New Barfing Record

Today we installed a new car seat for Matthew. His first car seat held up to 25 pounds and he has maxed it out. Plus, Matthew was so uncomfortable in it and I was tired of cramming chubby arms and legs through straps that were just too small. He couldn't fit in it if he was wearing a sweater or jacket. We would have to strip him down to the base coat of clothing to make the buckle click.

That being said- it was time for a bigger boy seat! Damien installed it this morning before church. We strapped Matthew in, drove the five minutes to church and as we were pulling into a parking spot at mass, we heard a noise that was unmistakable. It could have only been one thing. We didn't need to turn around to know that Matthew threw up all over himself and the brand new car seat. Car seats by nature are just nasty. The baby spits up (it dries), drops food, leaks through it's diaper, has dirty shoes, has dirty clothes, and over time- car seats become a petri dish of sorts. Collecting everything from everywhere! You can only imagine how happy we were to retire the first car seat. To start fresh- start anew. But here we are, five minutes into this fresh feeling and before we can enjoy it, it was over.

We stripped Matthew down to his onesie and pants, wrapped a blanket around him and walked into church feeling dejected. Matthew has the new barfing record for the Swendsen household. What record will he want to break next?

SCU Alumni Day

To think that exactly one year ago today, I was lugging Michael and Claire to the SCU Alumni Event is wild. I was just 10 days postpartum with Matthew and left him for the first time with Damien to bring Michael and Claire out of the house and to the SCU Women's Basketball game. I hadn't seen some of the people for a long time and a lot of the old fans were a delight to see. The thing that was a bummer was that I still looked pregnant. Hello! 10 days postpartum! At first it was embarrassing when people told me, "Oh, you have another Swendsen on the way!" I quickly found a way to dodge the bullet while also minimizing the embarrassment they would feel once they realized I wasn't pregnant! I just said, "Nope. Just deflating."

This year I was NOT pregnant and thrilled to bring Matthew along, too. The kids love that during halftime they get to walk out of the floor while everyone in the gym claps. I try and think of what it must feel like for them to walk out on such an 'intimidating stage'. They are so little and the stadium is so big. I hope that this memory and the memories to come stay with them. I know that it feels great to be able to give them an opportunity to experience a little of my past and for them to walk on the same floor that I spent hundreds upon hundreds of hours perfecting a game that I love.

We had a great turn out this year. We had a few former players from many years ago and an increase in more recent former players. It was good to catch up with everyone and to see what they are doing now that they are a little more removed from the hardwood. Most everyone had children, one graduate was getting ready to get married, and it was interesting to chat with the current players and get a glimpse of what they are going through, too. It's funny. I am so content in my life. I try and have a good balance of taking care of the kids, of Damien, but also finding time to take care of myself, too. Yet as I sat on the bleachers watching the girls play, my adrenaline started pumping and I would've loved nothing more than to have thrown on a uniform and jumped in the game. I truly loved playing at Santa Clara. My experiences there stripped me down to my innermost core and allowed me to rebuild myself they way I wanted. Some of the most difficult times of my life were on that floor. Other times, it was pure bliss. I will never forget winning my last game in Toso Pavillion. Standing in the center circle, surrounded by my teammates, fans cheering, a real surge of energy floating through the air. It was this moment, WCC trophy in hand, basketball net around my neck, that I truly felt like I was floating on air. I was so happy.

Right now as I type this, Matthew is pulling on my leg. There is a stack of paperwork on the counter I have to get to, dishes in the sink, and only 10 more minutes until I need to pick up Michael from school. I love my life but also love that I can take a deep breath, close my eyes and feel victory pumping through my veins as I stand in the center circle. I have turned in my #15 jersey and hung up my shoes from those days, but in a split second I am there again. No matter what is going on in my life or where I am- this memory alone sets me afloat.

Valentine's Day

Having spent the night away from the kids this past weekend, we kind of decided that we would keep our Valentine's Day low key. It was a beautiful day here and the sun peeking through the windows kept my mood light and my spirits bright. Both of the big kids had school so our morning started early!

