I love to see the temple

Nat took these on Saturday-- it's a beautiful temple and I can't help but think of my sister whenever I see it.

Could it have been two years already?

Two years ago I was in labor, about to deliver this little miracle. The hospital records indicate that his arrival was precipitous (the doctor wasn't quite ready to catch him). That's just the way this one rolls-- he'll let you know when he is ready and you'd just better be there to catch him!

Happy Birthday Noah!

so sweet

This kid is melt in your mouth sweet.

Here are some of the things that I am loving about him lately:

• he repeats everything you say in an even cuter voice
• he uses the word mine instead of "me" or "I" as in, "mine coming too"
• he climbs out of his crib every night and into bed with his brother, who then rolls over and puts his arm around him
• he announces all his intentions-- good and bad, "mine dump mine cereal"
  
• he frequently gets his things together and then heads towards the door to "go to work"
  
• he derives incomprehensible joy from throwing things down the stairs

The Weekend

In the car on the way to the airport (Luke is not sleeping-- just resting his eyes-- he swears):

Waiting at the cell phone lot at the airport for Grandma and Grandpa to call:


The Air and Space Museum:




Noah's birthday celebration:




Mount Vernon:


Capital Mall:


Luke has talked of nothing but Grandma and Grandpa's visit for weeks. He woke up at five on Friday morning because he was so excited. We finally got out to see some of the sights. The weather was perfect-- it has finally cooled off. Luke marched into preschool yesterday with a long list of things to tell his teacher about the weekend. This was such a highlight to him-- he adores his grandparents. Noah keeps wandering around the house looking for Grandma and Grandpa.

Thanks for everything Doug and Barb!

Fall Shots

Caught!

Getting gum out of my purse!

Fleeting

This is by far my favorite time of year. I love fall. I am sure it has something to do with the smell of leaves, my birthday and the harvest. But, part of what I love about it is how fleeting the seasons always seems. It always feel like we had better take advantage because before we know it, fall will turn into a long, dark winter. And so take advantage I do. There are lots of apple creations, pumpkins, and time spent playing in the leaves.

I have been feeling the same way about Noah (my fall baby) lately. He is going through these very delightful, but very fleeting, stages. For a long time he didn't say yes to anything. To answer a question in the affirmative he would say, "uh uh". Here was an oft repeated conversation:

Mom: Noah do you want ice cream?
Noah: uh uh
Mom: What kind?
Noah: Chwoklat

A few weeks ago he replaced "uh uh" with "wa" (his attempt at yea). We loved it and hoped it would keep up. Alas, "yea" has taken the place of "wa". It didn't last long. I guess we had better enjoy him during this week's stage because it won't last long (it might just turn into the long, dark winter of terrible twos).

Someone's been playing with my camera

I just went to upload the pictures from my camera and I found that I hadn't been the only one taking pictures. There were several of the boys taken by their father. I was struck by the sweetness of these two shots. It seems that Nat admires the same things about the boys that I do; long eyelashes, smooth round cheeks, big blue eyes and wispy blond hair. There are two parts to the tenderness that I feel looking at these. First the boys' beauty and second their father's appreciation for it.

There is something so unique and wonderful about parenting with the man that I love. I adored him before we had children but now that adoration has been raised to an entirely different level. I've given birth to and am raising his children. Every time I look at the children that I have chosen to make my life I see Nat.

I was lamenting the fact that all we ever have time to talk about is schedules, reimbursement checks, cars, kids, and housekeeping. But, it occurred to me as I was looking at these pictures that those things are a part of the romance of building a life and a family together. It's those small (and large) decisions that make life what it is. Who else would I rather be coordinating schedules with or consulting about which mini van to buy?

Getting my fix

We had some dear friends over for dinner tonight. It has left me feeling full and blessed. Is there anything better than good conversation with people you love? It also helps when those people you love bring their sweet baby boy to admire and can talk for two hours straight about Star Wars with your four year old.

We also had some excitement-- a snake in the basement. All the boys headed down there and chased him out. This will be a conversation topic for weeks, I am predicting (along with questions about when we can see Scott again).

Thanks for coming!

Those eyes

Nikon d60

I've been scheming and dreaming about this camera for two years now. Today I took my pennies (thank you birthday money-- the final contribution) to Costco and became the owner of a Nikon d60 complete with two lenses. We also ran around all day buying a mini van (yikes!) and so tonight was the first chance I got to play with it and Nat was my willing subject. Isn't he handsome?

Post General Conference

It's Tuesday and I am now coming down from my general conference high. It was a lovely one wasn't it? It was idyllic fall weather here and we loved listening to conference with the doors and windows open to the fall breezes. For me it is always hard to say good-bye to conference weekend. I start to feel the let down as soon as Sunday afternoon session starts. My hesitancy to return to real life takes over and I wish that there could be just one more day of talks and the peace that accompanies hearing the truth of the restored gospel.

We decided that we like the Eastern time schedule. The first session of the day starts at noon and so we had the whole morning to eat a big breakfast, get ready, and go on this nature walk.

32 weeks and growing...

Baltimore's Beauty

The boys and I ventured over to Baltimore yesterday. I had never been to Baltimore and the adventure of seeing a new city was almost more than Luke or I could handle (Noah just kept requesting that we go to Target). It was delightful to cross over colorful bridges, see Camden Yards, and get a taste of city traffic (not to mention the really good hummus wrap I had for lunch). But, the best part of Baltimore is this little sweetheart and her dear mother, who has been such a good friend to me for so many years now.

October (or why I love being a mom)

Shouldn't everyone spend the first day of October going on a hay ride, picking pumpkins, enjoying mazes, small animals, larger-than-life slides, and then jump around in a barn full of hay? Then there were the perfectly crisp, just off the tree apples to enjoy on the car ride home. Seriously, it doesn't get better than this.