Ward Business, Anniversary, 6 months old

Today's ward business at church was kind of eventful for us. Dan and I each got new callings and Ava's "guy" got released from the nursery.

When we moved here, we decided that after months without improvement of Dan staying in nursery with Ava in College Station, that we'd just drop her off and she'd stay by herself no matter what. It helped here because the nursery leaders worked really hard to help the kids be happy. As opposed to the nursery in College Station where they more or less had a 15 minute rule. If they're crying for more than 15 minutes, then you'd have to take them. It never worked for Ava. There was no way she could get herself together in 15 minutes!

Anyway, here in our new ward, there was an older couple who worked in the nursery up until last week. The husband, Brother Wilson, recently had a stroke which left him fairly impaired. He mostly sat in the rocking chair while his wife and other leaders worked with the kids. But once we moved here and Ava got dropped off, he held her through the trauma and they became fast friends. It took months for her to venture off of his lap to play with toys, but she finally did. And believe it or not, she started to look forward to nursery. Brother Wilson became what she called, "My Guy" or "My Papa Guy".

It was really neat to peek in on them. They would sit together and it was so evident that they loved each other and NEEDED each other.

Well, Brother Wilson and his wife were released and called to something else today. Ava has sought him out after sacrament meeting the past two weeks to give him a hug, it's very sweet. And fortunately, she still looks forward to nursery and says, "I got new leaders and dey yike me!" (they like me).

I am excited to work in Young Women now, with the Beehives and Dan will be in Primary, the exact class is TBA.


We took advantage of Mom and Dad being in town, and used them as babysitters for our anniversary. We had such a nice day!

We got 6 hours (not exactly in a row) all to ourselves!


Dan set up the whole day as a surprise and did a fine job. I really like to see plays and we never do, so our trip downtown to see "It's a Wonderful Life" was great!




Afterwards, we stopped home and fed the baby and got them all to bed before heading out to some late reservations at Perry's. I got my filet mignon and was a happy camper. I have converted Dan to the ways of gluttonous steak consumption and he enjoyed his filet, too (medium, at that!)

We ended with Bananas Foster and a very large check. It was kind of fun to spend that money, at least for me. It seems like we are always so budget conscious, it was nice to just not worry about it and get whatever our heart's desired.

And to remember that we were still what each other's hearts desired...



Finally, Mr. Luke is now 6 months old, half a year, 12 months from nursery. My, how time flies! I still love him. He's still cute. We go to the doctor tomorrow for his check-up and I'll surely be posting his stats later.










And from our play, "The gift of life-the most wonderful gift of all!"

Christmas

Well, Christmas was a success! We woke early to finish our Santa-ly duties and then waited for the kids to wake up. A little backward, right?

Dan and Dad, waiting for Christmas

9:00am rolled around and so did Ava.



Dan's family always took a picture on the stairs right before they went down to check out their goods. This is our version.




Ava brought in a pretty good haul. She was excited for everything and wanted to play with each toy before opening anything else.


I think the hit of the morning was the "sisters" (scissors) that were "just my size". She got them in her stocking and from that moment insisted on opening every present with the scissors. It was more of a dissection process as she poked, pinched, and tore but she thought it was awesome!



Luke was asleep for most of the unwrapping but was happy with his toys too


In fact, since Mom and Dad have been here, I put Mom in charge of starting Luke's new diet-regular feeding of rice cereal. His reflux has been pretty taxing on the two of us (me and Luke) and I hoped that this solid food might help things out. It seems to be working! He is much more content in the day, sleeping better at night, and developing right before our eyes. I am not exaggerating when I say that just days prior to his new regular and substantial feedings, he was just as floppy as could be. Now check out his mad new skills...




That's right, he's actually sitting up,


And sucking on his new truck!

He still tips over after a few minutes but this is serious improvement. I know growth and development spurts are common and expected at 6 months but, no matter the cause we are pretty excited!

In case you were wondering the spritz cookies turned out awesome, my $2 press was the bomb (so easy to use) and I think I will be pressing a lot more cookies in the future.



We had so much delicious food and goodies. I had been looking forward to eating and indulging and gorging for the past few weeks. I was a little concerned about the impact on my waistline but I learned something this week- nothing keeps off the holiday pounds like the stomach flu!

Actually I think it was just a bug, but whatever it was, it kept me from enjoying any of our spread. But on the bright side, I did lose 5 pounds in just 3 days.

