What Is That ? !

Well, that is something we have never seen before! This morning we went in for our halfway ultrasound and we saw - a boy and all his parts (we won't post that one!)! It was pretty funny and exciting! We got to see Baby Boy M's arms, spine, legs, heart, and we even saw his mouth opening and closing!

Manhattan was right there the whole time and was really excited!! The tech even printed a picture just for Hattie to take to school and show her friends!

I am afraid that we are crossing into uncharted waters - no more baby pink! Bring on the trucks and blue! What I really want to know is if this means I get to clean out all the pink baby stuff and pass it on to someone else!!

So here it is - get those M boy names rolling in . . . .

Our Little Garden 2009

Manhattan and Marin's New Room

Just some pictures from one of our newest projects! For some reason we decided last weekend would be as good as any to redo Manhattan's room to fit both girls! I think it will be awhile before they are both in there but we figured maybe Hattie could have a sleepover or two in the summer. Last night I ended up on the bottom bunk because Hattie was having a hard time sleeping - not too bad!

The project is still in process: The shelf/cupboard units are great - not the usual furniture I would have picked but perfect for a room with a very little closet and two very lovely dresses girls! We still need to combined the clothes - a job for another day - it should be ok with this extra space! The flowers on the wall are nightlights and Hattie loves them - only one can be on at night otherwise it is too bright. I would like to do something at the bottom of them, like some grass but we are still thinking on that! We have to find more fun letter stickers for the door so we can have both girl's names on it! I need to hang her fairy wings - she would like them suspended from the ceiling - I am not sure about that! I would like to take down the shelf above her bed (it just becomes a collection zone!) but she loves it and uses it a lot - she is not willing to give it up!

We are hopefully that someday Marin will move in but we are in no rush to get our fast mover out of her crib!

Recent Vegetable Fun!

I love spring and summer and all the fabulous fresh vegetables and fruits that are available!

Hattie wanted me to post these for everyone. The first is Marin going crazy with her corn - she loves corn and will ask for it whenever she sees it! She loves the corn holders - you know those ones you love that you poke in the end of the corn cob!

The second picture is the "largest" pepper we have even seen. I bought it at Walmart and we just had to take a picture -it was huge and yummy!! We tried to show how big it was by putting it by the book but it just doesn't do that pepper justice - it was massive!

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Happy 36th Birthday Daddy!

Today Morgan turns 36 - I think he is a little self conscious of getting older - I think it has to do with the fact that we remember when our parents were this age. That is a little crazy. So he says this morning - "only 20 years and then I qualify for a senior citizen", my only response was "that is good, we could use the discounts".

I have decided that I am not a great birthday planner - sometimes it just sneaks up on me and I hate that! My big plan for his birthday day this year was the ultrasound, a nap for him, a academic placement meeting for Hattie (big fun), dinner, and a movie but we did the movie last night. So we had the baby ultrasound, I am hoping he is taking a nap while I write this. Our meeting is afterschool. As for dinner - I am still planning on that - probably Red Robin - kind of our tradition and then home for Lemon Meringue Pie (no I did not make it, I can hardly spell it!) Morgan always requests pie for his birthday and I am always grateful for the yummy Marie Callendar pies! I am not the pie baker his mom is!

As for big birthday surprises - wasn't a boy enough?!?!? Manhattan and her friend Lauren made him the biggest card ever and decorated a frame for his work locker room. I was planning on dragging him out to get a new suit but he is not too willing - he wears a suit every Sunday and he rotates through the same two since Hattie was born - it is time! We will still have to work on that. Shopping for birthdays get harder as you get older and realize you don't need anything, nor do you want any more "things" to fill and already small house. We are planning on taking a couple summer trips in July & August and that will use up any and all birthday money - I am looking forward to that!

Oh - on a side note - we took Manhattan (and Marin) to see A Night At The Museum last night and it was pretty good. We all enjoyed it and Marin made it through until the very end.

All I can say is happy birthday to my wonderful husband. Thank you for all your patience and love. Thanks for being a great husband and sidekick! I have to say thanks to his parents who raised a great man and I am forever grateful for their love and support they give to both of us. I have the best in-laws in the world - you may think you do but you are wrong - I really do!! They raised an amazing man and are now guiding us along the way to be great parents! Thank you Marianne and Larry! Just had to post a baby picture too! I think Marin looks like him?

Manhattan's Farm Field Trip

Tuesday, May 12, 2009
It took me a little bit to get these done but I love the pictures! It was a long field trip but it was fun! Manhattan and her friend Amarru are so funny - running around holding hands and always sticking together! She likes him best in class because he is "gentle and not so loud as the other boys". So cute!

Manhattan's Auction Cake

And It Is Done!

I had a wonderful mother's day!

