Read-A-Palooza

There was a day when I hoped that my kids would be readers.  Well I need to worry no more!  My kids LOVE to read!  They do read a lot of books throughout the school year, but this summer could have been called Read-A-Palooza!  Claire and Michael have been slowly chipping away at the Harry Potter series.  This 'chipping away' turned into an avalanche of reading about the boy wizard!  I love seeing them so completely enthralled with these books!  I find them both curled up in corners, snuggled under Claire's bed with flashlights, and up early in the morning with their books!  I love to hear them talk to each other about where they are in the books and have such enthusiasm for what might come next!

Matthew and Emily obviously can't read but I do make a real effort to take them to the book store so they can explore different book/subjects. We always read a handful of books which they absolutely love.  Daddy reads to all the kids every night before bed so they hear books read aloud a lot!  I hope they can learn from their big brother and sister that reading can be a lot of fun!!!

Full Circle Moment

Matthew was practically glowing after finishing his basketball project.  My little four year old was bursting with confidence and so satisfied at a job well done.  The Popsicle man had come by minutes earlier and all the kids had gotten a cool refreshing treat to cap off the day.  Matthew and I sat down on the warm concrete and had a deep chat as the sun continued to set on this beautiful day. 

Matthew:  "Mom, you're really good at basketball!"
Mommy:  "Thanks, buddy.  You know, I had to practice a lot in order to get better at basketball!"
Matthew:  "Did you practice in the dark, too?"
Mommy:  "Well, Grandpa put lights in the backyard so that I could practice at night if I wanted to."
Matthew:  "Grandpa is cool!"
Mommy:  "My Dad is cool!  When I was a kid, he would come and rebound for me just like I did for you!"
Matthew:  "Did you practice in the rain?"
Mommy:  "Actually, I did.  A lot!"
Matthew:  "Didn't you get wet and cold?"
Mommy:  "I did!  But I really loved basketball and wanted to be the best I could be!"
Matthew:  "Did Nonna and Grandpa make food for you to eat after you practiced so much?"
Mommy:  laughing a little, "Nonna did.  She is a great cook and took great care of me!"
Matthew:  "That's really nice"
Mommy:  "I know!"

There was about a minute pause as Matthew was deep in thought.  He kept wrinkling his forehead while simultaneously eating his sno-cone.

Matthew:  "So, Mom.  I was thinking . . . I want to be just like you."
Mommy:  "Matthew, that makes my heart so happy!"
Another few seconds of concentrated silence.
Matthew:  "Can boys play basketball in college, too?  I would love to play basketball at Santa Clara University."

I was stunned by what he had just said.  Could men play sports in college?  I thought about that for a second.  Here was my beautiful four year old son asking me if he might have the opportunity to do what I did!  It was in this moment that I realized what a strong female role model I must be for my children.  So much so- that Matthew wished that men could have the same privileges as women!  What a full circle moment.  One generation before me- women were fighting for the right to play sports.  Now, two generations later- my son asks if men have the same opportunities as women.  Times have changed and I am so thrilled to have raised my children with a sense of equality and empowerment.

Mommy:  "Of course you can play at Santa Clara!  You can do anything you set your mind to."
Matthew:  "Yay!"

And that was it.  A moment I won't soon forget.  I moment that made me feel so blessed for my amazing journey through life.  A moment that reminded me to help guide and encourage my own children on their journeys, as well.  Life is precious.  Thank you Matthew for our talk tonight.  I will rebound for you anytime. 

Nothing But Net

Matthew is becoming more and more interested in sports lately.  I know it probably has a lot to do with the vast exposure he gets from his older siblings.  He loves soccer, basketball, and baseball!  He loves to go and battle Michael in soccer in the backyard and is constantly asking Damien to pitch to him, too!  Matthew has caught the sports fever and I love it!

The other day when we were out by the basketball court, it dawned on me that Matthew never shoots on our big hoop.  He will shoot on the two smaller hoops we have, but I had never seen him attempt a shot on the big hoop (which is adjustable).  I asked him if he had ever made a hoop on the big basket and he said "No!"  I told him that was about to change!  "Alright Matthew.  Shoot it up high, buddy!", I said.  He told me he couldn't do it.  "Yes, you can!  Just shoot it up and out!", I encouraged him.  Sure enough, he set his feet and shot it up and out.  SWISH!  By the look of amazement on Matthew's face, you would have thought it was Christmas morning!  "My first big boy basket!", he cheered!  It was awesome.

Matthew caught basketball fever in that very moment.  He got a focused look on his face and stayed outside shooting hoops for two hours.  When I put him to bed that night- he asked me, "Can I go outside and shoot hoops when I wake up in the morning?"  It was adorable.

