Pinata Time!

All summer I REALLY wanted to be a "crafty nanny" and do inspiring, creative things with the kids. Well, after some internet searching... and then some soul searching, I realized this wasn't going to happen :)

However, I did find one craft recipe that I thought I could handle... and the kids would enjoy. Making a pinata!! It took almost the whole month of August from start to finish (many days of drying and then the kids went on vacation) but we did it! It really was fun to make and easy to set up for the big event!

Here are some pics:

Leo before the swing

Cecilia and J before the swing!

It took a few rounds of hitting because we made it pretty strong! The kids were so happy to have all the candy and i was so happy because I did ONE craft thing with them this summer!!

Why should I be sure my life is right? THIS IS WHY!

We had a lesson on Sunday and this was a quote that was given to us. It's from a talk by Spencer W. Kimball that he gave many times on marriage. Just thought it was worthy of note... and I wanted to remember it!

"President Lorenzo Snow gives us a picture of the importance of celestial marriage: “When two Latter-day Saints are united together in marriage, promises are made to them concerning their offspring that reach from eternity to eternity. They are promised that they shall have the power and the right to govern and control and administer salvation and exaltation and glory to their offspring worlds without end. And what offspring they do not have here, undoubtedly there will be opportunities to have them hereafter. What else could man wish? A man and a woman in the other life, having celestial bodies, free from sickness and disease, glorified and beautified beyond description, standing in the midst of their posterity, governing and controlling them, administering life, exaltation and glory (D&C 76:112) (Lorenzo Snow, The Deseret Weekly, 3 April 1897, p. 481.)

Can you conceive of the vastness of this program? Can you begin to understand it? But remember this: exaltation is available only to those who become righteous members of the kingdom of Jesus Christ, only to those who obtain their endowments and are sealed for eternity as well as time, and who then continue to live righteously. This is not man’s interpretation. This is the program of our Heavenly Father and is made clear by the scriptures. It is not futile formality nor empty ritual. If we do not understand, it is an indication that we need to get close to our Heavenly Father so that we may understand it, for the things of God are understood by the Spirit of God.

The Lord’s program is unchangeable. His laws are immutable. They will not be modified. Your opinions or mine do not make any difference and do not alter the laws. Many of the world think that eventually the Lord will be merciful and give to them unearned blessings. Mercy cannot rob justice. College professors will not give you a doctorate degree for a few weeks of cursory work in the university, nor can the Lord be merciful at the sacrifice of justice. In this program, which is infinitely greater, we will each receive what we merit. Do not take any chances whatever.

Be sure that your marriage is right.

Be sure that your life is right.

Be sure that your part of the marriage is carried forward properly.

I pray the Lord will bless all of our people as they face the normal decisions before and after their marriage.

And I bear testimony that our Heavenly Father will be our greatest source of strength and help in all of these important decisions that affect so greatly our happiness and fulfillment.

Summer memories

Life has been busy, BUT FUN! I haven't posted much about what I've been up to this summer... but here it is in a snapshot.

While I feel, at times, that all I've done this summer is:

1. Look for a job

2. Look for housing

3. Prepare AND actually, eventually, move my stuff from Boston in a trip (and a truck) I'd like not to remember

and 4. Look for a job

I can't deny the fact that I have had THE BEST TIME playing with these kids!! (pictures below)

Every day is a new day. New advantures await. I had so much fun doing research online and finding out new places to go and visit. We discovered we had some favorites we went to more than once... but we kept exploring because the world (or this immediate area) was ours to discover. I wish I had taken more pictures, but here are some of the highlights.

Since Juliette and David have connections EVERYWHERE, they were able to get special passes for us to have a private guided tour of the WEST WING of this beautiful house!

I have always wanted to get a tour of the East Wing... never dreamed of the West Wing! 

It was awesome. 

Juliette's parents were in town as well as two cousins. So, on Sunday morning we all went into the city and waited outside one of the gate's for our two guides who actually work in the White House to greet us. We had to get security clearance beforehand and dress in Sunday clothes.  It was a hot and humid day... waiting outside, but so worth it!

Ok - a picture I took off the White House website... but it was a lot better than the one I took of the outside!

We were not allowed to take any pictures inside. We got to see the Oval Office, go out into the back courtyard where the Rose Garden is, and just travel all throughout all the special "important people" rooms. We even saw where they go to have lunch! One of the things I learned is that they change the artwork every couple of months in all the hallways. They'll update the walls with recent pictures (HUGE) of President Obama and people who he's met or where he has traveled.... or any big events that occurred.  If I were him I don't think I would like walking through these halls... because literally you'd be looking at almost a life-sized picture of you every where you turn. He's probably used to it by now but I don't think I would like it!!

Anyway, after the main tour of the white house, we were allowed to take pictures in the back... here are some of them. 

The kids... this door leads into his first secretary's waiting room (the gate-keeper) for anyone meeting with him.

The girls waiting outside before we were allowed in

Leo... love that smile :) The toothless one...

Jeremiah entertains himself... literally wherever we go!

At the back door... again. I think we were here for about 30 minutes taking pictures!

Before entering the White House

Me... at the back door!

So, after we left the main building, we were able to go into the Press Room which is attached to the White House, I think... but has a separate entrance. I've seen this room many times on TV before, but I was SHOCKED at how tiny the room actually is. It always looks so big on TV, but it's not.  We got to take lots of pictures and rest in here as well... and cool off. It REALLY was HOT outside. 

See how small the room is. I am standing at the front of the room. 

The kids were getting a bit restless... so we took some funny pictures

Juliette, David and the kids!