Ava has said a couple of funny things of note:

She opened 1 present on Christmas Eve. And I am sure that you remember that all she asked for for Christmas was a duck. Well, she opened up Dora and Boots figures and was so excited! She yelled, "It's not a duck, it's Dora and Boots!"

She was at the table eating a sandwich and Dan was at the sink singing. She said, "Stop it Daddy, I'm trying to eat!"


Hope your Christmas was funny and yummy and wonderful!

And for you Melissa- Linda's Spritz Cookies

3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. almond extract
2 1/4 cup white flour
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup shortening (she uses 1/2 cup crisco, 1/2 cup softened margarine)
Food coloring

Cream shortening and sugar well. Beat in egg and almond extract. Gradually blend in dry ingredients. Separate dough and tint with food coloring. Press onto an ungreased cookie sheet an bake at 400 for 6-8 minutes.

Sunday Sermon and Christmas Preparations

Last week we received a Christmas package from sister-in-law Christina. In it she included a family picture memory game. It is really neat. Each person has their own picture (including cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents.) There are two cards for each person and it's ideal for making matches or playing memory. Since the family is so spread out and our visits are few and far between, this game is a great way to learn names and remember faces.

For our family reunion trip in September, Ava was finally old enough to remember family. When she saw these cards, she already remembered a lot of the names and was having fun "making matches".




She was playing along, having a good time when out of the blue she was holding her cousin Marin's picture and she said she needed an "underlope" (which translates as envelope). I asked her why and she said she needed to draw Marin a picture and send it to her in the envelope. So, that's what we did.

As she was drawing, we decided that we needed to include a note so Marin would know who the picture was from. We had just recently sent a return drawing and note to her other cousin Olivia, so Ava knew the exact process. I explained that Ava's picture might really make Marin feel happy because Marin's family would be moving far away to a new home and Marin was very sad to leave. Getting this letter in the mail might make her feel happy.

My mind jumped to a time in high school, when I was up in my room and my mom called me downstairs and said she felt that I should call my Grandma Abbott right then to say hello. And that the call needed to come from me. I did as she suggested and over the phone my grandmother was so happy, she didn't go into much detail but she said that my call was just what she needed at that time.

So many times, Heavenly Father answers our prayers or meets our needs through other people. I pictured Marin, whether happy or sad, receiving this note from Ava, which said, "Marin, I want you to feel happy." Heavenly Father will do what He needs to by sending out other people to do His work on the earth. These two points were etched in my heart: Heavenly Father knows each and every little girl, nobody is too small or too big. And, secondly, we must follow the promptings of the spirit in all cases but especially in regards to service for others. This is how we can be instruments in His hands.

I am not suggesting that Ava was the answer to little Marin's prayers but whether in actuality or symbolically, this situation strengthened my testimony that our Heavenly Father knows exactly who we are, where we are, and how we feel. Nor am I positive that Ava's random desire to draw a picture for her cousin was a prompting from the spirit. Though I know that it's possible. I was just grateful that the example of my two year old could have such an effect on me.

* * * * * * * * *


Mom and Dad are here and we have been getting our Christmas groove on. We've been baking our cookies and goodies and wrapping presents.

Pressed cookies must be all the rage this year. I looked at three stores to find a cookie press with no luck. I had mostly given up until I found one at the grocery store, of all places, for $2.11. It is not Christmas to Dan without his mom's spritz cookies, so I didn't want to let him down. The dough's chillin' now- so far, so good.

Ava, as always, loves to help cook and wants to be a part of all the baking until, we turn on the mixer, at which points she runs from the kitchen saying, "Sacry!Scary!"

Ava "helping"

I've also had a lot of help wrapping presents,




Putting on tape, and "tying the ribbon".



The presents are not short on style either. Each one has a custom design, a la Ava.


And I am loving making Christmas preparations with one of my other favorite helpers!!

Happy 6th Anniversary!

Marriage is not the epitome of love, it is the school of love.

As I've mentioned before, on that long drive to Dallas I was reunited with my country music cd's. There was a lot of mention of cheatin' and cryin' but also of lovin'. It had seriously been YEARS since I had spent any length of time listening to that music. It really took me back to the pre-Dan days because when he came along, my music selection drifted to a more classic rock genre. But that's a different story.

Anyways, it was shocking how new these songs seemed to me even though they were old. And here comes the cheesy part...Since the last time I had listened to those lovin' songs I had truly found my real love. I listened and sang along and I couldn't help but think all about Dan. And it really was like hearing them for the first time. I could identify completely with them now, as compared to before, when I had yet to discover Dan and LOVE.





