NY Reunion

We had a great time visiting our friends and family in upstate NY this past weekend. Although it took us three planes and ALL day to get there and back, it was worth it to have the chance to see everyone and attend the reunion. Even though it was small, only about 30 people, the services and sermons were great. I'm so glad we were able to go.




This is the plane that took us to and from Massena and Albany. It only holds ten people total, including the pilot so as you can imagine it was tiny! The flight takes about an hour, and it super loud because of the propellers, but it was awesome!




Just another closeup view of the ramp leading inside the plane.

I didn't have my camera out on the way there when the weather was perfect. The views that day were amazing! It was cloudy on the way back so the pictures aren't as clear, but this is just some of what we could see from our aerial view. There is water everywhere you look in this part of the country, but I couldn't get any good pictures of all the rivers there. But you can see how green everything is. I really don't think they have ever seen the color brown unless they dig under ground, or look at a tree trunk. Not like home at all, but I still love it here anyway.

Anyone who knows this guy understands how perfect this toy was for him. He loved playing this piano at Eli and Gretchen's house. He would sit and play something, then stop and clap for himself and look around to make sure everyone else was too. The cutest was when he would sing and play. He wouldn't do it for the video camera though, too bad.

Our first day there we went out on the boat. Easton didn't care for the life jacket too much, but he had a great time.

We all enjoyed being out on the water. Luckily we got some time in that day because the rest of the weekend was rainy and a little cold for boating. Although Aadam, Chase, Mya, Rhoades, Brandon, Bill, and Louie went out in the cold later on. They were going on the speedboat and being pulled around on the tube behind it. A little too fast to take the little guy out. So we visited with the ladies on the shore instead. Easton tried to drive the motorhome and destroy everything. Luckily the owners are grandparents and they didn't mind :)

Easton, Louie, and Chase swinging.

Checking out the fish. Thanks for holding on so tight Chase! This was pretty much his favorite thing to do while we were there.

Now it's Rhoades' turn to hold him. Anyone else willing??

These are what kept his attention for so long. Eli and Gretchen's backyard was a never ending source of adventure for Easton. He even got to feed the fish. So cool!

These are just a few of the pictures, a video of the boys playing the drums and a sweet headdress are coming soon

Future Food Network Hosts??

I've been hanging out with my boys this week and it's been so much fun! These two are quite a pair and have definitely entertained me (and each other). Today was raspberry banana bread day. Yes I am crazy for geting two toddlers to help me bake. But really they didn't make too much of a mess. They were pretty good helpers and had a great time in the kitchen.




We stared out by mashing up the bananas. They each took turns squishing them up while saying "squish squish squish" as they smashed.


Next we added the water.

Then the oil...and yes I actually did let them pour it and neither of them spilled.

Then we added the flour mixture and the boys stirred that in for me as well. This was the messiest step of our baking adventure. They would look at the spoons and shake them around. Getting some on the floor, and on the dogs, but none on their shirts!

Finally we poured the batter into the pans and got it ready to go in the oven. There would be a picture of the little chefs with the finished product, but one of them got sleepy and had to take a nap before it was done. Cooking can really wear you out!

Video Test Drive

So my AWESOME and generous sister in law gave us a brand new mini video camera today. Not only does it take video, but it also does still shots as well. How cool is that?? We go to Logan's birthday party and we're the ones taking home presents. Luckily he got some too so he didn't seem to mind :) Well, of course I had to try it out. This video isn't the best, but hopefully my technique will get better with practice.

As you can see these two make quite a pair. I'm so glad they're so close in age and will be able to grow up together. They're going to be interesting as they get older. I can only imagine the trouble they will get themselves into as they grow. Just tonight they got into the dog's water and drenched themselves and the floor with it, dug a hole in the backyard, soaked each other with a hose, chased each other through the grass, and finished it off by covering themselves in mud from a puddle they created. All in all it was a busy night for these boys. I can't wait to see what they'll do next. (And hopefully I will have my camera ready!)

Wish it was Monday...never thought I'd say that!

When I was working I always felt that by midafternoon Sunday became poisoned by the thought of having to go back to work on Monday. I liked my job (most of the time), but I never felt like my weekend was long enough. Anyway, that is not true for this weekend. If it didn't mean missing Logan's birthday party tomorrow and seeing everyone at church Sunday (I need my socializing!) then I would wish for Monday right now. You're probably wondering why in the world would anyone care so much about a Monday? It is the first day of VCS which isn't as exciting to me as the kids since I'm not teaching, and my baby is too young to to. I do get to spend the morning with my adorable nephew though and I'm looking forward to that. But the real reason for my anticipation is, I am FINALLY getting my hair cut which I am so excited about. I need a change (I will post before and after pictures...which will only be interesting to me, but that's ok). Then after that Aadam and I get to go out to dinner minus the kiddo. We haven't been out by ourselves since February! That is way too long. An added bonus is we even have a gift certificate to the restaurant which means dinner won't even cost us anything. I may even stop to look for a new outfit on my way home from the salon. I haven't done that in a long time either. I really need to get out more when this is all I have to write about :)

So worth it!

This morning it took me over 30 minutes to fold and put away six towels. Actually it was folding towels, several games of "Where's Easton?", reading four books (How can I say no when he crawls up on my lap, book in hand, saying "more"?), lots of kisses (he's in affectionate mood lately and I love it!), getting a drink, fixing a snack, and finally putting the towels in the closet. I don't care if folding six towels takes me all day. When I look at this face it is SO worth it!

The Hat

This hat is his new obsession. He wants to wear it, or play with it all the time. Taking it on and off mom and dad's heads is fun too. As you can see from the outfits, not that you're inpsecting them, these were taken on three different days. Each time the hat was just as exciting as the day before. The hat is quite versatile. Not only can it be worn for looks, but also for playing with the dog, or even eating. No wonder it's daddy's favorite too!

My kid is so goofy. I'm laughing at something he does most of the day. Unfortunately I don't have a picture to go with my story because it was so cute, but it wasn't really something you could capture anyway. A video would really be the only way to share this. As I'm typing it out here I'm realizing this probably won't be funny to anyone but me, but as you can see that isn't stopping me. Someone should be around to monitor my blogging to save others from reading boring things, but I have no censor so anyone reading this get's all the stories, funny or boring.

So getting on with it, last night I was at the store and Easton was home playing with daddy. When I got home they were playing on the couch and Aadam says "I think mommy's hungry give her some of daddy's foot." Easton hops off the couch and goes over to Aadam's foot pretends to grab some and brings it to me. Then he went back and grabbed some more and acted like he was eating it, accompanied by his ever present food slurping sound. It was so funny. Aadam said Easton just started pretending to eat it while I was gone and then started sharing it with him. The funniest part was he would laugh and laugh and look so proud of himself for doing it and so excited to see us pretending to eat it too. Such a nut!