morning greeting

This is what we woke up to this morning in our front yard.....

It was so much fun to watch them take it down. Since we've never gone to the balloon festival, we liked that one came to us!

Swensen Family Reunion 2009

All the grandkids (plus a few parents.)

We opted for a low cost family reunion this year and it was a lot of fun! We started out with a big breakfast at Grandma and Grandpa Swensen's house. Then it was off to Payson canyon to hike and play in the water at the end of Grotto Trail.

It was a hit.... the kids LOVED it! Nate was the MVP with Haley on his back and Cassidy on his shoulders.

My sister, Debbie and her family made all the kids a shirt.... so cute!

After we ate our picnic lunch in the canyon we visited Pirate Island Restaurant for a behind the scenes tour before it opens soon.... and it will be awesome just so you know!

The aunties did "homemade" glitter toes with the girls. I'm not sure what the boys did during that time, but I'm sure they figured something out. Give them a football and their good!

We had a homemade pizza dinner and had planned a movie, but we were behind on our "schedule" so we skipped the movie and went to bed! Most of the cousins and some of the moms (including me) slept over at my parents house. We tried to cram all the kids who stayed into 5 or 6 tents, which we were successful at, but as the minutes slipped by one by one or two by two some would come in the house. I think most of the kids slept well.... not so sure about the moms!

The next day we went to the park near Grandma's and Grandpa's house and played games in the shade. The kids had a great time stealing flags, playing kick ball, and shooting and catching rockets.
Grandma brought a jar of salt water taffies for the kids' reward after each game. Haley couldn't keep her mits out of it. I think she ate at least half the jar (I may have helped a little bit, too)!

We headed to my house for lunch and to play on my brother's blow-up water slide. Water + Kids = Success! After a few hours of that and all the fun we had previously, I think everyone was ready for their own homes for some rest and relaxation.

Thanks for the fun reunion everyone and a big thank you to Debbie and Rick for planning it!

Does this make me a bad mom?

We got home late and I decided to check my email really fast while he got his pajamas on..... "really fast" in adult time, not four year old time. He's now safely tucked into his bed. Why was it so important to check my email at 10:45 at night? It wasn't. I'm pretty much just a loser!

The Latest Happenings

Wow! This past week has been a bit crazy for us. I had been noticing Rachel kind of zone out for a few seconds now and then and tried to think nothing of it until it became apparent that it wasn't normal and it wasn't going away... it was getting worse. I took her to her pediatrician on the 2nd and she told us she was most likely having absence seizures and ordered an EEG for Rachel. It's no surprise to anyone who knows this family that we would kind of freak out at the word seizure since it's complications from seizures that my nephew and a cousin died. I also have a niece who has amazingly survived two critical seizures. So on July 7th we went to the hospital at 6:40 a.m. to have the EEG done. She could only sleep from midnight to 4:00 a.m.. Nate took the midnight shift and I took the 4:00 a.m. one in hopes that each of us could get at least 5 to 6 hours of sleep, although I didn't sleep well at all.... too nervous. Rachel did so well sitting still and doing everything she was asked to do. She did get a little upset when the technician said she was about to start the test. I guess we didn't explain well enough that all the electrodes on her head wouldn't hurt or electrocute her, but she calmed down quickly and before she knew it the test was over. We were then going to wait for the doctors to read the test and then figure out when we could get in to see a neurologist up at Primary Children's, but my dear sister, Laura, contacted the neurologist that has worked closely with all the family cases of seizures and he was nice enough to make time for us the next day, July 8th. The news he gave us was a relief. He did confirm that she is having absence seizures and he believes that they are completely unrelated to the type of seizures the others have had. Children usually outgrow them and they don't cause any neurological or brain damage. He put her on a medication to stop them, mostly to protect her from having an accident. If she were to have one of these seizures while swimming or riding a bike, etc. she could get hurt. We are just so happy to know what is going on in her little head and to be able to get her the help she needs. It's so heart wrenching to know there is something wrong with your child. My heart goes out to all you parents who deal with everyday struggles that aren't going to just go away next week.

