Amish beauty

There are so many times as I'm driving through "Amish land" I wish I had my camera. Well, I finally did on this day so I snapped a few pictures.

For the vast majority of what I've seen them do in their fields & around their homes (they have the most immaculate yards you've ever seen, I still plan to take a couple pictures of my favorite homes) they do not use modern equipment. Hence the old-time looking hay in rather artistic-looking piles.

This is one of their cemeteries. True to their mode of pure simplicity all the headstones look the same.

This was incredible. This guy was driving a team of EIGHT ginormous horses to till this field, standing up mind you. It's so far away because I didn't want him to see me taking his picture (they aren't allowed to have pictures of any people in their homes in any form...to my knowledge they believe it is like a graven image).

Well, as a further announcement, we are actually moving to "Amish Land" a.ka. the town of Grabill. It's closer to church (15 min instead of 25), Tony's work (20 instead of 35), the library (1 block instead of .5 miles :) , my FAVORITE store "Grabill Country Sales" home of the bulk products where I save oodles of money & discover some new awesomeness every visit (last time it was the 100% all-natural jam sweetened ONLY with juice & in tons of variety--can't wait to try the 'pear' flavor I got), the boys soccer team, etc...

One of the main reasons we wanted to move (aside from me being done with the 'no-laundry- facilities-in-our-apt' experience) was the school situation. Two elementary schools are combining & closing & so now all the 4th-12th graders will be in the same school--the high school. I'm just not a fan of that idea, even though it's supposed to be separated, etc. That on top of the fact that I found out I'm not supposed to teach music lessons here--not even for trade--& we decided it was time. This house has tons of work to be done (pictures will be following :), but it has some great potential (sneak preview: hardwood floors & a metal pole-barn especially suited for roller-skating people!) so we're really excited & I feel like we were led to this house & it's a huge blessing. In another 2 weeks we will have moved for the FOURTH time in THREE years. Let's hope we get to stay in this one longer than a year. That's the goal, but no promises.

Purely Rhett

Unintentionally I posted these pictures from oldest to youngest :) It's amazing to me see how much he's grown in such a short time (7wks tomorrow), & because of that, I decided I needed some more pictures posted on here of him!

Ari n' the Splash Pad

We went to the splash pad after the ward picnic...she loved & laughed when the water got the other kids...but cried the first time it got her :)

Daily Walk

Taking a walk is no longer the lovely, romantic pastime of yesteryear. Kids bring a whole new dimension [and timetable] to this seemingly simple activity.--Wake up. Smell work out clothes...good, not 'too' odiferous, don't have to hunt for new ones. Get Ari dressed, "No Ari, don't run off with your poopy diaper...and stay away from the toilet paper roll, I mean it!" Feed Ari [sing at LEAST 10 songs to keep her from spitting out/throwing food, but the second I slack off...arrrggg...blueberry oatmeal mush on my pants, "Great, new work out clothes here I come..."], while feeding myself WHILE nursing Rhett. Take that "America's Got Talent!" Hose her off then let her down so I can wipe up under her booster, only to realize too late that the gate to the kitchen is open, so she breakfasts a second time--on crackers & tidbits off the floor. And then she STILL has time to rummage through the garbage can before I turn around. Administer hand sanitizer to hands & silently wish I could do the same to her mouth. Next, shoes for two then hunt for the socks Ari has taken off Rhett's feet--again. Undress baby down to diaper so his sweating is kept to a minimum. Change Rhett's diaper, let Ari throw it away under careful supervision (she cherishes this job). Round 2 for hand sanitizer. Time for Rhett to go in the Moby Baby Wrap while Ari is screaming, "ba-bye?! ba-BYE!!" increasing in decibels with each request/demand. Mom water bottle: check. Ari water: check. Keys: Check. Buckle the screaming child in so we can go bond in the 90 degree weather, with 100% humidity (why do kids this age not realize that hot/humidity decreases the 'fun' factor when experiencing the great outdoors?). Check on the other child against my chest. Ahh, snoozing peacefully....reminisce back to when Ari was like that & wonder at the fact that with the delightful chaos surrounding me I am still minus two children...bittersweet at this moment. Mom is sweating like a pig already. Who needs to leave the house to get a work out?

1 Month

This little dude is groooo...wing! Yesterday he weighed in at 11lbs, 4oz (birth weight: 7lbs, 4oz). That's what we call healthy!

