We have fun--just not in the sun...

So, it's been really stinkin' hot lately. So creative date nights have been a challenge because--unless one is wanting to swim or melt--we are generally confined to indoor arenas of activity. Here's what we came up with last weekend...

Seriously, we had a blast. The 20 minutes spent outside on the balcony creating our chalk-art was just enough to make us very glad we were not actually camping out. Clint actually had a hankering for some sweet treats that night, a thing which rarely happens, so the s'mores went over very well with him. And we were left with a lot of excess marshmallows and graham crackers (they always sell ya too many--like hot dog buns...), so naturally we've had to restock our Hershey bar supply a few times and make s'mores for dessert after most subsequent meals.

When I was little, we use to watch The Wonderful World of Disney every Sunday night as a family. Freshly popped popcorn and red kool-aid were on the menu every time. That tradition continued even when we were older. The maturity levels of the movies watched changed through the years, and when dad graduated and actually started making money the kool-aid was replaced with IBC Root Beer. So many IBC Root Beers. One morning after having all the Young Men over for a movie party (my dad was the YM prez at the time, so that kind of thing was pretty common at our house), our neighbor saw the large recycling bin full of IBC bottles and said to my mom a little snidely, "I thought you were Mormon." If I had been there I probably would have said something smart-alicky like, "Yeah, but it's really hard work. Sometimes I just need a vacation." Luckily my mom thinks things through a little bit better than I do. And it is true-- the bottles are a bit deceptive.

Anywho... this Summer was wonderful. It just went way too quickly. The Lady Trip and Man Trip were the bomb-diggity. In the immortal words of Miley Cyrus, "There's a party in the U.S.A." Big BIG thank you the Mama and the Papa for all the fun! On top of being a great adventure, the Man Trip also afforded me time to finally get the office set up and to reorganize the entire apartment...

-I must say--junk drawers are SAWWEEET! All that junk used to live on a decorative platter atop our kitchen counter. Clint loves the junk drawer so much. I think maybe even more than his newly organized desk.
-Scott & Jennifer-- I mounted the BYU rug for all to see on Clint's half of the office. Isn't it handsome up there? Go Cougs!
-Clint's various musical instruments and guitar accessories proved to be the most challenging to find space for. Luckily old guitar amps are in vogue right now, so since his has had a few year off-duty it is now serving as a vintage hall table. Now if I can just figure out a way to stack those drums so they look like a modernist take on a Bernini--that would rock.

Clint's already in week 2 of year 2, and he really hit the ground running. If you give me permission, I will brag about him extensively. I am constantly impressed by all the pressures he is juggling. Thank you Scott and Jennifer for your great advice as we follow in your footsteps on this long journey to being gainfully employed. Mark & Marleen, your support this past year has been an unfathomable blessing in our lives. Thank you.

I have a special request-- please pray for a nice fat thunderstorm. I slept through the last rainstorm this past Sunday. And since they happen so infrequently as of late, I was really distraught about it. Really.

Till the next time we have some semi-interesting pics... Stay cool, family!

Swim lessons, circus, and LAS VEGAS!

I'm so excited to post pictures from our ladies' trip to Las Vegas!  But first I should include some other stuff that's been going on lately so it doesn't get forgotten.  Like Kate's swim lessons.  She is a timid swimmer (like I was - I take all the blame) but has gotten a lot braver this year and had a great time in her swim session.

Check out that teacher-to-student ratio!

I love this: a certificate of completion for "Ketelyn" Swendsen.  Oh well.

A few weeks ago we went to Houston for the weekend to see Barnum & Bailey with the girls.  They both loved it.  Getting to try cotton candy for the first time didn't hurt either.

Oh yeah, and Kate wore her dance recital costume so she could look as much like the performers as possible.

Cookie dough Janie.  She reminds me a little of baby Camille in this picture.  (Also note the purse; always the purse.)

Mary and Lisa are sweet friends who came over for some backyard fun the other day. 

I love this!

OK, here we go.  This summer was our first-ever ladies' trip!  The guys in the family have gone on a handful of Testosterone Challenge trips (backpacking, hiking, etc.) and it was our turn to have some fun! 

We stayed in the Palazzo.  Aside from an initial screwup with our room, it was quite lovely.

Can't remember how this picture came about, but Christine and Camille's faces are really something special aren't they?

This was taken right before we went to see the Cirque du Soleil "O" show.  It was so amazing and unique that it's hard to describe.  Scott kept asking me about it and I seriously couldn't explain what it was like.

We took this group shot at a cafe adjoining the hotel spa that served healthy food.  If only there were more restaurants like that one.  Camille in particular was thrilled.

We spend a good part of a day shopping in the Palazzo/Venetian shops.  These shoes were $1300 and Becky knew how to work them!

Mom, our Queen Bee.

A pretty waterfall in our hotel.

We took a peek at the MGM lions.  They weren't that interested in putting on a show for us.

Christine livened things up a little, though.

A pretty fountain inside the Palazzo.  (Becky, I hope you don't mind that I borrowed your Facebook pictures to supplement this post.)

No Vegas trip is complete without a meal at In 'N' Out.  I can still taste it now...

One of the highlights of our trip was a dinner at this fancy French place called Alize.  The food, service, and view were all incredible.  But Camille's dessert was actually called macaroon cigars.  As classy as the place was, somehow we came away with this picture.  Camille tried to pose as briefly as possible so no one would see her and judge us. :)

 

In the less classy M&M factory, no one was judging anyone.

Becky is the cutest.

Someone was playing music and we were dancing down the hall when I saw Becky with her camera and thought she was filming us.  Thus the "please, no photographs" hand.

I love the Bellagio water show.  It moves me near to tears every time, even in broad daylight.

Looking back, this trip really was magical.  We vowed to do a girlventure every other year, and I can't wait for the next one.