A few of my favorite things.

1.  A easy light-hearted romance

I love good books.  I recently shared a book that I had read called, “The Trait.”  If you are looking for a light interesting read then this book is for you.

The Author Kristin Damon, is so creative, and you won’t be disappointed.

The trait is an exciting love story about a beautiful girl named Brynn Moore.  Brynn isolates herself from love, but when she finally finds the right person she discovers that Creed is unlike any other man she has ever met.  Creed was born with a genetic abnormality that could get in the way of Brynn and Creed having a life together.  When their love is threatened by hate you wonder if their love can survive. 

This book is the first in a series of four.

The Trait

The Promise (to be released soon)

The Nation

The Evolution

I enjoyed this book, and would recommend giving it a try.  Go here to find out more information.{click on the trailer to see even more}

Kristin is a dear friend of my Sister in Law, and I would like to tell her thank you for sharing your story with me.  Good Luck with the rest of your books.

 

2. A  great mother’s day idea

I just discovered this adorable jewelry that my new friend, Joella designs.  If you are looking for a mother’s day present; this is it.  It is so unique and beautiful; as is Joella.  She is such an amazing person with a lot of creativity.

Click on the picture to take you there.

 

3.  Surprises.

I am sure you are all asking where I have been this last week.  Well, I have been working on a little surprise.  I will have it all ready on Monday, so come on back to check it out.

Up To…

I have finally been catching up on my posts.  I am happy to have reconnected with my computer some.

I made a promise to myself last week that I was going to get back to the basics.  I have  settled in after a few crazy weeks, and feel like I finally have my life back.

What have I been up to?

This week my parents challenged me to read the Book of Mormon in 100 days.  I started with the goal Monday, and also challenged myself to 100 days of eating healthy and exercise.  I hope to improve my spiritual strength as well as my physical.

When those two things are in order I feel so much better.  It is almost as if the Lord gives me 5 more hours in my day; if I simply make time for him in mine.  This week has been wonderful.  I have felt more at peace and less rushed then I have in a long time.  … and I am happy which is always a good thing for me and everyone who lives in my house.

I have also made time for a few of my other favorite things.

A little Easter decorating:

I colored these eggs 8 years ago for Easter with my friend Elizabeth.  We blew out the yolk, cleaned them real good, and then colored them.  I have been able to keep them all this time. They are real eggs.  You can see the little holes in them where the yolk came out.  This was such a fun project, and I have loved being able to use them every year.   I miss you Eliza!!

 

I bought more eggs yesterday, and I am going to do this with the kids.  I want to save them so they can see their eggs each year.

 

 

A little photography:

This is just a sneak peak.  I will share more of my favorites later.

Some light reading:

I have been reading so much lately.  I first read a book that my Sister In Law’s BFF wrote.  It is called The Trait.  I will write more about  it in a few days.  I want to review it a little.  So stay tuned for more about The Trait.  It was a great relaxing read.   It is the first of four in a series to come.  It reminded me very much of Twilight.  I love reading books that just shut down my mind for a while.  I don’t like to read anything that makes me think to hard.  The Trait was just that kind of book.  Very relaxing, but exciting all at the same time.  Great book, Kristie.  I can’t wait for number 2.

Then I read a book for book club which was so terrible and sad that I would never recommend it to anyone.  I won’t even share the title.  It was so dark and depressing.  I hate when I get engrossed in a book that I think is going to be a good read, and then it takes a turn right in the middle that leaves you wanting to know how it ends but also mad that you even want to continue on with it because it is such a horrible story. I was ready for a new book that I could enjoy.

I started The Hunger Games, and I am on book 3 already.  It is such a fun series.

I love reading so much, and would much rather be engrossed in a good book then watching television.

Of course there is always time for A little entertainment:

Especially when a cute guy in tight jeans is involved.

I was able to go to the Kenny Chesney concert with some girlfriends.

Picture taken on My IPhone.