So, the next highlight of the summer was the annual summer trip with their two counsins and grandparents. I've gone the past two summers with them to Chattam on the Cape, but this year they went to the Chesapeake Bay because Juliette's family had moved. I only went for two days this year, but it's always a SPECIAL treat for me as well!! Living the life of luxury and resting and relaxing!! We didn't go in the water here because of the jellyfish and the weather was SO humid... but other than that, it was perfect!
I didn't take too many other pictures of places we've been this summer. We've explored parks, water parks, indoor play gyms, the zoo, museams, ... you name it, we went there! The month before I came here I went online and found out about all the places to take kids in the Washington DC area. It was GREAT!  (If any of you are coming to DC and have kids... let me know and I can give you all the info you need on how to keep them happy and entertained!!)

But, we had some down time at home as well... here's Jeremiah. I caught him one day with this on... just playing around!
This little boy is ADORABLE. He'll talk your ear off if you let him and he's got a story and a wild explanation for everything as he tries to put his little world together! He's always running to wherever he's going and can entertain himself for HOURS with trucks, trains and toys. He is such a good little boy!! Getting him potty trained this summer was an adventure... and we haven't totally conquered it yet... but we're working on it!

One of the best museams we went to was the NEW Air and Space museam by the Dulles Airport. This place is GIGANTIC and very cool! We saw planes taking off and landing at Dulles from their skyview observation deck.  You could see for miles! Inside they have over 100 or more REAL planes, from small to large, and you tour the evolution of humans being able to fly in the air (with a machine, of course)! I didn't think I would love this museam as much as the boys did... but I REALLY did. I also took them to their first IMAX movie on the story of the "Blue Angels". If you've never seen them fly or know much about them... go to this website: http://www.blueangels.navy.mil/index.htm

Seeing them in IMAX was like we were fling with them! I got a little dizzy as we kept rolling with the plane! I never knew how intense their training was!

Anyway - here's a picture of the boys outside

This is there skyview observation tower. We went up there!!!

As I mentioned above... we went to many waterparks and pools over the summer but I think our favorute was Upton Regional Park in Arlington VA. Waterslides and all... we also loved it that it had batting cages and mini-golf too!
Jeremiah is EXTREMELY afraid of getting water dumped on him or even putting his head under water! He's a work in progress, but last week he did get his hair a little wet as he ran under the water spout. This was a BIG step for him! He can play in the water all day long... just as long as you don't try and get him to put his head UNDER the water! 

These two boys are incredible. SO much fun and so loving. What a true joy it is to spend time with them (most of the time :)

And, finally, I celebrated my birthday in August. Nothing too special... spent the day with the boys at the park, pool, and then a bike ride. Later on in the evening though, I decided it was time to treat myself to my first pedicure! Being a runner, my feet were in desperate need. I don't think the lady who did it realized how bad they were when she said the pedicure would only take about 15 min. I sat in that chair for 35-40!! But, look... cute feet!

Life IS SO EASY!!! (positive thinking, right?)

I am all about positive thinking. I took a course on it last spring and I really think that how we feel about life, for the most part, depends upon our thinking.

Well, lately I've forgotten this and in my opinion... life has been hard.

I read this quote today and it struck me. I need to change my thinking!

Life is as easy

or as hard

as you think it is.

What if we just

pretended

that life was easy?
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie

I need to revert back to my childhood when I was pretty good at playing pretend :)

LOVE this Message. What a Great, Great Man!

Power of words

So, a friend had this on her blog, and she got it from another friend... it's being passed around. But, I loved it so much I wanted to post it as well!

Words from the mind speak volumes. I know I sometimes judge people like I judge a book by it's cover, but once I get to know them I could care less where they've been or what job they have... or even who they know! I get so turned off by people who try to impress upon me how important they are because they work for "so and so". Or because they went to some university. Or because they could tie their shoe when they were two!

Words in general speak volumes... but so do our actions. How kind are you to the person who might be trying your patience? How do you respond to a child who's having a meltdown? How do you respond to someone who hurts your feelings? In my opinion, these words, and our actions that accompany them, speak more than anything we can accomplish temporaly in this world.... and we'll be remembered more for how we treat/speak to others than we will for whatever we end up doing. The quote above speaks to our knowledge and how interesting of a person we are to talk to, but I'd like to extend the idea of "words" to include our actions as well. As my mom always said: "You can talk the talk, but can you walk the walk?"

See mom, I really was listening some of the time!

Look what happens when you rearrange some words!

I thought this was a fun activity. I don't know who actually has time to figure these things out, but look below. When you rearrange the letters to the following words, you get the following:

ASTRONOMER:

rearranged is

MOON STARER

DESPERATION:

rearranged is

A ROPE ENDS IT

(but I don't condone this!)

THE EYES:

rearranged is

THEY SEE

GEORGE BUSH:

rearranged is

HE BUGS GORE

THE MORSE CODE:

rearranged is

HERE COME DOTS

DORMITORY:

rearranged is

DIRTY ROOM

SLOT MACHINES:

rearranged is

CASH LOST IN ME

ELECTION RESULTS:

rearranged is

LIES - LET'S RECOUNT

SNOOZE ALARMS:

rearranged is

ALAS! NO MORE Z 'S

DECIMAL POINT:

rearranged is

A DOT IN PLACE

ELEVEN PLUS TWO:

rearranged is

TWELVE PLUS ONE

AND FOR THE GRAND FINALE:

MOTHER-IN-LAW:

rearranged is

WOMAN HITLER

(I don't have one so I can still include this :)