More snow...

Got a bit more snow today. Adam was home to help the kids go play in the snow so I got some shots of that. Spencer and Justin enjoyed the giant mounds of snow in our yard that made for perfect sled/disk runs.

Jonathan's Wedding and Christmas at the Malan's

What a great trip we had! We left for Nauvoo last Monday for my brother Jonathan and Alyson's wedding on Tuesday. Weather was perfect for driving there and we enjoyed the time we were able to spend with family. We've been there before, but never inside the temple. The Nauvoo temple was amazing--I was particularly struck with how period-like the temple was to the original temple. Very neat. Gorgeous.

Inside the Nauvoo Visitor's Center (Spencer LOVED naming everyone in the nativity)

On Wednesday we drove from Nauvoo to Crystal Lake, IL where my parents live. It was so nice that my grandparents came all the way from CA to the sealing and to Christmas. My children really haven't spent much time with them since we live so far away so I was glad they were able to see the 'other' grandpa and grandma Malan. We had them thoroughly confused I think when we'd refer to "Grandma" or "Grandpa" Malan though!

Christmas was relaxing, we just enjoyed time with family and enjoyed a fabulous meal that night that my mom coordinated. I loved that we got to eat on her Christmas china and all 12 of us at the dining room table. It was like we were royalty, so fun!

The reception for J & A was on the 26th. The weather was really bad driving out to Sycamore, where Alyson is from and where the reception was held. But we made it safe and sound (we determined that we really NEED an SUV after Adam got to drive my parents' jeep out there, wow, it handles so much better in the weather!) and really had a lovely time. I tried to capture some pictures of the beautiful reception, but the pictures don't do it justice! I loved the fact that they decorated with the "stick trees" like we had at my reception--all of their own idea--they looked SO cool, and even more cool now that we live in the snow. That's just what the trees look like when they're covered in snow without leaves on them, and when they're covered in ice. Neat. Alyson looked amazing, her hair was beautiful (good job Kara!), her dress was perfect for her. Just fun times. I think my favorite comment for the night came when I told Spencer he could come out of "the room" we had for the kids, watching a movie to keep them occupied during the reception. I told him that he could only come out if he was VERY quiet and held my hand, that we were going into a magic room that was very pretty and special. He got very quiet and just took in the beauty of the night with all the beautiful white lights, toole, and decor. We sat at a table and, watching Alyson in the receiving line he said, "Momma, Aunt Alyson pretty." Yep she sure is!

We had a relatively uneventful drive home (minus the idiot cops who weren't doing their job and thus a 45 minute wait on the Missouri river bridge getting into Omaha...and we were telling the kids the whole time "We're almost home"...with which we were driving NO WHERE! UGH!) only to arrive to our home with 4+ foot snow drifts from the Christmas Blizzard (yes, the 2nd blizzard in the just a couple weeks!) in our driveway. Luckily our kind neighbors who were watching our house shoveled out a little path up to our garage so I could get inside with the kids. Adam spent another 2 1/2 hrs shoveling it all out though! Wow. Don't think I've mentioned yet (and it's appropriate here) that Adam has interviews over this next month to several places for a fellowship....all include places with MUCH warmer weather!!!:) I'm certainly about done with the snow I think!:) YAY!

'Christmas' Morning and #10

(I'll post pictures later, after Jon's wedding and Christmas...)
We awoke early this morning to have Santa visit our home early this year! Today was the only day that we would be able to have us all around to have him visit, and it's been fun. Justin has to go to school now so I feel a bit like he was cheated out of a "Christmas morning," getting to play with his new toys all day, but such is life of a busy family. The kids are enjoying the morning!

