Family Vacation 2008

It is always a treat to get away and spend time with the ones you love. This year Dan and the kids were able to go to Idaho for a week right as Dallin was finishing his semester up at BYU-I. They enjoyed being in the Idaho Mountains, fishing, swimming, hiking and just seeing the things they love. One of our favorite things to do is to climb down into Bloomington Lake. This year Dallin, Nathan, and Sarah actually hiked from Idaho(Willow Flats) over the mountain range into Bloomington lake. They then slid down the Glacier into the lake. They even jumped off the cliffs there into the cold lake. They went 4-wheeling and fishing too.Another favorite is to drive over to Bear lake and get a Raspberry Milk Shake.

I joined the party 10 days later after completing Girls Camp. We spent one day at the lake and broke the boat. So that was not too fun. The next day we drove to Logan to start our missionary preperatons for Dallin. Dallin would prefer not to shop and it was a long day. We ended it with a pizza dinner down at the Pizza Factory below Gia's and a malted shake at the Casper plant in Richmond. It was a good Day!

We headed to Midway a few days early because we learned that Grandma Prost was not good. Upon arriving the next day we admitted her to the hospital. It has been a long week. Dan and the boys left on Sunday for Home. The boys started football on monday So they needed to go. Sarah and I stayed to help Grandma. After a week now Grandma came home. We will be here a little while until she is good to go on her own. She is very tired and weak. Our Father in Heaven has blessed her though. Tuesday night while staying with mom in the Hospital i get a phone call from Ben saying they were coming to visit. I insisted it was too late. He said no he was bringing Sarah into the ER... She had cut her hand open on a barbed wire fence and it needed stiches. It did. 6 Stiches later and 1:30am we were back in bed in Midway. Mom had a so-so night ant the next day she finally came home. We are hopeful and happy to have her back. So we can't do any vactions without going to the ER somehow.

It has made me think how blessed we are as a family. We each have trials, but it is the way we handle these trials. Are we happy and accept what comes are way? Yes, We need to be, We owe all to the Father and his Son, We are only trying to live rightously to return to their presence some day, the way in which we handle our trials proves how well we will endure to the end. It has been a different vacation that is for sure, but we have been with the people we love and that is all that matters.

One of the best parts of the vaction was attending the temple with our first Son, Dallin. On Saturday, July 26, 2008 Dallin received his endowments in the Provo Temple. It was a beautiful day. Grandma and Grandpa Swainston, Grandpa Prost, Uncle Mark, Uncle Joe and Aunt Marsha were there along with Cousin, TJ and good friends Cheryl and Drew Burton. Sarah, Daniel, Nathan and friend Jon Burton waited outside by going to the mall. Dallin has grown alot. This mission will be great for him, he will grow even more. Congratulations Dallin! We love you!

Fourth of July

To day is the Birthday of our nation, but even more important it is the Birthday of our Mandy Pandy! She has grown into a beautiful woman, now at the age of 21. I remember not too long ago when she was totally dependent upon her father and myself. Now she asks for advice and sometimes even takes it. We love her so much. She is all I wanted to be, but never was. They say your children will most likely be better than you. Well She is and more. We can't believe how blest we are to have her as our daughter. She is my best friend! Happy Birthday Mandy!

We will continue to watch you change and enjoy every minute of it! Have a great year Mandy, and never forget that you are a daughter of God. He loves you as much as we do. Make this world a better place, we know you will! Love you, Mom and Dad

Spending Time with My Girls

It had to be on of the best weekends in a long time. Sarah, with my dear friend, Carla Hugie, drove to Sacramento, CA to spend the weekend with Mandy. Mandy will turn the ripe old age of 21 on the 4th of July! Where did the time go!

We had a great time doing those things that only girls enjoy. Carla and I first started the weekend by attending a session in the Scarmento Temple. It was beautiful! I fell in love with the entire experience. From driving up the small hill to the lush landscape, to the waterfall in front of the temple and the beautiful ettched glass to the beautiful murals on the wall inside. We enjoyed every minute there.