Here's some of what my country music friends had to say in reference to and in honor of our 6th anniversary:

"We're two of a kind, workin' on a full house."
Love,
Garth Brooks


"If you get out in the drivin' rain, stand in the eye of a hurricane, and you never think twice. If you turn your back on selfishness and your thoughts are for some one else cause they've changed your life, that's how you know it's love. That's how you know it's meant to be, when the span of forever just never seems long enough. That's how you know it's love."
Love,
Deanna Carter


"There's a long line of folks givin' up on love. Too many hearts get broken in the push and shove. I'll believe in you for the rest of my life. Baby, lovers like you and me will never say die."
Love,
The Dixie Chicks



"It's like just before dark, jump in the car, buy an ice cream and see how far we can drive before it melts kinda feelin'. That's how your love makes me feel inside. There's a cow in the road and you swerve to the left. Fate skips a beat and it scares you to death and you laugh until you cry. That's how your love makes me feel inside."
Love,
Diamond Rio


Dan, you have been so good to me. When I am happy, I think of you and when I'm sad, I think of you. I want to be with you always. You give me confidence and love. I have to be with you for eternity because that's how long it will take to give you all my love. Happy Anniversary!

You are

my soft landing,
a generous heart,
an optimistic mind,
a man without guile,
mine.

Love,
Me

Wanna see something awesome?

This is my dad's oven (the oven in his new house and HIS oven.)


This particular day he was making us the cinnamon rolls from the tube. I think the directions specify cooking them for 16 minutes or so.

But in this snazzy oven, our cinnamon rolls will take just 2 minutes and 30 seconds...And they will be GOOD!


Excuse the flash, but here they are just 1 minute in...it was literally like watching time lapse photography.


And you might be worried that these babies would turn out soggy or hard or something else not pleasant but you would be WRONG!

Ding! They're done! This oven is for the impatient cook.

Brown and crusty on the outside, soft and warm on the inside,

Add the icing, and wha-la! Delicious!

Daddy, you rock, so does your oven, and so do your rolls!

Christmas here and there

We are really excited to have Christmas at our house this year. It will be the first time, in our first house, ever. I have also realized that it is now up to me as the mother of this home to create all the Christmas magic that both Dan and I enjoyed as children. Somehow in our apartments, neither of us ever really got into it, and it probably didn't help that we were never even there for actual Christmas. This year is very different. Mom and Dad will come down and we will host them. Something about this scenario makes me feel older, but in a good way.

We got our tree. A 7 and a half foot fake. There was debate about real or fake and Dan won (more about real trees later). We decorated it for family home evening and of course Ava was in her underwear.

Ava liked to hang the ornaments

And sometimes needed help from Daddy.

Luke was taking it all in,

And then felt left out and wanted to join the action!

The end result-our red tree!

Our stockings are hung off the breakfast bar with care, and Dan and I have enjoyed sipping warm cider and eating gingersnaps after the kids go to bed.





We've started wrapping presents and there is still shopping to do.

Ava has some "Christmas Quotes" I would like to remember:
At the beginning of November she saw a commercial for a fancy baby doll and she told me she wanted it. I told her maybe she could get that doll for Christmas. She said "Yea! I get dat baby a Quitmas! I ready a go a Quitmas now!" I had to explain that we can't go to Christmas, it comes to us.

And for the past few weeks she's been saying she wants a duck for Christmas. I don't know where this came from but in the car yesterday she said it again, "I want a duck a quitmas. A nice duck." "Oh, I bet you might get a nice duck." I said. "No, I want a MEAN duck!"


The next part of this might be long and completely uninteresting so feel free to stop reading.

As I was on that long drive to Dallas alone, I got to thinking about many things, including Christmas. I came to the conclusion that nobody does Christmas better than New England. Everything just fits so well and there are postcard scenes everywhere you look. I feel like when Christmas comes, we should all just go there. Christmas is in New England. I feel so lucky to have had the experiences that I have because when I can't hop on a plane back to New Hampshire, I can at least go there in my mind.

Want to know some of my favorite Christmas in New England Memories?

On my road was a ginormous hill. It was a sledding destination of Hollis residents. My friend had an honest to goodness old school toboggan and we could fit 5 people or so on it. It was great fun.




Our family once took a sleigh ride around town and through the Common, in a real sleigh, snuggled in with big warm blankets, pulled by real draft horses, with bells around their necks. And we weren't cruising around looking at the local Shop 'N Save (cause there wasn't one). We were in our quaint and beautiful little town with hills, and orchards, and lots of snow covered trees.

