PROOF!

I want to make record of the fact that in the summer of 2008, the Swaner family actually DID do something sort of fun. We left the house for an entire day and it was a good thing. It has been a rough summer with a sick and tired mom and a house full of extremely bored kids, but it will get better soon, right?
We spent the day at Bear Lake and we really enjoyed ourselves. Of course, I took it pretty easy while Derrick played with the kids. It rained a little, and was a bit cool, but I'm not complaining! That just made it much less crowded. And to make things even better, we had a surprise visitor...my ankles! I haven't seen my ankles in weeks, but after a couple of hours of sitting and soaking my feet in the cool water, they decided to join us for the afternoon! I think that was the best part! Of course, the two hour drive home ended that.
Here's the evidence to prove (especially to my kids some day) that we actually did leave the house (at least once) this summer!

'Daddy time' at the beach ALWAYS means SANDCASTLES (or sculptures)

Tannon's sand fortress
Zac's sand alligator

Skyler's sand pyramid with a Chihuahua (how on earth do you spell that anyways) on top.

Myah's daddy time.
Skyler

Zac
Tannon
Myah

Hopefully the last pregnancy picture to be taken of me...EVER!!! (great farmer's tan!)

Memory Lane

My friend had this tag on her blog today, and I really liked it...especially for journaling purposes. I hope it doesn't seem vain on my part, but I'm excited to return the memory on your blogs. So if you want to play along...
1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!
2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. If you don't want to play on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments.

Help!

This was my conversation with Myah yesterday.
Myah: Mom, how did the baby get in your tummy?
Me: Heavenly Father sent us a very precious gift, and we get to have a baby.
Myah: But how did Heavenly Father get it there?
Me: He made mommy's bodies so that they can have a baby in their tummies.
Myah: So how did the baby get in your tummy?
Me: He grew there, kind of like when we plant a seed and it grows.
Myah: Heavenly Father planted a seed?
Me: No, me and daddy planted a seed, and Heavenly Father sent a little spirit to us.
Myah: Like the seeds we plant in the garden?
Me: Ya
Myah: So can we get the seed out today?
Me: Nope, he's not big enough yet.
Myah: Why not?
Me: It's like a baby chick in an egg, we don't want him to come out until he's ready.
Myah: So when will the egg crack open???
Me: .........

I'm all about being anatomically and biologically correct, but she's only 4! It didn't really seem to work out the way I hoped! My daughter will now grow up thinking that mommies lay eggs and then babies crack out of those eggs when they are big enough! I guess I better think this through and have a little more accurate explanation for her before we go have the baby! My boys were never quite so quizzical about these things! Any suggestions???

Tigger or Eeyore?

This one is for my effort in keeping a journal, so don't feel obligated to read on! After being married to Derrick for thirteen years, I've noticed certain patterns in the way we handle life and it's stresses. I often tease him that he's being an 'Eeyore' because he tends to be more of a realist, looking at the worst possible scenario first. I'm sure he hopes for the best, but just prepares himself for the worst. Sometimes it makes me crazy. I always go for the 'Tigger' attitude, because I try so hard not to be a negative person (not saying that he is though). I think I have a little corner of my mind that I do try and prepare myself for the worst case, but on the surface, I'm all about positive thinking. Perhaps I am a little unrealistic, but I feel like we're on a teeter-totter and we have to keep it all balanced. I think that maybe I hope that I can change the outcome through my attitude. After my calling him 'Eeyore', he tells me that everyone knows that 'Tigger' is completely annoying! So Derrick and I sometimes get frustrated with each other since I tell him he's 'negative' and he tells me I'm 'unrealistic'.
BUT...as of lately, we have one particular rock that we're up against (and it's only a possibility, not a definite), and we've had a complete role reversal. I just can't help but assume the worst, and he is all about 'having a good feeling' and 'everything will be fine'. I've always said that attitude is a choice, but at this point I guess I'm choosing to have a bad one. Thank goodness he's balancing me out on that old teeter-totter, and do you know how much trouble he would be in if he even thought about calling me an 'Eeyore'? Life is good, and Derrick makes it all soooo much better! Thanks babe!

My Favorite Word

Today I realized that I have a favorite word. I just finished making salad and breadsticks for dinner and realized that I couldn't load the dishwasher because it was full of clean dishes. I really hate unloading the dishwasher. So I said, 'Zacary, could you please unload the dishwasher for me?'. I was ready to defend my request by explaining that it was his turn, and that I was tired and needed to sit down. But before I could go into all of that he responded. I had to ask him to repeat what he'd said. I wasn't sure if I had heard right. After I made my request, his answer was 'SURE'. There was no argument and not even a huff or a sigh. Just a 'sure', plain and simple. I loved it!!! This isn't really unusual for Zac, but sometimes I just have a moment of appreciation! It totally made my day! Thanks Zac!

Happy Fourth!

On the 4th of July, we stayed home and spent the day with family. Some of my extended family came and played for most of the day and others came up for a barbecue and fireworks. During the day, we pulled out the water toys for the kids and us hot pregnant mamas sat lazily and watched.

Hot pregnant mama number one...Nicky. I promised her I wouldn't post this picture. But all in the name of keeping a journal, I just had to! Sorry Nicky!

But I am also posting this most unflattering picture of myself...hot pregnant mama number two! (By hot, I mean hot...like uncomfortably warm)

Myah

Tannon, Myah, Jarin, and Emilie

While Jarin, Emilie, and Tannon posed for this cute picture...
...Myah was busy giving me attitude.

Jarin

Myah and Jarin

After our day of fun in the sun, we started the barbecue. We happen to live just up the street from the fireworks show here in town, and we get a great show from our back yard deck. Derrick barbecued for us and even made homemade rootbeer. The rest of the family brought most everything else, so I took it pretty easy this year. The kids had a great time. They look so forward to these kinds of events. Thanks for coming up everyone!

The barbecue man

The big cousins...

...and the little cousins

Brayden, Nathan, and Zacary

Water Fight!!!

This summer, we're into having fun at our own house, thanks to my big belly, and high gas prices. The other day, Derrick started a water fight with the kids. Kids love water fights, and and I think that Derrick likes them too. It really looked like fun, but since someone has to take pictures, I couldn't get wet. Instead, I sat next to the pool and soaked my feet while taking a few pictures of the craziness around me. Like Father...
...Like Son! (notice the tongues)
Tannon