Back to the photo dump-catch up…. all for history’s sake.

I just have to get all this documented. 

The last time I shared all of our April memories.

It feels good to be catching up with this little project.

I was sorting through May, and I ended up with 54 pictures of memories that I wanted to share and remember.

I promise not to torture you with all 54 pictures in one post.

I will divide it in to 2.

I know you are thinking “thank you so much, 2 posts all about May, makes it so much more fun.” 

…and really you don’t have to read if it doesn’t interest you.

But… this is our life.  It’s our real life.

…and I want to remember.

I ended up with so many photos because May is worse than December.

It’s true; I have many friends who agree.

Our family calendar was extremely full.

So here it is:

Part One of Swenson Family Memories May 2015

1. We started the month off by going down to my hometown.

I grew up in Payson, Utah and it just so happened that an LDS temple was just finished there.

One of the exciting things about a new temple is that it is open to the public until it is dedicated.

This meant that our kids would get to see the inside of a temple for the first time.

We were all shocked at how beautiful and amazing it was.

I am thankful for temples and the role they play in my life.  The Payson Temple makes number 18 for temples in Utah, and 147 temples around the world.

 

It was a beautiful day to share as a family, and Jonathan’s parents got to go with us.

2.  One of the biggest events that takes place at our kid’s school is called the North Park Mile.

Last year, both Jex and Stella placed in the top 3 which was so exciting.

Stella had been practicing and training during the spring.

She has such long legs and makes such a beautiful runner.

Here she is neck and neck in first place.

When she crossed the line she came in 5th.

She had a moment during the race, where she just stopped running and gave up on herself.

It was a good learning experience for her to remember that she can do hard things.

I am so proud of her for finishing, even though at one point she said she wasn’t going to.

It’s pretty incredible that she took 5th place, when she stopped in the middle and said she was done.

She learned that day, that she can do hard things.  When life gets hard sometimes you just have to keep on going.

3.  …And then that coming weekend, we went back down to Utah County to run a 5k as a family. 

It was an angel run, and we were running for Angel Baby Ruby.

The funny thing is, Stella and Jex ran the whole 5k together.  The whole thing.

It was amazing to me.  Isaac ran it with me, and we only stopped once to take off our jackets.  He was a real trooper.  We just kept pushing each other along.

Jonathan also ran the whole thing while pushing Tessa in the stroller. 

Well, Tessa actually ran for about 3 minutes, and then into the stroller she went for the rest of the trip.

Jonathan had some insightful thoughts as he ran.

First of all, he didn’t come to the race with the intention of running the whole race.  He didn’t come prepared.  As he began, he felt that he needed to run the whole thing.  He thought about Kristin and Jared, and how they didn’t intend or know that they would have an Angel Baby, but they kept on going even when it got hard.  So when the race got hard(and it wasn’t easy to push a 45 pound-5 year old in a stroller), he pushed through using Jared and Kristin as an example.

There were also moments that he could feel that sweet angel baby helping him along.

We all ran for her.  We miss her so, but we know and believe in angels.  We know she watches over us.

4.  During the month of May there is always a lot going on at the kid’s school.  One day, Tess and I lived in the car.   This is our little “selfie” we took in between all the events of the day.

We had about 30 minutes during our day with nothing to do, and she begged for chick-fil-a.

I said “Yes!”, but I demanded a kiss.

5.  Mother’s Day was amazing this year. The kids and Jonathan were so thoughtful.

Jonathan took care of every meal, and helping the kids for the day.

He even let me take a really long nice Sunday nap(which I almost always do on Sundays.)

The kids had a slew of homemade gifts that they made for me. Including: soap dispensers with pictures, a story all about me, bracelets, coupons, home-strung necklaces, and even a rock.

Stella also baked some cupcakes while I was having my nap. She loves to bake.

I also bought myself this bracelet as a beautiful reminder.

Jonathan lets me pick out flowers for all my pots in the yard for Mother’s Day.

6.  That brings me to a slew of pictures that I just have to share.

I am obsessed with the beauty of flowers.

 

I love having them in my yard, and on my porch, and I love taking care of them.

I also love photographing them. 

 

Especially since I got my new lens that has a macro feature.

 

I have been able to take some really beautiful pictures. 

Now that I don’t have a photography business anymore, it has been fun to keep up my skill by taking photos of other things.

 

I am hoping to hang some of these in our master bedroom.

 

7.  One of the other school events that we attended was Stella’s 4th grade Utah program.

They sang songs all about Utah, and what it stands for.  What it produces, and how it came to be.

