Every Robin needs a Poppy!

A Poppy is a wonderful thing. Everyone should have one.  The only problem is, they are hard to come by.

They are one in a billion-really.

They run Tool Centers that have amazing "shameans" in them.

   The "shameans" pick up the boxes and then

lift them WAY up high.

   They also have nifty carts with RED wheels that scoot Robins

round and round, and up and 

                                                     down those Tool Center isles.

We are sorry, but this Poppy is ours.  You really can't have him.  We are keeping him all to ourselves.

Could it be more perfect?

After leaving the comfort of her bed in Iowa at 4:45am yesterday, Gracie found herself touching down on the ground at the Salt Lake City airport around 9:30am mountain standard time.

Soon after she found herself in the loving arms of her Grammy Jill and Poppy Will.

Grammy Jill, with Poppy's help, had turned their pad, "the batcave" into a birthday girl's wonderland.

We were greeted with balloons and presents and a gorgeous birthday cake from Backman's Bakery.

Homemade crepes followed for breakfast.


Christopher Robin watching Grammy intently as we drooled over the fresh berry goodness.



Grammy Jill, you are looking smokin' hot these days! Wouldn't you agree Poppy?

Crepes worth dying for-I am not kidding.  I really haven't tasted any better.

                        

While Daddy and Rue were opening this...

Christopher Robin was doing...

this!

To spend Rue's first birthday with Grammy and Poppy could not have been more perfectly perfect.

Happy Birthday my Rue, I love you. What a sweet blessing you are.

FINALLY!

Grace entertaining herself while mom runs around like a chicken with her head cut off!

Blogger has been performing maintenance for the last 30 hours, so I have not been able to blog. Not sure if this happens regularly. But things seem to finally be up and running.
Anyways, I'm  BUSY BUSY BUSY!  Packing and cleaning.  I will be taking my laptop and hope to blog next week while in Utah.   

Good news,   I can now upload pictures from my laptop.  So whatever blogger was doing yesterday, seemed to solve that problem.

Dear Auntie Jen, 

We got the funnest box from you on our doorstep this morning.  How perfect!  A movie for Jace to watch on the trip, and I loved the outfit for Grace!  I will call you probably next week from St George.

Love , Frances

More later everyone.  I am seriously NOT ready for our  4:45am departure in the morning.  I am going to have happy children tomorrow.  Can't wait for that!  Grammy,  please come play with Grace for me today so I can pack. 

Oh, did I mention that friends of ours are staying in our house while we are gone?  Seemed fine when I volunteered, but now that I am bathroom scrubbing, packing, laundry washing, and everyhing else, I am realizing that I AM CRAZY!!

So on that note have a great day everyone!

Cameron and MaKenzi -- Wishing you  a very HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!  Shouldn't you have like 5 kids by now?

Robin teaching Rue

Jace loves the ever so important job of teaching Gracie how to walk.

They walk and walk

 and then tumble to the ground.

Robin then tries to hold off Rue as she struggles to get her fingers on his curly golden locks.

But eventually she tackles him to the ground and rips it all out!

The last time

This is a picture of the last time we were all together as a Swigert clan.  It was Grace and cousin Aubrey's blessing day on  Sunday, June 13, 2010.  Aubrey and Grace were born 4 days apart!

Shortly after this photo was taken, Ryan's older brother Jason (holding other infant--Aubrey) moved to Arizona to accept a job as an Internal Medicine Doctor, and we left for Iowa City to start Ryan's residency.

I especially like how both Nicole and myself (mothers of the two newborns) have our shoes off in the picture!  That's from being barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen for so long we forgot what shoes felt like!

Actually it's really from EXHAUSTION and STRESS.  Both of us moved across the country 2 weeks after giving birth.   I have no plans to ever do that again--it was enough fun to last me a life time.

Well, next week the entire Swigert clan will be together again.  Ready or not Utah, here we all come!

This time we are taking our fun to the Sherwood Hills resort near Logan, Utah.  That's right.  A little golfing, relaxing by the pool, game playing, visiting the Logan cemetery.  It's all going to be done in excellent Swigert fashion, and hopefully without any "Swigert luck!"

Catching some much needed rest at Ryan's sister's house after our trek from Richmond, VA to Utah. (Here is some proof Jen, that I wasn't holding up so well without my Frances!!)

"Ahhh, I love my cousin Lizzy!  What a great place to pick my nose."

"Isn't it so nice of her to cart me around on her back? And she has the perfect sleeve to wipe by buggers on!"

Doesn't the Dr. look dashing, and oh so proud?

THE END

Cameron, no standing on your tip-toes for the next family photo.  You are making everyone else look short.

Can't figure it out--NEED HELP!

Dear Robin and Rue Readers,

Ryan has tried all evening to fix my laptop so I can upload pictures  into my blog posts.  We keep getting the "server rejected" message and the photos won't post.  Please help!  Anyone??

It works fine on my downstairs computer--hence my last post with pictures, but my laptop is NOT working.  I would walk downstairs and use that computer but all my photos are already on the laptop.

So this post pretty much stinks!   

On a brighter note, we have been busy at work here at the Swigert household preparing for our upcoming Utah visit starting this Saturday-- on Gracie's 1st Birthday might I add!

 My "to-do" lists are made, and I am checking them twice.

Today, I ALMOST got my fridge cleaned out,  and I ALMOST started doing all the laundry.  I did get 4 cupboards in my kitchen cleaned and organized and my coat closet is also in pristine condition as well tonight.  And none of this cleaning has anything to do with getting ready to travel this weekend --except cleaning out the fridge.

So why in heck am I bothering to do it?

Because when I look at all my lists and see my piles of laundry, my mind starts screaming--"NEED HELP---can't figure it out!!"

The Highs of Motherhood

With Mother's Day approaching this Sunday, I want to share with you one of my favorite moments as a Mother.


Jace meeting Grace for the first time.

Look at Robin's face!

This picture was taken around 2:00 pm on Friday, May 14, 2010.  Grace was born that morning at 11:38am at Henrico Doctors Hospital in Richmond, Virginia.  After I was moved out of labor and delivery into my room, Jace came with his Grammy Jill to the hospital to see her.

He was absolutely thrilled with his new sister!

And just seeing this picture makes me want two more.  What do you say my handsome Dr.?