Festival of the Book

This week for our weekly family outing, Nate took us to Charlottesville's, 'Festival of the Book'. Even though it was unusually cold outside (like icy rain), and I sort of felt just like being cozy inside with a blanket, Nate really encouraged us to go out and I'm SO glad he did! To me, there's a certain feeling you get when you are surrounded by good books - a really good, sort of humbling feeling...reminding me of how much there is to learn. Mason is just starting to learn how to read - so he is especially excited about books right now. He kept bringing me book after book, and asking me to read them to him or with him. Can I just say that reading with my kids has to be some of my favorite mothering moments. I love it. Some of my happiest memories as a little girl, are of my Mom sitting next to me on the couch and reading. Nothing captures the mind and imagination like a good book, and so I'm more than a little excited that Mason is catching that excitement as well. We kinda skipped Stanley's nap to go - so he caught a quick nap on Nate's shoulder as we walked. 

totally an orange/blurry picture - but mason loves these green drink popsicles and i love that he and Stanley love them! i make them from their left-over green drinks in the morning. what did Moms do to get their kids to eat greens before blenders??

Spring Break 2016

This last weekend - I was so fortunate to get to visit Utah during my dear Sister Elizabeth's wedding. It was a beautiful moment being in the Temple together with all of my family - and to realize the miracles and blessings of heaven in my family. I also got to spend some quality time with my parents and siblings, and visit the open house of the Provo City Center Temple. That was another highlight for me. The craftsmanship and the feel of a Temple to me is next to none. Nate was kind enough to let me take off without my babies in tow - making my travels extraordinarily smooth. I missed my boys however while I was away, and so it was good to be back with them again after the weekend was over. They had a fun time though. Fortunately I came back during Nate's spring break - so we decided to catch up, and take a brief trip to North Carolina.

North Carolina has its charms. The Biltmore, and visiting Nate's Aunt and Uncle at Mount Airy (the proud home of Andy Griffith) was the perfect setting for our Spring Break outing. I had never met Nate's Aunt Maria before - so I was excited and happy to finally meet her. She is so similar to Nate's Mom, that I accidentally called her "Mom" a few times. My boys enjoyed being with her as well - the closest thing to being with their Grandma Freeman. We were lucky enough to meet up with Nate's sweet and darling cousin Kathryn, as well at the Biltmore with her three cute kids! It was a beautiful location in the Appalachian Mountains, and the craftsmanship and gardens were designed by the best in the world at that time. It was uplifting, and renewing to be in that beautiful location. Thankfully our boys slept the way home - so Nate and I got some quality time talking - which is so so good. Still can't believe I got him! 

Pride and Prejudice dresses and time period costumes - can it get better than that? Lizzie and Darcy - I love you!

so exciting

those grounds!

Virginia's amazing history

Two weeks ago on Saturday, we took quite the historical trip to see 3 Civil War sites, and 3 President's birth places, all in one afternoon and evening. Battle of the Wilderness, Chancellorsville, and Fredericksburg were all close by. Washington, Madison, and Monroe were born within about 20 miles of each other, so all in all it was quite the historical day. I grew up listening to my Mom tell stories about American History, so actually being here and seeing the places where these stories took place, is almost surreal. Just one of the major reasons I love Virginia.

That Mason face! It gets me every time. This is the place where Stonewall Jackson was accidentally shot by his own men - a turning moment for the Civil War.

Battle of the Wilderness

Dragging Stan to another museum :). JK - Nate made him pose for this picture as he said those words. I actually love that my boys are getting exposure to all of this history so young. I hope it is planting seeds of love for this blessed Country.

Birth place and home of James Madison

Birth place of James Monroe

Birth place of George Washington

and that, Ladies and Gentlemen is where George Washington slept the first year or two of his life - in that crib.

walking the grounds where Washington lived the first few years of his life

seeing these pigs was a highlight :)

Stanley the surveyor

Those moments....make all of it SO worth it!

enjoying some ice-cream at the end of the day

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