Detroit Weekend

This past weekend we drove 4 1/2 hours to Detroit to see Ben's brother bless his new baby Hurley. They also had a birthday for Brooklen who was turning 2. Ben's parents and sisters Emily, Stacy and Jennifer and his brother Matt also came. Saturday before the party we went to the Riverwalk and the 2 older boys played in the water. After that we got White Castle and ate at the park. When we were done eating some of them played baseball before going back to the house for the birthday party. You'll have to check Ben's blog for the pictures, since I forgot my camera at home.

Deer

I know that they are horrible on your plants, but I couldn't help but be amazed when Henry showed me what was in the backyard today.

Productive Day

After being out of town for almost 2 weeks I decided that it was time to get some things done around the house. Yesterday I set up the crib in Henry's room. William has been sleeping in Samuel's room, and I promised Henry that when we set up the crib it would be in his room. William is so popular.
After setting up the crib I also got the upstairs bathroom painted.

What a pretty girl!!

This is probably what led me to giving haircuts the other day.

Loosing teeth

Henry has lost another tooth...or two. If you look closely at the bottom teeth you can see the shark tooth behind his baby tooth.

Ben's Pictures of Pageant

Sadie, Samuel and Henry at the cooper shop on the Joseph Smith farm
Ben actually took a lot more pictures at Pageant than I did. Here are a few. If you want to see more, you'll have to check his blog.

William's first trip to Salt Lake City

My brother Matt got married on Tuesday, so after we left Pageant we went to get Ben's car in Erie and drove to Cleveland to fly to SLC. Just William and I went. I had so much fun visiting an old high school friend...Tina, and some college friends...Amy, Cindy and Elizabeth. We tried to see Ben's grandparent's, but we never caught them at home. I also got to go to the temple with Matt and his fiance. I drove out to get Ben some beef jerky in Tooele too...what a nice wife. Tuesday I picked up Emily and Jennifer at the airport and then went to Springville for the wedding. It was beautiful and I am so excited for Matt. I got in last night to Cleveland at 10:00 and didn't get home until 1:00 this morning. I am so glad I got to go.

Matt & Sunni and their kids: Ali, Kat and Luke

All of the family

Jennifer and William

Thanks Elizabeth for letting me stay at your beautiful home

Thanks also to Melissa and Jennifer for rides to and from the airport. Also my great in-laws that let me stay at their home when they weren't there, and let me use their car.

Hill Cumorah Pageant

Salt Potatoes

Last Thursday we went to see the Hill Cumorah Pageant. It was so much fun. We had to drive both cars half way so that we could drop off Ben's in Erie, PA. He got a flat on the way there, so we left it at Sears to be fixed while we were at the Hill. Thursday night we saw the Pageant, and a few old friends: Br. Dodds, and Jeremy Ewell. We ate at the tent vendors: Salt potatoes and Italian sausage...YUM. Friday we were going to go to Buffalo, but we couldn't find Ben's passport before we left, and we did the American side 2 years ago. Henry wanted to stay in Palmyra and see the sites again. We spent the morning at the Joseph Smith farm and Sacred Grove. I even saw my cousin Marcy there. Then we went to Nima's for pizza and the Grandin Building. After that we spent a couple of hours throwing rocks and sticks in the Erie canal. What a fun, peaceful day. When we were done at the canal and were walking back to the car I saw some cat tails and told Sadie to come over so that I could get one for her. She walked up and said..."oh, bulrushes." Not totally sure where she learned that, so I asked. Her reply..."Max and Ruby." Who knew her favorite cartoon was so educational.

Nima's Pizza

New office at Hill Cumorah

Sadie and her bulrush

5 1/2 hours of peace for me = $15 for the kids

Today Henry went to a friend's house and Sadie and Samuel sold Kool-Aid. They made the sign and the table themselves. They were out there for over 5 hours and they made $14.91. I got a lot of laundry done! I even ironed the sheets and pillowcases.

$17 + fun = "free" bowling

Bowling places around the country are offering free bowling around the country, but you still have to pay for shoe rental. I took the kids last Wednesday, with a family from the ward. I didn't too well, but hey, it was fun.

Sadie's first sleepover

Last night Sadie and I had a "sleepover." Ben and Henry were downstairs watching the homerun derby, and Sadie and I were in her room watching a movie. I let Sadie pick a movie and a treat. We watched "The Tigger Movie" on the little DVD player, had licorice, popcorn and soda. It was great. William and I were exhausted at the end of the movie, but she was ready for more.

Another trip to OH

Today we went to Columbus to go to the temple. A couple in the ward volunteered to watch the kids at the church by the temple, so that Ben and I could go. We are actually in the DC district, but that is 5 1/2 hours away and Columbus is only 2 1/2. After the temple we went to White Castle and then to the Center of Science and Industry. What a great museum. On the way home we stopped and got our free slurpee's for 7-11 day and also stopped at the Russell Stover store.

Samuel and Henry in the "Progress" exhibit

Sadie playing with gears

Samuel turning a wheel...which only works if his tongue is sticking out

Roses

My mother-in-law planted 3 rose bushes for me this spring....I guess they didn't die!

Look what Ben sent me on Thursday...GORGEOUS!

We do love him...but this we could do without

This is the reason my mother told me that babies are supposed to smell nice...not like rotten milk. This was right after feeding William.

Trip to OH

Henry on the zip line.

Today we were in 3 different states--PA, OH, WV. We went to a friend's house in Ohio. She lives about 2 hours away, so it was our first roadtrip of the summer. The kids thought the huge backyard with tree house, zip line and trampoline was awesome. Thanks Trish...for letting us come, and not making me eat the burgers you made for lunch.

Children's theatre

Yesterday we went to an outdoor showing of the Pied Piper. We went with a couple other families from church and had a picnic dinner. It wasn't Broadway, but it was fun (and more importantly it wasn't too long.) The kids really enjoyed it (except William) and the boys got autographs from the characters afterwards.

William wasn't too impressed.

Fourth of July

Saturday we spent most of the day playing, but we went to the Bishop's house for a potluck dinner. His huge backyard has a perfect view of the township fireworks too. It was all fun and games until Samuel got poked in the eye with a stick. Oh, well. It was still fun. William loved the fireworks, Sadie...not so much. I love fireworks too. I have been lucky enough to see some really memorable fireworks. I can remember watching fireworks by the St. Louis arch when I was younger. We also saw the fireworks in NYC in 1986 when the Statue of Liberty was unveiled after being refurbished. I still remember spending the day in the sand and drinking orange soda. I also love the fireworks at Disney, Stone Mtn, GA, and the Gasparilla parade in Tampa.

Carnegie Science Center

Last Thursday we went to the Science Center with two other families from church. It was fun and we stayed for about 5 hours, but it was super crowded. Samuel had a "poke" in his shoe so this is how he walked around....

Until he got wet playing in the water when we ate lunch outside. Then he just went barefoot.