History

I voted today. For the first time in my voting history, I voted knowing I did my civic duty.. I listened, I asked questions, I studied, and I voted. Congratulations to our new President Elect, Barack Obama!

HALLOWEEN-Suburbia Style

We spent our Halloween this year out on Long Island with the Rich's. So, we got the traditional door to door trick-or-treating. We had a great time! Gavin has been pretending to be a tiger for son long that he loved every minute of being in his tiger costume! Eli's was technically a puppy, but he was called everything but a puppy.. A badger, a bear, a penguin


We also had some fun at our ward carnival the week before!

Jesus wants me for a sunbeam

Today, Gavin surprised Boyd and I by saying he wanted to get up in front of everyone at church. He wanted to go on the stand. I don't think he really knew that we would be "bearing his testimony", but Boyd brought him up there and with a little help he told everyone he knew Jesus loves him. It brought tears to my eyes. While Boyd stayed and bore his testimony, Gavin stood next to him looking so proud. When he came and sat down he kept saying, "but I want to sing." "I want to go back up there and sing." I realized why he had this sudden desire to go up to the stand. Last week was our primary program. He really wanted to be up there with them last week. In his mind, he was going to have his opportunity this week. I know he is going to love being a Sunbeam.

Paris holds one of the keys to my heart...

Ten years ago I had what I would put on my top 5 list of life changing experiences. It was my Junior year in college I decided to follow in the footsteps my mom had taken several years earlier and study abroad in Paris. It was a 3 1/2 month program. I didn't know anyone in the program prior to the program. I barely spoke french and it was my first time traveling to another country (besides a small trip to Mexico). It was an experience of a lifetime. I came away from that program an enlightened 20 year old. I also came away with some lifelong friends who have impacted the person that I am today.

Last week I had the opportunity to return to Paris with those dear friends and with a close friend of ours who we would never have met if not for Paris..

I have a pretty amazing husband who supported my trip and some pretty amazing parents who watched the kids while I was gone for 6 days..

Here are some things I want to remember from the trip:

Our bike ride that took us from Notre Dame, along the Seine, to the Louvre, through the Tuileries Garden, and under the Eiffel Tower.

Strolling around the neighborhood (near the Pompidou Center) we knew so well because our classes were held there..

Returning to the Sacre Coeur and to the artist spot behind it..


I saw something new this time and it was the Pantheon and we even got to ride the bikes again..



Driving to Honfleur (in Normandy) and finding the perfect french town (even though they were mean and all the restaurants closed just as we arrived)



Versailles and reliving our "perfect day" by riding our bikes through the gardens..





Noticing all the places I would want to kiss Boyd



Noticing all the places the kids would like



Getting to places just after closing..Eating as much crepes/pastries/chocolate food as possible the last day for fear that we wouldn't get them again..



Spending a week with Monica, Jules, and Gina..

I missed my family and I was excited to see them when I got back. I do think it was good for all of us, though. Eli, however didn't want anything to do with me when I got back. He wouldn't come to me at first and he only wanted Boyd for the first 3 days. I was interesting to see Boyd at the top of the pecking order. Gavin was just excited and all smiles. He kept asking me "if I went to Paris with my friends." I brought a toy train back with me and he kept talking about his "train from Paris." I had a hard time adjusting to reality when I got back. Luckily my parents stayed for 5 more days! Thank you Mom and Dad!

Hopefully, I can return again soon...

I've been wanting to write...

It just hasn't happened. Eli was very sick for a while and I just couldn't find time to post. He had a strong reaction to the MMR, most of his top teeth were working their way through the gums, he developed a cold, and finally he had a ear infection. We were so worried about him, because he was not himself. He just was so miserable that he was always unhappy. It was so hard to seem him without his smile. But, he is back and is getting into trouble!

Here are some pics from the last couple of weeks...

A play date with some old friends

Boyd pulled out the guitar after a long recess.. Gavin couldn't get enough of it!

Little Learners field trip to the Apple Orchards

A feast fit for a prince...

Prince Brandon...Thanks for sharing!
I better get packing.. You probably won't hear from me for a while as we are off for San Diego tomorrow!

Anybody want a Raspberry?

Raspberries are one of my favorite fruits, especially when in combination with chocolate. A few weeks ago we traveled up to Barton Orchards with a few friends to pick raspberries. We had a great day. Luckily, I was able to get a good 3 lbs before the kids started acting up and then the picking slowed down.

Gavin actually really enjoyed it and filled half a container all by himself. Then he finally ate his first berry. It was over after that. Most berries he picked after that he ate and then he started getting into the ones he already picked.

I am glad we are able enjoy days like that. Coincidentally, we ran into some more friends of ours at the Orchards. Small World!

I planned to make freezer jam with the raspberries. However, finding pectin in the city is impossible, so I froze most of the raspberries. I did manage to make some chocolate/raspberry brownies with them!

Milk's Favorite Cookie

For Family Night, we always have a treat. This week was the beloved OREO. Everyone was given their OREO, except Eli. He made it very clear that if he had to listen to the lesson, he got the treat. So, we gave him his first OREO. I twisted it apart and gave it to him and proceeded to dip my OREO in milk and eat them. I soon heard screeching from Eli who had thrown his partial OREO across the room. Eli has the ability to know when has been slighted. So, I gave in and gave him a whole OREO. I continued to eat my OREOS. I look over and find Eli dipping his cookie in the milk, just like everyone else.