Sometimes It's Okay to look back

you guys. i am going to be so freaking busy these next few days. blogging has definitely been pushed down on the priority list. shocking i know! haha! i decided to pull up some of my old post from way back when to give you something read. this was from may 2008

Beauty is...
...music
...nature
...laughter
...pregnancy
...lilies
...my sisters and mom
...virtue
...the ocean
...rainbows
...integrity
...sunset on the beach with my family
...having a butterfly land on you

Happiness is...
...friends
...puddle jumping
...cuddling
...hugs and kisses from friends and family
...trampolines
...choosing the right
...the color orange
...family dinners
...thunderstorms and then dancing in the rain
...fresh cut grass in the summer
...honesty
...slow dancing
...singing in the car
...finding a lucky penny
...hearing my family's testimonies

Peace is...
...the temple
...hiking
...writing in my journal
...watching the sun rise
...long walks by myself
...father's blessings
...knowing
...the gospel
...rain
...forever family
...knowing there is enough money in my bank account
...words of the prophets

Love is...
...my parents
...God
...pizza
...a shoulder to cry on (i miss my mom)
...understanding
...when my brother keeps looking through the blinds and tapping on the window because he doesn't like the boy I'm standing at the front door with.
...when my 5 foot 4 mom stands up to a 6 foot 4 man and chews him out for accusing me of being a liar
...when my sisters confide in me and I in them (S.O.S.)
...childbirth
...respect

"find beauty in everything you see starting with your first look in the mirror."

First Anniversary!

Well, Mick and I just celebrated our one year anniversary. So much has happened since we started dating back in July of 2009.

I remember not wanting much to do with him at first...well. I didn't want what he wanted and that was an exclusive relationship. I would try to push him away and he wouldn't have it. I would tell him over and over that we were just friends and yet he was still persistent. I once even told him we couldn't be friends anymore because he wanted more than just friends...but I could tell that really hurt him and I for some reason I couldn't hurt him like that.

I remember the day I fell in love with him. He invited me to spend the day with his family. It was Salem Days in Salem, Utah. We went to a parade, had lunch together, and went to a show in the park. I remember seeing how he was with his nieces and nephew and I LOVED it. I remember the exact moment I decided that "Yeah...I REALLLY like this guy". Just before the fireworks started he went to get me a snow cone. His mom was doing the twist and mash potato and it was pretty awesome! I sat there laughing. I was...happy! I remember actually missing Mick even though he was only a few feet away for only a few minutes. The fire work show was AMAZING! Best I have ever seen.

It took a lot of convincing and persistence from Mick but that was what I needed. The next day I didn't really tell him but I changed my facebook relationship status to "in a relationship". It really isn't official until facebook says it is. Hahaha.

So...we dated and had lots of fun. It was hard too. When Mick and I first started "hanging out" I was pretty inactive in the church. I never went. I didn't really have any standards. But Mick was so wonderful and He made me go to church...all three hours! It was hard! I can't believe I let myself get to the point where I thought church was tourture. Yikes!

Mick and I decided we wanted to get married. The day he asked me was one of the happiest days! It was a very simple proposal but so perfect for our situation. He asked me in front of the Portland temple where we wanted to be married. Through hard work, time and a lot of tears we made there.

June 4th, 2010 we were sealed for time and all eternity! What a wonderful and special experience! Satan was working over-time to keep us from going there I think. Up until the moment I set foot into the sealing room I was completely overwhelmed with self doubt of my worthiness to be there. Sad huh. I KNOW now without a doubt that Mick and I were exactly where we were suppose to be. It was suppose to storm that day. I was extremely upset and bummed about the weather forecast. But the moment we stepped out of the temple the clouds literally parted, the sun came out and the weather was so perfect! That was my tender mercy from the Lord. That was my personal confirmation from God that we did right.

About 3 weeks later I found out I was pregnant. I remember seeing the test result and just sobbing. I didn't want a baby yet. Mick was amazing and reminded me that this was a blessing. It was an extremely hard 9 months. I threw up all day and night my first trimester and half of my second. People were gossiping about how I most likely got pregnant before we were married. That was by far the worst. I gained a lot of weight and not all of it was baby. It was hard. It was also amazing. I am so happy and grateful that the Lord has blessed me with ability to carry and bear children!

Nine months later Kenneth Robert Swenson joined our family! Mick was so right when he said that our baby will be a blessing. He IS the best blessing (along with Mick) the Lord has given me!

What a crazy few years its been. The best and worst of times (95% of the time were the best)!

So here's to the best year of my life...so far!!!!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO MICK AND ME!!!!!!!

got laughter?

so, chaz barked at me while i was holding kenny and it made him laugh really hard! because i'm addicted to kenny's laugh i tried to get chaz to bark again (even though barking is against the rules) by barking at him. kenny thought my bark was just as funny! isn't he the cutest?

love

black and white

i have been wanting more photos of kenny and mick, kenny and me, mick and me, mick, kenny and me! i'm kind of a photo snob though and i wont hire a photographer to do a family photo shoot unless they have the style AND prices i like. its hard to find both in one body. i do have expensive taste (which i consider a curse). so i did a last minute self portrait photo shoot. i put my camera on the timer and propped it up on my dresser and went to town. i think i got a few decent photos. i got some GREAT ones of mick and kenny. i cant put into words the amount of love i have for my boys...all three of them!

Cherries

today was my first "official" Mother's Day! today wasn't any different than my other days as a Mother. i cooked, cleaned, changed all the dirty diapers, fed baby and husband, clothed baby, and did my other motherly/wife duties. at first i was kinda bummed about not getting any special treatment like breakfast in bed or something like the things my siblings and i use to do for my Mom. but i realized, that isn't what Mother's Day is about.

i get to wake up to a smiley baby boy. not just any baby boy but MY baby boy. my son. he is so generous with his smiles. he gets excited when he see's me. he is laughing for me now! he smiles really big when i change his stinky diapers and soiled clothes. he snuggles with me. he cries for me when he needs to be fed and i am blessed to be able to do so! and to add a cherry to the top...i have a loving husband by my side who cares and loves his son and wifey!

best mother's day ever!