Matthew's Christmas Wish

"I'll give a present to the poor for Christmas and I know that the poor will love it and enjoy it this Christmas.  I also wish a happy New Year to the poor this Christmas and I hope Santa Clause visits the hospital and all of those that are in need this Christmas.  I mean every Christmas.  I just want everybody to know that they will have a wonderful Christmas this year."

"To someone special,

I hope you have the best year in your entire life because I will.  

P.S. Please!  Please! Help the poor by giving toys to the people who need them!"

Matthew's Thankful

"I'm thankful for God because he gave me life.  I'm thankful for my parents because they're so nice.  I'm thankful for my teachers because they read to me.  I'm thankful for my cat because she's playful."

I couldn't help but chuckle to myself that there was no mention of his siblings, but Sweetie Pie made the cut.  Maybe they weren't nice to him that morning!  This was just too great!

Lisa's Early Birthday in Healdsburg

"Moms, just practical Mom, I love you!  I hope you have the best birthday in your life.  I think you are the best mom in the world.  When I am sad, you are my sun.  I love you Mom.  You are the best mom ever.  Love, Matthew"

"Mom, Happy early birthday!  I love you and I'm so happy and grateful you're mom.  I'll give you more things on your birthday but until then, I love you!  Love, Claire"

Swendsen Family CYO Camp

4 hr drive
Cabin #21
Campfire
Archery
Gaga Ball
Archery
Canoeing
Night Hike- Damien scared by deer

At the last campfire, Emily looked up into the sky and saw a falling star.  She then whispered out loud, "I wish I may, I wish I might have a mermaid tail and be able to swim in the ocean."  It was so sweet.

Back to School Night

Matthew left us this sweet note on his desk.  Now that the older kids are flying through the upper grades, I have such sweet perspective on this previous age.  2nd grade should be full of wonder, not stress.  He is just too sweet.

Emily Loses her First Tooth!

First fact.  Emily has just newly turned five.  Second fact.  I had no idea that Emily takes licorice eating so seriously.  Third and final fact.  My last baby has lost her first tooth!

Yesterday while enjoying dinner on my parents patio, we all turned to see Emily walking up the backyard stairs eating licorice.  I actually didn't see her eating the licorice but my Mom and Natalie saw her really biting the licorice hard and then ripping it out of her mouth.  Apparently she did this about four times before she came over to me with tears in her eyes.

I knew the tears meant that she had done something she deemed, 'not good'.  She said through tiny tears that she thought her bottom tooth was loose.  For months she has been joking that she has loose teeth.  She wants so badly to be like the other kids who are all losing teeth seemingly by the week!

Sure enough, when I felt her tooth- it was so loose that I thought it might just fall out.  She cried at what had happened and I just assured her that everything would be okay.  She didn't want Damien to pull the tooth out so she slept on it.  When she got up today, she complained while eating oatmeal that it hurt to chew with her tooth.  I asked her if she wanted her Daddy to pull it out and she said, "No."

A few minutes later, she walked over to me and said she was ready.  She went up to Damien and asked him to pull it out.  She might right then!  She wanted it out and at that moment found the bravery necessary for him to be able to pull it out.  It took one tug and the tooth came out! 

And then, my sweet baby cried.  Losing a tooth scared her.  She didn't like new way her mouth looked.  I can't blame her.  She never even got to have a wiggly tooth and go through the whole process of wiggly, to more wiggly, to super wiggly, to having the tooth come out.  In true Emily fashion, that tooth was wiggly for just a few short hours before she knew it- it was out.

A big congrats to Emily on the loss of her first tooth!  Although it was a bit traumatic, she made it through.  Now let's see what the tooth fairy brings her tonight!

Emily's 5 Year Old Favorites

Favorite Food: Macaroni and Cheese
Favorite Drink: Pina Colada in Hawaii
Favorite Color: Pink and Blue
Favorite TV Show:  Cake Boss
Favorite Movie: Frozen
Favorite Vacation: Disneyland
Favorite Candy: A long licorice
Favorite Ice Cream: Bubble gum flavored ice cream without bubble gum in it.
Favorite Disney Character:  Elsa and Anna
Favorite Book: Red Hat, Green Hat
Favorite Song:  Katy Perry ROAR
Favorite thing about Dad:  I love when we go on a date together.  I really love him!
Favorite thing about Mom:  I love snuggling with my Mom.  But not after she works out and is sweaty.
Favorite thing about Michael:  I love that he plays basketball with me.
Favorite thing about Claire:  I love that she makes Rainbow Looms with me.  She always plays with me and I love that.
Favorite thing about Matthew:  Matthew is nice to me all the time.  I like playing Cheese Touch with me.
Favorite thing to say:  Run for the hills, pork chop!
Favorite thing about your birthday:  I loved that my cousins came and that my Mom and Dad bought me an Elsa dress.  I also loved the Frozen pinata and blue jello that looked like ice!
Cheeseburger or Nuggets: Cheeseburger 
French fries or salad:  Salad with lettuce, croutons, no tomatoes.  No anything.  Just ranch, lettuce, croutons.
If you could go one place in the world, where would you go:  Raging Waters. (Yes, that is a waterpark ten minutes from our house. )

Emily-isms March 2014

"It is hot as a cucumber in here!"

