a little dessert

Sometimes all you need in life is a little dessert. It seems like life is always busy, even when you think it won't be, things come up, and it always stays busy. Last month, I didn't get over to visit my vt's from church, so instead, I just dropped by with a note and a little jar of ice cream sauce. One peanut butter sauce and one hot fudge. They looked so cute, I had to take a picture. I didn't have any small tupperware to give away so I just spray painted some baby food lids and "wa-la!" the perfect little jar for ice cream topping.

We just had a great visit from Scott's brother Ty and his friend Betsey. We had a blast. It is always so fun to have visitors and have the chance to show people your life away from home. Will loved every minute and every ounce of attention. Our next visitors arrive in about 3 weeks and we can't wait! In the meantime, I'll be starting a new job, finishing up at the old job, Will is starting preschool, I'm planning our big welcome dinner for church, among other things..... we'll be busy busy.

I'm trying to soak in the last days of Summer, it is quickly coming to a close. I had high hopes to spend a week at the park, taking the boys to a different park everyday for 5 days straight.... that might have to wait, or get pushed to October at least. In the meantime, I'm just trying to enjoy the short moments of peace of quiet and of course, eat a little dessert every night after the kids are in bed. On the menu tonight: mint chocolate chip ice cream, in a glass, mixed up with a little milk. YUM! .... and a little weird I know.

fun around here

Wow. We've had a crazy couple of weeks, but it sure has been fun around here! We had a great visit from the Mortensen Grandparents and we loved every minute. We spent a lot of time hanging out, watch several good movies Scott and I had never seen (we don't get out much), ate yummy food, went to see the Amish, went to Chagrin Falls, Kirtland temple, and the John Johnson farm. We had a blast, and the boys LOVED all the attention they got from gma and gpa! Will even got a special trip to Target with Grandma, walked in the door and said "Mom! Grandma bought me everything I wanted at Target!" It was true, she did. We only get to see gma and gpa a couple times a year, so when we get a visit, we love every minute!

Amish country is beautiful. Simple and wholesome. I loved it. We went to Rolling Ridge Ranch where we go on a wagon ride and feed some really awesome animals. The ostrich was Will's favorite because they ate so funny, and got food everywhere. It was a blast!

Eli is cute. He has grown two more teeth, for a total of SIX! I'm pretty sure he's till teething and getting two more on top as well. This boy needs his teeth, he's got food business to take care of. He had his 9 month check up this week is doing great. Weight is a bit slimmer (I think due to the recent crawling and getting around like crazy), but height is still right up there!

Will and Eli are truly the sweetest, easiest boys ever. We are so blessed and love having these sweet little munchkins in our home. Will is growing up more and more everyday. Loves to help out, even folded all of his and Eli's laundry himself. He has the sweetest attitude and is truly concerned about others. We love you Will and Eli!

pennies for heroes

My brother Mike is one of a kind. I've always admired him for many reasons, and admired his creativity and charitable attitude. He's always doing anonymous things for people who need help, just because he sees a need and takes action. He does random acts of service and work for people year round, involves his kids, and teaches them the ways they can help and serve others.

My brother is also a police officer. He is sort of a "jack of all trades." Has lots of great ideas rolling around in that head of his and takes the time to put them into action. He recently has started a charity. As an officer, in the line of duty, has had several experiences with fellow law officers, fire fighters, and those who defend and honor our country. He's had good experiences as a police officer and has seen some sad experiences as well.

He formed his charity, not to "give a hand out" but to "give a hand up" to the families who have fallen victim to loosing a family member in the line of duty. All he asks is that we donate our pennies, our spare change laying around, or out of our pockets. Imagine what a difference that could make in someone's life? And he's not just handing the money over to the family, he's using it for the things that they desperately need..... house repairs, clothes, food, etc.

He is already working with a family. A widow/mother, who has five children, and is now left without a father/husband. They are in serious need of house repairs, have no dishwasher, no disposal, need new shingles, rain gutters, etc. the list goes on and on. The family is only entitled to a portion of what their father made in the past three years (only 25% of his highest earnings, which won't even be 10,000$ a year).

Among several of his other good ideas, I'm pretty sure this is the best one yet. Let's think about why we enjoy the life that we do, and those who uphold, honor, and support the law that allows us our freedom every single day. Help out because you can, because you care, and because you never know what circumstances you may find your family in one day.

