Preschool

We started preschool this month! So far so good...

Kaylie, Andrew, Isaiah (Fiel joined us a couple of months later)

At the end of the month, I tested them to see what they learned. Isaiah was sick the day I took this video...

Happy (and sad) Day

This post is to let all of our beloved Shoreline friends (who have since moved away) know about the changes to our ward. Over the past 6 months, we've watched our ward dwindle to just over 30 families because the student housing we live in is transitioning to singles housing.

Today, we gathered for a combined RS/EQ meeting. We were able to fit our ward members plus a handful of visiting family members in our Relief Society room with room to spare. The Stake Presidency announced that another ward in our stake will be split and that we will adopt a little over 30 families to our ward! In an instant, we went from being the smallest ward to the largest ward in the stake!

We are so exstatic that these members will be joining our ward. It is an answer to many many prayers!! But I'm also sad for them because they are leaving their ward family to join ours. I can only imagine how hard it will be for them...

I Need Super-Saturday Ideas!!

Our Relief Society is doing a Super Saturday (where we make crafty-type gifts for Christmas) in November. I'm looking for 3-4 different ideas. I know there are so many amazing blogs out there now with so many ideas. Please let me know if you have any favorite "crafty" blogs that you read or if you have any ideas/comments of your own!! Thanks for your help!!

Living in Salt Lake City

We had our Regional Conference at the Conference Center this past Sunday. We took the boys on the train which was secretly in hopes that we'd get the ants out of their pants and that we'd be a little late so they wouldn't have to sit through the meeting for the entire 2 hours. We were expecting a normal meeting. I even thought our Stake leaders were going to speak! Well, our speakers were Elder Hinckley (Pres. Hinckley's son), Sister Lant (Gen. Primary Pres.), Elder Ballard and President Monson! What a blessing it was to be there and for our boys to have the chance to see and hear our Prophet speak!

I've had a couple of experiences since living here where I've been able to meet some of our church leaders. One time, I attended a Relief Society training, and our keynote speaker was Bonnie D. Parkin. It was an intimate setting and we got to give her a hug after the meeting. It truly is a blessing to live here.

My Own Mr. Darcy

OK, so I have a pet peeve (I know, such a shocker).

When Randy comes home from work, I'm usually at the tail-end of getting dinner on the table. I've spent the whole day with the kids, laundry, shopping, church stuff, preschool....you get the drift....so I'm 99.9% of the time in a frenzy by the time Randy walks through the door. Randy, being the dutiful husband that he is, goes straight for the dishwasher to unload/load it. For some reason, this really bugs me. It just might be due to the fact that we live in a micro dwelling that houses a micro kitchen. I know. I know. Why am I complaining that my husband is doing the dishes? Well, I think he kind of does it to tease me. You see, Randy's lifetime passion is to tease. And I'm usually his #1 target.

So anyway, today Randy came home and swiftly proceeded to dish duty. Andrew had been in time-out 9 million times that day (with the loss of computer and TV time AND a mandatory nap. Yeah he was that naughty.) So Randy's "helpful" behavior put me over the edge and I told him that he is not allowed to dishes anymore. I will do them! Get out of the kitchen! I need space to move!

After dinner, while doing the dishes and 100% regretting my decision on assigning myself to dish duty, Randy starts helping me by clearing the table and tries to start a conversation with me about my day. I give him short answers because I'm a brat. And then Randy says this and completely melts my heart:

"And your parents are in good health?"

Can you remember the scene in Pride & Prejudice (A&E version), when Mr. Darcy is arriving home. It's hot outside, and he's in agony because he loves Elizabeth and she doesn't love him back. So what does he do? He jumps in his pond. Then he heads for home in his wet shirt and it just so happens that Elizabeth is taking a tour of his home and she's walking outside and they encounter by chance. It is all awkwardness and the only thing Mr. Darcy can think of to say is, "Excuse me, and your parents are in good health?"

Anyway, I busted up laughing when Randy said this to me tonight. You made my day, Rand. I love you and thanks for putting up with my many idiosyncrasies.

Hanging Out

We were able to spend a lot of time just relaxing and enjoying being with each other. I will cherish the precious time I got to spend with my grandparents.

We frequented a park near my grandparents' home within walking distance.

Andrew caught lots of bugs in the backyard.

Joshy playing with his trains that Grandma Mary got him.

Boothbay Harbor

My mom, Aunt Lisa, and I took the boys to Boothbay Harbor. We took a boat tour around the island and had lunch there...

Pemaquid Point

This was my favorite day of the trip. The drive to Pemaquid Point was gorgeous - miles of back country roads.

Andrew found a ladybug while we were there. He didn't pay attention to the tide pools, lighthouse, or pretty ocean scenery. He carried that thing the whole time we were there.

We ate lunch at the restaurant there - we had a view of the ocean.

The wore out the boys.

Fort Popham

We spent a day at Popham Beach & Fort Popham with my aunts & mom...

Good Eats

When you're in New England, you must eat mass quantities of the following because they are nowhere to be found in the West (man, how I miss them now)...

I am grateful these aren't available in the West. They single-handedly added inches to my waist.

Mmmmm. Creme filled donuts from Dunkin Donuts

I don't know what it is about New England Italian subs. I've tried to find places here, but noone compares.