ten on tuesday

1. first we will start with the miracle of the day. Chris leaves Friday to go house hunting in Iowa. I decided to look on southwest just to see how expensive the tickets were. round trip for 300! 4 days before. I scrambled and found a few kind wonderful soles who will be watching my kids so I get to house hunt with Chris. Oh what huge blessings these are. 

2. During spring break we went downtown one day. The scaffolding was finally off the Washington Monument. It opens in a few weeks and I am excited to go back and take the kids.

3. Henry makes us laugh. Not sure how he figure this out but he played this way for a good 5 min.

4. I used scissors in my boys hair! Will wishes I left more length. I wish I cut more off. 

5. Love Henry's legs. 

6. Henry got his own ice cream out and his own knife? 

7. While at the Cardinals and Nationals game Chris and Boys were standing along the outfield fence next to the foul pole.  Matt Carpenter of the Cardinals picked up an errant ball hit into the outfield.  He then looked up into the stands directly at Jeffrey who was wearing his little league Chicago Cubs hat.  Jeffrey who was watching the outfielders did not notice this.  When Matt finally got his attention he said to Jeffrey, "If I give you this ball do you promise to get rid of that Cubs hat and buy a Cardinals hat, and make me your favorite player?"  Jeffrey of course nodded in the affirmative.  Matt then threw him the ball which Jeff caught in his glove.  Jeffrey immediately took off the Cubs hat and yelled, "Thank you."  Matt replied, "You Promised" and gave a thumbs up to Jeff.   

8. Our first fire of the year. Oh how I love fires. The kids had a blast too. 

9. If there ever was a photo that caught Jed's true face this is it. I love him but some days are harder than others

10. Henry painted a blue beard on half of his face.
"He's an Artist"

Ten on Tuesday

1. Chris and I got to go to the temple (TOGETHER!) with his mom as well. It was wonderful. I wish it was easier to get to the temple. 

2. The kids started spring break by picking up Grandma Carmen up at the airport. They were all so excited to see her. Hope she survives the week. 

3. Chris and I also got to go on a run together. It was wonderful with this wonderful view.

4. I have never been a nature photo person but there are way too many beautiful things here not to share. 

you cannot really tell but there was a beautiful fog across the top of the hill. With the sun. It was beautiful, this photo is such poor quality.

I love how beautiful the blossoms and leaves look together. I cannot breathe but I love spring here!

5. No baseball this week, thanks to spring break and rain.

6. We have started looking at homes for us to live in Algona. Since it is a small town, the selections are not lots but we are hoping the one best for us will open up. 

7. I have mopped (with a sponge on my hands and knees) our kitchen floor 4 times in 5 days. I said this and then Will says. So you got a break one day? Oh man that kid.

8. On Wednesday I got to have lunch in old town Alexandra with a good friend. It was so nice to catch up and I was thankful for a does of the "real" world. A view from our walk.

9. I bought Lucky charms this week. Wow it seems eating this cereal is genetic. 

 10. What happened when I went for a run one morning. Hey he was happy right?

 11. Best quote of the week

bonus 12!

The kids were wrestling (tickling and tackling) with Chris on our bed. This is how it ended. 

Ten on Tuesday

1. Baseball. This will most likely be on lots of our past up coming. Saturday was crazy!!! first there was a parade, which lasted a long time after the parade. Then each team had photos 30 min before their games started. then they had games. simple enough right. Well no not really, when games and photos don't start on time, and more than 1 child has a game at the same time. We survived. Although there were no photos of Will. I hope to fix that tonight at his game. 

Will - Pirates

Jeffrey - Cubs

Jed -Team Storm

The others cheering on the boys for the parade.

2. Jeffrey's first hit! The ball is on the left of the photo just below the cubs banner.

love his face here

3. Jed - he actually got an out (the kid still stayed on the base). It was a t-ball miracle.

4. We are FINALLY spending more time outside.

5. Henry loves this blanket and to touch ears. This was a tender moment for me. 

6. After a long day I made homemade hot fudge. Oh it made life great!

7. After taking something to Chris yesterday, I got a quick photo of some of the blossoms. Oh so beautiful!

8. Friday Jed got an upper GI scope. I think this was his 4th time? He was so adorable. The man who was admitting him laughed and laughed. Jed was telling him everything that would be happening that day and the following. He was going to ride the metro, go to the Nationals home opener, then there was a parade and baseball games. The guy (about 60) couldn't believe that I had 5 kids. He said "no way" at least 5 times. Then he told me I was beautiful. Oh I needed that. I had a huge smile on my face from him kindness.

While Jed and I were at the hospital Chris put Henry to work :)

The rest of Jed's day!

a bit excited for the metro

At the stadium

My favorite photo of these 2 ever!

Chris sent me photos from his phone so here are some from when we went to the Air and Space museum

9. I'm doing a photo challenge and used this of myself today. See I still exist and I am not just the "man behind the curtain."

10. It has warmed up and we can play at the park!!!! Oh I'm in heaven, so is Henry

LIfe

Guess what I am way behind, Sorry life happens. 

It has finally warmed up here. It was actually warm enough to run outside with the kids in the stroller. I was so nice to be outside running again

These boys got spoiled!!! Their Aunt sent them 600 baseball cards. They are in heaven and the game they play with them (something about one card beats another?!?!) takes prescience over TV!

