Grandma Swensen Passes Away

On December 10th my dear, sweet, 98 year old grandma passed away.

There have been so many "this is probably it" moments throughout the last 7 years but she just kept going, and going, and going...she was like the energizer bunny.  (Ha, that was really lame ;))  She cracks me up, one time some of my sisters and my parents were visiting her and they got on the subject about death and my sister asked, "Grandma, aren't you anxious to see grandpa again?" (my grandpa died about 21 years ago) my grandma's reply - "NO!  He can wait!  I'm not ready to leave."  She was a very stubborn woman and not just because of her age.  I loved that about her.

This time, my dad called me the Sunday before and said, "Grandma's nurse says that her body is shutting down and she suspects she will pass away this week.". So we made it out to Provo to visit her.  It was a tender time we got to spend with her.  She was bed bound at that point and I sat in a chair next to her bedside and just held her hand.  She was more conscious than I expected she'd be.  I was a wreck, just blubbering over her.  I kept apologizing- who wants someone crying over them while they're on their way out of this world?  I just didn't want to worry her.  She just held my hand tight, smiled at me, and kept saying "I love you".  I will cherish those last moments I had with her.  It was also very sweet because Stockton was able to meet his great grandma before she left this world.

I'm so glad I was able to get this picture.  She's probably mad we took it but I just wanted to remember this moment. 

When we were young, she would often watch my siblings and I while my parents worked if we were out of school for the Summer or if we were off track so we all grew very close to her.  Some of my favorite memories of her are, when she would watch us in the winter time, we would get there super early and each of us would head straight to a heat vent and lay on it with a blanket over us for the first hour or so; I LOVED her home made pancakes, her grilled cheese (piece of bread with butter and cheese on it face up under the broiler) and chocolate milk for lunch; we would ALWAYS go to her house for cake and ice cream on Sundays and we got to play with our many cousins; I loved exploring in her backyard, it was lined with huge pine trees and was a decent size; my cousins and I loved putting on plays for her and she was so sweet to watch with enthusiasm at our silly acting; we would always beg for sleepovers at her house.  She would tell us the best made up stories before bed about little T and the Hobihoys; she loved to pull loose teeth (weird quirk I guess...my other grandma used to pick scabs haha) she would pay us if we'd let her pull them; she used to trim our bangs which consisted of her slapping a piece of scotch tape across our bangs as a guide and cutting straight across; I loved sitting down beside her as she sat in her rocker and I'd put my head in her lap and she'd play with my hair or scratch my back; I loved listening to stories of her childhood.

Those are  just a few of the many things I loved about my grandma.  I will miss her terribly but I am so grateful to know that this is not the last time I will see my sweet grandma.  I am grateful for the knowledge of the Gospel.  She lived a great 98 years.  I am so happy that she is now reunited with my grandpa and her mother and father.

Till we meet again.  Love you grandma.

I wish I had pictures from when I was younger...I'm going to have to go see if I can dig some up at my parents house.

The Swensen cousins after the funeral.  I think we are only missing 10 in this picture- one passed away many years ago and the others either went home before this picture or live out of town and weren't able to be there. There are 41 total cousins.

We Survived!...And a Very Happy Birthday to Carson!

Carson had to go out of town last week leaving me alone with two young kids AND not to mention it was a week before Christmas and he'd be gone on his birthday! Ahhhhh! Buuuut...

WE SURVIVED!!

It was definitely not my most favorite week...in fact, I dare say it was the hardest week I've had being a mother thus far.  I don't necessarily think it was due to the fact that Carson was out of town but it definitely didn't help. 

we played in the snow until our fingers were frozen (he refuses to wear his gloves)

This guy is 28...now that is old ;)

Happy birthday, Carson.  We love you!

Thanksgiving Weekend

We had a super busy Thanksgiving weekend (who doesn't though, right?).

On Thanksgiving day we woke up bright and early to head up to Cottonwood Heights for the annual "Beat the Mayor 5k".  I usually run it attempt to run it but didn't want to have Stockton out in the cold too long so Stockton, James, and I hung out with Laurie at the finish line where we cheered for our family and friends.  It was a very important job.  Carson ran it even though he has had a cough and did really well! Nice job Cars!

way to go Cars!

I was in the car nursing during the family pic :(

We stayed up in Salt Lake to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner with our immediate Cullimore family.  I tried my hand at making my dad's famous candied yams and I think they turned out pretty well especially for the first time.  I sure do love Thanksgiving food and all the family time.

Friday (no, we did not hit up any Black Friday shopping...or is it Black Thursday now?- we're not nuts) we went out to breakfast at Ihop just our little family.  Later that evening we went to the Blackham's annual "Lighting of the Leg Lamp" celebration where Clay busts out his famous homemade donuts.  James was afraid of the lamp.  Silly boy. He talks about it daily, often when he first wakes up...I wonder if he dreams about it ;)

Staying warm with "The green Baga" - James refers to Laurie this way because she has a green front door ;)

Giraffe slippers. So cute.