The next day, he asked me to draw a line around the hoop so he could put x's on it where he made baskets.  I thought he was going to draw BIG x's but he was drawing these teeny weeny x's which I thought would make this project last forever!  I tried to convince him to make them bigger, but he was dead set in keeping it the way it was!  It took him all day to finish putting x's around the chalk-drawn arch.  After his last basket, we counted the x's he/we had drawn and realized that he had shot and made 70 baskets!  Matthew rocks!

Matthew loves projects.  If you give him a math workbook, he will sit and focus until he completes it.  He attacked this 'basketball project' the same way.  Determined, focused, and unwilling to stop until he had reached his goal!  We all couldn't believe what he had done.  Claire, Michael, Damien, Emily, and I cheered him on and were so proud of his accomplishment!

Go Matthew, Go!

Big Sister Clairey

Claire has been loving carrying the two little kids lately.  The other day, she screamed for me to come in her room.  It sounded like something was extremely urgent!  I came running into her room expecting that someone might have lost a limb or was unconscious.  Then, I saw this.  Claire was carrying both Emily and Matthew at the same time and wanted me to see it!  The trouble was, her grip was slipping and she desperately wanted to share this moment with me!  I was so happy to have witnessed this insanity!  I absolutely love the priceless look on all of their faces!  They all knew they were slipping and to think they held on so I could snap this picture is awesome!  Love these little kids.

The Farm with Friends

Today, we went to Emma Prusch Farm with our great friends!  We were so lucky to be able to find a time where my friend, Karen and her kiddos Luke and Brinn could join us for a playdate!  Hanging out with them is so much fun.  Both of her kids are the same genders and ages of my two younger kids.  This makes things so easy as everyone has a playmate with similar interests!

We got there a little early so we let the kids run all over the huge patches of grass and play on the really cool play structure.  The little girls were so enamored with the sweet little chicks, hens, and roosters walking freely on the property.  The boys were more interested in chasing them and seeing if they could make them fly.  Go figure! 

Once the petting zoo/farm house was open, the kids were giddy with excitement.  First, they wanted to see the goats and pigs.  This was soon followed by four small voices saying, "Ewwww!  They're stinky!  Look at their poop!  Look at all the flies!".  Then we moved on to the cows where Matthew confidently lectured the other kids about how this particular brown cow makes chocolate milk- not white milk. 

We then went to the petting zoo area where you can see peacocks, geese, and some more exotic birds.  I am just going to come out and say that this isn't my favorite place to be.  I am not a fan of birds, more specifically hungry three foot tall geese,  pecking at my legs or feet.  I also, have no ability to shut off my screaming reflex which  when being bitten- which might startle my kids.  I'm sure you know where I'm going with this.

There is a gumball machine in the petting zoo area where you can get a handful of bird feed for 25 cents.  We happened to have a ton of quarters so the kids got to feed the birds for a long time!  This made the birds kind of aggressive by the end.  They knew we were going to be giving them one heck of a breakfast!  So, naturally- the mean geese started honking and biting us!  They started nibbling on the kids hands and biting my toes while I was trying to take some cute pictures of the kids!  Naturally, I let out a few yelps and then declared this feeding experience over!

We ended the excursion by watching the kids climb on old tractors and argue over who got to sit in the driver's seat.  Karen and I couldn't help but just laugh.  What else were we going to do?  We loved meeting our amazing friends out for a midweek playdate.  We are already planning on what we should do next!

Do I Need More Reasons to Love My Kids?

We have been going on nightly walks lately.  It's a good way to escape the heat while also stretching our legs and getting some exercise!  Tonight, Michael wanted to wear sunglasses.  Clearly, it had a ripple effect.  At first it frustrated me because it delayed our departure, but in the end- it was amazing.  I love these kiddos!

Please note Matthew's extra awesome glasses selection.  He wondered why the glasses he picked had ear warmers.  Thank you, thank you very much.

First Day of 3rd and 4th Grade

Well, it was a great summer but all good things must come to an end.  I've had a pit in my stomach for the last few weeks knowing this day was around the corner and I know my kids did, too.  Summer is just so much fun.  No structure, no packed lunches, no uniforms.  Just plenty of time for hanging out and doing whatever we please!!!

I think we all silently surrendered to the inevitable.  It's hard not to give in when you are shopping at the uniform store or getting school supplies at Target.  The kids woke this morning full of energy!  Maybe it had something to do with the fact that school didn't start until 9:00 a.m. today!

