Family Home Evening

Here is what family home evening looked like at our house tonight:

We started off with a little apple picking at the apple tree in our yard...

Norah took a few bites.

Then we got them all cleaned and sliced up and ready to bake in the oven for apple crisp.

and headed back outside to play catch.

Joel has big baseball aspirations for his future, as it turns out.

Jack had a short melt-down about a certain blanket and a few toys.

Then (for the lesson portion of fhe) we all tagged along with Daddy on his visit to clean a lady's teeth at the old folk's home. Norah was a big hit (the other kids mostly looked at the fish and asked embarrassing questions like "Are these people going to die?" )

...and then we came home to this delicious family home evening treat!

P.S. If you're wondering, this was a little assignment from my sister, Ashley. Usually our fhe's consist of us trying to teach a lesson while the kids fight and run around. Well, that's pretty much what happened at the rest home anyway.

Philadelphia

It was totally spur-of-the-moment. Matt and I decided to take the kids to Philadelphia on Friday morning, and by Friday at 1:30, we were out the door! Sometimes I think we should just go ahead and rent a hotel in Johnstown, though. The kids always love the swimming and watching cartoons more than just about anything on our vacations.

After spending a leisurely evening at the hotel (swimming and watching cartoons) we were ready to hit the town by Saturday morning. We saw the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall (where the Constitution and Declaration of Independence were signed). We visited Franklin Court, home of the old Printing Press that copied the original Declaration of Independence and other Ben Franklin related historical buildings. We took Joel (who is obsessed with money) to the US Mint to see how money is made.

After some sight-seeing, we were ready to wander the busy streets of downtown Philadelphia and find some authentic Philly Cheesesteak Sandwiches. The security guard at the Liberty Bell sent us to Sonny's, a local spot and NOT a tourist attraction. The sandwiches were unbelievable with a secret ingredient. Guess what it is? Cheese Whiz! Seriously.

When we were done eating Joel said, "Now THAT was a meal!"

And we all know a vacation isn't a vacation for me if I can't find somewhere to take the kids pics! Thanks, Ben Franklin, for choosing brick everywhere like this cool brick tunnel where I took the kids' pictures.

Back To School

A few weeks ago it donned on me that this would be the first year any of my children would attend the first day of school in a school they had been to before. Can you believe that? I guess it would explain why Merr and Joel kept asking if they would be going to school in the same school as last year. So I went all out getting ready. I did way more than my usual buying of a few cute outfits and a new backpack. I got their whole lives in order. All of their doctor's appointments, their teeth cleanings (and a filling for Merr). We cleaned out their closets and drawers. Merrody got her eyes checked and new glasses (not pictured) and we cleaned the whole house. Everyone got haircuts and new shoes. They had clean sheets and towels and everyone got a Father's Blessing. I made a hot breakfast of bran muffins and scrambled eggs and packed lunches complete with an I love you note from Mom. And it all payed off. The kids were positively glowing when they headed out the door for their first day of school!

Merrody was thrilled to be out of her original stud earrings and into her fancy new horse ones complete with matching necklace, backpack charm and t-shirt.

And when they got off the bus, Merrody and Norah ran to each other! Norah missed her big sister!

...Now if I can only make it until September 22nd when Jack starts preschool!