Here we come Elkton!

After a couple of change in plans, meeting with doctors, lots of résumé sending, emails and phone calls, we have decided to move to Elkton, Virginia (when Lee is done with his Army obligation). Well, prayer and pondering were the main factors going into the decision! 

Two doctors used to work at the practice in town, but after retirement they closed the doors just a couple of months ago.  The doctor who owns the practice seems very nice and is excited to get an optometry doctor back in town.  Lee and I are looking forward to the challenge of growing a business and for Lee to be his own boss.  This will be quite the experience!  If you're in the area and need your eyes checked or are camping in the Shanadoah National Park and your kid pokes his eye out or something....stop on by!  Something I am tickled about (and really, I don't know why) is that there is no Walmart in town.  It's kind of fun the town is that small.  Reminds me of Ely in a way.

Image from www.elktonva.gov.  Check out their site!  It's pretty nice!

Happy Easter!

We hope you all had a great Easter.  It was fun reading about some of your traditions that you do with your families. We did start some!  There were some short video clips on lds.org and we watched one each morning the week leading up to Easter.  On Saturday we went to an egg hunt and lunch that Lee's work hosted.  Sunday we watching Finding Faith in Christ, had a family testimony meeting and after dinner did an egg hunt with the Resurrection Eggs.

As for what we have been doing the past couple of weeks, I have a few photos.....

I had fun going to a surprise birthday party for my friend Sarah.  Her boys are the same ages as Clark and Cal. 


Here is another picture--but look at the library sign.  It's so funny!


One night Lee took some pictures of Elden and his train and boy, he could be Ethan's TWIN!


An event took place a couple of weeks ago that Lee and I will never forget.  A family at our church adopted a young man--the one in the front row, far right--Shawn Botti and were sealed to him in the St. Louis Temple.  Shawn will be leaving soon to go on his mission to Los Angeles (YES, my mission!!!).  It was such a special occasion and you could feel the presence of the Holy Ghost so strongly.  It was an amazing sight seeing all their kids (used to be seven, now eight!) in the sealing room there to witness Shawn being sealed to Rob and Danielle for time and for all eternity. 

We love the Fowers.  What a neat family! Thank to Tara for watching our kids for HOURS and for Jeni and Sam riding with us.  We had a great time with you!

Some pictures from the hospital Easter egg hunt...




Our power went out that morning at about 4am...thus no hair dryer or curling iron to assist me in having bangs that day.








We went "fishing" SO many times. 




Time for the egg hunt! They split the kids up into age groups (I think everyone does) and the 3-5 year olds had two hallways FILLED with eggs.  What a fun use of a hospital on a quiet Saturday!




Saturday night Lee and I went on a date. Lee got us frosty's and me some fries at Wendy's.  We listened to a book and went to Lowe's.  We were walking by the appliances and the other kitchen stuff.  One of the workers said something about Lee taking me out on a date that is supposed to be supposedly romantic and of course brought me to Lowe's to look at guy stuff.  It was funny because I enjoy looking around at Lowe's or any home improvement type store for that matter.  I told him that since we were together without our five kids it was a GREAT date, plus we had gotten a yummy treat too!

Sunday morning Lee snapped pictures of the girls.


And Elden.






Clark ready to fight the Lamanites.


The lame attempt at a kid picture.  Elden was outside and when I brought him in he started screaming and crying, so thus the absence.


That night we let the kids pig out on their candy (Saturday too...).  Cal built a Starburst tower.  Then he proceeded to eat it.  He of course got sick and threw it away.  We told him to save the rest for Monday but he didn't want too. Good job Cal.


Clark and Cal used reusable BYU shopping bags for the egg hunt and picked up many, many eggs.  Clark sure had a nice loot of candy.  Even after eating it for two days, there was still a lot left Sunday evening! 




We hope you all had a wonderful Easter!

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

Lee and I recently finished listening to this book together.  It was very good.  We haven't watched the movie, so aren't sure what that is like, but we recommend the book.  It was very thought provoking.  What a wonderful life I am blessed with!

And thanks, Amazon, for the picture.

Another Date Night

Lee and I have continued to do some creative date nights...and I hope we'll keep thinking of ideas!