Jeffrey had a birthday! He asked for chocolate cake and he got chocolate cake. I love him and the boy he is turning into.

Henry enjoyed the cake as well. 

Will's grade had an "Innovation Fair" They spent lots of time in school working on it. It was packed! He did a great job.

Henry loves loves loves being outside. He loves running wild and free!

Our life the last few weeks as been a serious testimony in the Lord knows who we are and has a plan for us. With Chris's job, there have been a few uncertainties up in the air. We have worried about them, and have not seen a way to make them good. To put it simply when we faced something that brought tears of sorrow and nothing will work out, Chris's new boss, got a hold of us and brought us tears of JOY. This has happened more than once. I would be unthankful if I didn't express my gratitude for my Heavenly Father's hand in all that has transpired. He has truly been watching out for us, and is very aware of what He has planned for our family. I know that we are headed where he wants us to go, I know that we were supposed to go to Iowa for law school, and I know we were to come here to Georgetown for another year. I do not know all the why's but I know that we did and are doing what He wants us to, and I have a huge amount of peace because of this. So thank you Heavenly Father, thank you for wonderful people, those who prayed for us, those who have helped, and those who have cared. Thank you for the kindest boss a family could hope for. Thank you.

Tuesday

Look we actually made it to see the outside. 

Things seem to go faster and faster here. Chris an I were in Dubuque last week. We left feeling like that was not the place for us. Which it turns out wasn't. Thankful that Heavenly Father let us feel that way so it wasn't a ba thing that we did not get that job there. 

Once back things seemed to fly fly fly.  Good friends from Vegas was in DC and I got to spend half a day with them on Friday while Chris was doing school stuff. Then she offered to take our families photos. How could I turn that down? 

The kids were, well kids for that. Some better than others. We all got to see the White House close up (well from the bars)

Monday was yet another snow day. This makes 11 with a dozen or so more late starts. I'm hoping we move before school is over so the kids get more than 1 month break from school this summer. 

Speaking of moving where are we moving? Today we are headed to algona, IA. That is where we feel right now is the place for us. Unless Heavenly Father has other plans for us that have not been show yet. Chris's boss there is the kindest man a person could work for. 

The kids loved having Chris around a bit more the last week (his spring break). They practiced lots of baseball. It is fun to watch them learn and grow. 

Henry has a blast being outside in our huge yard, getting dirty etc. Climbing on fallen branches. He got in a fight with one I the branches and lost. But he waisted no time getting back on the branch to climb more. 

As many issues tht we have had with the actual house. The yard has been heaven sent when it is not too cold to go outside. 

Henry and his archnemisis. 

What spring training looks like at our house

Tuesday

It seems that a lot of the post have come on snow days! Today was the 10th on for the kids this school year. They are on a 2 hour delay tomorrow. I can tell you that they are even wishing for school.

We have been a bit cold here. This morning it was 3. This is Virginia not Iowa.

Will had baseball tryouts/skills assessment on Saturday. It was fun to see him try hard. He has been so excited since and all he wants to do is play baseball. Sadly the snow and freezing weather have not helped.

Annmarie is a huge help at home. She loves to help make dinner and will even fold laundry if the incentive is good enough. Today she and I cleaned her room. It was not as bad as some other rooms I've seen but it was bad.

Jeffrey finished reading The lighting thief. He was so excited. I love that his love of reading is growing and growing.

Jed has been good this past week. He is trying hard to do what is right, and it shows. By no means is he perfect, but I can notice a change.

Henry. . . Well lets just say he did a lap around the chapel this Sunday. I had to take a child out and could not get Chris's attention. I figured another child would help out. Good thing we have a whole middle pew to ourselves so Chris could catch him before making another lap. He is full of "piss and vinegar" as Chris would say. He takes any towel or small blanket he can find and gallops around the house twirling the towel all while yelling. Chris figured out he is sword fighting. Love how cute he is and how he loves to make us smile.

Chris has been at school. a lot lot lot. I think we both are extremely excited to get a few days away from the norm next week (FYI the blog will prob be updated on wed not tues). I'm hoping he doesn't bring any textbooks with him. We will both be very happy when this semester is over.

Me I've been working out, cleaning, reading (i started reading 1776 and wow I don't see how people can look at the history of our country and say God did not have a hand in it), watched too much TV the last 2 days, and cleaned some more. I cleaned off my dresser. I need to add the picture proof. I will do it tomorrow. I cannot find my cord.

Best read of the week - We are reading Alma 60-61. I love love love how Moroni doesn't care what the governement thinks, because he knows that God is a higher power

60:28 Yea, Behold I do not fear your power nor your authority, but it is my God whom I fear.

Are we that way? or do we fear man more.

Then I love how Pahoran responds
 61v9
 in your epistle you have ^acensured me, but it mattereth not; I am not angry, but do rejoice in the greatness of your heart. I, Pahoran, do not ^bseek for power, save only to retain my  judgementseat that I may preserve the rights and the liberty of my people. My soul   standeth fast in that liberty in the which God hath made us ^cfree.

Why can we not have leaders of our cities, states, country and world like this!