What a busy weekend...

This busy weekend felt great at the very end. I can't say the same for all the busy weekends that I have. I spent a lot time with family and friends working and playing. It really does not get better than that.

MOVING
It started on Saturday morning with a clean up project. Last spring, after a pipe burst in the basement, contents of one of the rooms was moved the court in the back yard. It was placed up on boards and covered. In August the house was painted and again more items were moved from around the house to the court. Isaiah, my 6 year old nephew, was quickly loosing his basketball area. It came time to move things back to their rightful places...rightful according to who was another story. There was water damage to some things so a trip to the dump was made (and I think some things made it into that trip without other knowing about it!). My dad tended to keep a lot of stuff that many of us did not see us in keeping although we did speculate and had many reasons for why dad wanted to keep certain things. In the end the court was cleared... the dog kennel was filled with some stuff (poor McKenna, his kennel gets smaller every year)...and Isaiah has not more excuses to use the microwave in the kitchen for his basketball hoop.

IMAGINATION PLACE
Cassandra and Asa (sister-in-law & nephew) take music classes and they invited everyone to a fesitval that was being presented by the Imagination Place. The kids and some adults dressed in their Halloween Costumes...there were a wide variety of activities...pumpkin bowling, obstacle course, coloring, instrument making and instrument zoo. I had a great time with Tristan and Isaiah working around the Isaiah collect our stickers on our map.

DOUGHNUTS
Saturday night we to Jenny Nichols' home for homemade Doughnuts. This is Halloween Tradition! Jenny held the event a week early due to obligation on Halloween and then there is a Uof U football game on Nov. 1st.
THANKS JENNY - THE DOUGHNUTS WERE GREAT!

Sorry no picture :(

Body Worlds 3 & The Story of the Heart

Tristan and I went to see the fascinating exhibit Body World 3 & the Story of the Heart, It is touring the nation and is currently in SLC. The best way for you to see a preview of what we saw click on this link (www.theleonardo.com). You see everything from the head to the toes and everything in between. You can see what it looks like when it is working properly and when it is not working so well. The exhibit will be here until the end of Decemeber.

The passing of my Father - Claron Edwin Swenson

Obituary for my Father - Claron Edwin Swenson

Surrounded by his family, Claron Edwin Swenson passed away quietly on September 22, 2008 in Salt Lake City, Utah of Kidney Cancer.

Claron was born August 7, 1941. He, his brother and two sisters were raised by his mother after the passing of his father when Claron was just five years old. His mother's example of hard work and family values served as a guide for his life. Claron grew up on the Avenues and graduated from West High (1960) and the University of Utah (1973). He married Carol Gappmayer, on December, 17 1965 in the Salt Lake Temple.

Claron was well known for the service he provided in all areas of his life, setting an example with his faith and love. He spent eight years serving in the United States Coast Guard Reserve. He served in the South Africa Mission from '62-'64. He was a life-long scouter, sharing with youth and adults his knowledge and passion for the scout law and the outdoors, including 9 years as District Chairman and recipient of the Silver Beaver Award in 2004. He served in various LDS Church callings, including most recently as Branch President of the Arlington Hills Care Center. In his 34 years of service with LDS Church Security he was able to travel the world for and with some of the most wonderful people. With all that he did, the most important people to him were his family.

Claron is preceded in death by his father, Don Edwin Swenson, mother, Lucile Burnhope Swenson, brother-in-law Klaus Guertler, and his oldest son Scott Reed Swenson; he is survived by his wife Carol Gappmayer Swenson, brother Don (Nola) Swenson, sisters; Carole (Lynn) Williams and Bernice Guertler, and his children; David (Pamela) Swenson, Kelly Swenson, Kimberly (Andreas) Mueller, Kristy (Tristan) Moore, Daniel (Sarah) Swenson, Aaron (Jaime) Swenson, Matthew (Cassandra Tucci) Swenson, Kerry (Quentin) McNeil, 10 grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephews and relatives.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, September 25, 2008 at 11:00 am at the LDS ward - 680 East 2nd Avenue. A viewing will be held Wednesday at the Larkin Mortuary, 260 East South Temple from 6 – 8 pm and 9:45-10:45am prior to the services on Thursday at the LDS ward.

In Lieu of flowers please donate to a charity of your choice.
Condolences online: www.larkinmortuary.com

It is my sad duty....

It is my sad duty to acknowledge the passing of my father in law. It is with a heavy heart that I look back on the short time that he has been a part of my life. I have felt honored to have been accepted as part of the family. In his last few minutes here he was able to once more open his eyes to see himself surround by his family, his wife, sibling, and his children. All of them were present for him to see once more. His passing has been expected for some time, though not unexpected it has left all of us yearning to have him part of our lives still. There will be a viewing Wednesday evening at the Larkin Mortuary in Salt Lake City, Utah from 6pm-8 pm. Thursday morning at 9:45 am-10:45 am there will be a viewing at the wardhouse on 2nd Ave and J Ave in Salt Lake City, UT followed by his funeral service at 11 am. There are not enough words to rightly express our sorrow in his passing. Husband, Father, and Friend, you will be truly missed. On the evening breeze each evening we will hear your words of encouragement and love carried on its soft wings as we close our eyes to once more remember you. You are my Hero! May the Lord welcome you home in to His final embrace.

Tristan

Kim & Andreas Wedding Weekend!

August 16, 2008 Kimberly Swenson married Andreas Mueller in Palo Alto, California.

Tristan and I flew down on Wednesday night. Family members flew in on Thursday and Friday. David and his family and drove up from Las Vegas on Friday. By Friday night everyone had arrived for the second pre-ceremony run through and pizza party. Saturday was the big and the pictures tell it all... enjoy!