Yesterday was our 10th wedding anniversary. Again, it kinda came and went quick, but we were able to celebrate a couple weekends ago when we were able to get a babysitter TWO nights in a row and go out to eat and just hang out--much needed! We really enjoyed The Melting Pot. Even though it's a bit costly, I've decided that it's one of my favorite date places (this was our 2nd visit, the last being our anniversary last year). It's worth the money, in my opinion. Not only is it a ton of food, but I just love having the little room to ourselves, they draw the curtain and stuff, and it's just fun to dip food in yummy sauces and be by ourselves. We really enjoyed ourselves. I'm grateful for Adam. I've learned a lot about life while being married to him and I can truly say that I'm glad to be taking this journey of life with him. If you asked me 10 years ago what I thought marriage and the next 10 years would hold for us, I know that I was basically clueless, in love, and young. I've grown a lot in this time, but I'm glad that Adam and I have had the chance to grow both individually and together. I think after all this time, I can say that I'm comfortable with life, with its challenges, twists and turns, and joys. I'm grateful that I get to enjoy this journey with Adam by my side. It's always funny to me when I know what phrase he's going to say next, or when he knows what I'm thinking without having to say a word. I love that about our relationship. I love watching him with our boys, he's such an amazing dad and those boys just eat up every minute they have with him. I listened to Adam helping Spencer the other day (this might be a weird thing to say, but I almost cried when listening to them, it was so cute and funny) when Spencer asked to use the potty. We're nearing upon potty training, and it really was the cutest thing to listen to Adam giving Spencer instructions. It made me think about how he's grown, how 10 years ago he wouldn't have thought about having to have these types of discussions with a 2 year old, and it would've made him squirm to have them I'm sure! It makes me smile. I love that man so much. I loved listening to him last night snuggle Spencer and wander around the house with him snuggled in his arms, pointing out stockings, the plate with cookies for Santa, and just the general excitement and itinerary for today. I love Adam more and more each day and glad we get to be together forever.

Blizzard in the '09

Wow, I learned a new definition of being "dumped on" this afternoon. Here it is, the view from one of the boys' bedroom windows:

(This was taken a few minutes ago after the snow plow came through our neighborhood. Thanks Mr. Snowplow man for leaving a giant snow "rock" in my newly shoveled driveway!)

After getting about a foot of snow (and shoveling twice by Adam), we were under a blizzard warning last night through this morning. We awoke to 4+ foot drifts in our front and our backyard. Adam soon realized after an hour of shoveling snow this morning (a third time) in -19 degree windchills that he really wasn't going to get to work on time. And luckily he was on an "ok" rotation to be late. The sun started shining later and he thought that noon sounded like a decent time to go to work (even though our neighborhood had not been plowed yet). One of his fellow residents was out picking up other residents (good idea to have 4 wheel drive!) who had rotations that they just couldn't miss, even for snow. We were glad, however to have Daddy home for a bit this morning.

We watched Adam drive down our street's hill, loaded with an extra pair of non-work shoes, a snow shovel, and a partially filled gas can that we use for the lawnmower (he apparently didn't learn as I did when I started driving at 16 that the gas level in one's car shouldn't ever dip below 1/4 of a tank...and we've all been told out here that it shouldn't be below 1/2 "just in case" we get stuck in the snow!). The Boy Scout motto apparently IS an important one! Anyway, we saw him get to the bottom of the hill and stop, looking stuck, and wondered if he'd just put on his shoes and wander back up to the house, giving up! But after a couple text messages, we found out that he was helping 3 other cars, that I couldn't see, get un-stuck and on their way before digging himself out. He said all was fine--once he got out of our neighborhood which connects to an emergency snow route (meaning it gets plowed first). Hopefully it won't be too bad for him getting back into our neighborhood tonight! I gotta go to work tonight!

Thanksgiving 09

I have been terrible about taking pictures lately. I think it relates to the exhaustion I've been feeling. So I don't really have pictures from Thanksgiving (I'll have to get copies from my Dad)but thought I should at least document what we did this year. We've been fortunate enough to live "fairly" close to my parents since they moved to the Chicago area and have been able to have them here at Thanksgiving time for the past few years in a row. They made the trek out (about at 8 hour drive) on Wednesday and left on Friday. A quick trip but we enjoyed their company while they were here. They stayed with us for the first time this year, which was fun.

As for the Thanksgiving menu itself, I wanted to simplify the best I could. I was tempted to buy one of the already cooked meals from Hy-Vee or Baker's but at last minute I decided it wasn't worth it and I could simplify just as easy without the expense. So we had cajun seasoned turkey breast (which I didn't know was preseasoned...I somehow missed THAT part of the packaging! A bit spicy! And to note, Adam has decided this is the only way to do turkey, that it's so much juicier, quicker cooking--especially if I had also read and bought the precooked one, which somehow I didn't--and just plain easy!), ham (already cooked half ham, again, EASY!), a mashed potato casserole, the tradional 'Malan' yam casserole, and interesting cheesy green bean casserole (not half bad in my estimation, it was fun to try out a couple new recipes), cranberry sauce from a can (for Adam), stove top stuffing (also for Adam--I hate the stuff), crescent rolls (good ol' pillsbury! Didn't want to slave in making homemade rolls), pumpkin pie, and carmel apple pie (Sam's does the best I think!). I felt bad that most of the meal wasn't home-made, but it made it SO NICE and less stressful for me. I had anticipated going to work on Wednesday night, so I knew I'd be exhausted Thursday morning and not feeling much like cooking. I had made the green bean thing and the yams on Wednesday, all ready to be baked. And THAT was the way to go I decided. Luckily I was able to VSR that night (I haven't been to work for a couple weeks because I've staff reduced two weeks in a row. Hope I remember how to be a nurse when I go back!) and I was able to have dinner with everyone and hang out. We enjoyed a trip to Texas Roadhouse that night.

