What I love about Utah {Part Two}

We recently got back from an entire month long stay in Utah. 

You can read about the first part of our vacation here.  The first part of the month we spent at my parents home, and then we moved over to Jonathan’s parents house for the second half of the month.  I think it is important that the kids get an opportunity to stay with both sets of grandparents.  While we were staying with Jonathan’s parents, Jonathan was able to do a little research about his future practice.  He was very busy with interviews, golfing with friends, and taking me to our favorite Utah restaurants.(Utah food is the best)

At the end of our stay, we got together with Jonathan’s entire family.  Jonathan has four sisters.  That makes for a total of 19 grandkids. 

They are not all pictured here.  We went to one of my favorite places in the whole state.  It is a little town up Provo canyon, not far from Park City.  Heber, is one of those towns that automatically makes you feel at home.

We rented a home there for two nights, and enjoyed being together; all 32 of us.  Let’s just say it was a really big house.

The grandkids didn’t waste any time getting reacquainted.  I loved seeing the smile on our kids faces as they ran around together. 

They also had fun making anything they could think of out of tinfoil and pipe cleaners. This was a very creative idea.  I am definitely going to do this with my kids again.  Their works of art were even judged and awarded.  Local art judges; grandma and grandpa.

The following day was spent out on Deer Creek Reservoir.  Our brother in law was able to bring his boat out.  The kids took turns going out, and riding on the gigantic tube.  I was so proud of our older two for trying it out.

 

I was even more proud when Jex decided to knee board.  He did awesome.  It was one of those moments that I wish I had my camera.  It didn’t take me long to be grateful that I didn’t.  Really expensive camera and open water, equals panic attack for me.  Even thinking about it made me sick to my stomach.  So you will just have to picture my awesome nine year old knee boarding behind the boat; grinning from ear to ear.

The day spent out on the water just happened to be Stella’s birthday.  We had a big family celebration that evening.  I have lots of great pictures.  I will share more about it in my next post. 

It was so nice to just hang out as a family.  I enjoy it so much because I feel like I get to know all those awesome kids a little bit more.  We are the only family that lives away so we have missed parts of them growing up.  This little get together was a really special one.  It has been several years since we have all been together. 

This year the oldest grandson will go on a mission for our church.  Nic will serve for two years.  The next grandson will be gone on his mission before Nic gets home.  It may be a long time before we are all together again.  Times are changing for the Swenson family.  I am sure this was a very special weekend for Jonathan’s parents.  How wonderful it is to have your whole family under one roof. 

My mother in law has this scripture hanging on her wall in her home: 

“I have no greater joy then to hear that my children walk in truth.” 3 John 1:4. 

All five of their children are wonderful people.  They married good people, and have great kids.  What a blessing, and a testament to the kind of parents they are.

The last day of our stay in Utah, Jex was able to go on a four wheeler excursion with his Grandpa Jerald.  Jex enjoyed every minute of his time with his grandpa.

I love the smile on Jerald’s face.  You can tell he is so excited to spend the day with his grandson.

Thanks Swenson family for planning the reunion around our stay.  We are really grateful we could be there.  It was wonderful to spend time with all of you.

Stay tuned for Stella’s birthday post.

What I love about Utah {Part one}

I am finally back from a long summer vacation.  I was able to take my kids to my home state for a good portion of our summer.  I went with the kids for 3 weeks with out Jonathan, and then he joined us for a week at the end of it all. 

This trip was very important to me.  It was one of those trips that will always be very memorable.  Although we have visited Utah many times, we haven’t stayed there long enough for me to actually be able to share parts of my childhood with my kids.  I actually went with a list of all these things I wanted to share with them.  All along the way, every where we went I talked and talked, and shared and shared everything I could think to tell the kids about my childhood.  I loved actually being able to show them what I was talking about.  It made me realize that I truly loved growing up in a small town.  There is nothing I love more then taking the back roads through the fields.  It helped me realize that I want the same for our children.  While I was there, I couldn’t help but think about how great it would be to live there someday.  It has taken me some time to actually feel like I wanted to move back there; but now I know.  Life is always good at home.

