Christmas 2018

 I have no idea why I don't have photos on my phone of the children-- wide eyes filled with wonder --as they first stepped into the living room Christmas morning.  They are all on Ryan's phone and Im going to have him download them so I can finish this post. 

Christmas 2107

The kids and I were looking at this blog a few days ago.  They didn't realize it existed. Their favorite posts were looking at Christmas' past to see what Santa brought them.   They were quite disappointed that I didn't have 2017 posted.  So here it is for them.  I have no pictures of them actually enjoying any of it--as I think Ryan took all of those photos--but at least they can look at these pictures and go on a walk down memory lane.

So here's to looking at nothing but stuff.   This is obviously what Jace got.  Some cool things like Star Wars Legos, Nerf Rival gun and a controversial item like an XBOX  (which has hardly been used--so not a big deal)

This is Gracie's stash.  I think almost 100% of her stuff was from The American Girl Doll company.   

  This is the very much wanted hotel.  Super cute and very high quality but also as the Dr says-- "way over priced".   (Why didn't we think to invent all this?)

This is what Santa brought me. Except for one major item you will see at the bottom of this post. In the little blue box in a new wedding band from the Dr.!! (Not ring but band to go with my ring)

This is what the Dr got.  When first glancing at it -it is nothing to write home about--but if you venture a little further -into his stocking you would probably see a little package from me labelled  "For the Dr.'s Eyes Only"  --perhaps a little something special for me to wear and him to unwrap--if ya know what I mean?! It was definitely his favorite gift --put he left it in his stocking and later that day Kjersti wanted to know why Daddy got a "lacy swimming suit for a girl" in his stocking!!  Glad she was barely 4 years old!!

In the middle here is Kjersti's stuff.  I don't have a close up--but I can say that she got Barbie on the Go and Baby Bjorn that eats and poops and pees and the bath tub too.  It was a BIG DEAL to get a pooping and peeing doll that year!!

Last but not least--was this gold plated porcelain statue that the Dr put on our dining room table for me.  We had been in San Francisco 2 weeks prior because Ryan had a conference. One evening we were walking along Fishermans wharf when we ventured into the Hermitage Gallery.  I fell in love with these Capodimonte's from Italy.  Ryan surprised me with this one!!!  My favorite one! It was mostly a 15th wedding anniversary present--but it arrived right before Christmas!!  In person it is absolutely breathtaking.   It reminds me of us-- because on our wedding video the background music is "One Day My Prince will Come" --and he did come (not until late in my twenties after a soul wrenching first marriage).  This beautiful statue is a reminder to me of my beautiful life married to my true love and soulmate.   He is an absolute gift from God.  I truly believe that.  Why me? Why did I get a soulmate?  Not a lot of people find their soulmates in this life.  I am a blessed woman. 

This is the other one that I loved.  In real life it was a little over  28 inches long.   But I didn't like the color scheme as well.  (The price was really hefty too!  I secretly think the Dr was relived that I was ecstatic over the other one!) The one I have looks so beautiful in our dining room on the side board.  

See--you enjoyed looking at nothing but stuff !!!

I Got My Wings !!!!!!!!

Dr. Swigert has finally set me up to blog again.  By that I mean making my computer more user friendly--for those technically challenged and over 40 years of age!!  It has been a pain to use my current set-up--so I have put blogging off-- for the last 3 years--but now I'm back!!  I THINK!!  All my photos that I post here will be directly from my phone.  The quality is lacking--but better than none at all.

My absolute highlight of 2018 was the Dr buying me- and our family of course-- an airplane that seats 6!!!!  No, I don't have my pilots license--and  have no desire to get one----and neither does the Dr. --yet--but my brother-in-law Paul, does.  And since we live in the middle of nowhere, AZ,  it was time to change our means of travel drastically. 

In February of 2018,  my violin teacher, idol, and mentor, Deborah Moench, although retired, decided to do me a personal favor and teach Kjersti violin!!!  I was so thrilled that she agreed--I might have shed tears of joy.  Problem was, she lives in Salt Lake City, and I live in AZ--almost 8 hours away by car.  We tried flying commercially from Vegas several times, but finally, I drew my white flag and surrendered---it was a total PAIN and not worth the hassle. We then began driving almost every weekend.  We would leave right after church on Sundays, check into a hotel in SLC by11:00PM (usually midnight).  Have lessons from 10:00 AM to noon on Monday mornings, (Gracie is taking piano from her Aunt Kate) then head home--arriving back in AZ by 11:00 PM--hopefully.  It was so exceedingly excrucitaing, but worth it.   

Kjersti sporting a  new  dress for her bday from Grammy and Poppy.  Had to fly home in it. 

The reason I tell you about our drive, is because early last year (2017) the Dr checked a book out of the library by Dave Ramsey called The Total Money Make-Over.  Have you read it? Life changing!!!  He didn't get a chance to read it, and was headed back to the library with it, when I happened to see it and intercepted it.  I stayed up almost all night and read that book.  A page turner I tell you!!  Since reading it, I knew I could not get an airplane until the Dr had all his student and business loans paid in full and had cash in hand for a plane.   I have always been an avid budgeter and never carried balances on credit cards etc, etc, so I thought our family was in a good place financially--but reading the book made me realize that we were carrying too much "smart" debt!!  Fast forward two years to my 45th birthday this August--when I finally got the green light from the Dr and Steve (our accountant) to go shop for a plane!!!!!!!  Yes, I was ecstatic!! That green light took me 2 years to achieve--well actually about 16.  After multiple trips to a Cessna dealer in Tulsa, OK, we finally had a plane in our hangar--by October.  What I thought would be a simple process turned out to be tedious and arduous and long--but worth it. 

If you must fly, why not do it in style?

So now, Paul picks us up at our little town airport--which is 15 minutes from our house on Monday mornings at 7:00 AM.  We land at U42 (South Valley regional airport) in SLC by 9:00 AM.  We have piano lessons at 10:00AM and violin lessons from noon  to usually 1:30.  Grab lunch, then our beloved Grammy Jill and/or Poppy take us back to the airport and we fly home, arriving back in Kingman, AZ in time for dinner and Family Home Evening.  Its beautiful!!!  And safe!!!!!   Paul is a commercial rated pilot!!!  Been flying for a long time.  So all these pics that I have posted are from various flights to and from lessons.   We have logged 100 hours in our plane  That's a lot for 3 months of ownership.  Usually that takes almost a full year.

 Kjersti or Gracie snapped these photos of me.

 

Yes,  I am reading the Book of Mormon like President Nielson asked all the women of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to do by the end of the year!!  I don't have to drive--so I can read!!

Somewhere over Utah

                          Poor Gracie--she gets so exhausted on these trips!!

But, she agrees, it's so much better then driving. 

And then we finally get home and

 "My Little One"  tells me she can't practice violin because her foot is too tired or her finger hurts--- and I don't mind at all--

Here is a glimpse of My Little One and my beloved Mrs. Moench ending a lesson

                               

because we only bought a freakin' airplane so she can study with the BEST!!!

One thing I must add, is that the Dr sacrificed all his cello money to buy this airplane.  He has wanted and needed a fine cello for over two decades, and the day he wrote Dan Howard a check for the airplane, his cello was once again on the back burner. The plane cost more then our first 3 houses.  Not combined--just individually.  They are not cheap.