Well I guess you know how busy the week has been if I am just now writing about Mother's Day! One of the YW in our ward has been staying off and on with us so that has been fun but it keeps things a little more busy! Manhattan also had a field trip to the farm - I will post those pictures soon I hope!

Manhattan was so excited for Mother's day this year - she had made gifts at school so i got something Friday (a planted marigold in a decorated pot) a gift on Saturday, cause she could not wait to give it to me (a poem/story that she wrote) and a gift on Sunday (lego flowers that she and Morgan glued together so I could keep them forever!).

Morgan ended up working until 10 pm on Saturday night and then he went grocery shopping for Sunday. Manhattan and Morgan wanted to do breakfast in bed on Sunday but that doesn't work well when I get up first and we leave for church at 8 am. When I woke there were tulips in the living room and an orchid in the kitchen from Morgan as well as a gift card to go out to dinner later in the week (which we haven't got to use because of our busy week!).

After church Hattie insisted that I take a nap (which I needed) and they made breakfast for dinner - my favorite! Manhattan had prepared a menu - colored the whole sheet of paper and wrote out the menu (see below). After she woke me and I looked at the menu she read me some Mother's Day books. She also had a flower necklace and card she had made at church for me! She was so cute! Morgan had me sit at the end of the table so he could take care of Marin during dinner which she was not happy with. After dinner they did the dishes and I had to relax. It was so nice! I had a great Mother's Day!

Thanks to my family for a wonderful Mother's Day!!

Girl Scout Day at the Toledo Zoo

Continuing our really busy Saturday we ran home, drove through for some BK, ate lunch, left Marin with Morgan and gathered up eight of our Daisy Girl Scout friends and headed to the Toledo Zoo!

They day was a lot of fun but I was a little over exhausted and when I got home I crashed. Thankfully, Morgan was home so I crashed (literally) downstairs for awhile. Morgan ended up having to go to work (someone called off sick) so the girls and I had a relaxing night with a movie, Bedtime Stories - cute movie! Everyone is off to bed (hopefully they will stay there) - including me as soon as I get this posted!!

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 2009

I never went and got my "Save the Tatas" shirt - it has been a crazy week and I never got to pick it up! It was a nice day for the walk, pretty windy but I was so glad that it was not rainy. After our morning walking we headed for an afternoon at the Toledo Zoo.

Car Update #2

Many of you wanted to know what actually happened with our car. I was driving down the road and it just broke. It literally just snapped and I heard a loud screeching sound as metal was dragged along the ground - it was worse than nails on the chalkboard! The dealership said that the ball joint broke amongst other things but what happened first I am not sure. It looked bad and we were worried that the car would not be fixable!

So here is another expression of gratitude - we got a call from the car dealership about 1:30 pm today and our car is done. It took them just over 5 hours since the parts were delivered this morning! Thank you to Brown Honda!!

The verdict was: a broken lower ball joint, broken brake line, the axle was separated, rim was gauged (may not replace that :) amongst other things for a bargain price of $1600 or around that. We will see the final cost when Morgan gets home!

Morgan is home: So the final cost for restoring our beloved CRV - $1070.

Here is a close up of the damage as well!! I am grateful that Morgan had blog on the brain and he took pictures - what a great husband - he knew I would want to blog all this fun!

P.S. I am feeling the baby move now more - I forgot what an unforgettable but weird feeling that is!

Gratitude - Car Update

So if you saw the earlier post you would know that our CRV broke and it really broke big! I was just driving down a small sidestreet to get on the highway and heard this horrible sound! I was pretty sure it was bad but . . . . well, it was!

I have to post some things I am so thankful for after our car broke down this morning.

1. It happened a couple blocks BEFORE I got on the highway.
2. I had my cellphone (I have been forgetting it recently)
3. It happened when Morgan was off work to rescue Marin and I.
4. We have towing on our car insurance.
5. The tow truck was pretty prompt (only about 40 minutes!)
6. The Honda dealer where it will be fixed were nice even a little funny about the mess!
7. They have a kids play area and plenty of entertaining rock piles out front.
8. The damage can be fixed at a bargain price of $1, 600 (at least it is fixable!)
9. We don't have to buy a new car!
10. The dealership gave us a free rental car while ours is being fixed.
11. Our car should be done tomorrow night (Morgan is off again tomorrow).
12. Most importantly, no one was hurt and we are home safe and sound!!

Yes, I did have a prayer of thanks and gratitude but I wanted to express here too - our day could have been SO much worse!!
Of course it is not over yet! :)

Good Laugh!

With all the craziness with this swine flu make sure you follow good hygiene guidelines - wash your hands, use hot water, etc but most importantly don't let your kids DO this!!