Spencer got a fever overnight though and kept us up for much of Wednesday night. Luckily he had no other symptoms and has been fine since, whew! While my mom and I worked on food preparations, the boys all went on a scavenger hunt of sorts, doing this activity book that the city of Omaha put out "Go, Play, Adventure" that takes one all over the city to different parks and then the activity book has a place for the kids to do a crayon rubbing at each place (I think they get something when they complete all the pages in the book or something). They had a lot of fun with this, but were bummed that someone must've stolen the rubbing thing at our neighborhood park! Thursday night we sent all the boys out (except Spencer) to go to see Planet 51, which they all enjoyed. Friday morning my dad fixed his famous french toast, we hung out and then they went on their way home. We were able to get our Christmas lights up Friday (the weather was WONDERFUL and like 60 degrees!) and today Adam is working. All in all a much relaxing holiday, just what I needed. Sometimes it's really nice not to fuss, to spend 2 days in the kitchen, and just have time to hang out with the family! It seems like that's what Thanksgiving can turn into (and granted, that's why some like it I suppose), just being in the kitchen for an entire holiday. But I like to enjoy the time I have with my family. I look forward to seeing them at Christmas/Jonathan's wedding, and am hoping this baby in my belly will cooperate so we can make that happen!

Sighing

That's what I keep doing. Over and over. I'm trying to help Adam with his personal statement and CV for his fellowship applications...which probably should've been done a million weeks ago. But somebody (we'll leave him nameless) procrastinated the decision to do this whole fellowship sillyness. And now we're in a rush to get it turned in so he can get an interview and get a spot. Adam used today and tomorrow as "vacation" days in order to get this stupid application stuff done, and I've been "helping" as scribe somewhat. But mostly we're trying to get his personal statement done. And we remember NOW why his residency application one took 6 weeks to complete. Because they are simply a pain in the fanny. And why is it that one can NOT just speak as they really want to on an application/personal statement? It bugs me. I mean really, what's wrong with being brutally honest? His personal statement SHOULD just say, "Hey look people. I want to do a fellowship. Did I have a lightning bolt experience to come to this decision? No. It will make me a more marketable doctor when getting a job, I like that subspecialty, I did well on my boards, I'm not an idiot, I'm a hard worker who isn't a slacker-loser-evil-coworker. So take me on. You'll like me, you'll see. You won't regret it. And I'll appreciate it too. And my wife will be able to quit wondering where in the world we're going to live in another year and a half." Why can't I just write that for him and click 'send' on the ol' email? Hmmm.....so tempting.

Simply Amazing Sunday

(Another journaling moment for me...it'll be long and Malan-drawn-out, but stuff I need to remember from this weekend. So ignore if you wish! If you want to hear the point, read the last two paragraphs...)
Do you ever feel this way, that you've had a simply amazing Sunday? I have, and I know sometimes these moments are far and few between, with trying to wrestle my little boys at church by myself and such. I guess I just feel sometimes like, "Does all this effort REALLY matter?" or "Am I spiritually gaining anything from all this effort?" or "Would I gain more from curling up and reading the scriptures or Ensign articles at home instead?"

Today was Stake Conference. We've known for quite some time that Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles would be coming, and that this wasn't going to be one of those "the stake presidency is being reorganized" kinds of reasons for a general authority visit, much less one of the Twelve Apostles, coming to speak at our stake conference. For many years now, Elder Oaks has been one of my favorite apostles (and maybe I shouldn't say that, they're ALL great, of course!). During some very difficult recent years, I found much strength and solace in his words from general conference, and I look forward to his talks each conference now. I had heard him in person back in our Fresno West Stake conference when I was young...I can't remember exactly how young, I think I was mutual age, but maybe I was even younger than that? Even still, he made an impression on me at a young age.

