An Easter thought.

"You're so UP!", a compliment I received from a prospective student. I have no explanation for it other than together my husband and I desperately cling to the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
We know our Savior came to earth, he lived a perfect life, died and has risen from the grave for us, for all of us. And that through Him and His sacrifices for us, we can have hope, we can repent and change, and be with our families for eternity.
There is NOTHING beyond His power to comfort us, no loss, no pain, no heartache is too much for Him to help us. Through our (almost) 11 years of marriage we've faced many challenges, some that have been so devastating that it was hard to see a way out, but through fervent prayers & priesthood blessings, we have been given guidance to help us know how to move forward. We were never ever left alone in our challenges we've been buoyed up & blessed, we have found comfort, love, light & hope in our Savior Jesus Christ.
#Heisrisen #becauseHelives #HappyEaster

Thanksgiving (catch up)

Thanksgiving: Mom & Dad hosted Thanksgiving dinner at our house. (Day after surgery- we weren't going anywhere!) so we had 13 people total at Mecham Manor that day, lots of yummy food we had a good time. I don't remember too much it was a slow week for me- no work and I was on a pain pill schedule so the details are a bit sketchy. :)

Piano decor, I love playing it and decorating it too!!

Giddy up Auntie Val!

The kidlets loved the barn, except they turned the door against the wall. 

And Sean loved Joseph's tractors.   

Oma and the kidlets made the decorations, so cute!! 

December Catch up

December 7th: Saturday started early with our ward Christmas party where there was a hot chocolate bar at each table. It was awesome, until I "got glutened" then we went home. (stupid egg casserole with mushrooms and a sauce- which is where the gluten was.) All I had was one bite, I was doing everything I could to be a good sport, because that afternoon we took Grandma Swanger to the sing-along messiah. I survived that & then spent the remainder of the weekend sick in bed. So sick and miserable that Joseph gave me 2 benedryls instead of 1 on Sunday, so I slept for hours & hours.

December 11th: We got to tour the Nutcracker stage as a Preschool, a tour with demonstrations of the growing tree, fire place, Mother Ginger and a look at the back stage areas & costumes. Miss Michelle read the Nutcracker story and Clara came and danced with us. It was magical.

December 14th: This was a busy busy Saturday we spent entirely together. We caught a Matinee of The Hobbit. Joseph wasn't feeling too well, so he missed some of it...

After the movie we went to Red Robin for our free birthday burgers. Red Robin is another place that has gluten free options & a dedicated french fry frier (no risk of cross-contamination) Then once we were sufficiently stuffed, we went home and got all dressed up to go to the Nutcracker. 

We went to the Nutcracker at Richland High school,  it was put on by Mid-Columbia Ballet and Mid-Columbia Symphony.  I had the opportunity/ challenge of "cutting" the score for the director, prior to the symphony rehearsals, using the recordings I marked the cuts and order of songs, tempo changes and curtain openings etc. Previous to this, I was only mildly acquainted with the Nutcracker music. For a couple of afternoons I locked myself away in my studio, cranked up the boom box, and really listened and read the musical score. It was an amazing and fun musical exercise and experience for me...anyway it was beautiful  & we enjoyed our long day together.

The week before Christmas Santa & Mrs Claus came to TCAB. It was awesome & fun to see all the kids excitement when they saw them. The 3-day Preschool was lucky enough to meet Santa & I snapped pictures which we were able to print and send home with the kids. 

My little preschool class and their Santa craft. When they lined up for the picture they all started saying "Ho Ho Ho Merry Christmas!" spontaneously.

December 21st: Cable Bridge Run 2013, a family tradition for the last few years. It was FREEZING and a little icy at the start of the race!!!!!!! I bundled up with lots of layers, Joseph rocked it especially in the ultralight wheelchair. The race organizers made special accommodations for us so we could park at the start, instead of getting bused from the fair grounds, we really appreciated that! They also added a wheelchair category for the 1st time, Joseph was 1 of 2 people participating in that category. Looking forward to next year, I'm going to have to train to keep up with Joseph, he's really fast & strong! 

December 22nd: On Sunday we thought it would be fun to go out looking at Christmas lights. So we picked up Grandma Swanger & took her with us, so we had Mom, Dad, Val, Gma, Joseph, Rylee & I packed into the car. We had too much fun, but the best was the Senske Lawn Care light show.

Rylee watching the lights.

December 24th:  In keeping with our tradition, we went to a movie, we saw Frozen with Mom, Val, Michelle kids & friend. We go to the movies on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day each year, this was the 5th year in a row for us, it started when Joseph was diagnosed legally blind & we've continued it each year since - no matter where we've been for Christmas. Later that evening we went to Grandma Swanger's for dinner and games. Santa made a visit while we were there!

Swanger Cousins (some of us)

A little snuggle with Santa, before he went out to deliver presents of course.

December 25th: It was a fairly calm & quiet Christmas. Dustin & his friend stayed overnight. We enjoyed breakfast & opened presents, then prepared lunch, and Grandma & Grandpa Wiberg joined us for lunch. 

It looked and tasted like Christmas!

All dressed up for Christmas (on Sunday, the 23rd)

Opening presents 

Rylee really got into the presents. 

Our furry babies decided to get along on Christmas, how sweet.

We framed our snowflakes that were handmade by my Great Grandma. 

Rylee was pooped after all the Christmas excitement! 