This is what I did a couple of nights ago...I found this free online puzzle template.  I printed it off on cardstock.








I had Lee open it at work.  That night we ate yummy Belgium chocolate and drank San Pellegrino Limonata. We watched Number Seventeen, a movie co-produced by Alfred Hitchcock.  Not one of his best...though we can't give it a fair review because the sound and picture quality were very poor. Now I need to think of what to do this weekend for a date...

Spring!

Spring is here!  It's gorgeous outside and Lee LOVES working in the garden. I just thought of Charlotte Lucas talking about her new husband Mr. Collins....
"I encourage him to be in his garden as often as possible...Then he has to walk to Rosings nearly every day. ... I admit I encourage him in that also." THANKFULLY Lee is in the garden because he enjoys it, not because I want him to be out there away from me!

We enjoyed a nice conference weekend on the 2nd and 3rd of April. Twice a year our church leaders speak to us concerning various subjects inspired from the Lord.  Topics vary between raising children, forgiving one another, sharing the gospel, living within our means, or the blessings of repentance--to name just a few.  Check it out here: April 2011 General Conference.

Now for some random, recent updates.

One night while babysitting, we were reading scriptures and Elden was snuggling with our friend. It was so cute.  He just kept letting her hold him!


A couple weeks ago the girls went to a princess birthday party.




Haley did not want to be a princess.  Fine with me! 


Hanging out with Talan


Shanna and Talan sat there for awhile, passing the time of day...so cute!




Lee was in-charge of date night this past weekend.  He had arranged a babysitter, but I had another commitment that night...sorry Lee!  After the kids were in bed, we had hamburgers, roasted marshmallows, then watched the Food Nanny.  Very fun!  Thanks Lee!  I need to figure out what we are going to do this weekend...hmmm....
 

Saturday we went to another birthday party. The whole family was invited.


A very cool Lego pinata.  Besides having candy inside, there were silly bands and Lego pieces!  So fun!


Anyone recognize the guy in the background?  He and his wife have been in our ward for a few months, but I've never talked to him before this, just his wife.  Come to find out, he served as a missionary in Marshall Branch the same time I came home from my mission!  Too funny.  After talking with him he even looked more familiar.  He remembered what my dad looked like and remembered the Bennetts, the Lindquists, and my friend Amber (probably more people too!). I miss Marshall Branch!  By the way, he is Sunny (Sundan) Bradbury.




It was classic seeing Haley's face.  She was DETERMINED to break the Lego!








By the way, Elden had his two year check-up.  He is in the 2nd percentile for height and 5th percentile for weight...or the other way around?  EITHER way, is his FINALLY on the charts for both categories!  Woo hoo! He is doing well.  We are very blessed.


Sunday night my mom and dad and youngest brother Sheldon stopped for the night.  Sheldon recently returned from his proselyting mission to Italy and is now on his way to Brigham Young University in Rexburg, Idaho.  He took a return trip to Italy after he came home and my parents and Sam and Shawna tagged along too. Or Sheldon tagged along with them. Sounds like they had a great time.  My parents brought my kids Kinder Eggs, I got an Italian silk scarf (VERY COOL!) and Lee and I also received a small nativity.  THANKS!!!  We had a great time with them, even though it was a short visit.  They stayed through lunch on Monday. My kids especially loved seeing Sheldon. 


Come back soon!


It's fun hearing and seeing the girls play together during the day. 


Never grow up girls!


Last night Enos came to Family Home Evening and asked my kids how to pray.  He said he thought about the words of his father Jacob and wanted them to teach him to pray.  (I saw the idea online...Enos is a prophet from the Book of Mormon)  Thanks Lee!  I hope it went well...we have our share of bedlamites!


For Family Home Evening dessert, we had mint brownies.  Shanna was treat and requested the pink frosting.  Check out the amazing recipe on fivesistersfivefamilies.blogspot.com


Easter is approaching, and I would love any ideas you all have about celebrating Easter with your children.  We did not have the Easter Bunny growing up and I have continued that with my kids.  I always want to do something spiritual with them, but I end up doing nothing.  I don't mind doing Easter egg hunts, but I need some spiritual Easter tradition ideas!  Please share!!!

Have a great week!