The Life that is Mine

I know that I need to update more often.  I do so well for awhile and then get so far behind that catching up again seems like a monumental task.  Or...I haven't loaded pictures from the camera.  Or, I just choose to do other things instead.  Not today.  Today was a day I have thought about for many years...I was selected to be part of a jury.  We hope to finish the case tomorrow.  Then, I will record my thoughts.  Second - Andy got in a fender-bender last week.  Today we got a letter for injured parties from the other vehicle from 1800-hurtnow (which, is not a-ok from the law standpoint as it should have gone to whoever is representing Andy).  Joy...still waiting to hear if our sweet camry is totaled (which is pretty much what we think).  I think I might unplug all phones and computers and not pick up the mail for the next week so we can have time to get things under control.  Otherwise - we are good. 

Addy's visit and Hershey Factory!

 My sweet niece FINALLY came to visit!  We all love and adore Addison and were so excited for her visit!  Her first day, we went and toured the Kirtland Temple.  (Where I lost my very favorite hair clip that I have had for years.  I had Mitchell in the backpack and he pulled it out to 'play' with my hair to keep himself entertained...)  We had the best tour guide I have ever had there and enjoyed not being poured on!

 Then we went to the Kirtland Historic Center...love that place.  We had our own personal tour guides, who go at our pace and answer our individual questions - the difference is so incredible.  Addy loved it.  Mitchell loved it.  I always love it.

 The next day we ran errands and got ready for Aunt Jamie's visit.  She was coming to watch Annie, Emily and Mitchell while Andy, Addy, Ben and I headed to Philadelphia for a wedding. 

We started our drive a bit later than we planned, due to a late night.  About an hour in, Andy mentioned that we would be driving pretty close to Hershey, Pennsylvania and would we be interested in stopping.  HECK YES!!!!  Such a cute little town!!!

 They have a free tour where you ride in cars on a moving path and see how the chocolate is made.  These are the fun size chocolate bars.

 These are kiss-machines.  The pictures seriously don't do this place justice!!!  It all smells fantastic!!!

 We were shooting for a quick hour stop, but there was no way that was happening!  We decided to do one (of the many) exhibits and have the Chocolate Tasting Adventure!

 We had cute little bags (with water to cleanse our pallets) and many different chocolates.  The 'professor' was fantastic at her job and kept our attention as we learned WHY chocolates have different flavors (because of the plants that grow around the beans) and the pleasure and joy of darker chocolates.  While I will probably always love milk chocolate the best, I have learned a great appreciate for the darker side.  TIP - One should NEVER chew chocolate; it is meant to be savored.

 And, Ben with a cutie kiss!  We had a great time!  Definitely a place to stay much longer than we did - could easily make a weekend out of it!

Quick September Recap

 I lost the camera...I know it's somewhere but I can't tell you where!  Therefore, I missed several months of adorable pictures, except for the treasures I captured with my phone.  (We did replace our camera at the end of the month!)  Mitchell had so much fun playing dressups with his big sisters.  They had a blast dressing him up in what they wanted him to wear, as he didn't have much of an opinion and was just happy to be included.

Below - Emily's sense of style is just beyond compare.  Love this girl!

 We had an adult activity at church - The Amazing Grace.  We broke into 3 groups and went from house to house doing activities or challenges.  Andy was trying to listen to the Still Small Voice, but he kept getting tricked by Walt Flory, aka Satan.

 Our fun group - We definitely need to brush up on our facts from the living Apostles!

 A quiet moment with the little one amusing himself.  We aren't often home for long stretches of time because of gym, errands, naps, etc.  Moments like this are precious...

Camping at John Johnson Farm

Setting up the fire, tents, camping area with the Wests.  We were some of the first to arrive for the ward campout so we got to pick our spots!  Love this picture below of Emily. 

Other families started showing up.  The kids love to play inside the tents!  Ben played Uno with the Fry boys while Annie and Ems played with the Renchers.

After a fun night of skits and smores and running around the campsites, we had jammies and books.

