Zip Lining for Jocelyn's 40th Birthday

Our entire family was so excited to learn that for Auntie Jocelyn's 40th birthday- we were going to go zip lining!  The whole family was excited, until Matthew and Emily learned that they were too small to join us.  But never fear . . . while there was a plan for the BIG kids, there was plenty of fun planned for the SMALL kids.

We didn't have to go far for the party- just a short drive to Occidental.  We barely made it in time for our canopy tour!  We had a jam packed day leading up to her party and literally arrived within minutes of missing  it!  Thankfully, Lani met us there and then took the two little kids with her to Camp Armstrong so they could go have a fun afternoon with the other cousins.

In our group was me, Damien, Michael, Claire, Ali, Eric, Seamus, and Estefania.  They other group went thirty minutes behind us.  Damien and I were looking forward to zip lining again but had already done it twice before (Costa Rica and Mexico).  We were so excited to be able to be there for Michael and Claire's first zip lining experience.  Michael was pretty gung-ho about it while Claire was a little more nervous.  I couldn't blame them for being a little timid.  They are only 10 and 11 years old and this was a big deal!

We rode in the back of a pickup to the top of the mountain where we were given training on to be safe while flying 300 feet in the air!  On the first ride, I had the pleasure of going first.  I loved it because I got to see the kids faces as they approached the next landing.  While I really thought they were going to be panicked- they came flying in with big smiles plastered across their faces!

I believe there were a total of seven zip lines.  All seven were so much fun and varied in height, length and speed.  We pretty laughed through the entire tour and messed and had an awesome time!  There were two suspension bridges which did scare me quite a bit.  I don't have a lot of fears in life- but I am not a fan of walking on high unstable surfaces where you can see through to the ground.  I made a conscious effort to be brave but was quickly thrown off my game when Eric decided to jump up and down and freak me out!  Also, on a side note- Ali did a great job conquering her fears. She was so nervous and did a great job!

Our tour guides were great.  One of them was a little over the top with his jokes.  You could tell that he lives to mess with people.  He took a special interest in the kids which certainly colored their experience!  On the last landing, we had to repel down 100 feet to the ground.  I loved watching Michael and Claire work through their fears and conquer them!  It was awesome.

We were able to see Jocelyn's zip line group one time during the tour but had to rely mostly on their laughs and hoots and hollars through the forest to know they were having a blast- just like we did!  After the zip lining, we went back to the house Mark and Jocelyn had rented for the weekend and hung out.  We were able to spend some time with Haripal and regroup before we headed into town for dinner.

We reunited with Matthew and Emily at the restaurant and got to hear about their awesome day at camp!  They loved painting, making bracelets, running through the forest, and enjoying the mountain air with their cousins.  We all settled into dinner and toasted to Jocelyn, the birthday girl, and praised her for all of the wonderful things she does for us all.  Happiest of birthdays to you, Jocelyn!  We had an amazing day!

Emily, Did You Just Fart?

It pretty much went like this.  Emily, Matthew and I were approaching Target when they were drawn to the same red cement circle they run to every time.  Emily and Matthew start fooling around when Matthew stops and asks Emily, "Did you just fart?"  She lied and said that it wasn't her.  Matthew did some investigative work and confirmed what he first suspected.  He was massively disappointed that he got so close to the culprit.  I about died that somehow- I managed to capture it on camera!

Brainy Emily, Part Deux

Michael's Playdate Crashed!

If I were Michael and I had my friend Ben Richards over today, I probably would want some time alone with my friend.  While I thought I did a pretty good job keeping the little kids away from Michael, they managed to ruin their basketball game, disturb their ping pong game, and just bug them to death.  I left all the kids alone so that I could pack a bag to take to Michael's flag football game.  When I walked into the family room and saw this, I about died.  Poor Michael just wanted to hang out with his friend.  Add Matthew on the left and a lurking Emily on top and you have an annoying sibling sandwich.  Michael handled it well.  I could tell that he was annoyed but he let his siblings be a part of the action.  I guess this is what we call Big Family Problems!

Brainy Emily

 

Who is Matthew?

My Girlies

Tonight, Claire had tryouts for basketball.  She is going to play in a new league this year called NJB (National Junior Basketball).  It is touted as being a little more competitive than your basic recreational league and Claire felt like she was ready for the jump!  Michael played in this league last year and we were very happy with it.  I agreed to coach Claire for one more year so I showed up with her tonight to evaluate all the girls that were trying out.