When I was a child, I could hardly wait for Valentine's Day morning! Every year, my Dad would get all five of us girls a heart shaped box full of chocolate. I counted on that treat. Sure, my Mom always had a really cute bag full of goodies waiting for us on the kitchen counter- but there was something about that box of chocolates that had me looking forward to Valentine's Day all year long. When the kids were small, I told Damien that I thought it would be cute if he started this tradition, too. Done deal. (Thanks Dad for the idea!)

Up bright and early, I got the kids all dressed up in red. Michael was especially excited because it was a 'free dress' day at his school if you wore Valentine colors. You would understand his excitement if you went to Catholic School or a school where you had to wear a uniform. Free dress days were the best! Both the kids came home from school with a bag full of loot and serious sugar highs. The day was pretty casual but we were all looking forward to dinner that night (which was arranged by Damien). We all hopped in the car and wondered where we were going! He cautioned me that he had not orchestrated some great plan, but instead picked a place that was kid friendly but also reminiscent of a past Valentine's Day.

He pulled the car to a stop on Lincoln Avenue to a really nice Chinese restaurant. I had to laugh. I knew what he was doing. See, about three years ago, we had a rough Valentine's Day. A few days prior to it, we found out that there were some fraudulent charges on our credit card. The bank closed the account and we were waiting to get the new cards in the mail. We had also just made a major purchase and were waiting for a larger check from Damien's work. Added all together, we had limited funds. When I say limited, I mean limited. That Valentine's night, with no debit/credit cards, we gathered $15 in quarters and headed to our favorite fast food Chinese, Wok n' Roll. Laugh if you want- but we learned a wonderful lesson that night. With Michael and Claire in tow, we all sat and ate dinner together and realized that the greatest gift was the gift of our little family. As Valentine's Day is all about love, we looked at Michael and Claire and realized that if were not for the love Damien and I had for each other, they wouldn't be here. They are the real product of our love and the reason our hearts were bursting with happiness. So on this Valentine's Day as we got out of the car for dinner, Damien told me that although the Valentine's Day three years ago helped us to realize love's true meaning, he felt this year I deserved to be treated to a really nice Chinese Dinner instead of fast food Wok n' Roll. I thought it was really cute and appreciated the sentiment.

We had a great dinner and just sat around and talked about life. We finished up eating, came home, and put the kids to sleep. Thankfully, they all slept soundly and let Damien and I just hang out and enjoy each other. It was a wonderful day and a great time to sit back and reflect on all of the blessings in my life.

Golden Circle

You can only imagine what a pleasant surprise it was to be invited by a dear friend of mine to a black tie formal. Coming from the day to day cracker smeared on my shirt, predictable velour sweat suit, and running shoes- it was a very welcome break from my ultra casual lifestyle. The event was Santa Clara University's Golden Circle, which this year featured entertainment by Kenny Loggins followed by a formal dinner and dancing at the Fairmont Hotel. I could hardly contain my excitement! A night away with Damien for us to act like adults, to be able to eat my dinner at my own pace and not worry about picking Matthew's throwaways up off the floor, not having to coax Michael into finishing his dinner . . . SIGN ME UP!

Back in the day before my primary job was staying home with the kids, I worked at Santa Clara University for just over two years. Having attended Santa Clara for my undergraduate education, I LOVED working there and naturally had an exuberant amount of pride and passion for what I did. Working as an Event Planner, I worked on two Golden Circle events as well as other events and really enjoyed what I did. Perhaps one day, once the kids are in school, I can return to this field since I really feel like it is my other passion (aside from running carpools, changing diapers and feeding babies bottles in the middle of the night).