And the live decorations! My mom made her own garland and door hangers and wreaths with greens from outside. She used wire to attach them together and would decorate them with berries and ribbon. And we would cut our own Christmas tree!

The simple saltbox houses commonly had one single candle lit in each window and decorations stayed up for most of December and January.

And one of my very favorite Christmas traditions was one that seems in my mind, out of a movie. I wish so badly that I had pictures of it. My voice teacher belonged to a very small but accomplished choir who performed every Christmas at a private boys' school in Massachusetts. The campus was gorgeous and old and snow covered. We would sit at small round tables in a dim candle lit hall with high ceilings and expansive dark wood floors. We listened to the gorgeous singing while we sipped warm cider. I know my description does not do it justice.

I want to go back to that concert so badly! I want to bring Dan and my babies! But as a matter of coincidence, my voice teacher has since moved to Texas and now my parent's are in her stake. And as another matter of coincidence, while I was in Dallas, Mom and I went to a stake Christmas music program practice (because I would be gone already for the actual performance) and who did I get to see? Mary Poulter, my old voice teacher. She even gave me a private performance of the solo she'd be singing. So while I didn't get to go back to the concert in Massachusetts, I did get to hear Mary sing for Christmas.

Christmas in Texas will never be the same but what it lacks in charm, it makes up for in lights. I've never seen so many lights! And after all this, I do know that no matter the location, Christmas is about Christ. And we are excited to celebrate His birth in our home with our family!

Mom, the artist

My mom has an aesthetic eye. She sees beauty all around her. I love it when we go somewhere together and she points it out to me because I usually don't notice. She can design rooms, set gorgeous tables, coordinate fabric and colors. She dresses herself very smartly. All of these things should have given me the indication of how much artistry she had in her, but I was still shocked, surprised, and awed by what she had to show me on my recent visit to her house.

She has always wanted to paint. So have I. I'm pretty sure everyone, at least for a minute, has wanted to paint. She and my dad are sort of collector's of art. I think with their influence I have come to appreciate art very much. In fact, when I grow up, my dream is to be an artist. Or rather, when my kids grow up. I dabble here and there but when I have my own time later in life I would love to devote myself to creating things. I have these feelings that I can only describe as cravings, to make things. It's worse than when I get a strong hankering for chocolate. When I do settle in for a project I find so much satisfaction. Maybe that is why I enjoy cooking so much. I look forward to the day when I can have a space devoted solely to materials, and paint, and clay, and all kinds of neat stuff. Until then, I will live vicariously through my mother.

I talk to her nearly everyday on the phone. She mentioned her "cow painting" many times, keeping me updated on it's progress and her strong desire not to screw it up. Finally she told me it was done and she was moving on to her next one. I was really excited to see it. She has never painted anything before.

So as I sat in their new living room and she would come in and out with different art pieces, holding them up here and there, as we talked about how she wanted her room to look and feel, she walked in with this...



It took me a minute to compute what I was seeing. Cows...trees...clouds...could this be... what? I just about screamed because this was "the cow painting" and it looked like a real painting. A really good painting. Like I said, I shouldn't have been so surprised but I was.

2 more in progress

She is an artist, in her heart and with her hands. I am so proud of her. This really gives me hope that someday I will be able to let out all the ideas in my head, even if it takes me a while. I want to be like my mom. Not just because she is an artist, though that is part of it, but because she is so MANY things, she loves me, and she is my very best friend. I'm so glad she's mine.

Today I am grateful for: my mom

Weekend Away

Ever have so much to do but you just don't feel like doing it? Or you really have no idea where to start? That is me today. There are so many things on my to-do list I want to scream, yet here I am on the computer.

This past weekend I went up to Dallas. My mom and dad's new house just got done. Mom and I are shopping companions and we thought it would be fun and useful to do a little fabric/furniture shopping. I would just bring Luke and Ava would stay home with Dan since he had the Friday off. It would also give me a break from my intense little daughter. I was really looking forward to it but as the time approached, I started missing Ava and I hadn't even left yet. They only time I've been away from her was when I had Luke.

I got in the car and all I could think was, "Can't live with her, can't live without her".

The 5 hour drive was actually very nice though. Luke slept almost the whole way, I had a reunion with my country music CD's and there were no insistent requests for "Bingo" or "Take Me Out to the Ball Game". I found myself drowning in my own thoughts and the time went by quickly.

