Swensen Sentral

Amelie reading Soleil's potty book to Sawyer: "And see he has a penis so he stands up to pee."  Me: so Amelie what do girls have? Amelie (very matter of fact): Girls have chinases so they sit down but boys stand up cuz they have long things.  (China and long things huh...) ******************** At family home evening talking about eternal families and being sealed in the temple.  Me: So you know your cousins Saffron and Willa and Cyrus? They didn't come from Emily's tummy so they went to the temple as a family to be sealed together.  Chase: Wait! Cyrus? He did too come from Emily's tummy.  Me: No he didn't.  Chase: Yes he did.  Me: Really? With brown skin and black curly hair? Chase: Well...yeah Me: And how did that happen? Chase: Well I thought since they adopted two girls with brown skin then Heavenly Father sent them a baby so it could match.  (Good thinkin')

And this girl couldn't make it easier. I swear she is training herself. It is so awesome! She's been asking to use the toilet for over a month, and I've let her try off and on, but not consistently. So I finally bought pull-ups and a potty book and underwear and started the process today. But she is so excited and motivated to use the toilet on her own that I've hardly done anything other than ask her if she wants to go every few hours. And usually she does! And I've only used pull-ups so far so there hasn't been any mess to clean up. I've just kept it really low-key, haven't even told her that we're "training" because then I think she will play mind games on me and decide that if she has to do it then she doesn't want to. And she is so excited about her Minnie Mouse and Ariel pull-ups, it's just too cute! We'll see if this keeps up, I'm crossing my fingers!

When the youth soccer league hosts a poker tournament as a fundraiser. "Ante up for the children!" they say. Oh and Amelie played in her first ever soccer game on Saturday. She did great! Ran after the ball and stayed with it (along with all the other girls on the field, I mean like really stayed with it, in a clump) and she even got to try her hand at goalie! She had so much fun and exhausted herself in the hot sun. 

Because of our move last April, Chase and Amelie had to start a new school today. They were both nervous and worried they would miss their old friends. We talked with them about the benefits of going to a new school and reassured them about their abilities to make new friends. I told them, "Just be yourself and smile. Everyone wants to be around someone that looks happy."  I know they'll be just fine, we just had to convince them of that.  After dropping the kids off at school, the littles and I had a par-tay! We danced in the living room and visited Chuck E Cheese, per Sawyers request. He was the best big brother to his little sis and it made me excited for these two to have more one-on-one time together. 

Me (with enthusiasm):  Sawyer!  I'm looking into Karate for you.  Would you like that!? Sawyer:  Mmmm...I would like ice cream.  Ice cream is yummy. Not the answer I was expecting.

Today Chase found this mess in his room. Someone found it irresistible to squeeze all the styrofoam to shreds. (I should mention this was taken after he vacuumed much of it up). Yesterday evening I found her in a bucket of murky green water in the backyard with her new clean pajamas. She said cheerfully, "Mom I take a bath!" I was too upset to stop and take a picture.  The day before that Amelie came inside complaining to me that Soleil was drooling wet apple pieces all over the tramp. I went to investigate and found that it was actually her urine drenched diaper disintegrating and falling in pieces all over the trampoline. I followed the trail inside the house and up the stairs.  Beware! Newborns turn into 2 year olds...and it is fantastic! (This post dedicated to my sister Molly who is anxiously awaiting her 2 year old...uh I mean newborn :)

Yesterday morning at Walmart I had at least 3 people ask "Are these ALL yours??" referring to my kids, and then a look of amazement when I said yes. And then the lady in front of me at the checkout says "Looks like you've got summer camp goin' on."  I find it funny that with only 4 kids I am such an anomaly. That would never happen back in Utah or Idaho. The best comment I've ever received though was the other day at the eye dr, a lady first asked if they were all mine and then when i replied yes she said, "Wow! You are so blessed to have so many children!"  It was so sweet and so sincere that it really lifted my spirits and changed my attitude towards them in that moment. Yes, I am blessed.