 

We were nine rows up on the side of the stage.  Marji just kept walking to our seats, and I could not believe it.  I kept expecting her to stop, when we got to the ninth row I just wanted to SCREAM!! Well I did scream.  I did plenty of screaming, and singing, and dancing.  I even had to take my boots off because my feet started to hurt so bad. 

It was such a fun night.  A much needed night.  I enjoyed just hanging out with the girls.  I also loved every minute of Kenny’s performance.  He puts on a great show.

Speaking of boots…

Do you want to see my new boots? 

My sweet hubby bought me these.  While we were in Kansas we went to the boot store to return a pair that he had bought and get a different style.  We ended up with boots for me instead.  He is always making sacrifices.  I am in Love with them.  They are so fun to wear with Jeans.

Thanks hubby!!

Do Ya’ll feel like life just gets busier and busier?  I do.  I am trying to slow down a little and take it easy, but I also want to have some fun along the way. 

Balance is so important.  My challenge of reading the scriptures, and healthy living is really helping me keep every thing else in check.

…and that is what I have been up to.  A little random, but I am random.

What have you been up to these days?

And the winner is….

Have you ever heard the saying, “I need a vacation from my vacation?”  Well that never happens for the Swenson Family.  With four kids there is always something going on.

In fact, while we were on vacation, Jonathan was building Jex’s very first pinewood derby car.

This was not Jonathan’s first rodeo.  He was once a cub scout, so he knew exactly what to do.

I was so impressed as I watched him cut a shape that was so sleek and fast looking.  Then he sanded for days, prepped the wheels, and added some weight.  It took a lot of work but he got it just right.  Jex’s car came in weighing 4.9 ounces.  Just under the 5 ounce limit.

I have never been to a derby before.  I grew up with all sisters so scouts is a new road for me.  I tried to help in any way that I could.  I put in a good effort and offered to help paint it.

I spent the day painting it.  I painted it silver with an orange V down the center top.  The sides had these great bright yellow racing stripes.  It was awesome.

Jonathan came home from work and finished while I was out playing chauffer. (Wedednesday’s are so busy for us.  Stella has dance right after school, and then we head straight to boy scouts.)  While he was finishing up the car, he used some graphite that messed up the paint completely.  He called me in a panic and was just sick to his stomach.  I told him not to worry and just hurry and paint it with some spray paint. I knew that the paint wasn’t going to matter so much.  It was all the neat things Jonathan had done that was really going to make the car go.

In the meantime, It dawned on me that they may have changed the time of the race.  I don’t know why this came to my mind, other than I am sure Heavenly Father planted a little seed.  I quick told Jonathan to call Jex’s leader.  YES!! They were having the derby at 6:00, instead of 7:00 like normal weeks.  That means it starts in 20 minutes.  I was still at dance with Stella so I would have to meet him there with Jex.  The wheels still were not on, and the new paint still had to dry.

AHHH!!!

Jonathan worked really quickly and was so worried because he felt like it wasn’t just how he wanted it.

….but guess what.  Jex had a blast.  Jonathan loved putting it together and….

Jex still won.  #13 could not be beat.

 

We had a great night. 

Jex got a really neat award that his leader, Brother Friend pinned to his scout shirt.

Have I mentioned how much Jex loves scouts?  I am grateful he has a great program to be a part of.

Vacation.

This year Santa left our kids a really great gift.

Instead of more stuff for mom and dad to put away, Santa gave us time.

Time instead of Stuff; what a great gift.  I wish I would have thought of that.  That Santa is so smart.

We were finally able to take our TIME and go.

Santa gave our family a trip to the Great Wolf Lodge.

We decided to go to the one in Kansas City.  It saved Santa some money, and we could visit our old stomping grounds.

We left late on Friday night.  I was so happy to see that Jonathan had gotten a room at a great hotel in Overland Park so we could spend a few nights there visiting with people that we love.

 

It was so nice the kids space and our space was partitioned off.

After our short night, we spent some time visiting the good old Kansas City Days.