I have also come to learn in all the years that we have been away that home is where my husband and children are.  I just secretly wish that my childhood home, and the home I have in my family could grow a little closer.

Before I went to Utah, I thought I would have so much time to blog.  I even planned out some posts that I wanted to do while I was gone.  I didn’t even get a chance to think about my blog.  Now, after being back from Utah for less then a week; I have finally caught up around home, got my kids back in school, and want to reconnect with my blog and blogging friends.

To all my blogging friends: I have missed you.  I can’t wait to catch up on your summers. 

Here is what we did this summer, and why I loved growing up in Utah.

(we did so much, and I took so many pictures that I condensed this post by putting the pictures in to collages)

Family

Utah is home to my whole family, and Jonathan’s whole family.  We haven’t lived by them for 8 years.  It was so nice to be there with them, and let our kids get reacquainted.  We were there long enough to be able to do that.  Tessa really took a liking to my sister Lindsay.  I love this picture; they have the same smile.

Band-concerts

Every Sunday night in the summer, the city park in my hometown holds a band concert.  Local members of the community come together and play music in the park.  Payson citizens come with homemade treat and lawn chairs ready to listen.  It is my favorite way to spend a Sunday evening in the summer.  Our kids loved it too.

Pioneer day

The Pioneers came in to the Salt Lake Valley on July 24th.  Every year, we celebrate pioneer day with my extended family.  Jonathan’s hometown has a big Pioneer day celebration.  My mom grew up there, so we get together with her parents and siblings families.

We always go to the parade, the park for all the festivities, and have a nice lunch.  Our kids enjoyed being with their cousins. (my cousins kids and sisters kids)

Ice cream at the Red Barn

The red barn is just down the freeway a few miles from where I grew up.  They have the best ice cream, and fun atmosphere.  It was one of those things I had to cross off my list.  I am thankful my sisters wanted to go also.

Salem Pond

Salem is this cutest little town, with a pond in the very heart of it.  You go there to feed the ducks.  My sisters and I gathered up our own little ducklings, bought a few pizzas, and made the short 7 minute drive to the pond.  We even invited this handsome man, and his sweet wife.

 

Our grandparents.  My grandpa is in kidney failure.  I made the most of this trip, by spending as much time with them as possible.

Peteetneet Slip n Slide

One of the old historic schools in my hometown sits on top of a huge hill.  When I was a kid we went there to go snow sledding. (Utah is the best snow on earth.) Now not only do they sled, but they also use it as a giant slip n slide in the summer.  Our kids were fortunate enough to try a new Payson tradition. They loved every minute of it, and laughed the whole way down.

Splash Pad

This little beauty was not in Utah County when I grew up there, but my sisters wanted to share it with my kiddos.  It was so much fun.  Tess surprised me.  I thought she would hate it, but she loved it.  What I loved about it.  1)The mountains in the background, aren’t they beautiful?  2) all the modest bathing suits.   It is so nice to be around people who actually cover up parts of their body that I don’t care to see.  Utah is a very modest state, and since we are trying to instill that quality in our girls it was nice to be around it.

Family Parties

When you live away, you only get to attend family parties via phone calls and pictures.  This summer we got to be at my niece’s first birthday.  It was so nice to be a part of it.  London is the most adorable baby.  Lindsay even let me help her make some of the food.  It felt so good to actually watch London dive into her cake instead of just hearing about it.  Lindsay let each of the kids decorate their own cupcake with all sorts of treats.  Our kids were in heaven.