"You can CHANGE lives with the CHANGE in your pocket...."

If you'd like to know more about the family that is being helped or if you would like to support Pennies for Heroes in anyway, either by donating, sending out information, putting a button on your blog, facebook, or twitter go here: www.penniesforheroes.org

question of the day

"If I make a funny face, will Jesus laugh?"

Yes Will, I think that would put a smile on anybody's face! Especially from a sweet little boy like you!

..... well, he's already topped himself. He had a 6 oz. bottle at 4 o'clock, then at 5 o'clock tonight, for dinner, Eli ate a WHOLE can of sliced pears (all himself), a bowl of cottage cheese, a handful of shredded cheddar cheese, a bowl of oatmeal/rice cereal, with applesauce, and most of a sippy cup of water. I'm not talking about smallish kiddie size food, when I say bowl, I mean about 3/4-1 cup of food. That's a lot for babies. I laugh out-loud when I read the rice cereal box and it says to give your baby a couple of tablespoons per serving. Hahaha! Eli eats a tablespoon's worth in almost every bite. What's even funnier, he still wanted more! I hate to think how he's going to eat as a teenager!

I don't really have time to blog, but had to post this, just for "remembrance" sake! Today for lunch Eli ate a WHOLE baked potato, plain, cut up in pieces. About 1/2 - 3/4 c. of white beans, a sippy cup full of water, and a handful of raisins. All fed by himself, and happy as a clam the entire time. He's always been an avid eater, so I don't know why this surprises me?! He just eats so much better than Will ever did, so maybe that is why? He'll eat almost anything I put in front of him, and he'll eat it until I take it away.

I bet you are wondering how much ends up on the floor.... well, not much. If I were really smart, I could probably come up with some type of ratio. Like: parts put on tray X parts on floor = amount consumed by child. Since I'm not that smart or mathematically minded, I'll just tell you this. What ends up on the floor could be A LOT more, if you compare it to what I put on his tray. Not only that, but when I get him out of his chair, clean him off from head to toe, and set him down on the floor to clean his tray, he helps himself to the droppings too.... so basically, he eats everything.

Good job E! Keep it up!

Now, if I could get Will to eat more than cheese, we'd be in great shape!

nine months ago

This is a big milestone for us. Eli "turned" nine months on Sunday. It is big in a lot of ways..... mostly because I can't believe how fast time goes. I feel like nine months is a biggie because a nine month old is definitely no longer an infant, they are starting to move, and they are just a short few months away from being 1 year old. And we all know what happens with they turn 1. They start a whole new life of babyhood! I also feel like it is a big milestone for us because we also hit a year of living in Cleveland. I can't believe it has been a year, it feels like it has been a few months, we had a big year and a lot happened, maybe that is why it felt like it just flew by. Anyways, I'm a little bit baffled lately at how the time goes by so quickly. Summer is about to end, and we had preschool open house already. Yikes.... let's not start to think about how big and "old" Will is getting, that is just scary.

This week so far:

-we held, cuddled, and rocked Eli, who was sick, all week..... (I hate having sick kids, but I'll admit, I sort of liked all the cuddling, he's not always so still.....)

-we worked, a lot

-we ate cookies for breakfast

-we had a great family night at Quarry Rock Park, where we played in waterfalls, got wet, skipped rocks, and had a picnic for dinner

-we had our Spanish lesson

-took a trip to the dr. which was a waste of time, since the hour or so we were at the doctor was the ONLY time all week Eli didn't have a fever, and wasn't whining and whimpering like he was miserable. Then as soon as we got home, he started up again......

-we've taken a couple naps, all of us. Everyone knows having a sick baby makes for rough nights, all around.

So far, the week has been a good one. Busy, as always. I'm looking forward to a much less busy week next week and hoping to put in some time at the pool. Wish me luck!

Palmyra - Sacred Grove

Well, this picture is not from our weekend trip to Palmyra, but I just had to throw it in. It is from Owen, Scott's brother who is an artist. It is dried flowers, and I love it. It is so pretty here in our living room, it brightens things up and it is gorgeous to look at!