I absolutely love that I can share this with Claire.  I know that having a Mom for a coach isn't easy- but she does such a great job balancing the Mom/Coach thing.  Damien wanted to snap a quick picture of us before we left and I was so happy he did!  I know I will look back at these times with such a full heart.  I love coaching Claire and absolutely love that she loves basketball!  Of course, little Miss Emily couldn't be left out of a photo opp so she joined us for the last shot.  I love my girls.  I love how strong, confident, sporty, and amazing they are.  I am one lucky Mom for sure.

The Little Guys

I have thoroughly enjoyed hanging out with these two this year.  Matthew is in morning Kindergarten so he is all mine after 11:25 a.m.  And Emily, she is always with me.  If that isn't clear enough, let me spell it out for you. A-L-W-A-Y-S with me.  And for the record- I love it.  I have made an effort this year to get out and do fun things with them.  I know that next year I will lose Matthew to full day school so this time is so very precious.

Today after we picked up Matthew from Kindergarten- we headed to a new park that has been built right across from our townhouse.  It is such a cute little park.  I can't believe I lived there for 4+ years with three kids and they built it within a year of us moving.  Do you know how much I would have used that park when we lived there?

Matthew and Emily had a blast here today.  They played tag, played hide and go seek, showed each other chips chewed in their mouths (and cracked up), and just enjoyed each other more than I have ever seen before.  It's really cute to see them become friends.  Emily has finally gotten old enough to be considered a playmate by Matthew.  Even Emily (who is generally fearless) needed her BIG brother's help on the slide.  He offered to have her sit on his lap and also went the bottom of the slide to catch her.  Ahhhhh.  They love each other.  I can't wait to see their relationship evolve.  In the meantime, I am going to enjoy the sunshine and their hysterical laughter.

Can We Get the Cast Back?

Within an hour of getting her cast off, I found Emily crouching on a table playing the iPad.  Lord, help us.

Emily Gets Her Cast Off!

Everyone in our household has been waiting for this day!  Emily got her cast off!  Oh, man.  It's been a long month.  Let me specify.  Emily has been amazing throughout the entire process.  She complained a little bit that her arm was hot the first day she got her cast on, but that was it!  Honestly.  She didn't complain.  She was a true superstar!  No itching, no wanting her cast off . . . she just got through it!

Emily is, however, excited to get it off!  The rest of us are thrilled that the pink cast is going bye bye for different reasons.  Her siblings are tired of being hit and scratched from her cast.  It is certainly a weapon and has caused an injury or twelve.  

Another reason Damien and I are happy she is getting her cast off is that it is really hard to watch her just 'Be Emily' with her cast on.  She still climbs, falls, dives, wrestles, and goes about life as if she doesn't have a cast on.  It makes us nuts!  

Emily woke up excited today and showed no nervousness around having her cast sawed off.  She knew that an electric saw was going to cut off the pink beauty but she trusted in the process.  God love her.  Our dear friend Monica Sweet was there at the doctors office to take off her cast.  Emily didn't need me to sit up there with her when she got it removed.  In fact, she wanted me to sit in the chair instead of sit by her.  "I got this." is what she told me.  Wise and brave beyond her years.

X-rays showed that the bones have healed.  She still has to wear a brace for another four weeks but she can take it off to bathe and sleep.  I can't believe we made it through.  There were long days and many worries but Emily did it!  We are so happy for her and can't believe that we have our first 'break' behind us.  Now, let's hope we never have to do it again!

On Top of the World! Okay, the Fridge.

Our house can be a little strange at times.  While we seem to be a very normal family, we do very crazy things over here!  One of those things is sitting on top of the fridge.  You should see the look on other people's faces when my kids ask to sit up there.  I know they are wondering if they should smile along with us or go in the bathroom and call CPS.  Either way, we're crazy and we're kinda okay with it!

The 'sitting on top of the fridge' thing started when we remodeled our kitchen.  Damien put Michael and Claire up there and they thought it was sooooo funny.  Well, Matthew and Emily watched them for years and have now followed their lead!  When Matthew was younger, he as a bit hesitant.  Now he loves it!  Emily prefers to sit on the fridge more than she prefers to sit on a chair.  Either way, the whole family has fun with it!  On this particular occasion, the kids were getting ready for bed.  Hence, Emily's diaper.  Hey, I have an idea.  Let's rile the kids up before we put them down for the night.  Yahoo!!!

There is always an adult standing by in case we have a jumper.  So far, no one has been injured performing this complicated, yet stupid stunt.  All small kids, cousins, and small adults (clearly from neither of our gene pools) are welcome to take a ride on the Swendsen fridge.  Giddy Up!