So, knowing that he was coming, and knowing that this would be one of Adam's moonlighting- working-from-Friday-morning-until-Sunday-night at 7pm weekends, I was bummed. Bummed that Adam wouldn't get to enjoy conference, but more than that, REALLY bummed that I'd have to figure out a babysitter...which is SUCH a hassle these days, girls not calling me back, no one available etc. I started trying to get a sitter many weeks ago with some of the girls who I thought wouldn't already be watching their own siblings and such, and on the second try, I got someone. I was relieved! Whew! I've only had her babysit twice, but the boys loved her and she said she enjoyed it (and really seemed too!) yay! So I started to prepare for conference, rereading Elder Oaks' talks, rereading this past general conference, etc. I've been looking forward to this weekend for a long time, praying multiple times a day that we can all stay well, just REALLY hoping all would work out. And it DID. Last night was great, so many great words of advice from all of our stake leaders as well as Elder Oaks. And today was more of the same. There were a million people there last night (I barely got a parking spot, even though I was there 25 minutes early, my instructions to the babysitter had gone very speedy and I was glad to be there early, and LUCKILY got a spot!). But, I realized that today could very well spell disaster. You see, our parking lot is VERY small at our building, and we are not supposed to park in the neighborhood surrounding the building--you know, the whole "be a good neighbor" thing. So we have an agreement with Midlands hospital up the street that we can park there and then there are "shuttles" that shuttle people back and forth to the building. In the 7 1/2 years of having conference every 6 months there, we've never attempted worrrying about the shuttle. Instead we always get to the building an hour early (9am) to ensure we get a parking spot. Mostly because I don't understand the legality and safety of taking my family down the street in someone else's minivan to shuttle my children (without carseats...) back and forth. So I worried about today, wondering how I'd do the shuttle thing, if needbe, without Adam (you'd think at some point I would quit worrying about doing things by myself, but I don't. Still.). Or if on the slight chance I DID get a spot how I'd wrestle the kids for the hour before conference started, much less sit through the 2 hours of conference. We left the house at 8:45am and got there at 9am, when we usually try to get there. We got one of the last few parking spots. I was relieved. Whew. (As a sidelight to the story, not to get ahead of myself, Spencer fell asleep on my lap at 10:30 and slept until 11:45...So I got to hear the whole thing, and ALL of Elder Oaks' talk. And Spencer doesn't EVER do that, or at least not for more then about 20 minutes!! Another miracle!)

The kids were actually being really good, Spencer wasn't throwing tantrums too loud, I wasn't chasing him, it was all good. At 9:30, we saw our stake presidency with Elder Oaks out shaking hands with people in the cultural hall. We were SO FAR BACK in the cultural hall, there were just SO MANY people there today. As I sat there and pointed out Elder Oaks to Justin, I felt a pang in my heart--OH how I wished MY boys could shake his hand like all the other children were doing as he wandered through the rows. But I knew there was no way he'd ever make it to us, as far back as we were. There was just no way. And yet, I could feel of his spirit, strength, and power, just being in that room with him.

At 9:45am I decided that I'd better go take the kids for a lap around the building, or I knew I'd be in big trouble in the tantrum department (from the kids...but maybe from me too!). I held Spencer's hand and Justin walked in front of me. As we got to the short hallway in front of the High Council room, I saw our stake presidency, all walking towards us. Time seemed to standstill as, headed right for me, was Elder Oaks, walking towards me (likely on his way to get on the stand with the rest of the stake presidency). I was kind of stunned, I must admit. I grinned a big smile and before I knew it, Elder Oaks said to us, "Can I shake the hands of these young men?" I was quick to say, "Absolutely." I think I was so excited that, in helping Spencer shake his hand, I realized Elder Oaks' hand was outstretched to shake my hand. He said to me, "I'm glad that you're here today." I replied back, "We are glad to have you with us Elder Oaks." I was SO not expecting to find him in the hall. As we rounded the corner, Justin beamed. I asked him who that was, and he told me "Elder Oaks." You have to know, Spencer had been saying ALL MORNING (literally, no joke!) "I want to see the prophet. I want to see the prophet." Ever since general conference he has really enjoyed my telling him about the prophets. He had actually been whining about "seeing the prophet" before we had gotten up for our walk. So my boys not only saw the prophet, but got to shake his hand. I was elated.