So to top it all off..... there has to be icing on the cake, right? All the kids ended up with fevers, and coughs. And of course, they all can't get it the same day. They have to spread it out nicely so someone is sick at all times!! Haley ended up with double ear infections and then got the fever and cough. I have a little cold, but am fine. So it's been a stressful, emotional week, but we still managed to have a little fun amongst it all.

Nate has been dying to have a firepit. So next thing I know he built one where we planned on having one, we just don't have the rest of the patio done... or even figured out completely. The kids didn't mind, though. It was windy that night so it wasn't as enjoyable as it could have been. Note to Nate: No fires when it's windy! I think Rachel's and Kaden's favorite part was pouring water on the fire to put it out. My favorite part-- being with my family and the full moon that I attempted to snap a shot of on my way inside.

After Rachel had a nice long nap the day of her EEG, I let the kids get out the slip-n-slide. It was a bit overcast, but once again they didn't mind! I was too lazy to find Haley's swimming suit, but at least she has on a swimming diaper! Kaden was a party pooper and didn't want to get wet. I love watching kids laugh and play. Entertainment at its best! Fever? What fever?

Thirsty?

Rachel, Kaden and Tye also finished up swimming lessons. They all did great! Tye wouldn't go down the slide even with all his teacher's coaxing and HATED the deep water.... I guess I better take him swimming more often... like at least once this summer. (I have never liked swimming that much so my kids are deprived!)

Nate and I did go on a motorcycle ride through the canyon Friday night. It was nice to have a moment to get away and enjoy the beauty that surrounds us. Now he's off to San Jose and I'm holding down the fort hoping for a brighter, healthier week!

July 4th Celebrations

Our celebrations started on July 3rd at Nate's parents house. For the last few years we have done fireworks, watched a late outside movie and had a campout in their backyard the night before the 4th. It's a fun tradition that is enjoyed by all..... especially the kids! Unfortunately I forgot my camera that night so I have no fun pictures to show. Haley would not settle down during the movie, so I drove her home at 11:30 p.m. to get her "ginky". (I love that she says binky that way. I know she shouldn't have it anymore.... I'm the addict, not her! I take full responsiblity.) She fell asleep within 2 minutes of being in the car. When I arrived back at Nate's parent's house Nate had the other kids nestled in their sleeping bags, but there was lightning in the distance and we were sleeping under the stars.... no tent. So we decided to haul them into the spare bedrooms inside instead of wait for it to rain on us. That worked all fine and dandy until Haley woke up madder than all heck. Which woke up the rest of them. Tye is no peach during the night and trying to talk any sense or quietness into him is ridiculous. Rachel and Kaden were so mad that Tye was waking them up they kicked him out of their room. He finished out the night on the floor in the room Nate and I were in and Haley was lucky enough to share the bed with me and Nate. Lucky us! So in the end that night left us with much to be desired-- sleep being the MOST desired. I was told it sprinkled, so I'm glad we went in the house anyway. Our kids slept in, but hurried and ate and got ready to swim with their cousins in Nana's little pool before we had to take off. Thanks Grandpa and Nana for a fun time! We really did enjoy ourselves.

At 1:00 we went to a little barbecue at my Grandma Swensen's house. The kids had fun playing with cousins in her yard. Then we headed back to my parents house to chill in between barbecues. At 5:30 we went to my sister Shelly's house for a birthday barbecue for my niece, Kailey who just turned 11. I'm not sure how old she was when she realized that all the fireworks weren't to celebrate her birth! We hope you had a happy birthday, Kailey. The kids loved the water slide. I forgot their swimming suits so we had to be creative. Rachel wore an old dance costume along with her cousin, Alyson. Tye had basketball shorts that I had to duct tape on or we would've had a streaker at the party. He was embarrassed at first, but soon forgot all about his wardrobe flaws. Kaden borrowed an actual swimming suit that he had to roll on top to keep it from falling off. It was a success. All suits stayed on!


Haley was determined to get the chips! She must be related to Kaden.... chips are the key to his heart!


We finished off the night with the Pleasant Grove fireworks with my sisters Debbie and Janice and their families. The kids had a great time wrestling and playing on all the blankets. (Sorry about the picture, Deb. It's your fault you pulled a face! )