Iron-on Decal Fun

Twinners: TayTay  and Avannie

 Look Mom, I found the orange marker!  And it taste so yummy!

Boston's Museum of Science

Several weeks ago, our little family went on a fieldtrip to Boston.  We were given tickets to the Museum of Science from our awesome home teacher, Brother Rigg.  And it was fun!  Well, for Joseph and I at least.  Avannie could care less about the physics, weather, boats, etc.  but she was all about the dinosaurs and the animal exhibits.  It was loads of fun but will be even better when she is older and wants to look at the same stuff that we do.

Checking out T-Rex.  He didn't make the picture as he was enormous.

Look dad!   Hooooorse!

Avannie taking a break while mom is fully engaged with the audiokinetic sculpture in the main lobby.

The only non-animal that Avannie full enjoyed.

Last HUGE Snow Storm of the Year

This picture was taken on February 25, 2011.  Why is it significant?  Because all winter long we have been hand shoveling our drive way and if you are from New England, you know that this has been a crazy year of snow so this was not an easy deal for a pregnant lady.  Joseph went into Home Depot/Lowes several times during January and February looking for a snow blower.  Hilarious because those stores were already putting the spring stuff out to sell; the snow blowers had been gone since early December.  But moral of the story, Joseph had to go into Home Depot to get some small thing and came home with a snowblower that someone had returned after using it once.  He was SO exited!  He waited and waited for it to snow just to try it out.  Finally, it did.  He loved it.  And it hasn't snowed enough to use it since.  Ha!!!

Mom's Little Helper

 Recently, I have moved all my unorganized filing from the basement to the upstairs to effort to be more diligent at it.  In the process, I decided not to just move the chaos but to thoroughly organize it too.  This project took 3-4 days to complete, but it feels WONDERFUL to have it done.  Best part is, though, as I ran downstairs to get more color paper to color-coordinate file tabs, Avannie decided she also wanted to be apart of this grand effort and climb right into the drawer.

Sweeping? yeah right.  Not when you have a toddler in the middle of the hallway reading her new book with dad in the kitchen.

 Every time I start to make cookie dough, Avannie always is very helpful in making sure everything tastes just right.

A typical day of going out... to get the mail, to the grocery store, church, etc...  We need to make sure a few purses are packed, the bears aren't left behind, and there is a book to read.

Trip to Upstate NY

 In March, our family took a little road trip to Upstate New York and had a great time.  First stop was Joseph's old middle school where Avannie and I got the grand tour.  We also got to see is old coach too, which was a highlight for Joseph.

Joseph's New York Home

After spending the evening with old friends from back in the day, we were off to Palmyra to see history!  (This was my excitement of the trip.)  We stopped at Hill Cumorah and viewed the interactive visitor center.  Avannie loved the buttons.  And she would even sit and listen to what was being said.

After Hill Cumorah, we toured the Smith homes then went over to the printing shop.  That was cool as we got to see all the different steps to print a Book of Mormon back then.  It really was a miracle.  Here Joseph is actually learning how to fold the first 16 pages of the book which would later be combined with the rest of the pages to create a book.

Last stop in Palmyra was the Sacred Grove and because of the time of the year (March), it was pretty soggy and wintered.  But it was still quiet, still and beautiful in its own way.
 

After Palmyra, we started to head east again and the last stop was a visit to my cousin's home.  Joseph was inspired at all the tree-cutting projects Ammon had done as well as all the other incredible home improvements that made their home beautiful.  

Avannie and 2nd Cousin Teya playing with the chickens.