The kids were up super early, ready to play pranks on the poor souls who were still sleeping...

Passing the time with a few games.  Emily is quite the card shark!!!

Then, after tents were cleaned up and cars packed, we played some group games.  Andy and Jeff and teaching the kids how to win the 3-legged race!  (Didn't work so well)  Then we played sand volleyball for almost 2 hours to end our fantastic one night of camping!

Annie is 7 years old!!!

 Oh, sweet Annie's birthday was on the 2nd day of school.  She helped me make cupcakes to take in.  We had her birthday dinner the next night - grilled drumsticks with baked beans, pineapple, and biscuits.  We had the missionaries over (as we have for her since we moved here!) and the Wests, our adoptive aunt and uncle.

 Annie has been asking for years to have her party at Pump It Up.  She has been to a bunch of birthday parties there and really just wanted to sit in the inflatable chair.  So, she called and asked family if they would be willing to not buy her a present this year and contribute to her party (because it was out of our birthday budget).  She was thrilled with her YES! answers.  The day finally came and she was being kind of 'off.'  I don't know if it was all the attention or nerves or what, but she finally got in a groove and had a great time!

 She invited kiddos from her primary class, friends from Girl Scouts, and a few little people friends that she loves to play with.  Ben was concerned about the number of boys, so he got to invite two friends as well.

 Ah, at last...THE BIRTHDAY CHAIR!!!!!

 We did cupcakes, ice cream, and snacks with drinks in the party room.

 Annie being silly...she is such a hoot!  She loves to be at the center of attention, but only when she sets it up that way.  Love this sweet girl.  She is sure to always give me a hug and a kiss before she leaves each morning; a moment that I adore!

 Part of her party favors were hairbows.  Annie, Emily, and I spent many hours in the previous days creating the perfect hairbows for Annie's friends!  She had a great time.  Her friends had a great time.  AND my house stayed clean!  Win-win all around!!!  Happy Birthday Annie - hope this year is fantastic for you!!!

First Day of School

 Oh, the joy of the first morning.  It didn't go as fantastic as one would hope...although I'm not sure why.  Despite their beautiful faces, they were excited to start school.  Ben was bugged because he wanted to get to the bus stop early to play with his friend.  Emily wasn't happy with her shoes (although are you digging her outfit???) nor did she want to make a sign language K for starting Kindergarten.  Annie begins 2nd grade, and Ben is in 4th - the year of different teachers for different subjects!

Proof that Emily was glad to be there!  She has a new teacher this year, Mrs. Pickens and they have done very well together so far!  Emily is in a class with 7 siblings from Annie's girl scout troop - including 2 little girls that have become Emily's best buddies.  She is a little social butterfly and comes home telling me all the classroom gossip.  I love it!!!!

To Remember

I have the busiest day today.  Annie was sick last week (threw up at school) and missed her class Halloween party.  Friday she asked if we could do a little party at home since she didn't get one and invite some of her friends.  I said yes, thinking there was still plenty of time.  Long story short, after she said family prayers that night (being thankful that mom would throw a Halloween party), I knew I was locked in.  (((Enter in another throwing up child and a husband out of town and no way to run errands)))  We planned activities late Saturday night, made invites after church and delivered them, had Andy's celebration dinner Sunday (including china dishes! - minus the main dish of grilled chicken breasts as the grill wouldn't all light up - substituting scrambled eggs...on china dishes!), and then today is the day!  Mitchell and I have been to 7 stores, in the cold rain.  It's 11:15 and I have 4 hours to finish (and start) making 3 costumes and get food together for party tonight before the kids get home so we can rush through homework, get on costumes, cook food and hopefully decorate!

Things to remember - Mitchell - love this kiddo!  He is soooo super sweet.  He repeats most words I say, as long as they are less than two words.  One salesperson at JoAnn's said, "Bye sweetie."  As we walked away, Mitchell mimiced, "Bye sweetie!"  When he doesn't want something, he says the word and shakes his head no.  While shaking head side to side, "Buckle!"  No, he doesn't want to be buckled in the car...again!  When he wants to walk, (while saking head side to side) "hold you!"  It's the cutest thing and makes me laugh every time!  Love these kiddos of mine!!!!