Now on to our trip! We had a great time. Palmyra is only about 4 hours from our house here in OH. It is a really pretty drive. The kids did amazing, I was so proud of them! They were both awake the entire drive up there, but just played, talked, and ate snacks. Just like us! :) It was fun to have a little road trip as a family, to spend time chatting with Scott, and to enjoy being in a new place. These pictures aren't really in order, so bear with me as I jump around.

This is a picture from the Grandin Printing Office. I loved this tour when I took it several years ago while I was on a church history tour. This time around it was CROWDED because of the Pageant and because it was pouring rain outside. Plus we had our kids who were exhausted, etc. I'd like to go back sometime when the crowds aren't around because I loved learning about how the Book of Mormon was originally printed. These are the languages that the Book of Mormon is printed in:
We were so lucky to meet up with my brother and his family. They had been in Cooperstown NY at a baseball tournament for my nephew and made the drive over to Palmyra. It was great to see them and Will was really loving having some time with cousins. He told us several times on the drive up that these were his favorite cousins. He just loves cousins.... it doesn't matter what cousins he's going to see, the ones nearest are his favorites! Again, this is in the Grandin Building.
While we were in Palmyra, we got to go do baptisms with my niece and nephew at the temple. It was a lot of fun. The Palmyra temple has the prettiest temple windows I've ever seen. They are mostly stained glass to look like the Sacred Grove. It is also the only temple that has a window that you can see out and into. That window looks out right at the Sacred Grove.

Don't look at my lovely wet hair.....
We also enjoyed going to the Smith farm, and Sacred Grove. This is some of the most beautiful and lush country I've ever seen. It was hot, but it was still so pretty. It is such a special place, watching thousands of people trek through here was just another witness to the sacred nature of what happened here.



I took these pictures of Will as we were on our tour. He is so handsome, and growing up so fast. I can't believe what a sweet little boy he is and how he grows and learns so quickly.


Here's Will with Denver and Zebbie. He was attached to Denver the entire time, Denver was a good sport about having a little tag-a-long!
Headed into the grove.....
A family picture in the grove. It is so pretty, and goes on and on for miles.


We loved Palmyra and we are excited that we can go back and visit again sometime! I am hoping we can plan a trip in the fall so we can see how gorgeous it is with all the fall colors.

Palmyra - Hill Cumorah

Our first stop in Palmyra was at the Hill Cumorah. We got there just as it started to rain. We spent a few hours in the visitor's center and had a lot of fun. Will really enjoyed the film and looking at all the pictures. While we were in there, a news man from Channel 13 WHAM news in Rochester asked us if he could talk to us. It was pretty cool, we haven't been able to look on-line and find it, but when I find it, I'll share!

This is the stage for the Pageant. Will and Scott walked up the Hill while I was feeding Eli.
Their view from atop the Hill. Pretty incredible! Look at all those chairs. THe night we went to the Pageant, every single chair was filled. I think there were probably 6-7000 people there! It was pretty incredible.

Will really enjoyed talking to the cast. About two hours before the show, they all came out and wandered among the crowd. He had a lot of fun and kept saying "Look at those ones mom! What are they going to be?" Here he is talking to Lehi.....

After the pageant, we headed back to our hotel, late. So the next morning we just took it easy and then we headed over to Niagara Falls, on our way home. We tried meeting up with my brother again, but it didn't work out. We still had fun though. Although it was crazy busy as well. I decided I like to go see things in the "off" season! :) I kept getting bugged at all the people.... and worried about Will staying by us and holding our hands.


Here's Eli, sitting in the shade, enjoying a chunk of grass. Yes, he eats grass, by the handfuls. Even when I put him on a blanket, he squirms off just to get a good handful of grass to munch on.
Will on the other hand, wanted to crawl around the rocks so his gecko could have a home....
Yep, he's still cute. Just thought I'd remind you.....

And one last family picture. My, how things have changed since we were here last year! Almost a year exactly since we were here.....
It was a fun trip!

our piano

I know I promised more pictures and story of our piano moving experience. Now I'm just getting around to it. I was waiting because I wanted to have it all cleaned up and painted so you could see the finished product.

Moving this piano was an experience! It probably weighs 1000 lbs. No joke. I love it, and I'm a little bit worried of moving it out of here whenever that is.... It is beautiful, big, heavy, and makes our home a real home. It is odd that a piano softens the look of your home, isn't it? It makes it feel so much more homey. I think I said it before, but I just love thinking about where this piano has been and who it's previous owners were.