December 26th: We watched the Hobbit again, Joseph didn't really get to watch it the 1st time. This time we got to enjoy it together & I understood it better too - I haven't read the book. Later this evening Kim, Shane and kids made it to Grandma's house & we were there to see them and to meet Easton- our youngest cousin. 

Look how Easton is signing "I Love you" 

December 28th: Paige was baptized and Easton was blessed. It was special because it was only family & so many family members were able to come. After the baptism/ blessing we went to Aunt Jodi's house for pizza & present exchange.

Paige & Easton

December 31st: We went to Aunt Diana & Matt's for a new years eve bonfire, it was so fun to just sit around the fire and visit with the Swanger side of the family. We left early so we could spend some time with the Wiberg side too, Joseph & I enjoyed sitting around chatting and getting our snuggle on with Easton again. 

Catch up: 4th of July

On July 3rd, we went to the church and played hockey.

Joseph and I opted to watch and talk with those who didn't play.

It was very entertaining.

Those who didn't play, found other things to do.

Like sing, play school, or take pictures (me).

Just some of the cousins that we got to hang out with on the 4th of July.

These aren't all the pictures I got, just a sampling. 

We were in the soccer fields, behind Gesa Stadium in pasco, our family's normal spot.

Firework show was pretty good this year.

We celebrated our independence family style.

2010 wrap-up

November: Thanksgiving, Forgotten Carols, Black Friday shopping, Reception.

Thanksgiving was awesome we were lucky enough to spend it in Spokane, staying with family, and being able to spend it with our Idaho family. There was soooo much food! As all way too good. Spokane was beautiful and snowy.

We got to go to the Forgotten Carols performance while in Spokane, a performance in which Mom & Dad Mecham, Jessica, Sam & Kaelee, Landon, Ashton & Raelyn Toth participated in. The rest of us were up high in the balcony watching. It had been almost 6 years since Joseph and I saw it together (that was also my first time) It was amazing as always, and fun to know so many people in it.

Black Friday, umm well I hadn't really planned on going out shopping in Spokane. But John really really wanted to go shopping, especially becuase no one else is really into Black Friday Shopping. We left just before 6 am, we felt a little like we were sneaking out, since everyone was still sleeping! We had a lot of fun, and were quite successful too. We got back to the house and Joseph asked about one item, and we had forgotten to get it, it was still early. John was wired and we didn't want him to wake anyone up, so we all got dressed again and went to get the special item and breakfast. The special item was a gift idea for Sam and Kaelee (we hadn't given them a wedding present, and Kaelee expressed  interest in ....a garden gnome!)

here is Nacho the Gnome!

 Reception. There was tons of snow the day of the reception and when everyone went to decorate we were left behind, something about too many "helpers". So we decided to shovel the driveway and stairs etc, but when we had finished there was already another couple inches covering up our work. so we went to the backyard where Joseph made a snow man (which was later wrecked by boys jumping into it from the balcony, lol) and I took pictures. The reception was beautiful, we had fun. We even created a little sibling mischief  (J&S, Jessica, John Aston and Landon) which I don't think Sam and Kaelee know about yet. We took bets on when they would find it, but we all agreed it would be a LONG time. And no I am not telling, lets just say it is payback. We all ate too many desserts but they were amazing! And visited with some great people. 

self portrait of us at the reception, please notice Joseph's bow tie.

 He LOVES doing that!

December: Random stuff leading up to Christmas....

Igloo! Joseph had started making an igloo, he didn't finish before we went over to a friends house for dinner. We had an awesome time and stayed up wayyy too late. When we arrived home (after 2 am) we found that Mom and Dad had finished it for him! 

Here is T-Bone inside it, to show the massive size.

yes, he insisted on having his ear up, in all the pictures!

Christmas was spent at Ensign Ranch (Cle Elum Washington, about 2 1/2 hours away) Our Family, Dad's side had rented out the main lodge for a few days. It is the second time I have been able to go, the best time to be sure (I was really sick the first time and quarantined to a room. And there wasn't any snow last time)

Here are some trees in Cle Elum that Mom and I found while exploring!

And here is the view right out our bedroom window during the stay.

A view outside toward the pasture with an awesome snowman. 

This picture just looks like Christmas to me.

Christmas morning was eventful. After stockings were opened my uncle Ron opened his hand with his knife. So after some quick First Aid and Preisthood blessing, the men were off to Ellensburg for the Hospital, he needed 5 stitches.( his 20th set of stitches) so the main present opening was put off until the men came back so we did breakfast, of custom omlettes (our family was in charge + Bentley filling in for Dad) We wore aprons and chef hats, it was a lot of fun. We did our best keeping the kids occupied while waiting for our Dads to come back. Once they were back we fed them and Christmas continued. Other things we did: sang Christmas carols, children 1/2 pound gift exchange, adult 1 pound gift exchange, lots of card games, sledding, snow ball fights etc.  And to finish this post... the Swanger family nativity!

There were shepherds in the fields, herding pillow pets!

And wise men who saw the star!

and followed it riding camels (or ripsticks!) to see the baby Jesus

and the whole cast

shepherds, wise men, angel , mary Joseph and the Donkey resting.
minus the narrator in the rafters.
sorry there aren't more pictures, we didn't have the most reverent nativity and there was much laughter. Considering that the gifts from the wise men included a slinky, chocolate and a guinea pig. The angel was shy, the donkey past out after the long journey, the  shepherds had animals of all kinds, Joseph had a headache and Mary has an attitude.... lol.


Goodbye 2010.
I missed a lot of things I know,
but that's what happens when you wait soo long to post.