I was able to hold back my tears, until President Kunz, our mission president whose family lives in our ward, told in his talk today, a story of meeting Elder Oaks and of his wife bawling right before meeting him because of the spirit that he has with him. I lost it. Because I had experienced that too. And I bawl now, sitting here at my computer thinking back on it. The spirit he carries with him is magnetic and I was grateful to have been in the right frame of mind to be able to experience it. I know that he is a prophet. I know my little boys don't have a clue as to what a special experience they had today. I tried to explain it on our drive home, but I started bawling. I told Justin I was crying a happy cry--he doesn't see me cry very often, generally only when I'm REALLY upset. He said, "I know Mom. They are love tears." Yes Justin love tears, I couldn't describe it better. I'm grateful that the Lord provides us with prophets and apostles on the earth to lead and guide us. In a world where moral standards are deteriorating and basic fundamentals of religion and Christian faith are confused, I'm grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who has a plan for each one of us, who doesn't leave us alone--even if we feel alone at times. I know that all I need to do is get on my knees and pray and he IS there. God gave us a Savior, even Jesus Christ, that died for each one of us, for ALL of our sins and imperfections, that we may all be resurrected and have the opportunity to live again with Him someday. And I learn more and more about the nature of the Holy Ghost each day that I feel His influence. I love the Savior, and His gospel and am grateful that I had the opportunity to sit at the feet of an apostle and learn and be strengthened this weekend. I hope that this entry will serve as a reminder to my boys in years to come of this day, the day they shook hands with an apostle of the Lord.

Lesson on Giving

For family night last night, we had a lesson from the Friend magazine that told the story of a family who donated money for tsunami relief. We got to talking after reading the story about money and service that we do in our church. We discussed tithing, the fact that we give 10% of our income to the church, and more importantly, the idea of fast offerings that we contribute each month. We talked about how fast offerings are used to help the poor and needy in our area, to help them with food and shelter and necessities of life. Justin connected this in his mind to his 2nd grade food drive that started this week. So we decided to go make a quick trip to Bag N Save and let him help think about what foods would be needed for a Thanksgiving dinner, and we would donate them to the food drive. It was really fun to watch the wheels turn in his mind, in thinking up what would be needed for such a dinner as we wandered the grocery store. We explained that donating to a food drive shouldn't be about going through the cupboards and pulling out all the canned vegetables that he doesn't like, and donate those. So I think he enjoyed thinking about things he WOULD like to eat, and purchasing those. At the end of our trip we showed him the receipt, explaining that food costs a good deal of money. On some level I think he understood this. He's excited to bring all of his good finds to school today to donate. I think it was an important lesson learned.

Discussion with Spencer

I was in the doctor's office yesterday, trying desperately to keep Spencer amused while we waited and waited and waited to see a doctor. So besides the "what is that picture of on the wall Spencer?" distraction questions, I decided to change the direction of our conversation.
Me: "Spencer, who is in your nursery class at church?"
Him: "Asher." (He ALWAYS talks about Asher, which is funny because he doesn't hang out with him all that often. Asher must be the cool kid in class!:))
Me: "Who else is in your class?"
Him: "Chloe." (There are two Chloes in class).
Me: "What about Ari? Isn't she in your class?"
Him: [HUGE sheepish grin on his face] "Ari."
Me: "She's in your class too, right?"
Him: "Ari pretty." [big smile on his face] "Ari bows in her hair."
Me....laughing hysterically. Ari is the gorgeous curly red-head (who ALWAYS wears darling bows in her hair) daughter of my friend Brandi, who is also expecting a baby within a week of me. I need a picture of Spencer and Ari together (it'll be my mission to get one soon) as I think she's Spencer's first crush. As I've retold this story to several people, Spencer manages to overhear me and always repeats, "Ari, bows in her hair. Pretty." I love it. And I love that I can have little conversations with Spencer these days. They make my day!

Halloween

Spencer was a bit scared at this point:

Halloween was pretty simple this year. Since Adam was working, I took the kids out trick or treating a little earlier than usual. I wanted to get back when it wasn't too dark out, plus I wanted the kids to be able to light up their pumpkin (which I didn't feel comfortable lighting and then leaving at home with no one home). We wandered down and around the neighborhood and Justin got a loot as usual. Spencer stayed in his stroller for our walk around. One of the big drawbacks to our neighborhood is the hills. There's really no possible way for Spencer to walk in his costume up and down the hills, so he sat and was really just along for the ride. He enjoyed his treats (shared by Justin) when we got back to the house anyway, which Justin was happy to share with him. What a good big brother! Spencer was most excited about handing out candy to all the kids who came by the house. Because I had taught him that it was important to say "Thank you" when getting candy, every time a trick or treater came by the house, he yelled "THANK YOU" at each of them. Silly boy. They had fun and have been pretty sugared out since Saturday!