…and last but not least the event I looked forward to for several months

the tradition previously known as KOA

When I was a kid we went to a nearby KOA campground each summer for the Fourth of July.  My grandparents and their 3 friends started doing this when my mom was a kid.  It was a tradition that stuck, and each of those four families grew until my grandparents and their  friends offspring were covering the entire campground.  Eight years ago the couple who ran the KOA for over 30 years leased it out a Camperworld, and our yearly trip to KOA ceased.  We didn’t have a membership to camp there.  It was a sad sad day, and then while under the new lease the mountain caught fire and burned portions of our favorite summer memory to the ground.  I remember the day that my cousin sent me the news release on the fire; and I actually cried.  Good news folks, the family who owns the KOA has it under their care once again.  They have also re-built all the structures that they lost in the fire.  It is no longer a KOA, but now call Oakey’s Big Mountain Ranch.  My sisters and I finally have our favorite summer time memory back.  It is open for business and available for our offspring to grow to love; just as we did.  We decided to make this a family tradition once again.  It actually seemed a little strange to have children of my own there; but so wonderful to share one of the parts of my childhood that I loved so much.

My top 3 favorite KOA memories:

1. My dad cooking dutch oven for us the entire time we our camping.  YUMMO!! Breakfast has always been my favorite.

2.  Playing night games with all the kids up at the campground.

3.  Sitting with my Grandma early in the morning in her trailer watching her put her makeup on.  I can still remember the smell of her trailer.

Thank you Utah for a good trip down memory lane, and allowing me to share my memories with my sweet children.

Stay tuned for Part Two when I share all the fun we had with Jonathan’s family.

Hi

This is Tess.  I thought I would take a minute to tell you that….

we are having a great vacation.  My mom might get back to blogging soon.

Well see.

Celebrate

My good friend Dayna is having her first BABY GIRL, and that is reason to celebrate.

So I threw her a little shower.  It turned out so beautiful, and I had such a wonderful time planning it.  I couldn’t wait to share the details with you.

The food at a baby shower is the most important part.  I always love going to baby shower’s because the food always tastes so yummy.

Presentation always make the food look even better.  I decided to make the baby shower cake a little differently.

I heard threw the grapevine that Dayna was enjoying Rolo Mcflurries from McDonalds.  I decided to make Rolo Cupcakes.  I found the recipe here.  I altered it just a little bit.  I didn’t add the Ganache.  I added a dollop of hot fudge instead.  I also doubled the cake recipe so that I could bake them in these:

Look how fun it is to have cake in a jar.  It was very simple.  I sprayed the jars with Pam spray, and then added 2 scoops of cupcake batter.  I baked them for 30 minutes at 350.

I also baked one pan of mini muffins as well.  Once they cooled in the jar, I added a bit of the salted carmel frosting found with the Rolo cupcake recipe.  I did not have to double that recipe.  Then I added the mini muffin, and topped it with more frosting.

 

Another rolo(there is one inside the cupcake too), and hot fudge to top it off.

Then my little Stella helped me screw the lids on.  I added a ribbon, a pink spoon, and a tag that says enjoy.

They were the perfect addition to the shower.  Some were eaten at the shower right out of the jar, and others were taken home to be eaten later.  I love how it turned out to be a little party favor.

Along with the cupcakes, I dipped some Oreos in white chocolate and added pink sprinkles.  It gives the table a nice bit of color and texture.  Plus, they were delicious.

 

I also made some ham and cheese croissants.  They were the perfect party food.

 

They are so easy:

2 cans of croissants, deli ham, cheese, and butter.  Brush the croissants with butter, and roll up with ham & cheese inside. Bake following the package directions.  EASY, and delicious. 

I also did the same thing with a can of pizza dough.  I rolled it out; added the butter, ham and cheese.  I rolled it up like a jelly roll.  Then I cooked it, and sliced it into small rolls.

My friend Christy brought the fruit and dip.  Which is so great in the summer. 

 

When I throw a shower, I always ask friends to bring food as well.  I can never do it all.  I wish I had gotten a picture of my friend Michelle’s cookie dough truffles.  YUM!! I might have to ask her to guest post about that one day. She made them for my shower when I was pregnant with Tess.

