Swensen Sentral

Today, Monday, I had the following conversation with Soleil.  Me: Soleil, do you want to have a play date with Hannah on Friday morning? Soleil: mmmmm, I would like to have one now? Me: No now doesn't work. But you can play on Friday? Soleil: mmmmm, how about we can play on Wednesday.  Me: No Wednesday is preschool. Just Friday works best.  Soleil: mmmmm, ok I'll take your deal.  What? I didn't know I was offering a deal?

This girl is a born fashionista. Every single day she asks to wear sparkles or dresses or skirts or jewelry or heels or whatever pretty thing she can find. She is quickly developing her own sense of style and likes to pick out her own stuff and her own accessories. Today she insisted on a SIDE ponytail because she said "it looks more better", and she specifically wanted EXTRA flower clips in her hair and placed TOWARDS THE FRONT so they could be seen "more better". She also wanted one glove for her hand because it helps keep her red heart ring on, and she specifically wore two bracelets because the one in front is tighter and it keeps the looser one in back on. And believe it or not, the whole outfit was designed around her sparkly black tights, which you can hardly see. But she insisted on wearing them this morning.  I love that she is her own person and is not afraid to let her personality shine through. Despite how many times she is told "that doesn't lo...

Warning: Proud parent moment. So Chase joined cross country this year. As if he didn't have enough going on with soccer, choir, and violin. All his choice. Anyway, it's pretty low-key. They practice a few mornings a week and only have two meets. One was a few weeks ago. A mile run against all the 4th and 5th grade boys in the school. He came in 2nd place with a 6:21 mile time! We were so proud of him. I was holding back tears. It was ridiculous. When in the world did my kid get so fast? He outruns me now! Not that I'm super fast but I ain't slow either.  So today was his second and final meet. A mile again, this time between 19 schools, and divided by grade. So he ran with only 4th graders. We knew he would do well. We knew he was fast. But we also knew there were a LOT of kids and highly likely many other fast ones. Also, he hurt his knee yesterday and iced it all night and this morning. It was hurting him. He was worried it would hinder his running. And he was really ...

Family dentist appointment. Our first since moving here! I'm so relieved to have it done.  Dress up with friends Hot day. Cold floor.  Lunch with grandpa.  Cooked squirrel and chipmunk.  Lost another tooth.  Big big boo boo. Poor girl. 

We ran in the elementary school 5k this morning. It was the funnest thing we've done as a family in a while. Rick ran up front with the big kids, and I lagged behind with the littles and the jogger. I pushed them the first mile, and then they wanted to get out and walk. I thought they wouldn't last very long but they totally surprised me. Sawyer ran the last two miles all by himself, and refused to get back in the jogger. Soleil rested only a few times in it for like 30 seconds each and that was it. She was determined to keep up with her brother.  It touched me to see how sweet they were together.  Mostly how Sawyer takes care of his little sister, and how she looks up to him so much.  At the end, Chase came back and ran with Sawyer and Soleil to the finish line. It was the cutest.  Love these kids of mine.  Oh and Sawyer said some funny stuff during his run... "Mom I'm never going to rest or give up. I'm going to keep on running."   Then after he got prett...

Chase got his first motorcycle (electric) Kids caught their first fish and learned how to fillet it I failed at cooking my first pond fish  Sawyer lost his first tooth And Soleil swam alone for the first time (Oh darn, I thought I took a picture but I guess I only have a video of it) It's been an epic summer day. We would love visitors to share it with!

I'm so thankful to the men and women who served our country so that we can enjoy the freedom that we have today. We celebrated our Memorial Day by picnicking at the park with ward friends, and then Rick took the boys to the movies while I took the girls swimming. It was a really fun day we got to spend together as a family, and it couldn't happen without the sacrifice and service of brave men and women who fight to protect our freedoms. I'm so thankful to them, and thankful for this great country we have to live in, that allows me to enjoy the pleasure of life with my family. And I especially am grateful to the men in my family who have served: my father-in-law Karl Swensen, my grandpa Tom Woltmon, and my great uncle Earl, who died at 19 while serving. Thank you, thank you, thank you, to you all. Your service is not forgotten. God Bless America!