I was bribing Spencer with sweet tarts to put on the horse part of his costume:

Oooh, and there's a picture from our ward Halloween party (which Spencer decided to refuse to wear his costume) and from last Wednesday night when the boys carved our pumpkin while I went to work. We (ok...just me, I) was really glad that Daddy was around this year to carve our pumpkin...since I really don't enjoy all the ick and goo!

It's a...

BOY!!!

Yep, baby boy #3 for the Smith family! We're excited! He's lying transverse (I KNEW he was facing kinda weird by where his kicks have been!) and almost breech so it made it difficult for my doctor to tell, but after a couple "I think I saw..." comments, she finally said, "Yes, there's a penis. I know how to spot a penis." Funny. It's going to be a fun time to have three little boys running around our house...and I'm only imagining what fun stuff Spencer is going to teach his little brother!:)

Prophet Monson

I was reading up on today's Relief Society lesson, and not really paying attention to Spencer who was sitting on the couch with me. Then I realized what he kept saying over and over to me: "I want to see Prophet Monson." Realizing that he put the words "prophet" and "Monson" together (as well as another long sentence for a 2 year old!), I was amazed, so I flipped to the front cover of the May 2009 Ensign Magazine that I was reading conference talks from. Spencer then said, "OH, Prophet Monson!" with a very pleased look on his face. Then he saw the picture of President Monson, with his hand held high in the air, waving to others, and promptly said (while slapping the picture of the prophet's hand) "FIVE!!" Oh how I love this little guy we have in our home. Every day brings something for me to rejoice over, and laugh--that's for sure!:)

The quote I was reading from Sister Dibb's talk when Spencer did all of this:
"Now, ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise." (Alma 37:6)

2 GB SD card

apparently gets full in about 10 months (at the rate I take pictures) is what I figured out last night. When I ran out of memory. So I only got a few pictures of Justin's "Harvest Hoedown." I think I liked this event better when they called it the "Spooktacular" night instead...not sure why they changed it randomly this year after many years of the other title.

Justin is going to be Darth Vader this year for Halloween. He was bummed that he couldn't wear his mask, since THAT is really what makes the costume. But many people were able to tell who he was anyway. I'll get better pictures at the ward trunk or treat and on Halloween night anyway.

He enjoyed the carnival games:

Lasso the pumpkin:

Pin the crow on the scarecrow:

And (my favorite...where the camera died...)the cup stacking game:

Can you tell that the other people are helping the mummy girl cheat? I felt bad for Justin because he did such a good job but that mom and the other 3 boys were helping her at the end a bit, which is why she won. But Justin did great, I couldn't have made them all stack up right and THEN take them all down, as the game required. I thought it was a cute idea for a game.

Other games included pumpkin bowling (the pumpkin was half cracked when we got to it!), Needle in a haystack (w/ lollipops), apple chucking (aiming at a bullseye), and a haunted house (Justin actually ASKED to go in it this year). We always have fun at these events, and it was nice that Adam had the night off to attend. Fun for all.

Fun in DC

Since Adam had a "free" stay (paid by his residency) in DC for his month at AFIP at Walter Reed Medical Center, we decided to take a little trip during Justin's fall break out there, which happened to be at the very end of Adam's time in DC. As I posted earlier in a blog, we were REALLY stupid and made the flight out for 6am, so that meant I got the kids up at 3:30, out the door at 4am and to Eppley at 4:30 to take the shuttle and all over to get our baggage and stuff situated. A bit stressful, but worth the effort.

When I saw on Wednesday that it was supposed to RAIN the ENTIRE time we were in DC, and knowing that we were going to be walking everywhere (and taking the Metro everywhere) I knew we needed to invest in one of those plastic things that go over strollers. While it worked PERFECT (and I had a LOT of people ask me where I got it--Babies R Us), Spencer absolutely HATED it. And I mean hate with as strong of language I can emit!!

It was a great trip though, we didn't really "have to" do anything, knowing that this wasn't really a trip for me and Adam to run around and see all that we wanted to see. We just wanted to try to do a few things, something for Justin to remember. We pretty much just hung out and enjoyed having daddy around on Thursday.