I also enjoy using some of the dishes that I have been collecting.  Pretty dishes make such a statement. It is so much fun because I am storing them on my kitchen counters as decoration, and then I pull them off and use them.  I am starting to collect lots of cake plates, milk glass, and pretty bowls.  I have found most of them at flea markets and the good will.

One day I want to have collected enough dishes that I don’t have to buy paper goods.  I just want to use an eclectic collection of unique dishes.

For the decorations:

I made some pinwheels out of scrapbook paper.

I ruffled some streamers using my sewing machine; To hang, and to use as the table runner.

I hung some pom-poms that I had made for a previous occasion, and a book chain that I made for Tessa’s birthday.

The book chain went well with the frames that I hung behind the table.

Aren’t they so cute.

I took some frames that I had in my attic, and painted them white.  Then I printed the words ROCK A BYE on white cardstock.  I used the font: porcelin.

I ripped some more pages from a book, and added the words.  I used a brown inkpad to distress the edges of the paper.  Then I attached that to white cardstock and put it in the frames. A ribbon stapled to the back allowed me to hang them.

I love how it matches the book chain, and my book wreath.

It is also a great gift for the new mother to take home.

I also couldn’t help myself, and made one more print.  I attached it to a canvas that I had lying around.  I added some pink ribbon to the edges to complete the look.

 

It says: J is for Jordyn.  Isn’t that the cutest name for a baby girl?  Dayna also took this home for Jordyn’s nursery.  Which is adorable by the way.

I love how it all came together.  I love planning parties, and having it all turn out so nicely.

The best part of a party is the feeling that you get when you have everyone in your home enjoying themselves.  It is worth the time and effort to enjoy being together, and celebrating the upcoming arrival of a sweet baby girl.

Congratulations Clayton and Dayna.

I am linking up to Just a Girl Show and Share.

Fourth of July {Part 2}

Our regular Fourth of July party was on July 2nd this year, so we had to come up with something great to do on the Fourth.

The Fourth of July is one of those holidays that I need to stay busy or I start to get a little homesick for family BBQ’s.  We came up with our own little family plan, and it turned out to be a great holiday.

The kids spent the morning in their new fort that Jonathan built in the woods by our house.  (I will post about this later)

They also enjoyed riding bikes and playing outside, while I did a little light housework.  I know it sounds exciting all ready.

Jonathan worked on his famous ribs for dinner.  My mouth was watering all day.

I decided that I would put some effort in to making our dinner special.  I knew a few decorations would take our Fourth of July dinner from ok to exciting.  The kids love when I pull out the fancy glasses, and they were thrilled to see balloons.

I also made some cookies that were pink red, white, and blue.  (darn red food coloring)

Dinner was delicious.  We enjoyed ribs, salad, watermelon and cookies.

The kids even blew out a candle while we sang “Happy Birthday to America.”

After dinner, the kids enjoyed playing with the balloons while we cleaned up.

Then we watched a movie together.  I love family movie nights.  We decided to watch The Voyage of the Dawn Treader/Narnia 3.  The kids must have loved it because they have been on a Narnia kick ever since and have watched 1, 2 and 3.

After the movie, we put Tess to bed because of her fear of fireworks.  See this face? 

This was earlier in the day.  We went outside and the neighbors were lighting a few, and she freaked out.  They scared her to death. We  decided it would be more fun for us and her if she was in bed.

Then Jonathan put on the first annual Swenson fireworks show.  It was awesome.  He even taught Jex how to light a few.  The kids enjoyed it so much that I think it will have to be tradition.  Almost our whole street was lighting fireworks.  It was so much fun to be out there and watching all the different lights and colors.  I loved hearing all the sounds.  It felt like home.

It was such a great day spent as a family.  Even though I miss being at home with our extended family, I wouldn’t trade the memories that we are creating with our own. We really do have so much to be thankful for.  One thing I learned on this holiday is that regardless of how much I miss my family and being “home”; I am thankful that America is the place I call HOME!!

Yes, I did scrapbook this event.  Want to see?

Go here.