In all t

Breast Cancer Walk 2009

It is here again next Saturday May 9th! This year I am taking both girls and we are doing the 3.1 mile walk together. This year we will be walking in the name of my Grandma - Bette Smith, Morgan's Aunt - Joy Thornton (who was recently diagnosed) , and every other woman that has struggled with breast cancer. I pray that this will be stopped and cured before anymore woman hear the diagnosis. If you would like to donate, please click on the cancer walk icon to the right!

P.S. I still have to get my "Save The Tatas"shirt and I will look cute in it with my beginning belly!

And I am ALL caught up!

This morning I picked up Marin's crossitch! While I was visiting my parents' house is March I worked on this every chance I got. I wanted to have it done before I wanted to start scrapbooking our vacation! Here it is - my 16th baby crosstitch! I am excited to get it on the wall this afternoon!

Here are some recent pictures of the girls. Marin has figured out how to climb up and get the camera so she brings it to me all the time to take her picture - so I have lots of her just smiling! She has also taken to getting all the keys too - that has been a little problematic but so far so good! She likes to stick them into all the key holes - I am a little afraid that we (she) will lose them!

I have to tell you, she is not very quiet when she sneaks but it is very funny! She has been very happy to not have to wear shoes anymore - she loves wearing her sandals!! I am thrilled to have less clothes to put on both girls - makes leaving the house so much easier!!



This picture of Manhattan and her BFF Lauren is officially our first summer picture! It was really warm this weekend so they got on their swimsuits and played in the water - it was a lot of fun!!

Aren't They Adorable!

I took the girls this morning to get some pictures taken in their Easter dresses! I also took a summer outfit but in the end these were the best! The top one was cute fo both the girls and then bottom one I got suckered into by the "Ahh" factor when it was taken! I am a junky for pictures but I only go for the $9.95 package! This time I got sucked into the one extra sheet of the one below! It was too cute! P.S. In both pictures you can see that Marin is getting some hair!!

Geo-Caching Family Fun!

Last night we went on a true treasure hunt - "geo-caching". Three years ago we gave Grandpa Neal & Grandma Laura some travel bugs - Mr. Potato Head and Snow White. Both travel bugs started out in Warrenton, Oregon and their goals were to end up in Toledo, Ohio or Kennewick, WA. A week ago Grandpa Neal's Mr. Potato Head arrived in Toledo. We were so excited to retrieve it!!

So finally, we set out to retrieve it last night. We journeyed to Perrysburg and then traveled through around some bunny homes, through lots of muddy water, and by a lot of tall weeds with sticky velcro weeds! It was a lot of fun! As you can see Manhattan was happy to retrieve it - Marin misunderstood and thought the GPS was the cellphone! When she finally saw the travel bug she loved it and wouldn't give it up!

Gratitude!

Monday morning we left our Ethington family and were on the plane by noon! Marin decided that would be the day to say Truman's name - so cute! She is not much of a talker but she truly loves Truman - he is so patient and loving towards her. Now that we are home if we ask where he is she says. "ah-oh" and puts her hand over her mouth - she misses him already - so cute though!

As crazy as it always is - I love being there. I am afraid that I am not always my best self - confession here - I would like to say I am always calm and poised but mostly I am tired and overdone! Just an apology to my wonderful in-laws, I love you all and I am sorry that I get worked out by the end! I have the BEST in laws in the world! I am not just saying that cause they read my blog! I truly do have wonderful mother and father in law who look past my flaws and still think I am a great wife to their son and grandchildren! I am so grateful to my sister-in-law Kim and her husband Nephi who tolerate my high maintenance energy and ending desire to clean up - I am sure I have "lost" more than one thing for them! I love my nieces and nephews who awake happy and cheerful every morning - I love breakfast with them - they are so fun!

I truly love traveling and seeing all of our family and I am looking forward to June-July when we do it all again! For now I am so glad to be home - all day yesterday we did laundry, grocery shopping, and cleaned house! I am ready to answer the phone, returning emails, and catch up on my blog (obviously)! My girls are still sleeping - only advantage to traveling out west - they sleep in a little when we come home - disadvantage - naps and bedtimes are a mess! Oh well!!

Our Visit with Petersens

On Saturday we drove down to Suisun to see our friends, Aaron & Carolyn Petersen! They used to live out here in Ohio and we had our 1st kids (Alex & Hattie) two weeks apart! They are wonderful friends!! Pictured above is Aaron, Carolyn, Sydney, Alex, Marin, Camryn, Melissa, & Morgan. Manhattan didn't come as she was driving with the cousins to get Kaiya!!

Every year we try to get together with them! This year they will be reassigned to South Dakota - closer to us!! Yeah - only 17 hours away - round trip!! Thanks for letting us crash your day!