:
+                self.children.append(ExtensionElement(item["tag"]).loadd(item))
+                
+        return self
         
 def extension_element_from_string(xml_string):
     element_tree = ElementTree.fromstring(xml_string)
@@ -526,7 +555,7 @@ class SamlBase(ExtensionContainer):
         elif val == None:
             pass
         else:
-            raise ValueError( "Type it shouldn't be '%s'" % (val,))
+            raise ValueError( "Type shouldn't be '%s'" % (val,))
         
         return self
         
@@ -557,6 +586,14 @@ class SamlBase(ExtensionContainer):
                                 base64encode)
                     setattr(self, prop, cis)
 
+        if "extension_elements" in ava:
+            for item in ava["extension_elements"]:
+                self.extension_elements.append(ExtensionElement(item["tag"]).loadd(item))
+            
+        if "extension_attributes" in ava:
+            for key, val in ava["extension_attributes"].items():
+                self.extension_attributes[key] = val
+            
         return self