Now, off to put a cute little person to bed, make a bat costume for Annie, a Davy Crockett costume for Ben (after 3 stores to find 'coon hat!), and hem Cleopatra for Emmers!

Maases Visit - Baseball and Bikes

We drove to the butterfly house - only to learn about the effects of our warm winter...The butterflies started coming back early, which was so exciting for the people at the butterfly house - until the first cocoons started opening.  Expecting a beautiful creature to emerge, they only found nasty bugs.  There is a bug that plants its eggs inside a caterpillar.  When the eggs hatch, they eat the caterpillar while it is in the cocoon.  Thus, when the food source appears early and lasts longer, the predator (not quite the correct word but it will have to work) also increases its population.  Grand effect...very few new butterflies this year.  They don't know what the long-term effects of this off-weather will be because this hasn't happened before in the history of the butterfly house!

 I just love Emily's face below.  I so love when the girls play happily together.  They went to 'watch' Ben's soccer practice...

 A typical meal that isn't removed the second the patron is finished...

 An Akron Aeros game complete with AWESOME fireworks!  We love going to the Aeros games!

 The kids all love the food.  Annie makes her own entertainment... I got a ball!!!  Nope, I didn't catch it.  I made friends with one of the guys in the dugout while wearing Annie's pink glove.  Towards the end of the night, he got a ball, pointed at me (around a bunch of little kids begging for it) and tossed it to me.  :)

 Ben had a Cub Scout activity with his school troop.  We went to catch the Cuyahoga Valley Railroad.  You can ride for $2 or $3 with your bike and then you bike back to your car.  Super duper fun!  It was a 6.5 mile ride and we didn't think Emily and Annie would be able to do it on their little bikes, so we asked Gma and Gpa to take further on the train.  They checked out part of the Erie Canal and then met up with us at the end!

 Mitchell LOVES riding on the bike...just not for over an hour...We had a great time and can't wait to do it next year when we have some bigger bikes at our house!!!

Maases Visit - Museum and Zoo

 Mitchell loves to cuddle with Annie.  Annie loves to cuddle with Mitchell.  Annie has learned that whomever gets to Mitchell first in the morning tends to get the most cuddles.  Therefore, if Annie WAKES him up, she will get the most cuddles...It took me a few days to figure out why in the world my baby kept waking up so early and was ready for a nap at 10:30am!!!

 Grandma and Grandpa Maas came for a visit!  We had lots of these pictures (Emily was on a go fish kick and Mitchell is always a sucker for puzzles) with the same people and different outfits!

 We went to the McKinley Monument and Museum, to which we have a pass that we had never used (only used at other museums because of reciprocity).  AWESOME!  We all had such a great time and can't wait to go back when Andy can go with us!  Mitchell discovered TRAINS...and now I know what he needs for his 2nd birthday...

 It was a beautiful sunny day - not that common in these parts of the world!!!

 This was probably the favorite activity...running up the steps...sliding down the stone.  I tried it...I can see why the kids like it...If I hadn't been so tired and hungry I probably would have done it a few more times!

 3 generations...one electronic

 Mike and Susan brought the kids matching shirts.  3 monkeys were willing to match...one was not!

 Afternoon at the Akron Zoo!  We stopped at all the exercise stations.  I got Andy to do a few push ups and he looks GOOOOOOOD doing them!

 This is my favorite bridge and favorite type of picture.  I love the depth and the texture of the rope and the staging of the people. 

 Love when the parents come to visit because we get family pictures!!!  And I am in them!!!  Score!  We had our outfits planned out so nicely...Emily!  She is her own person and loves to pick out her clothes!  Thankfully - she picked a solid shirt this day; most days it is two different patterns, with a pair of super bright socks as accompaniment!  Happy Zoo Day!!!