Just one of those weeks...and a half

It's been a mad house around here the past 10 days. I don't know if after having all of our visitors, all forces for good turned against us, but for whatever reason, we've been struggling to get back into the groove! Reason #1:First Shawn was on call all last week, and he was very busy. You really wouldn't imagine that a podiatrist would get called in for emergency situations alot, but he does. So that left me (and three kiddos) to shop for a Christmas tree, get groceries, do laundry at the laundro mat, etc. Hence .....I've begun to let myself go... let my house go... let my kids go....Welcome to movie night, with your hosts Sam and Jack.... love the ties.

Is that what I think it is? Yep, just keeping it sanitary. Napking anyone? HahahahahaLyv is finally starting to grasp the beauty of food. Too bad it still ends up everywhere but in her mouth.Jack playing Mickey Mouse, and trying to dress himself; he came out with an undershirt on backwards, pants on backwards and a tie.... I think he's on to something.

Reason #2: I've been without a washer for 3 weeks! I will never, ever, take my washer in the scary basement for granted again. Our washer broke one week before Thanksgiving, our service took longer than usual, then they found out that they couldn't fix it, so we had to get a new one.... long story short I had a MOUNTAIN of dirty clothes to do. Isn't it funny that when the washer decides to give up the ghost, Sam wets the bed about three times in a row, Lyv poops out of her clothes about five times, and Jack, well Jack usually goes through 2-3 outfits a day for various "Jack" reasons.... Here's the end result, and this is with two loads already in the washer and dryer!

Reason #3: The kids have a little cabin fever - at least that is what I'm attributing the madness to. I've been breaking up fights, putting Sam in time out for teasing, cleaning up mess, after mess (Jack dumped an entire box of baby rice cereal and ground clove spice bottle out on the floor at 8:00 am); and trying to calm a teething baby - Lyv's tooth count is up to four. I couldn't help but post these pics of Lyv in her new clothes... she makes everything look so cute.
Sam enjoying his daily work out. He is really, really bored.....
Reason #4: We've got SNOT! Lots and lots of it, all three kids have come down with a nasty cold. We've been using a lot more Kleenex lately and having a lot more melt downs due to not feeling good. Now that I've posted the pictures things don't look that bad, but trust me.... we've been pjs until noon for a week, a broom in one hand or the vaccum in the other and still not making much progress. Please good forces, come back, this mom needs them before she has a MAJOR meltdown.

Wicked Bahd Toykey Day

Shawn's parents and brother Jake came into town for Thanksgiving, so what did we decide to do? Go out of town! We headed to Boston for a few days, walked the Freedom Trail, toured Fenway Park, and visited Lexington and Concord. Boston is a gorgeous city and I have to say one of my favorites that I've been to. It was a great trip, the kids loved staying at a hotel and swimming, and we enjoyed some authentic Boston Clam Chowda and lobster!

The kids were so excited to have grandma and grandpa out to see them. They already miss you!

Paul Revere's Home - one of the oldest homes in the United States - it was built in the 1600's.

Us and good ol' Paul Revere with a shot of the Old North Church in the background.
The boys trying to be reverent in the pews of the Old North Church.
Lyv was such a good sport and she was pretty much stroller bound the entire day.

She is such a sweet girl.

This cemetery was so neat, especially with the headstone markings like the one above.

Sam puting a rock on Paul Revere's headstone. Old City Hall
Quincy Market - totally incredible place to find some good eats. It has about 60 stalls of different food vendors offering all kinds of yummy food! Bunker Hill - the first real battle of the Revolution

Our two little fishes - don't you just love the goggles?
Built in 1912 it is the oldest ballpark in the U.S. This was such a great tour, so much history. I had to mention that I was a Yankee's fan to our tour guide and I was heckled for it. I just like to provide opposition in all things.

A family picture sitting on the "Green Monsta" The boys got hooked up with some Boston gear - they looked really cute in their red and blue.

At the battlefield of Concord - where the "shot heard round the world" occured. It is so incredible to me that so many of great men and women lived in this area, all at the same time in history and they working together created the foundations for this great country. The kiddos with uncle Jake - they love him so much.

Happy Turkey Day!

We spent the rest of the time hanging out at the house and of course shopping. Lyv is going to be one stylish little lady! I can't wait to put on all of the new duds. We had a big turkey dinner and watched football, it was a perfect holiday. We were so sad to see our family go, and hope they will come back soon. Thanks for all the fun, we miss you guys!!!

Our Lady Liberty and Guests...

Last Saturday we had the greatest day because we had FAMILY come into town, meaning NYC! Michelle and Joel came to visit his parents who are serving a mission in New York City. We met up at the Statue of Liberty, something that Sam has been super excited to see. The weather turned out to be AMAZING, and we loved being with familiar faces again. Jack really loved being snuggled by both Mic and Joel, and was held pretty much the entire time by one of them. Joel and Mic came up to Kingston on Thursday and we ventured to Hyde Park to tour the Vanderbilt Mansion. It was so great to see them, and we were sad to see them go!

Shawn and his sister Michelle

Me and Joel took an "in-law picture" Dan you should have been there!!

Oh and yes my hair is Brown... I'm sure that was very apparent, and Mom, I'm sorry I know how much you hate my hair dark!

