Temple Trip

Going to the temple is quite the process. We don't get to go together unless others come with us. We were lucky to have the Smith's and Ockerman's join us for this trip to DC. We stayed in a hotel about 3 miles from the temple which made a fast and easy commute. Darin and I were able to go on Friday night to the temple while the Smith's watched Nash. We decided to do sealings this time which I think was so worth it. There was a couple who brought in names. It was for their best friends. The man was their best man at their wedding. They said this couple was their only friends that stayed their friends once they joined the church. It was such a sweet feeling in the room as they did this work for their special friends. It made us think about how blessed we are to have friends inside and out of the church. :)

Before we left home Nash got a hold of Darin's swimming flippers and decided to wear them around the house. We were not able to leave with out them, and YES Nash had to wear them to the swimming pool!On Saturday morning Darin and I were in charge of 8 kids (ages 11, 9, 8, 6, 4, 3, 2 and 3 months). We had our hands full so we did what any babysitter would do...we watched TV, played duck-duck-goose, hide and go seek, dance freeze AND took them all swimming! The kids were wonderful and really easy to care for. Thankfully there were NO problems!Before heading home on Saturday afternoon, we stopped at the temple to walk around with Nash and buy garments for my growing belly. Nash called the temple a castle and asked where the dragon was! We walked around the visitors center and watched the Joseph Smith movie, which we LOVED! Nash couldn't get over that he didn't get any popcorn...oh goodness! And then OF COURSE we had to make a swing by Cafe Rio for lunch/dinner! It was a good weekend. We didn't do any of the tourist stuff because well we have done it all. We really just wanted this trip to be about the temple and family. I think it was accomplished! Thank you Ockerman's and Smith's for joining us!

(I have videos but they won't upload. I guess I will save those for another post.)

Snow Day...

This winter has been so odd. We had a fun day with lots of snow and then two days later it was gone! I am glad we took advantage of the snow while we could. It wasn't the best for making a snow men so we resorted to piling snow up and packing it. Then thanks to Pinterest we had the great idea of putting food coloring in a squirt bottle to paint the snow.

And of course a carrot had to be used for the nose...which by the way Nash has been eating lately by his own request! It is a miracle our child is actually eating something healthy!!!

Nash was pretty disappointed that the snow melted so fast!!! He checked on his snow man every morning...and did what any boy would do. Kick it until it was GONE!

Nash is a SUNBEAM!!!

My mind cannot wrap around the fact that our child is old enough to go to primary now! Good thing my friend Codi asked me if I was excited for Nash to start primary or I would have NEVER clued in! I asked Nash how nursery was one Sunday and he said "I went to Primary!" I just nodded and smiled not even registering that they took the new Sunbeams into Primary for a trial run. Poor Nash his mom is so not with it sometimes!

I didn't want to be that creepy mom with a HUGE camera taking pictures so these are all from my phone. So I guess I am that creepy mom who sneaks pictures of her kid with her phone when they are not watching!

Nash loves his teacher. They are new to our ward and she is so nice.

A few Sunday's ago Darin and I asked Nash how his class was and he proudly said "I raised my hand" demonstrating as he said it. I said "You did! Did you answer a questions?" He proudly said "NOPE!" One step at a time...I have a feeling Nash is that kid in the class that is constantly raising his hand but never has an answer when called on...haha.

We are pretty proud of our little sunbeam and I love hearing all the things he is learning. Today he was walking around the house singing "Follow the Prophet" which is a song I know I haven't sung to him because well it gets on my nerves...looks like I am going to have to get over that! :)

Tired/Pregnant Mommy + Bored Little Boy =

BIG MESS!!!!

Thankfully there are moments like this that make all those messes worth it!

Philadelphia CHOP rotation..

Darin's last rotation was at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). The residency paid for a hotel down there so occasionally Nash and I would pop down there and stay. We were able to go to a few museums and just hang out with Darin. If we didn't go down Darin would drive back and forth because he didn't like being away to long...feels nice to be missed. :)

His hotel was near a lot of fun things like the LOVE park. I know it isn't called that but I can't remember what it is called. :)

There were flags hanging around the city and I found the Uruguay flag on one of our outings. :)

Nash found a HUGE piece of Mac and Cheese...which happens to be his favorite food now.

I forgot to post this next picture with the Macy's Santa Claus. While visiting Darin we went to the Macy's light show and met up with Santa.

I think I enjoyed this rotation just as much as Darin. Darin loved it because he was working in a Children's ER room which is what he wants to do. I loved it because we stayed in a hotel where I didn't have to clean, food was made for us (breakfast and dinner) and we got to play and enjoy each others company!

Philadelphia Franklin Institute...

Nash spotted this sign from our car and it was a must that we go to the Franklin Institute. We were lucky enough to go twice in one week with Darin and then with our friend Codi and her girls.
All the museums were walking distance from our hotel so it made parking so easy. They are also all a block or so away from the new Philadelphia Temple site...which is AWESOME considering the fun things we can do with kids while attending the temple.

The dinosaur display was okay but we thought the Natural History Museum was better. Nash obviously loved all of it. His favorite part of this one was digging for dinosaurs in a bunch of rubber shaving stuff.

I liked the health area. They have a gigantic model of a heart that you can walk through. It is pretty awesome.

Water is always a favorite when Nash is involved.

Trains...

There was an area with a bunch of vacuum hoses and balls. The kids were totally entertained by sending the balls back and forth to each other through the hoses.

Another favorite was the exercise machines that made these annoying cartoons sing...

Fun with magnets...

Thanks Codi for joining us, you made a long day go a whole lot faster and we had a ton of fun!