Of course it was snowing there so we did what we always did when it was snowing in KC.  We went to the Mall.  Along with every other family in Overland Park.  The kids enjoyed playing in the indoor playground.  Isaac really wanted to ride the Double Decker Carousel.  Stella wanted to check out the American Girl store, and Jex enjoyed walking around the Disney store.

After the mall, we dropped our kids off at a friends house.  She had arranged for a baby sitter, and then we went to dinner with some of our good friends.  Many of our friends have moved on, some just had babies, but we were able to get a good group together. (Man I miss you guys)

Our original plan was to eat at Cheddar’s, but an hour wait swayed our decision and we went across the street to the less busy Mongolian BBQ.

I wasn’t there for the food.  I was there for the company.

{Boys}

{Girls}

It was so much fun to reconnect with our friends.

We stayed one more night in our SWEET hotel, and then went to church in ZION.  I call it Zion because it is such an awesome ward.  It was so much fun to be back in Overland Park 1st ward and see our ward family.  We love them all so much.  It is amazing how no matter where you go, your ward is always your family and they always will be.

The kids were excited to head out of Overland Park and go to the Great Wolf Lodge.

 

The hotel is so much fun.  It has an indoor water park, arcade, games and activities going on all the time.

 

We spent most of our time in the water park.

It was great to watch Jex enjoy just taking off and riding all the rides.  Nothing seemed to worry him.

Stella was a little more cautious, but she did ride every slide.  We even got Isaac to ride all the slides as well.  It was such a family friendly place.

  

Tess was content climbing the stairs.  Up and Down that is her favorite thing to do.

 

We were so sad to leave the hotel, and the kids are already talking about our next trip there.

I might have to include that idea for Santa next year when I send him my thank you note.

Thanks Santa!! We had a great time, and loved spending the week with one another.

Happenings {Spring Break}

We have had a lot going on since Spring Break.  I am just getting around to sharing a few pictures and recording a few of our memories.

We started out our Spring Break by feeding the calves.

My good friend Tracy had a set of twins that the mother never took too.  She has been bottle feeding them for a few months.  She invited the kids out to give it a try.  They all thought it was pretty neat.

  

Notice Isaac’s boots.  I can’t get them off of him.  He wears them with everything; except socks.  If he wears socks they don’t fit.  I think it is time for new boots.

Jex was surprised that the calf kept following him around when the bottle ran out.  She was still hungry.

The beginning of the week, I took the kids to Garvin Gardens with a few friends.  Garvin Gardens is a beautiful botanical garden in Hot Springs.  Pam and Marji grew up in Hot Springs; so we met up with their mom.  I was so thankful to have an extra set of hands.  It was also nice to get to know her a little more.

We took the kids to a park to play and eat lunch, and then off to Garvin Gardens.

The tulips were in full bloom so I took the opportunity to snap a few pictures.

Did you notice who lost a tooth?

What a beautiful day to capture God’s beauty.

The kids enjoyed playing in the out door playground built out of rocks and water.  It is a natural playground, and I was positive one of the kids would come rolling down a rock, but they all survived.

We were all surprised when the peacock decided to show us his colors.  I think this was by far my favorite part.

Later on in the week, we did the dumbest thing ever and took 18 kids to see the ducks march at the Peabody Hotel.  Once we were in the hotel it was fine.   The kids loved watching the ducks and riding the elevator. 

 

I was so glad we brought Spencer along.  He is my friend Stephanie’s son.  She had to go out of town for a funeral so we brought him along.  I think he had a nice time, but I was grateful for his extra set of hands that kept track of Isaac and Matthew.

The Peabody is downtown, so naturally after we saw the ducks the kids were hungry.  It was crazy when we decided to eat with all of them downtown.   18 kids downtown in the River Market having lunch.  Are we crazy?

I was ready for a big long nap after that adventure.  Too bad I had too much to do.  It was time to pack for our vacation to….

THE GREAT WOLF LODGE in Kansas City!!!

More on that to come.

P.S.  Spring break made me ready for summer vacation.  How about you?  I miss my kids.