Here are so pictures, for your enjoyment. In the end, it took 8 men, a rented flat bed from Home Depot, a special piano dolly, and a lot of prayer to move this baby a mere block and a 1/2. It made it, without scratching my floors, and now it will not be moving until it is moved out of here! :)

It went through this: turned up on it's side.....

And this: getting shoved out a door too small for it, while the guys tried to "catch" it as it came out.... remember it is about 1000 lbs.
Then this: flat on it's back with the guys not really knowing what the heck they were going to do with it....
And now it's here:
Inside my sunny living room, just waiting to be played! Scott's amazingly talented brother Owen sent us this piece of art that I've been coveting for years. I absolutely LOVE this piece. I like to stare at it while I'm feeding Eli. It has become the favorite part of my home lately.
As you can see, Scott painted the piano, and it looks amazing. It actually sounds good too, after all it went through. We've really enjoyed having it so far, and I know we'll continue to enjoy it. I can just see my boys learning to play and plunk around on this big beauty, it's going to be awesome.

PS - Owen's art is seriously amazing, if you want to check it out, click on his name above! I want to do a post just on this piece of art he sent us, it is so cool.

the farm park

Last Friday we had a great trip to the farm! We had such a great time, I'm sure we'll be headed back often. We got to tour the whole farm and learn about all sorts of things. It was really interesting to Will and to me, learning about where all our food comes from and how it goes from farm to our table. I've always wanted a little farm, with a few basic animals, you know, cow, goat, chickens, maybe a pig or two. Well, now I want a farm more than ever!

We got to watch and learn how to milk a cow......

Have a wagon ride, being pulled by a big tractor......

And of course see all sorts of animals. Horses, pigs, cows, goats, sheep, llamas and alpacas, chickens, turkies..... We even got to have a picnic, and enjoy the beautiful ohio farm country. There is really nothing like it. Big green rolling hills, red barns, immaculate kept grasses and fields, and great weather! It wasn't hot or humid. We had a great day, I can't wait to go back!
Will was excited about the farm too, and really enjoys seeing all the animals. They do lots of festivals in the fall and a tour with Christmas lights in the Winter. It was a fun day out, maybe next time we'll do a pony ride?!

***Last year at the fireworks, little did we know, we were getting a baby in just a month or so! I can't believe the difference a year makes in our lives, and yet it seems like this was just yesterday!***

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!

We live in the most awesome country in the world. I'm proud of our nation, it's goals, it's values, it's progress. I'm grateful for the freedoms and opportunities I have living in the USA.

When I think about the 4th of July, it has some of the greatest and most treasured memories of my life. I've been a lot of different places on this Holiday and nothing compares to being with your family and enjoying all we've been given. I love the words to the song "America the Beautiful." I get teary every time I hear it or sing it. We are so blessed and have so much to be grateful for.

Oh beautiful for spacious skies

For amber waves of grain

For purple mountains majesty

Above the fruited plane

America, America

God shed His grace on thee

And crown thy good with brotherhood

From sea to shining sea

O beautiful for pilgrim feet
Whose stern impassioned stress
A thoroughfare of freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law!

O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife.
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life!
America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness
And every gain divine!

O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

I hope you all have a great Holiday!

life is like a day at the beach

.......when you are 4 years old. The weather around these parts has been so beautiful. It hasn't been hot or humid. Low 50's at night, and barely reaching 70 during the day, with plenty of sunshine. We've gotten lots of use out of our fun little back patio. Will and I like to eat lunch out there almost every day. Last Thursday was no exception. The best part, Will takes his drink, leans back in the chair and just sips away, under the shady umbrella. Not a care in the world. Isn't that how childhood should be?

Of course after lunch, we have to dig out all the pool and water stuff. Slip'n slide, swimsuits, etc. Even though it was a little chilly to be slippin' slinding, that didn't seem to bother him. He played outside all afternoon this day. Played for awhile on his own, and then called some friends to come play too. It was a fun afternoon.

***And yes, that is a Target cup on my table. 1$ for popcorn and a drink = happy child, happy mom whilst shopping. Can't beat that!***