C&O Canal

Have you had one of those days that it is just super great to be alive? I had one of those days on Friday. The weather was perfect- the sun was shining, a cool breeze- nothing could bother me (though the swarms of gnats by the water were a bit annoying- I dealt with it), and everyone was in a good mood. 

Kaley, Anna, and I went with our friend Nikki and her son Michael to the C&O Canal on the Potomac River. We learned all about the history of the canal and took a 45 minute trip down part of it. This is a picture of us on the boat. At the very beginning we went through one of the lock gates. Once we got through the gate, mules pulled the boat on the water. We had a fun time and it was made even better with a trip to Rita's- an ice cream shop that specializes in frozen custard and Italian water ices. I had a root beer flavor Italian ice and vanilla custard. The frozen custard surprised me- really thick, creamy, and smooth. If you get a chance I would try it. Anyways- it was a very nice day and worth blogging about so I will remember how nice the day was.   

Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens

We have been watching a Masterpiece Theater presentation of Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens online. I had never heard of this book but we have really been enjoying it. Here is a link if you want to watch it. It will only be available online until May3. Tonight is the conluding episode. If you get a chance to watch it I hope you enjoy it. 

Bittersweet

Looking back on my life there are some bittersweet moments.  Times when I have been so excited about what is about to happen next but also sad about what I am leaving. Graduating from high school and going to college- bittersweet. Going home from a mission and figuring out what to do- bittersweet. Moving to Logan, Utah and leaving some good friends- bittersweet. 

Did you catch what I just wrote- moving to LOGAN, UTAH!!! That's right we are moving June 1. Jed got a job with the Utah State University and we are moving. It would be really great for me if my friends here could move with us and be our next door neighbors- is that possible? Is that too much to ask? Then it wouldn't be bitter at all- just pure SWEETNESS! 

I am really excited about our move- it just feels "right." It feels right for so many different reasons (the number one reason will be living closer to both of our families).We are planning on renting something for awhile until we decide where in the valley we want to go. Jed thinks it would be nice to be a little bit north of Logan. We might buy a house or maybe get some land and build. I am not sure what we are going to do. All I know is it will be nice to live in a house and have a yard for the girls to play around in.  

On our exodus out to Utah we are going to make a real road trip out of it. Both of our cars are going to take us to see Philadelphia, NYC, Palmyra, Niagara Falls, Kirtland, Nauvoo, Independence, and Winter Quarters. Jed's parents are going to fly out and drive it with us. It will take us about two weeks to do it. Now- that is a roadtrip. See to the right- Getting to Know Us- about our road trip food picks.  So bring on the sweetness and I will try not to cry about the bitter. Sidenote: I am horrible at saying good-byes. I cry. I don't know what to say. Let's just say, it is not pretty. Actually I just like to pretend it is not happening and not say anything at all- like I am going to see them next week at Church. I might just do that. 

I am still here- though you couldn't tell by my blogging efforts

WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is April. WHAT????????????? How could it be. Okay- now that I got that out of the way. I am still here but just couldn't fit blogging in between taking care of my girls, cooking dinner, laundry, studying for my classes, and LOST. So here are some pictures of what we have been doing. I didn't include a picture of me watching LOST but I don't think you actually want to see a picture of me watching LOST. If you do, I would be concerned. 

SPRING is awesome here in Maryland. There are so many trees that it is fun to see them stretching after a cold winter. On Saturday morning we got up early and went down to D.C. to see the Cherry Blossoms along the Tidal Basin by the Jefferson Memorial. 

We thought there wouldn't be too many people but we were wrong. Everywhere we turned there were photographers taking pictures of the blossoms, engaged couples, and brides. It was really windy but worth the trip down there to see. Jed is the photographer in this photo of us.

Here are some recent photos of the girls. I seem to be doing a series of pictures of them in small places. Pictures they can look back and say, "Whoa. I was small." 

"Getting All Dried Off"

"Sitting in the Blanket Bucket"

"Lounging in the Windowsill"

The next thing up are a couple of videos of us at the park. This is the park we always go to. This is where Kaley learned to cross the monkey bars. It is close and big and there are usually some kids to play with.  Actually, the other day we went late in the afternoon and there was a group of older elementary school aged kids from an after school daycare. I was amazed because Kaley went up to this girl who was with a group of kids and started playing with her. I don't know if the girl was fine with Kaley playing with them or if she wondering why this little girl was following them around. I was debating if I should say something or just let her tell Kaley herself if she wanted to be left alone. I decided not to say anything and Kaley played with them almost the entire time we were there. I guess I was surprised because Kaley had no inhibitions about going up to an older girl and being like, "Hey, want to play with me?" 

Anyways- here are the videos. 

 

Kaley doesn't love riding her bike. She will do it for short periods of time, almost not worth the effort to load her bike up in the car and take it to the park. 

 

Here is Anna picking up trash off the ground. To be honest, I really dislike this aspect of the oral phase. Nasty stuff gets picked up and unfortunately I am not always able to get it before it goes into the mouth. 

Current Art by Kaley

"Marley and Marley"