UTAH

The Ice Cream Truck delivered!

What a crazy summer it's been! You know what I'm talking about. The kind of summer every kid DREAMS about because it is full of never-ending fun. Staying up late, sleeping in, playing with cousins, eating five to ten popsicles a day, getting a nice swimsuit tan line and throwing naps out the window because there is just "no time." That is what kind of summer it's been for us and we have so much fun! The proof is in the pictures....

Macy and her cousin, Luke. These two were inseparable for two weeks while together in Utah. We never saw them...seriously. They played so well together! We love you, Luke!

More cuteness...

One of my favorite boys EVER!!! Cole, I miss your love!

Grandpa's hot tub...the place to be!

My two best friends in the whole world!

Luke "bending air!" I still don't know how he does it. :-)

Fun at the Splash Park in Providence

Macy's first bee sting. She and Luke were stung 3 times thanks to the wasps nest under grandma's porch swing. We are still traumatized from it! Thanks to Grandpa, those nasty bees are long gone!

Nicholas, Preston, Karlee & Macy

My Karlee girl!

Nick's summer look! Somehow the ice cream mustache never seems to wash off. He always has it!

Loving the tramp at Grandma's house!

Bedtime stories with Grandma Brenchley.

Wagon ride celebrating Pioneer Day in Utah.

Macy holding on tight to Nicholas

Karlee horseback riding with Madison

Suited up and ready to go! Boating at Pine View Lake with my brother Greg and his cute family.

My beautiful mother with Macy and Weston! Love those cheeks!

Macy and Sophie ready to tube

On the water again!

Me and my cute boy!

Babe, you've still got it!

The twins first tube ride behind the boat! They almost fell asleep, they were so comfortable.

Almost the perfect ending to a great summer! And it's not even over yet!!!

The Wedding

The entire Swensen clan the night before the wedding!

Mark's younger brother, Matt, got married in the Jordan River Temple to his beautiful bride, Christine, on July 20th. It was a beautiful day and a sweet ceremony. Most of the pictures were taken right after and I did not have my camera on me. I wish you all could have seen Christine's dress. It was gorgeous...beaded and vintage looking. The reception was later that night and I only captured a few photos because my kids were being "handfuls" and I was busy chasing them around. This is all I got! I am so disappointed. But...oh...how I love weddings. This one was perfect!

Macy making Kennedy smile!

Ellie, Macy and Nicholas looking adorable!

Appointment with Dad

Macy had her first dental appointment with her dad. She actually asked to be seen. She was very excited about it all! Her favorite part...the "tooth vitamins" (aka...strawberry flouride treatment). She picked lip gloss out of the prize basket. She gets a toy every time we go in to visit Mark at random, but this time was extra special because she actually earned it for being a good patient. She is happy to report....no cavities!

Trying Mark's loupes on for size.

Pool Time!

If you asked us where we've been all week, we'd say, "...at the pool. Everyday!" Macy started swim lessons at our neighborhood pool with a friend of mine and has been doing AMAZING! She is like a completely different kid. Before, she would cry if she got splashed and would only attempt to dip her nose in the water. After the first lesson, she was doing bobs and by the end of the week, completely swimming underwater and diving for dive sticks! Her confidence has soared! We cannot believe the progress she has made in a week and we credit it all to a fantastic teacher! Thank you, Kristen!

"Toofless!"

Yep, that's right! You are looking at a 2 1/2 year old boy that knocked out his front tooth yesterday. I'm completely devastated!!! I am mad, sad and just sick to my stomach over the whole thing. He is going to be toothless for the next four or five years and there is NOTHING I can do to fix it! We had just spent a great day at the coast. When we got back, Nicholas went chasing after his dad in the kitchen and fell SMACK down on his face. Blood came gushing out of his mouth and he immediately started screaming! Lucky for him, his dad is a dentist. We could see the tooth hanging by a thread and then all of a sudden, Nicholas just spit it out! The whole tooth, root and everything all intact! Pretty amazing! We couldn't stick it back in because of the damage it could do to the permanent tooth bud. So there you have it! Gone! Gone forever! It's very SAD!

Nicholas was a champ, though! He calmed down very quickly and just wanted water and his blanket. Macy was bawling her eyes out during the whole thing! She was so worried he wouldn't be able eat again! Karlee was crying just because everyone else was crying! Mom wanted to cry! Needless to say, we are all okay. Sort of....I'm still trying to come to grips with it! It is what it is.

We put the tooth in an envelope with a note to the tooth fairy that asked for a toy instead of money since we're so little! Luckily, the tooth fairy had just been to Wal-Mart and had something on hand. Nicholas was scared that the tooth fairy was going to come in to his room so we left the envelope outside his door! He was very happy to find his new Buzz and Woody in the morning! He hasn't put them down all day.

Beautiful Day at the Coast!

Nicholas petting a baby snapping turtle. He was the only brave one!

Watching the sea lions. They would come right up to the window and do flips in front of us!

Mark and I were craving seafood so we picked up and headed out to the coast with the kids on Saturday. We forget that when it's 90 degrees here, it's always 70 degrees there and a little chilly, but a perfect day to walk around the Newport Aquarium. They have a new exhibit, the Swamplands and it was awesome! We saw an anaconda, alligators, and Nicholas even got to pet a baby alligator snapping turtle. The exhibit was very well done! It was one of our best days at the aquarium.

Afterwards, we headed over the Chowder Bowl for a big bowl of chowder soup and fish 'n chips. I went with the fish tacos. Very good! I also had to make a stop at Wal-Mart since we don't have one! I got my fix!

I just loved this view! The coast is beautiful! Still chilly, even in the summer, but beautiful.