-From day one he's been so alert. At his one week appt. he followed the doctor with his eyes. He also likes to stay awake for an hour to THREE hours at a time...are we in for it? Tony #2 here we come [I'm working on that & he's doing better--I don't want an overtired newborn just cuz he thinks everything around him is way more exciting than sleep]

-That said, his first week home was heaven...he slept 2, 4-hr blocks several nights in a row! Too bad that didn't last, but at least he sleeps at night in between his 2-3 hr feedings.

-He lifts his head way too proficiently for one this young (from about week 2).

-He does not love his baths.

-This is kid is the noisiest eater ever--but usually only at night. I don't get it, but it sounds like he's drowning!

-Ari is 110% obsessed with holding him & being another 'Mommy' (just like me when I was young in addition to her looking like my baby pics--is it weird that Tony & I produce mini versions of ourselves?). She has to hold him before, in between & after I nurse him & she even lifts up her shirt to show she means serious business. She slobber kisses him ALL the time, leaving lovely carrot or cracker chunks in his hair. Yum.

-Jyson says he's cuter than Ari was at this age :) & one time when he was holding him he sighed and said, "I wish this moment could last forever."

-And, he's been doing this since he was a week [call it gas, call it more evidence he's a Tony in- the-making, but I'll take it whichever it is!]. He's darling & we love him so much!

Dayton Firecrackers

Really, the most festive thing about our 4th was these outfits so I had to take a picture (Rhett's outfit was one the boys wore :) Tony has mega-homework these days (he's taking 2 classes in 6 weeks) so he did that while I mothered, then we went into town where Tony was a REAL sport & let me run in to 2 discount stores to get a couple T-shirts (half off for the 4th you know!), then we rented a movie, ate watermelon & did see a few fireworks in the parking lot (even some biggies across the field) as we went on a romantic walk to go get the laundry. Maybe next year we'll do a little more since Ari would probably love fireworks & Rhett won't be in 'newborn-phase.'

I did learn a little trivia that blew me away since I totally taught it wrong (via the S.S. curriculum books I was given) to my 5th graders. John Hancock allegedly wrote his name so large on the Declaration of Independence so King George would be able to see it without his spectacles. Not so. In reality, he was just the first one to sign it so he didn't know everyone else was going to end up writing their names so small. Also, the names were written at different times from August to November...none in the month of July, let alone on the 4th! Ah, well...

Happy birthday America (6 days late)!

The last bitlets of fun...

The first day Nana brought out 'the beast.' They started this puzzle & worked on it for the whole 2 1/2 wks she was here & finished it (they had 15 min of daily 'puzzle time')! Not only did it have 550 pieces, the pieces were crazy shapes. I was in awe of their patience & persistence (puzzles are not my thing). My grandma & uncle (the one that passed away recently) both love puzzles so it was a great bonding/story opportunity for my Mom. 3 cheers for the puzzle-teers!

Sleeping on the landing one last time (they would rather sleep there than their beds)

Saying goodbye to their tadpoles...zoom in & look closely at the bottom left dark blob & you can see it has legs!

Last FHE (Nana got to see the 'role-plays' in action). We love you boys, have fun & be SAFE in Hong Kong!!!!!

Look familiar?

Love it in all its truth. Dialogue of pictures from L to R: "Ok, everyone do a funny face...grass up close, ooohh...ok, Ari walk break...Tony this will over faster if you don't complain...awesome capture of Ari doing Book of Mormon stories to keep her sitting long enough for the picture...yeah for happy children...Ari break, jump on Dad...can't we do one like this?...that's it, I'm OUT of here..." Until next year family...

Some pictures of luv...pretzel art by Jyson :)

Since my Mom & the boys were leaving that week we decided we would brave the crowd at church and have Rhett's blessing (2 weeks after he was born) & then I would just leave after sacrament meeting. It was a beautiful blessing. Others in the circle were: Brandon Stump, Matt Suddarth, & Bishop Jensen. He's wearing the same outfit Jaydon wore at his blessing, made by Nana Cobia (blanket is the same one Ari used, made by fabulous roommate from college--round 2 of thanks Camian!)

Sloppy Monsters

Sloppy Joe Monster's...request as their 'special dinner' before taking off to Hong Kong for the summer with their Dad (he has an internship there)--what an experience, huh?! Oh, & we did go to O'Charley's per Nana's special treat.

The boys both got a card to get in free w/ 4 people to this science museum so we went once before Rhett was born & then Nana graciously took the boys & their friend, Gavin.