Damien's parents came down to watch the kids and I was really excited to get out for the night! Let's see. A formal dress- check. Hubby looking handsome in a tuxedo- check. Dinner and dancing- check. A night of un-interrupted sleep- triple check! We kissed the kids goodbye and off we went! We decided to stay at the hotel for the night and just live it up! Kenny Loggins was great and we realized that we knew more of his songs that we had originally thought! Dinner was fabulous and the decor was amazing. Every year at this event, around two thousand people attend. Each different dining room at the hotel looks as if it's its own world. Different colors, lighting, draping, flowers, and bands give each room it's own unique feel and it is fun to visit each room and dance to different music and enjoy the ambiance.

One wonderful thing about Santa Clara is that it is one giant family. We saw SO many people we knew and had so many wonderful conversations with people we haven't seen for a while! This event is a homecoming of sorts for all those who love SCU and want a chance to get together and dance the night away. I was so thankful that Karrie invited us to Golden Circle and feel blessed that she would treat us to such an amazing night.

When we came home the next afternoon, refreshed from some time away and after having some serious R&R- we were so happy to see the kids and thankful that for a brief evening, Damien and I got to reconnect and spend some much needed alone time together. It is hard to get away and leave the kids, but we both came back refreshed, renewed, and ready to resume our responsibilities at home. Thanks to Mark and Marlene for giving us a chance to get away!

Twinkle Toes

For months now, Claire has been begging us to be enrolled in ballet/tap class. I kept saying, "Okay, I will look for a class for you", but somehow, it just didn't happen. In the meantime, Michael has been playing on a basketball team, I just signed them both up for Spring Soccer, but still- no ballet class. So I told myself that I was going to sit down at the computer and not get up until I found a class for my little Clairey. Thankfully, it didn't take long to find an affordable and local class for her. It would meet once a week for an hour and I thought that it would fit well into our schedule.

When I told her that she was going to start ballet, she went crazy! She called my parents, my sisters- anyone who would want to hear the great news! I took her out shopping to get the necessary shoes and then to another store to pick out her leotard. Watching the happiness ooze from Claire, I felt guilty that I put this off for so long. However, I had to cut myself a break and just find some peace in the fact that I finally had enrolled her and move on!

Long long ago, I took several years of tap/ballet. I remember loving it. The practices, the big shows, traveling to competitions, the music, the outfits . . . it was all great. I did this for several years until my Dad saw it fit to transition me from dance to more physical sports. The rest is history. Being the oldest of five girls, I now realize that this must have been a financial strain to keep me (and my sister Jill) in dance for so many years. For one, back then they didn't carry tap/ballet shoes at Payless. When I told my Mom that I had purchased shoes for Claire, her response was, "I hope you bought them used!" What she didn't realize was that instead of the very expensive shoes that were really your only option back in the day, you can now buy ballet or tap shoes at Payless for $15-20 a pair! Funny how things change over the years!

On Claire's first day of ballet, she couldn't sit still. She was in her leotard HOURS before her class. She was leaping off furniture and dancing to music. To see the joy this opportunity gave her was wonderful. What I didn't realize was how much joy this gave to me, as well. Claire looked beautiful in her outfit. Normally, when people see Claire, they comment about how big Claire is. When I see her gallop around the house, I always think that it must be so hard to have such long legs and arms that you just can't completely control. Claire has always been wiggly- the kind of child that will be sitting in a chair and then suddenly fall on the floor without realizing how it happened. With all of the rapid growing she does, I often think how hard it would be to try and be coordinated. Yet when Claire pranced around the house, she was graceful. Long beautiful arms flying through the air. Her legs in sweet unison with the top of her body. Her long neck stretching to the sky as she pirouetted through the living room. I had to stop myself from tearing up. She looked so beautiful and I took the opportunity to enjoy her in all her splendor.

Her first class went great! I got to see her go in and warm up but then had to leave as they don't allow the parents to stay and watch. The parents and siblings will get to attend their final performance on the last day of class. As I drove away from the facility with Michael and Matthew, I knew that Claire was where she wanted to be. In a room where she could be with other girls, wear pink, dance around and have fun. Yes, it took me a while to sign her up and get organized but it was a small victory to know that in the end- she got her wish.