Claire Turns TEN!!!!!

I seriously can't believe that Clairey is TEN!  Wow.  My little girl is growing up!  Claire was so happy to wake up today and be double digits old!  A new outfit (it was free dress at school), a sausage sandwich from Starbucks, and some fun birthday treats and the day was destined to be awesome!  She had a great birthday at school and loved opening her gifts at home.  She is into The Hunger Games and clothes now so it was fun to shop for her. We shared a birthday dinner at Willow Street Pizza with E, Papa, Mark, Jocelyn, Brennan, Gabe, Heavenly, and Pascale.  We ended her double digit day with funfetti cupcakes with pink frosting, as requested.

Claire is such a wonderful daughter.  I love her personality, I love her sense of humor, I love her sweet face, and I love the fact that she cares so deeply for her siblings and extended family.  Claire loves to be silly and goofy.  I love that!  She isn't worried if she not doing the things that some perceive as cool- she just wants to be herself!  What more could I want from her?  She loves peace signs which is ironic because really, she does keep the peace around here!

Claire is hilarious!  Honestly, she is so funny.  We will be eating dinner and she will just suddenly start talking in a funny voice, and pretend she is talking to someone who isn't there.  Something like, "Isn't that right, Myrtle!"  And then she does that fully body laugh that shows all of her teeth, makes her shoulders bounce up and down, and then throws her head back with such delight!  Oh, my Clairey.

Claire is so responsible!  I always know that Claire is on top of her school work and I know that if I need any help at home, she is there for me.  She loves to play with her siblings and has saved me on many occasions when I just need a break from the kids!  She will play games with them, read them stories, or just hold them while they watch a show.  What would I do without her?

Claire loves her sports!  She loves to play soccer, basketball, and volleyball.  She loves competing and loves to go to practices and games where she can be with her friends!  She loves it all.  She always gives 110% and never gives up.  What a girl!

Claire is ten.  We can't believe it.  She is truly a gift from God.  I remember being pregnant with her and thinking that I wanted her to be a boy.  I thought, "I already have a boy, yep- I'm a boy mom through and through."  And then I remember the doctor announcing that she was A GIRL!  My heart sank and the second I laid eyes on her sweet, chubby face- I knew she was going to be my girl forever.  I could never have dreamed that I would love her so much.  I still love her sweet face.  I will love and kiss on her forever.  Double digits today?  Yes.  My daughter?  Forever.

Happiest of Birthdays Clairey!  We hope that your TENTH year is your best year yet!

Swendsen September Birthdays

Last I counted, there are 31 people in Damien's immediate family.  That's a lot of people to celebrate!  Throw in everyone's busy schedules and you can see that getting everyone together for each and every person's birthday is next to impossible!  That's why we decided to have a September birthday party at our house!  Today we were going to celebrate Haripal, Seamus and Claire!

We loosely incorporated a Western theme to spice up the party a bit!  We had a picture of an outhouse on the front door (yes, we are that classy), Lani made awesome themed cakes, kids were wearing bandannas, Marlene and Mark made an awesome 'WANTED' poster of the birthday trio, the food was straight from a country cookbook and miraculously- we were all in attendance! 

It was fun to have all the aunts and uncles, all the cousins, E and Papa, and everyone else together that makes up Damien's BIG family!  We laughed over good food, watched as each birthday person opened their gifts, and enjoyed the time spent together as a family.

Claire was in heaven with all of her awesome gifts!  She really wanted the Hunger Games DVD and loved that E and Papa gave her 50- $1 dollar bills!  Claire had so much fun today and felt the birthday love, for sure.

Seamus cracks me up.  I have always loved him for his sense of humor and sense of style.  He is at that age where cash makes the perfect gift!  Most everyone gave him just that but we had to get him something funny on the side.  He is really into socks these days so we got him a mustard colored pair of mid-calf socks with mustaches all over them.  He absolutely loved them!

Haripal loved the cowboy boot cake the Lani made him!  He grubbed on all the food, smiled sweetly as he always does, and enjoyed seeing all the awesome gifts people got him!  We went in with Mark and Jocelyn and got him a new bean bag to sit in!  We know it will be comfy for him and he will enjoy the option to sit somewhere else! 

All in all, the party was awesome.  It is great when everyone can come together to celebrate!  Happy birthday to the wild western birthday cowboys and cowgirl.  Haripal, Seamus, and Claire- we love you!