Thursday night April and Cord came over, in the RAIN and we 'made' pizzas, yum. Then Adam and Cord went off to play volleyball and April and I got to catch up on life until late into the night. My little boys went to bed and we got to chat and reminisce. It was great; it's times like that that I realize what a good group of girls we had in Fresno and I miss that we all probably won't ever be able to ALL be together again as we've gone our separate ways, at least in this life anyway. Even if we had silly spats, as girls do growing up, all those girls really were great and shaped who I am. It was great to see April. She's grown to be a remarkable woman.

On Friday, we travelled down and saw the American History Museum and the Natural History Museum. I knew Justin would enjoy the dinosaurs and the meteorites. Spencer, however, is at a really un-fun museum age and just wanted to touch everything (duh to me!). He got really excited when he saw a display that was floor level that had an old lawnmower in it and he ran right up to it, full force, only to be thrown backwards by the force of the plexiglass covering it! And then the tantrum began (because he wanted to touch it!). But Adam and I couldn't help but laugh. So we traded off chasing S through the museums. Since I had gone out to DC in 2006, there were a few things that had been updated, which was cool. The "Old Glory" flag--the one that inspired "The Star Spangled Banner"-- is now in a beautiful, very moving display. I tried to soak up the feelings of that exhibit, with intermittant Spencer outbursts! Boy it was nice to have Adam around as a buffer, after a month of having him gone!!!

At the end of the day as we were riding the Metro back "home," I asked Justin what his favorite thing we did that day was, expecting "dinosaurs" or "meteorites"...to which he replied, "Right now, riding the train." Figures!!

Saturday we made our way to Arlington National Cemetery. Again, knowing this would be another "not kid" friendly experience, we did our best. Justin got to see the changing of the guard at the tomb of the unknown soldier and was able to see JFK/Jackie Kennedy's gravesites. Spencer was not happy when Adam strolled him away from the eternal flame there and started screaming "FIRE!! I want FIRE!" Just one of many fits at Arlington! We also got to see Ted Kennedy's gravesite. But mainly I wanted Justin to get a sense of how grateful I am for the soldiers who've given their lives for our freedoms. It struck me again as we wandered through there of the love our Savior and Heavenly Father has for each one of us, and that even though we all aren't war heros, He loves us anyway, no matter what.

The kids really needed some time to run around after that so we went to the Air and Space Museum. It was better than I thought it'd be. Having gone to lots of space museums and to Kennedy Space Center before, I figured it would be kinda lame, but it really wasn't. The boys enjoyed it, of course.

That night April and Cord came over and we hung out, played cards, and ate up some of the random snacks that needed eating before taking off the next day. I was really grateful that they took a bunch of stuff for us that we would've had to throw out the next day when we were ready to go. We enjoyed our time with them; it was nice that they live down the street from where we were staying!

Sunday we had some time after packing up everything so we headed out to the National Archives. I knew we wouldn't be spending a ton of time there, but I wanted Justin to at least see the Constitution, Bill of Rights, and Declaration of Independence. I'm sure the importance of those documents won't sink in until years to come, but I'm glad I got some pictures w/ Justin and them!

And we went home. Survived the plane ride back (this one was at 8pm...also not too ideal of a time, but that's ok!). It was a quick, packed weekend but it was one to remember for all of us. Glad we could go!

First Snow of the Season

We woke up Saturday to our lawn COMPLETELY covered in SNOW! Yep, in early OCTOBER!! I don't remember ever having snow this early out here. In fact, the earliest I remember is the first Thanksgiving we were here in 2002, my parents drove through it from TX to get here.

Spencer didn't know what to think, but he couldn't get away from staring out the window all day! He was SO excited, as was Justin. It's usually just TOO cold outside to play in the snow when it snows here. And as it was, we weren't out there too long, especially when I realized that Justin didn't have any snow pants that fit, and that Spencer didn't have any boots and kept taking off his mittens!

It was a REALLY fun day though, one of the best I've had with my kids in a long time I think. We just really enjoyed the day. Playing outside, drinking hot cocoa, and ended the day with making a batch of Linda's sugar cookies--pumpkin in shape and color of course (but no pictures of those!). I asked Justin if he had a fun day and he said, "It was the best day ever, Mom." I agreed. What a great day! We just wish Daddy were home with us to play!