Saturday we got together for our niece, Addie's baptism.  She is the oldest niece on Carson's side.  It was so neat to be able to be there for her special day.  It was hilarious, all the kids went up front to have a closer look and when Addie went under the water, Sam, Addie's one year old brother screamed "Whoa!" and kept squealing with delight.  It was so stinking cute.  Everyone had a good laugh.  Afterward, James kept talking about how pretty Addie was and that she was a "white princess".  He's such a gentleman.

Later that evening we went up to SL for a get-together with the Cook side of the family at grandma Cook's house.  We had a great time with everyone.  Grandpa Cook passed away two years ago on Thanksgiving and we miss him every day.  It must be hard for grandma this time of year.  We love her and are glad we were able to spend some time with her and the whole family during this time.

Sunday we gathered once again, this time to bless Stockton.  Carson was able to give him his first Father's Blessing.  It was very special.  I am so grateful to have the Priesthood in my family and that Carson can exercise it.  Afterward, we had everyone over to our house for a little luncheon.  It was a perfect day.

It was a jam packed weekend with LOTS of family time but it was so much fun.  I just love my family- the one I was born in to and the one I married in to.  I am one lucky girl.

A Few Thoughts on Life with Two

I wrote most of this a few weeks ago and am just now getting around to finishing this haha.  This list still mostly applies to how things are going currently.

I was just thinking the other day, although we are adjusting well, our life over here is definitely not the same.  I have to figure out new ways to go about my day dealing with a toddler AND a newborn.  A few thoughts as I go about my day:

• I am constantly doing laundry- Stockton likes to save his poops for one LARGE blowout! The past week we have had at least one blowout a day
• I am constantly pre-treating blow out stains
• I am constantly washing my hands between changing two kiddos in diapers, pre-treating blow out stains, just washing every so often to keep yucky germs away, doing dishes, cleaning the house...my hands are CHAPPED! 
• I am so worried about having a newborn during this time of year- especially with Croup going around. Praying real hard it stays away :/
• I have to let Stockton cry a lot while I'm tending to James' needs.  I hardly ever let James cry when he was a newborn- that kid had it pretty good.  Stockton is learning to be tough ;)
• James colored on the tile the other day!  Update: Now twice ha! Luckily it was with crayon and it came right off but I am learning why other parents tell you not to have nice things with kids ;)  I definitely have less time to watch him closely.
• My house is pretty much always a mess with toys strewn all about (but I'll take the clutter over the crayon scribbles any day).
• We watch Netflix A LOT!
• I am lucky that James and Stockton generally take a long nap at the same time in the afternoon. I really should nap during that time, and I often do, but I also often get distracted by all the things I need to do around the house or I decide to do things I enjoy that I otherwise wouldn't be able to do when they're awake (like blogging).
• I miss uninterrupted sleep during the night. Update: Stockton has now slept through the night TWO nights in a row!  I'm hoping this is a new habit :) Although, I'm maybe even more tired the last couple of days because my body isn't used to getting this much sleep haha.
• I enjoy my one-on-one time with James that much more now with two. 
• Subsequently, I enjoy when James goes to bed and I have a couple hours to enjoy snuggling with Stockton.
• I've had to feed Stockton on the go quite a few times.  I'm glad James is patient with me.
• I am always having to tell James to be soft.  He gets excited and pats Stockton harder than we'd like or he'll knock on his head haha.   
• Getting a shower in is difficult. I often just go without one if I can get away with it. 
• My back is KILLING me!  I think it's from nursing because I hunch over or maybe from lugging around two kiddos...or probably both

Keeping Stockton safe from James is seriously the hardest part about having a toddler and a newborn.  I feel so bad having to constantly tell James to be soft or be careful or get after him if he isn't.  I feel like I have to watch James like a hawk and can't set Stockton down and turn my back for even a second for fear James will accidentally harm him.  I swear when I do set him down, James bolts from across the room to love on him. 

Things are definitely a little more challenging but of course I wouldn't have it any other way.  It really has been a fairly easy adjustment so I can't really complain.  At the same time we definitely have those days where I just feel like giving up, but who doesn't?  

I can not believe how quickly time is going by!  Christmas will be here in just 3 short weeks ahhhh!  I absolutely HATE crowds so we are doing most of our Christmas shopping online.  We've done that the last couple years.  Love it.

Look at this adorable Zebra beanie!

We were able to get out and go to the Dinosaur Museum.  This was a week or so ago and ever since then James has been talking about wanting to go to the "dinosaur zoo" again.