Claire and Michael both found out who their teachers were and who their classmates were going to be yesterday.  They are both thrilled that they got the teachers/friends/classes they wanted.  All grades are split up into A and B at St. Christophers.  So far, for the last four years- my kids have been in KA, 1A, 2A, and 3A.  They loved that the tradition continues and that they are in 3A and 4A this year!!!

Claire wanted her teacher to be Mrs. Delgadillo.  Michael had her last year and Claire really wanted to have the experience of having a teacher that her brother was taught by!  Claire loves school.  She is eager to learn, enthusiastic to take on new subjects, and really focused and prepared for the tasks at hand!  School is an environment where she thrives!  At this point in her young life, she wants to be a teacher and teach creative writing.  Love it. 

Michael was so happy to have a few of his close friends in his class (Zack and Anthony).  He was put in Mrs. Bordenave's class and he couldn't wait to meet her and get his fourth grade year rolling!  I know this is going to be a big adjustment for him.  I have been hearing for a while what a big adjustment it is from third to fourth grade.  Michael really is a great student.  He loves learning and I think he wouldn't mind school so much if it wasn't for homework!

I am excited for both Michael and Claire.  They are really ready to take on 4th and 3rd grade.  They are getting older so fast and it makes me yearn for the days when they home with me.  My little babies.  They always will be.

San Jose Earthquakes Game

So far, all of my kids absolutely love soccer.  I secretly love this as I think soccer rocks!  After a long day, Damien and I thought it might be fun (and crazy) to surprise the older three kids with a trip to a San Jose Earthquakes game.  Just as we thought, they were beyond excited!  Michael loves to play FIFA soccer on the Xbox and knows a lot of the players names from it.  He thinks that we are super stars because we went to SCU with Joe Cannon who used to be the goal keeper for the Earthquakes.  Anything associated with soccer- according to Michael is awesome!

We decided to keep Emily home because it was just a recipe for disaster.  The game started at 7:30 p.m. and she would have gotten too tired and dangerous to enjoy any of it.  Right now, the Earthquakes play at SCU which is really cool.  As Damien was walking up to the entrance, he saw a friend of ours named Joao.  Years ago, Damien game him tickets to a USA vs. Brasil World Cup game which we couldn't go to.  Since then, he idolizes Damien!  Anyway, he saw Damien and gave him two tickets that were right at midfield.  Score!  Damien just needed to buy two more for a spectacular view of the game!

The kids loved the game so much.  They even got to exchange high fives with the players at halftime!  They all got fun little key chains and little soccer balls, too!  Damien, of course, loaded them up with cotton candy, kettle corn, and other sweet treats.  It was a night to remember, for sure.  Sitting under the bright lights with their Daddy is sure to be a highlight of their summer.

Michael's GIANT Cameo!

Michael was invited to his friend Jacob's birthday party which was going to be at the San Jose Giants game!  He was beyond excited and was thrilled that Matthew and Damien would be able to go with him to the party/barbecue. 

Claire, Emily and were at home when the phone rang.  I answered it and heard "Lisa?", Damien said out of breath.  "Turn on the TV and find the San Jose Giants game and record it.  Michael and his friends are about to be interviewed!", he said.  I was able to find it and we all sat and watched for Michael to come on the screen.  Nothing.  For about ten minutes, nothing.  We were so hungry and I wanted to fix the kids food but I didn't want to miss Michael!  Then it happened.  I saw him bare chested with the letter S on his chest! He was the S of his friends creative attention grabbing  G-I-A-N-T-S! Claire was howling, literally howling.  She couldn't believe it!  She knew all the boys that were on the television with Michael and she thought it was awesome!  We could even see Damien in the background who eventually put Matthew on his shoulders so he could get a piece of the action! 

The lady interviewed the boys and asked it they were freezing and of course, Michael yelled no.  He told her during the interview that they were here celebrating their friend's birthday party!  She then gave them the name, 'The Giant Boys'.  Hilarious!!!  We called Damien and sent him a screen grab of the recording and they loved it.  Not ten minutes later did I get another call to turn on the TV again because Michael and his friends were going to be dancing on the field! 

We flipped on the TV again and there Michael was, shaking his booty.  Were the other boys shaking their booty?  No, just my kid.  Couldn't have been prouder either!  They all looked adorable.  Michael has never been one to shy away from the spotlight and this situation wasn't any different.  He started doing his own version of break dancing and the crowd was eating it up!  He even got his chest signed by the San Jose Giants mascot, Gigante!  This is certainly something that I know Michael won't soon forget.  Go San Jose Giants and the Giant Boys!

