Swensen Sentral

Soleil is bold and fearless. She treads waters where none of my other kids have dared tread.  Neither age nor size intimidates her.  Good thing? Or bad thing.  In our house we have a rule that you don't brings toys or anything else to the table. It's distracting and just gets in the way. Soleil is well aware of this rule. But she still occasionally tests the waters, hoping that one time she'll get away with it. Tonight at dinner, she brought her blanket AND stuffed animal to the table and plopped them both right on top without hesitation. I stopped right in my tracks and sternly responded, "Absolutely Not! No blankets at the table."  Usually she quickly realizes she's not getting away with it and walks away snorting "fine" or something teeny-bopper-ish. But not tonight! She just stared me right back in the eyes and yelled determinedly, "Why!!"  Woah, I quickly jumped on that with, "Don't you dare talk that way to me little missy!...

(Written previously but didn't post for some reason) Sawyer finished his very first sport season, t-ball. I'll admit it was kind of torturous to watch and I'm not sure he learned anything, but it was all worth it to see his face light up after his last game when he suddenly learned that he would be getting his very first trophy! He was SO excited and couldn't wait to hold it in his hands. 

We went to Nauvoo. It was awesome. Everyone should do it.  Oxen ride Learning how to make brick  Watching the pageant 

(Wrote this a while ago, for some reason it didn't publish) As much as I sometimes regret getting a dog, I can't help but smile when I see how much Soleil loves her and how tolerant she is of Soleil's harassments.  Eatin' Popsicles together

(Saw this never published so I'm trying again) Got together with our neighbors the Wilson's to do fireworks, and the rest of the neighborhood joined in too. It was so fun. Kids running all over the place. Boys lighting fires and blowing things up, and Soleil caught my skirt on fire with her sparkler. Wouldn't want to end the night without an exciting story like that!

In Hannibal, MO where Mark Twain lived and wrote his a stories about Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn. 

I've been behind on my summer posts.  Here's the latest. My friend's husband manages the local movie theater, and she invited us join her on opening day of How To Train a Dragon 2.  They each got full service popcorn/snack/slush trays and a little gift bag to take home.   They were thrilled and enjoyed it so much!  Thanks Jillian! Had all 4 kids in swim lessons last week, through SwimAmerica at the high school.  The littles had so much fun just being in the water and the bigs learned how to swim freestyle quite well.  I was very pleased and they looked forward to it every morning! Chase turned 9.  Wow.  Half way to 18.  I can't believe it.  What a special kid he is.  Took him and a few friends to the Science Center, baked cupcakes for his troop at scout camp, and finished the night with a movie with dad (Xmen).  Fell asleep in the movie and woke up in his bed, didn't even remember how he got there.  That...