They dressed up in different costumes that help to represent those things.

Stella was a Mormon girl.

 

Which is very fitting for her because she IS a very beautiful Mormon girl.

So there you have it. 

Half of the month of our May memories.

More to come soon.

February Happening 2015

If you are not up to speed on this blog, I am trying to play catch up with just the everyday little happenings in our life.  I don’t want to miss a thing when I finally get to my 2015 scrapbook.  I think it will be coming up fast too, because I am already on my 2009 scrapbook, and have been for only a year or two. (wink, wink)  I have so much time for scrapbooking.

I will be grateful when the 2015 scrapbooking finally rolls around, and this all recorded.  It might be 2035 when I get to 2015 so it will help that I’ve already written the memories down.  I’m not likely to remember them in 20 years.

I have shared quite a bit with my 365 project, but some of it has gone unrecorded, or I want more of it here; with more description and detail.

I already blogged an entire post about our most exciting February adventure and now I’m just finishing up with a few of the random February day to day things.

Swenson Family February 2015:

1. Before we left for our Hawaiian vacation, I decided that I should put out a few Valentine’s decorations since I would be home just a few days before the Holiday.  I thought the kids would enjoy seeing them, and seeing them might remind them how much I love them; even when I am away.

I also made a little love note with a treat attached for every day of February leading up to Valentines.  So while we were gone they were receiving a little love note.  It think it helped not to miss us so much.  I was home by the 14th so I took care of the Valentine’s Day treat.  I always leave it at the door, and then I knock and run.  My kids love this tradition.

2. We always buy season tickets to Utah State Basketball.  We enjoy doing this together all winter as a family. 

My favorite part is that our kids really are true aggie fans.  They know all the chants and cheers, and sing right along.  It’s so fun to do this as a family.

…and sometimes the kids even bring friends along.

3. One week at preschool Tessa was the star of the week.  That means she is in charge of bringing the snack.  It was so close to Valentine’s Day, that she decided she wanted to make sugar cookies to take for the class.

We had a great time working together in the kitchen making the cookies, and the frosting.

  We did this over the course of a couple days.  One day making dough, rolling out, and baking.

 

Then the next day we frosted and sprinkled.  Tessa really liked this part.

I wish I could have been there to see the smile on her face as she passed them out to all her friends.

4. Valentines came and went with out to many exciting things going on.  The kids wanted to keep their Valentines super simple this year.  They didn’t want me to make them with a picture like I usually do; because that would be super embarrassing.  Not super cool because it was different, and who wants to be different?  But what do I know?  I’m the mom who thrives on being a little different.

My friend had a darling idea though, and some leftover gumballs from her Valentine project, so she shared with us.  It really did make an adorable Valentine.

It was kind of nice not to have to think to hard. Thanks Emily.

Stella wanted a fancy box.  I bought the supplies, but she put it together on her own.  I think it turned out great, and went well with her gumball theme.

5. Valentine’s Day fell on a Saturday this year, and we needed to head to Utah County to attend a family function on Sunday.  That left us with limited time at home on Valentine’s Day morning.

I did take the time to teach the kids how to dip Strawberries in chocolate.

Once I showed them how to do one, they were on their way.

The hardest part is trying not to lick your fingers.

…but they sure are a delicious Love day food.

6. Each year, our ward reserves Beaver Mountain and our whole ward is invited to go night skiing.  It is such a fun activity.  I always stay in the lodge and just enjoy all the yummy food.  The kids and Jonathan take off, and enjoy skiing at night.  It’s always fun to do things just a little different than the normal way.  It’s even better to share a night with people that you love from church.

7. We also got to celebrate one of our favorite cousins coming home from his mission this month.  Elder Argyle, my kids cousin served a 2 year mission in Oregon.

 

They were so excited to see him again.  I am always thankful for the wonderful example that the older cousins are to our kids.

8.  After our Hawaii trip, we ended the month of February with some unseasonably warm weather.

After our trip, and my long winter’s nap from vacation, we enjoyed the rest of February doing our normal school routine.  February seemed to be unseasonably warm for Utah.  One afternoon, we went to the park because it was such a nice day.

The little’s rode their scooters.

I enjoyed watching them play.

I’m still bundled even though it is warmer, but I just left Hawaii not too long ago; so anything feels a little cold to me.  Although everyone in Utah thinks it’s so warm.

The kids thought it was so warm, and played without shoes and socks.

I was sure their little piggies were so cold.  They assured me they were not.

February was a great month.  It’s even greater that I have finally recorded it.