The next moring we leasurly awoke, dressed and found ourselves eating breakfast to fuel our bodies for a long, fun-filled day. We then parked ourselves at a nail shop and got pedicures for our beautiful feet. The seats we set in proved to ease all our aches and pains from sleeping on the floor and couch the night before. Mandy had to watch the little asian man who was working on her feet. We all felt he was a little creepy asking too many questons and putting her chair on vibrate. hahaha
Then we were off to IKEA a fun store! Yes we spent plenty of time and money there. Buying the perfect items to supply our home with. Next on to San Francisco! It was so crowded! Ouch too many people. We picked our way through the crowds and had a great time. Sight Seeing and shopping. Trying on funny hats and glasses and catching in all the sights. From Sliver and gold men to the sealions sleeping on the docks. Our Favorite was theClamChowder in a sourdough Bread bowl from Boudin's. It was a day worth remembering. Too bad the boys weren't there, but thats okay. You only get a day at a time with your girls! I love them to pieces! They change everyday! Better models than the one they have in me!

Making Plum Jelly

Our plum tree is over flowing with plums this year. I realized Sunday that this week was the week to do some jam if at all. Some how fruit is ripe just when you don't have any time to take care of it. So I tried to multi-task the past few days. I picked plums, worked on my sun tan, weeded a few weeds and also juiced two five gallon buckets of plums. That day produced a sunburn, less weeds, and 5 gallons of plum juice. Now I am sure you're all thinking wow! now the work really begins.

Yesterday the hot work began. Sarah and myself are proud to say we bottled 31 pints of plum jelly. We worked hard and really had a great time together. We had a flow going that only took us 3 hours to complete. The boys have all left for scout camp and we are taking every minute to be together. So I guess you could say we are having fun, even if we have to take care of fruit. We are planning to go an see Mandy in Sacramento, we miss her a lot, so it will be a girls weekend. Who could ask for anything better!

Girls Camp is vastly approaching. Two Weeks to be correct. Yes I am doing the food again! I have a great team of ladies to help! It is over whelming at times, but I feel my most accomplishment is when someone is happy about what they are eating! That is not too good from a person that insistently worrying about what she is eating and how much she weighs. Oh well If I can make someone happy, then I am happier. I will be even more happier when it is over. Wish me luck!

June 19, 2008

So I was so impressed by so many people that write down the happenings of their lives, that I thought why am I not using this as a journal for my family. So here goes... the happenings of the Dan and Annette Swainston family.

We, as many may know, are a family of 7 and lately that number seems so small. I guess I say that is because all the kids are growing up and going away. This week it has been very aparent to me that we are changing and moving on. Mandy didn't come home this summer, instead she moved to Sacramento, to find wealth and the northern Califonia Boys. Dallin is still up in Rexburg waiting to finish his first year of college and then to come home for just a month, to leave for a Mission to Peurto Rico. We are so excited for him. We know the Lord will bless him with the ability to speak a new language(Spanish) and to share his testimony of the Savior Jesus Christ while in Peurto Rico.

Daniel left this week for a football camp at BYU in Provo. That leaves Sarah and Nathan home with Dan and I. I think I have only cooked dinner once. Nathan has cooked more than myself. We are changing and it is a good change, I just think I now realized that my kids are not little any more and don't need me as much. ( they just need our money hahah) But every once and a while one will surprise me and call me for help, or just show up at the right time to help me. One even wrote me a nice poem to let me know that he misses me. I love you guys! You are my world! There is no better calling than that of a mother. We have had a busy spring and the summer is just beginning to get even busier. With Swim meet, Young Men and Girls camp and hopefully a quick trip to Idaho and Utah we will drink up that important fuel---gasoline-- and in turn it will drink up all our money for the cause of happiness. Wish us good luck! Here we come Summer!