Matthewisms

These are just a few gems that have come out of my Matthew lately.  Seriously, the kid is pure comedy.  However, just yesterday Matthew told Damien that he wasn't funny.  Damien asked him why he thought that!  Matthew responded, "Because Michael told me I wasn't."  Oh, boy.  Here comes the big brother/little brother battle!  So, for the time being, I want to remember these funny little phrases.

Marley and Me:  Marlene and Me
Two Player:  Two Claire
Yogi Bear:  Lugi Bear
Bus Your Plate:  Blush Your Plate
Yellow:  Lellow
Obstacle Course:  Officer's Course
Cleopatra:  Claire-o-patra
Monopoly:  Monocoly
Ninja:  Minja
Pina Colada:  Pina Koala

Two Minutes

Mom:  Emily, I love you so much.
Emily:  I love you two minutes.
Mom: (laughing)  How much do you love me?
Emily:  Two minutes.

I love that she came up with her own measurement of love.  Even though it isn't the traditional measurement most of us use to show how much we love one another, it is somehow perfect coming from my little Emily.

Update:  Someone taught her that five is more than two.  So now when you ask her how much she loves you, she'll answer, "Five minutes."

Meeting Pascale!

We got back from Seattle at 10:00 p.m. last night and were on the road to Healdsburg by 11:00 a.m. today to meet baby Pascale and celebrate Lani's birthday.  It was a wild turn around but sometimes you just have to go for it!  As expected, baby Pascale is just beautiful and so is her Mommy.  Man, I wish I could look half as good as she does after I have a baby!

We were able to meet Pascale's Daddy, Tom and he is really nice and funny.  Between Heavenly and Tom, this little baby is going to have a huge personality!  It was precious to see Emily's reaction to Pascale.  She couldn't believe she was so tiny.  She would stare and stare at her and admire everything about her.  She really tried hard to understand how the baby, who used to be in Heavenly's tummy, came out!

My other three kids thought she was absolutely precious.  I loved seeing the genuine love they had for their new baby cousin.  Lani had a fun birthday party where she made the most amazing Thai noodle salad.  It was amazing!  It was a great night and certainly worth the drive and re-packing to stay the night with Damien's family.  And who could pass up Marlene's Famous French Toast with Bacon first thing in the morning? 

Welcome to the huge Swendsen family, Pascale! 

So Long, Farewell.

The time has come to say our goodbyes.  They are never easy.  Even after so many years of practice.  We had an amazing two weeks with my family.  They were so gracious in letting us stay and bring utter chaos into their lives!  We were fed, taken care of, and treated to so many special treats- I cannot even begin to list them here (but I'll try)! 

We explored, relaxed, worked out (yes, my Mom rocked Insanity), saw bunnies in my parents yard, tried out new and exciting restaurants, were treated to ice cream on the blvd. by Nonna, the kids brushed up on their gardening skills, and shopped for back to school clothes for the kids.

Jill let Emily try out roller skates on the hard wood (I couldn't watch), we got to see Laura's Special Olympics team play the Redmond Police Department, we went on many long, beautiful walks, ran through the sprinklers and played in Grandpa's fountain.

We went to the Bellevue Arts and Crafts Fair, my kids helped Nonna sew sun hats for all of her grandkids, fed the duckies multiple times, Nonna took the older three kids to a theater production of The Wizard of Oz, and so much more. 

The point is, we always have so much fun when we visit Nonna, Grandpa and the rest of the family.  We love you so much and live for these long visits in the summer.  Can't wait until next summer!

Saint Claire's Day!

We celebrated Saint Claire's Day a few days early because we would already be back in San Jose on the actual day of her celebration (August 11).  All my kids love their Saint Days and Claire was just overflowing with excitement this year!

Claire went with Grandpa to Baskin and Robbins to pick out her cake, which I know means a lot to her.  Honest to God, she came back with the BIGGEST smile on her face!  After dinner, we all gathered in the kitchen to celebrate Clairey and her special day!

She couldn't wait to open her gifts.  Grandpa really got her some special things this year.  First, was a Seattle Sounders jersey!  Claire is just about to start soccer so she was literally over the moon over this gift.  Claire from Seattle . . . gets a jersey from Seattle!  Next, Grandpa knows that Claire loves shoes.  He got her an adorable pair of Sketchers slip ons.  It was a great day and I thank my Dad for doing this for my kids.  They certainly love it and by the look on his face, he loves it too.

Lake Chelan

It's that time of year again!  Lake Chelan!  I swear, it is something the kids talk about at least once a week.  It can be the dead of winter and one of them will bring up Chelan.  I've been going to Lake Chelan since I was young and I love that my kids have been doing the same, too!  We had so much fun last year with all four kids and were really looking forward to this year, too!

