it's getting messy this election season

Here are a few pictures of our lives this last couple of weeks:

This is what happens, while Mommy is at a YW Presidency meeting. Nate thought it was pretty funny. He is so good to remind me to laugh at times like these. A mess can always be cleaned up - but their feelings not perhaps as easily.

Good thing for Mason that Stan is generally so good-natured. 

Cleaning up.

Nate's favorite dessert - white chocolate raspberry cheesecake for Valentine's dinner. Not as pretty as I was hoping, but he seemed to like it a lot :).

Our little snow/ice storm

ice-covered grass

Date night- checking out the special collections at UVA

Funeral services for our beloved car "Betty". I think Nate shed a few tears on that one. Believe it or not, that car brought us through our first steps of dating and married life.  She brought our two little boys home from the hospital, and moved all of our stuff to the East Coast. She gave us her all, and we are forever grateful to her. Yes - I admit I complained at times that when I drove her - other cars swerved around me just because they thought I was a Grandma, but at the end of the day, that car had the smoothest ride in town. Part of me is going to miss her as well.

Meeting John Kasich was a big highlight for us. He had a campaign event just a couple blocks away from our apartment, so we walked over with the boys. A lot of people commented on how neat it was to have two young boys participating in the political process.

We were fortunate to get there early enough to get seated tickets. We sat for a while when out of nowhere Kasich entered the room right where we were sitting by the door, and just looked at us with the kindest eyes. I think he was quite surprised that we had brought our littles along for the ride - even though we were not in the main room - but in a side room. He said something like "Oh, Wow, isn't this wonderful!". He asked Mason and Stanley's name - and said to the entire room "his name is Stanley, isn't that great?" He asked Nate and I how long we had been married. We said five years and he said "that's just wonderful!", then he walked to the front of the room to address the audience. It was such a sweet moment for us. 

During his interview he complimented the Mormons and our unique approach to welfare. He said it has been extremely beneficial for Mormon communities and is a wonderful model for our nation. The interviewer mentioned how Mormons are often misrepresented in the public sphere. Nate and I looked at each other and grinned. 

He's just a really genuine, good, smart, compassionate, sensible guy who has done so much good in his State of Ohio. No candidate is perfect, but we both really like him.

Mason said "Hey! I saw you on TV!" We had to see him one more time before we left. He said to Mason - "Can you shake my hand?" He said, "look at my eyes Mason!". Then he said, "he's a handsome looking guy!". 

If I had known we would be meeting him - I might have dressed up a little more.

My two little Picassos

Happy 5th Anniversary

Five years, two little boys, and two moves later. We were planning to leave our little men with our dear friends here - but a little sickness got in the way, so instead - they came along - to DC, a little change of plans - and it was an adventure. Brazilian lunch, Natural History and American History Museums. They loved it- we were exhausted at the end :). Not the retreat we had planned, but a memorable one, still.

Who knew that five years could bring so much - joy, growth, unbelievable happiness, unbelievable pain and stretching - and I wouldn't change any of it for the world. Still in awe that this little girl from Orem Utah, could be given such a sweet life...I thank my lucky stars every day - especially after those sweet faces go to sleep, and I catch myself looking at pictures of them from the day, or talking to Nate about cute things they did or said. Yes - Mothering is huge, a lot of work, tons of joy, some pain and growth - but there's no one else I'd do it with - then that guy right there. Happy 5 years handsome man. I love you more every day and I can't say enough about you - ever. You are even better than I ever could have imagined.

Snow Days

We had a lot of fun with the big  hurricane/snow storm that came here a couple of weeks ago. When we felt like staying inside, we made "snow cones" and "snow cookies" indoors, and when we felt like going outside, we made snowmen and went sledding. I love the snow.

Delicious! or, not

i think it's safe to say that he likes the snow

a bundle of joy

now where did those stairs go, again?

take off

slow down there, Stanley

some "spoon fulls of sugar" i made for a YW activity - with that young man's help of course

a day in Richmond

Before school began, we also took a day with a few friends to check out the Children's Museum in Richmond, as well as the Art Museum, and a fun restaurant. 

Uncle Jason and Grandpa would be proud

milking cows?

we forgot to take a pic before, but here's Nate's plate - love the southern cooking

Adventures before the work begins

Before Nate had to go back to school (but still while he was working for a Professor here), we took opportunities to go to see the other portion of the Air and Space Museum close to the Dulles Airport. Mason loved the rockets and airplanes, and hasn't really stopped talking about them since. We also enjoyed seeing the Great Falls with our friend Kerry Harding, going to eat at Cafe Rio (yes I still love that food), and seeing the beautiful lights at the DC Temple and Visitor Center. As for the rest, Nate made some mint ice cream (which I'm sure was delicious, but I couldn't eat because..you know), and I've loved watching Stanley and Mason play "duets", and Nate read to his boys with one on each knee. Those are sweet moments for me.

Discovery

The plane that carried the Atomic bomb which landed on Japan

Outside the Museum

Great Falls, Maryland

Stan kept running up to that statue and saying "Jeus!"

could they get any cuter?

maybe

nightly tradition

Nate's favorite machine in our house - and mint leaves

New Years 2016

This year we celebrated with stuffed peppers, paints, and new goals. My goals include - eating no sugar, running a 1/2 marathon (i'm training for the Charlottesville half on April 2nd), reading the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants, and being a more playful Mom among others. You'll see that sign I painted below to help me remember 'Let Them Be Little'. Sometimes, I have a tendency to think they have to know everything - reading, writing, arithmetic and how to play beautiful music on the piano before they even turn 5, but I've learned from friends here especially, that these years are years of joy and exploration - taking it at their pace, and so I have made that new goal for myself. When Mason asks me to play with him, then put down the laundry and play. Go outside more, enjoy the beauties around. So far the winter hasn't been friendly to those ideas, but we are still trying :). Mothering has become more enjoyable as a result. Sure, I still have days that are harder than others - but I'm trying...and that's what goals I think, are all about. So here's to an even more joyful, 2016.