Mom and Dad's house is just gorgeous. Their last house was very nice too, but this one has a different style and feel.





This is the family room, not done yet, we looked and looked for just the right chairs but they could not be found. The picture gives an idea though...


We went to the fabric district in Dallas which is one of my favorite places ever! There is so much cool fabric it's unbelievable and at such good prices too! It's basically, just a bunch of warehouses in a crummy part of town that have bolts and rolls of fabric all lined up.



Luke tolerated all of our shopping very well.



We ate out most of our meals and Luke got his first taste of something he liked. And apparently he is a Southern boy. He was enjoying grits! Just a few days prior he turned up his nose at rice cereal, sweet potatoes, and even applesauce. He'd grimace just at the sight of the spoon! But this boy likes his grits!





I actually had to hold his hands down because as soon as the spoon was in sight he was reaching and grabbing to get it into his mouth.






You might be wondering how Ava liked this whole scenario. Dan reported that she was pretty much footloose and fancy free. They did a lot of fun things, didn't have to do anything Luke related like being quiet during naps, and got to have her daddy all to herself. She did say she missed me though, and like I've already said, I really missed her (and her daddy too!)

Today I am grateful for: my washing machine

Thanksgiving Revisited

I got my pictures! Hooray! (Thanks Don and Ashley!) We really had a fun time in Utah and looking at these pictures reminds me.

We had so much fun! Though Ava was very much out of her element on our trip, which displayed itself in some less than pleasant ways. There was a lot of yelling and screaming but also a lot of enjoyment. She needed her "breaks" and frequently watched Chicken Little on the portable DVD player alone, in our room. When I would take her out of a room after a fit, with the intention of discipline, I would sit her down and I could feel her little heart just racing, and instead of getting mad, I realized that she was just really overwhelmed. She would grab onto me and just let me hold her until she could calm down.

Living far away from all of our family for the most part (mom and dad are just 5 hours away!) always makes me a little sad especially because I worry about our children not getting to know their relatives very well. It takes Ava quite a while to warm up to people. In fact sometimes I think she's still not warmed up to me!:) Ha! But when we visit Utah I am always taken aback and really thrilled by how readily she takes to her grandparents. She sure loves her "Mama Ninda" and "Papa Don".

Here she is listening to Grandma Linda read her a story...

This happens rarely at home. Most of our reading is done on the potty-that's the only way she'll sit still. But Grandma Linda worked her magic!

She spent quite a bit of time "making a cake a Mama Ninda" with the playdough,

One of the other fun parts for Ava was getting to spend lots of time with Olivia. I worried how they would take to seeing each other 24-7 but I thought they did great! Olivia was very generous with her toys, including her "dress-ups"...

Still no shirt

Boa Adjustments

Cousin Lovin'

And better still was getting to see all the cousins and spending time with the little "big girls"

Olivia, Ava, and Ellie

To see some more of Ava and Olivia's ADVENTURES click here please. Mine's the one in her underwear, of course.


Us grown-ups had some adventures too, mostly involving Guitar Hero on the Wii. Everyone was so awesome at this game!

My shreddin' sisters-in-law!

Everyone except me of course. I really stunk, actually got booed off the stage a few times. I took my seat in the back where I belonged!



We also enjoyed a "ladies lunch", visited a fun antiques place a couple of times, I saw Breakfast at Tiffany's for the first time, and ate lots and lots of delicious food.



Lucy and Luke got along just swimmingly, can't you tell?

Two cuties

We ventured into the cold for a picture and got Luke all bundled up...

One evening we had an Alta Apartment #213 reunion. 3 of 6 were able to attend and it was neat to see some old familiar faces and meet their little families.

Lara, Me, Kalisa

I hadn't met Lara's husband or son before so that was pretty cool. Her husband seemed so nice and I also found out she's expecting #2 in April!

Adam, Caleb, and Lara

I am sad I didn't get a picture of Kalisa's cute little girls before they went to bed. But at least I got one of the host couple!

Brad and Kalisa

Thanks for sharing your house with us! Lori, we missed you!



Whew! See, I told you we had fun! Finally, I snapped this one right before we left for the airport. I think Luke thought if he went to sleep then we wouldn't have to leave. Or maybe he had a premonition about what our travel home would entail and knew he should rest up. In any case, I thought this was pretty cute.



To all you friends and family in Utah: We love you and thanks for a great time!!


Today I am grateful for: The 3m command hooks that stick to anything and don't peel the paint.