We stayed in the same hotel, Grandview by the Lake, but this time we stayed in a part of the hotel where there are privately owned units.  These people who own the units rent them out during the summer so it is more of a condo-type feel.  No room service or daily cleanings.  The room is yours for the duration of your stay!  In a lot of ways we like this better.  Sure, we had to clean a tad bit more but there was no one interrupting the flow of your day!

The car ride over there was pretty quick.  I think it only took door to door 3 1/2 hours!  Emily didn't nap which wasn't too great but we survived and that is all that mattered!  As soon as we pulled in, the kids wanted to go in the pool and the lake.  Surprisingly, they wanted to go straight into the lake!  Emily and Matthew were in life jackets so we felt really safe about all of the kids situations.  Down the slide they went, one at a time, and started off the vacation right!

We spent the entire first day in the sun.  Into the lake, out of the lake.  Into the pool, out of the pool.  And the cycle just repeated itself over and over and over!  It was a blast!  The kids were having such a great time and it felt exactly how I imagine summer should feel.  We barbecued the first night and it was just the perfect end to a perfect day.

Day number two, was much like day number one.  The one exception was that it was Jill's Birthday!  We swam most of the day and then had a great birthday dinner for her by the lake.  Jake had gotten all the kids candy toilets.  That's right.  Candy toilets.  The plunger was a lollipop that fit perfectly into the toilet with powdered candy.  They were all hyper after that and hit the sack without any problems! 

After dinner, all six of us swam out to a floating dock.  It was here where we taught Michael and Claire how to do a back dive!  They did awesome until Michael landed wrong in the water and started crying followed by Claire getting into back dive position and then basically dropping back first onto the dock.  Time to go in and call it a day!  I would like to add that by the end of the trip, Natalie did her first ever back dive, which she said she would never be able to do!  It was awesome!

The following day, we got up early and went to church.  We did a quick Starbucks run and then headed back to the hotel to change for the water park!  Slidewaters is so much fun!  I know for sure that it holds a special place in all of our hearts and we just love it there!  We were anxious to see how Emily would do this year as she would be big enough to actually ride the rides.  Holy crazy lady!  She loved it more than I can describe!

Matthew felt like such a big guy and was so happy to be able to go on the big rides alone.  He did ride in our laps on a coupleof the bigger rides but I am pretty sure it was out of pity.  The kid loved it! 

Michael and Claire had so much fun but their highlight had a lot to do with the tube ride.  My Mom took Emily and Matthew and told Damien and me to go with Michael, Claire, Natalie and her friend, Claire on the ride together.  It was out of this world fun!  Since we were young we've decided that the way to win on this ride was to be the last one down the last slide and into the pool.  There are a series of slides which end of dumping you into these little pools.  Then onto another slide and into another pool.  There are about five slides and we all try and kick, push, shove each other down and it leads to a lot of near accidents and laughter.  Well, this time- my Claire had to go down the last slide sans tube.  Michael came down and hit her tube so hard that it popped her tube our from underneath her and left her standing and wondering what to do next.  The final time we rode the ride, I ended up crashing down into the last wading pool, being flung from off of my tube, and going down the last slide head first.  All the while not knowing what direction was up or down.  It was frightening but also hilarious, too.  My Mom and the rest of our group was actually watching it as it all unfolded.  Priceless.  Too bad we didn't get it on video!!

We celebrated Morganday's birthday that night after the water park.  We swam at the pool until dinner arrived poolside.  My kids begged and begged to get back in the water.  I couldn't believe they weren't a little tired of it yet!  There is a really cool slide at the hotel.  It looks like a giant rock slide and the kids are totally drawn to it.  Problem is- if you don't go down the slide with a tube, you almost have to scoot off and it is a really rough texture.  Not sure who the engineer of this slide was but I want him/her to reimburse me for the three swim suits that had holes in the butts when we left and had to be thrown out!  No joke.  Also, just for memory's sake- Damien might have thrown Natalie into the pool while she was wearing clothes (not a bathing suit).  She might have also had her cell phone in her pocket.  Discuss.

On our last morning, after coffee of course, we packed up and went down to the pool for one last hurrah.  We ate all of the food we had left over in our fridges and just tried to soak up the last bit of sun before we headed home.  While eating lunch, Claire found and orange that when peeled, had another orange in it.  You would have thought she had won the lottery!!!

All four of my kids were crying as we got in the car to leave.  Lake Chelan, you are loved.  Hopefully, we will see you again next year!