We couldn't leave the city without making a quick stop (and by quick I mean letting me out of the car on the corner and running in, while Shawn circled the block) to Magnolia Bakery to pick up some tasty treats. Our friends, the Kings, introduced us to this little beauty last year, and Shawn's mouth has been watering for Banana Pudding ever since. Now mind you, I was very sceptical of spending money on pudding - but this is no Snack Pack! This is really heaven and I don't like bananas or pudding! We are super excited for Thanksgiving and for Shawn's parents and brother coming to town! Now I'm off to clean and cook... Happy Turkey day to all!

Summers Schenanigans... Fall Fun

Lately we've been falling for Fall.... the fall colors here were amazing, and as the leaves have fallen from the trees, we now have an amazing amount of them in our yard. We got out the rake and made some piles (which only took about 6 swipes with the rake to get a HUGE pile). Really the size and quantity of leaves here are unbelievable, especially to a girl from Idaho. But we had a fun day .... here we go!If you look closely you can see Sam's eye! Talk about Leaf Man....

Lyv had her 6 month check up (she's already nearly 7 months) and she still reigns in the 90th Percentile! She was 17 lbs. 12 oz.; 17 1/4 inches long, and 45 cm head. She is meeting and exceeding all developmental milestones except for the two most important to me right now: #1) SLEEPING! She has yet to sleep through the night. #2) EATING - I mean anything other than breast milk. She gags on everything we feed her, cereal, apples, pears, carrots, sweet potatoes. I've tried homemade, I've tried Gerber, I've tried graham crackers, little pieces of bread, etc. NOTHING!!! She just wants to drink her food. So I'm going to be focusing a lot on trying to accomplish her love affair with food the next few months. She does however love to eat her toes....She has 2 bottom teeth that I've tried to take a pic of, but no such luck!

Return of the 80's? When I saw this outfit I thought Karate Kid - the bad guy. Even the face is that. Sam really, really wants to grow out his hair, so we are trying it out. Its getting to the unmanageable stage, and I'm not sure what to do with it.

Well Jack has had another adventurous week. There is no end to this boy's smarts, he is like McGyver, seriously from turning Lyv's high chair into a ladder, and stacking stools on top of each other to get things, he constantly finding a new way to make a mess! It is all with good intentions, he really wants what he is after, the cereal, the bubbles, the pancake mix, etc. but it usually equals mess for me. Here's half the bottle of bubble bath dumped in the tub at about noon that day. Later that night I found him with the broom and swifter mop in the pantry. What was he doing you might ask, oh just cleaning up the half bag, industrial size mind you, of pancake mix that he had poured out on the floor and on himself. How can you get mad when he is trying to clean up? Then about 6;30 the next morning I find him with our chairs footstool propped up in the kitchen saying, "Reach, Reach" as he's trying to climb up to the Cocoa Puffs. He is very determined, and this might be the start of early gray hairs for me. But.... as I said to Shawn, would I want him any other way? No, who else would bring me such a happy personality? I read on my friend Lori's blog how she described her 3 year old and I thought it fit Jack perfectly, and I quote: "He is a lot of work, but an IMMEDIATE JOY!"

Finally, the other night Shawn and I were talking about Lyv and her sweet little giggle, usually over the most random of things, and Shawn made a great observation that I have to record because I think that it is truly profound. He said, "Isn't funny how laughing is one of the first things do?" I think this testifies of the truthfulness that, "Men are that they might have Joy!" We are supposed to laugh and find happiness even in small and simple, sometimes random things. So... laugh on!

I believe .....

At our most recent stake conference, our area mission president challenged us to share our testimonies with others through any means, including our blogs, Facebook, etc. I thought a lot about this, and how I felt about this challenge. I have been one who tends to not overly project my religious beliefs vocally in fear of offending others, or causing awkwardness. Religion is such a personal subject and should be discussed care and respect. That being said, I do want and hope that others know what I believe, so I'm taking the challenge and stating some of my core beliefs - things that I know to be true with every ounce of my heart, mind, and soul.

I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior, Redeemer, and older brother. I know that He is the literal Son of God and that He came to earth, showed a pefect example for us all to follow, and took upon Himself my sins - atoning for me, then was crucified and rose from the dead after three days. It is only through His grace and mercy that eternal life is possible.

I know that the Book of Mormon is a true book of scripture, that it testifies clearly of Jesus Christ and his role as Savior of the world, and explains the fulness of His gospel. I know that Joseph Smith did see God the Father, and Jesus Christ, and translated the Book of Mormon through the power of God. I know that he restored the fulness of the Gospel of Christ and the priesthood authority to administer in the ordinances and covenants of that Gospel.

I know that we chose to come to earth, to take on mortal bodies, and experience trials and difficulties so that we could be come like our Heavenly Father. It is only through this mortal experience that we can experience true Joy and try to become more like Jesus Christ.

I know that the families can be eternal. As a mother this truth is such a comfort, that my sweet children will be bound to me forever. Through restored priesthood power, we can be sealed to our families in temples of the Lord. I know that temples serve as a way for us to provide ordinances for those who weren't able to recieve them on earth, and that we can learn more about the plan of salvation by attending the temple.

Finally I know that only by living the gospel of Jesus Christ can I be truly happy, even in the midst of turmoil, uncertainty, trial, and personal challenges. It is that simple truth that keeps me going each and everyday.