"The past is in the cast!"  (Instead of the past is in the past.)

Badunka-dun

St. Joseph's Day 2014

Dear St. Joseph,

Please take care of my family.  Also, make sure my sister gets the movie Frozen.  Also that my brother has a great birthday party at paintball.  Also, take care of my Mom and Dad.  Also make sure Claire invents a new Rainbow Loom braselet.

Love, Matthew

Happy St. Patrick's Day 2014

"This is how to catch a Leprechaun.  First, you get your money and put it all around your room.  Then, a leprechaun will come in your room for the money.  Then you lock your door.  Finally, you lock him in a jar."  -Matthew, age 7

"If a Leprechaun granted me three wishes, I would wish for Super powers because I could fly to Disneyland every day.  I also would wish for ten thousand minions because I don't have to do anything.  For my last wish, I would have ten guard dogs because I wouldn't have to be robbed."  -Matthew, age 7

The night before St. Patrick's Day, someone in San Jose went around and painted a lot of medians in the city green.  Damien and Emily noticed this on the way to getting Damien's haircut (which of course Emily needed to go because she can't miss anything).  When Damien asked Emily who she thought might have done this and she simply replied, "The leopards."  She meant leprechauns but it was really funny!

Emily's Spring Parent/Teacher Conference

"Emily is a bright student.  She remains focused on her jobs and has good work ethics.  Her energetic approach is a wonderful quality and she's an excessively diligent student.  It's been wonderful having her as a student.  Keep up the good work, Emily!"  -Miss Naheed

'Brennan and the Zombies' written by Matthew

Once upon a time there was a human and his name was Brennan.  He lived in a forest.  He was lonely.  One day he was walking in the forest and he heard a noise.  It was three Zombies.  Then Brennan ran away, but the Zombies got him.  When the Zombies were going to cook him, Brennan saw a quick sand pit.  Brennan quickly threw the Zombies into the pit.  Then the Zombies grabbed the grass.  Brennan ran away.  Later, when a Zombie was up the pit, another Zombie grabbed the Zombie's hand.  Next, all of the Zombies fell into the pit.  At the end, Brennan was safe and lived happily ever after.  -Matthew, age 7

Matthew's Poem about CLAIRE

• C - Caring for me
• L - Loves rainbow looms
• A - Always nice
• I  - I play with her
• R - Rides rollercosters
• E - Eats ice cream

Then there was a little picture of Claire at the bottom eating ice cream from 'Bascin Robins'.  I love the bond these two have.  They are so similar and find so much comfort in one another.  Siblings are the best.

Matthew's Magic Mitten

We limit Matthew's screen time to 30 minutes a day.  If we let him, he would play all day.  He loves to jump around and sing songs while he plays and generally, just loves it.  Hence the 30 minute limit.  We keep seeing him writing about his Disney Infinity, Skylander chararacters and his overall fascination with the XBox 360.  We have told him to dial back his writing about video games because his teacher probably thinks that is all that he does.  I thought I had gotten through to him until I got today's piece of writing about his Magic Mitten.  

A sweet little cut-out paper mitten came home day, complete with yarn stitching on the outside that Matthew had done at school.  It had lines on it so that they kids could write about what they would do with their magic mitten.  Matthew's read, "If I had a special magic mitten, I would go into it and play my XBox in it."  Honestly.  His teacher must think our parenting style is just the best!

Matthew's Funny Valentine

Matthew came home today with a Valentine for me and Damien.  On the front, it read:
"I would die for you.  Okay, maybe not.  Yeah!  You're still alive!"  -Love, Matthew

Okay, on the other side it read:
"Dear Mom and Dad,
You are the best Mom and Dad.  I love you.  Happy Valentine's Day."  -Love, Matthew

Might be my favorite Valentine card to date!

Happy Valentine's Day to you, Matthew!!
Love, Mom and Dad

Matthew's 100th Day of School

In school, Matthew was asked to write about 100 things he wants on his 100th day of school:

• I would like 100 Hex Bug Nanos because they can climb.
• I would like 100 Disney Infinity Characters because they are fun.
• I would like 100 dolors (dollars) because I could mostly buy everything.
• I would like 100 friends because we would have fun.
• I would like 100 candys because they are yummy.
• I would like 100 dogs because they would keep me company.
• I would like 100 food because I wouldn't get hungry.
• I would not like 100 snaks (snakes) because I would die.