Knuckleheads

The LaVigne grandkids with the fabulous Grandpa Mark and Grandma Liz.  We are blessed!

May Swimming

When the water temperatures are about 60 degrees, the Swanson kids are not afraid to swim.  It took Cullen a bit of convincing, but they both braved the frigid temps!

Still skippng and smiling, now she's 6!!!

Simone Elizabeth Swanson is 6!!!  We celebrated with a artsy party at Inspired Art Studio.  Simone and her girlfriends made fairy wands and crowns.   Cullen made a monster crown and a wizard wand - careful not to be too girly!  Miss Jenny then directed the kids to parade around the art studio in full fairy attire.  Artsy Grandma Liz was also there to aid in all of the crafty events.  After much convincing, Simone decided to collect art supplies for the BGC in lieu of gifts.  A decision we were very proud of.

After her friend party commenced, we began preparations for the family BBQ.  Without hesitation, Simone decided brats and beans were the menu items of choice!  Grandpa Mark, Grandma Liz, Mimi, Bobby, and the Clark family helped us celebrate Simone.  This year our fabulous cake-maker, Kristal, created a decadent Barbie dress cake and Simone absolutely loved it!  We also played the Jellybean roulette game with Simone unafraid to eat even the grossest taste.

Simone Swanson is the best of both sweet and sassy.  Her stick-to-it attitude will serve her well when applying for her first job, but is a bit annoying to a parent who tells her "no cookies before dinner" and then hears a never-ending line of pleading and begging.   She does not like white milk, but loves chocolate milk and ice cream.  Simone is willing to try anything - in fact we can take her out for ethnic food and she will taste test anything on her plate!  She loves Sofia the First, Full House and the movie Annie.  Simone has a HUGE imagination.  Instead of TV and Ipad time, she will choose to play with dolls, stuffed animals or Barbies.  Simone professes that she will be a doctor and dentist when she grows up and when she is tired of those jobs, she will become a hair stylist!  This girl has the best of brains, beauty and creativity!

April Showers

Hoppy Easter

To catch a leprechaun...

Every St. Patrick's Day Eve, the Swanson kids are busy creating and inventing leprechaun traps.  There is no blueprint except for what resides in their brains.  I always warn them that the little guys are tricky.  This year, he left gold chocolate coins and evaded their elaborate traps.  There's always next year.....

Bucky Basketball

The Swanson family embarked on another Madtown adventure.  This time to see the UW men's basketball team.  We drove down to the capital the afternoon leading up to the 5:30 game.  We did some shopping at the UW bookstore and ate burgers at Dotty's Dumpling Dowry.  We timed it all just right and literally got the last open table before the mad rush of basketball fans.  The game was great and Cullen loved cheering for hometown boy Bronson Koenig - complete with his new #24 jersey. Both kids also loved watching the band and student section.  The best part was watching the kids wiggle their fingers in the air as good luck to the players shooting free throws.  Bucky dominated the fighting Illini.   Dirk has further secured Bucky's stronghold on the Swanson kids.  Both Cullen and Simone have professed their desire to go to UW for higher education.