Super Boy is 2

I just can't get enough of this SUPER boy. He has brought so much joy to our family. It's hard to believe that two years have passed since he came to us. He has such a fun personality. He's always laughing at everything and is always showing off his toothy grin. He loves cars and especially motorcycles {hmm, wonder why}. He also loves playing ball...any and all kinds! Super boy is a great snuggler and likes to give "loves". He is OBSESSED with his daddy and he is lost without him {Matt has been gone for 1 week now at officer training camp in San Antonio, TX...5 more to go!} Super boy loves fishy crackers and all sorts of fruit. His new fav is "wa-wa-mel-mo" {aka - watermelon}. Super boy loves to dance and has always had the beat since he was a baby. Super boy also loves his Nerf dart gun and can already cock and shoot. He loves all things boy. He has already had several hair cuts in his short life...and I just had it cut, but that poof ball needs a trim again!

We made some yummy red velvet cupcakes to eat here at my mom's house with our family for a little party.

Oh my goodness, we love this face!

The kids wore their super shirts in honor of SUPER BOY! 

I'm TOTALLY dying without my computer!  I have no photoshop and my pics take forever to load!  It's all on a boat to Germany {I hope!}  So bear with me as I post not the most super pics!

America, the Beautiful

On our drive, we came across many beautiful views. We live in a beautiful country. It was a cool experience to drive across the US. Our kids were awesome and our cars all worked well. Our trip couldn't have been more perfect.   We drove from Ohio to Michigan, to Illinois, through Iowa to Nebraska, to Colorado, then to Utah {stayed with our bro & sis}, then on to AZ.  Matt and I drove our van to San Diego, CA the day after we got to AZ.

The picture above is Big Rock Candy Mountain somewhere between UT and AZ.

There were so many beautiful mountains along the way. Each was majestic in its own right. Although I LOVED Ohio, I did miss the mountains.


We drove over the Colorado Rockies at sunset. That mountain range is beautiful.
We drove through Colorado National Monument in Grand Junction, CO.

Then we stopped at a rock shop I remember going to when I was a kid. My kids had fun choosing rocks to add to their own collection. Yes, I was a MAJOR rock collector as a kid. My collection really helped me with my Geology unit the years I taught kindergarten!

Nauvoo

I feel like I have so much to say about this beautiful place and about the crazy life we have been living these last few weeks. Movers packed up our Ohio home May 24 and 25 {a sweet perk of the military! I never want to pack myself again!!} My kids said goodbye to their teachers and friends. We pulled them out a bit early. As I went to pick my kids up for the last time, it was a bit emotional leaving Chippewa Elementary. We have absolutely LOVED our time there. The teachers are amazing. I cried a lot as I saw my home for the last time and hugged people who have changed my life goodbye.

Luckily, our drive out west entailed some amazing stops. We first stopped in Michigan, then Nauvoo, IL. This small town consists of many historical sites where the first Latter Day Saint pioneers moved after being chased out of Kirtland, OH and Far West, Missouri. As we saw this beautiful town and listened to the amazing stories of those who have gone on before us in our church, my testimony grew and my appreciation deepened.



We were able to make a rope the way the pioneers did as a family. This was a neat experience for us. After we finished making the rope we talked to our children about the significance of this activity. One strand of rope might easily break apart, but when we worked together and tightened the six different strands, this rope was tight and would not break. Matt and I thought a great family motto would be "tight as a rope". As long as we are together, we will never break. Super boy was excited to hold our special rope.






I was able to capture some shots at sunset. J & G had a great time playing in the Missouri River. The statues are Joseph and Hyrum Smith riding off to Carthage Jail where they would later be martyred.



We stayed in the Zion's Merchantile Hotel. It was lovely. It was a great home for the night, since we are technically homeless at the moment.

Goodbye Brecksville Home

We moved to Brecksville July 2007. We have lived in our same home for the last four years. When we moved out here, G was barely two and J turned four weeks after we moved in. My mom came with us to help us move in. Our wonderful neighbors, the Olsens also helped us out. Now we are leaving with one more family member and a whole lot of friends that will forever be our Ohio family. I didn't realize all the wonderful things this chapter in our lives held in store for us. While the last four years has not been all a bed of roses, I wouldn't trade our time here for anything in the world. We've all grown up a little and learned important life's lessons. We have lived, we have loved. We have laughed, we have cried. We have just loved Brecksville, OH. We will always look back on our time here with such a fondness and a longing to be back.

Clelveland Top 10

TOP TEN THINGS WE'LL MISS ABOUT OHIO

10. Handel's - So this post isn't all about ice cream, but here in the US, it's the best we've EVER had! We love this little joint. The ice cream is all homemade and only 5 minutes from my house...trouble. We are sure going to miss you Handel's!!!

{they even put little eyes on the FREE kiddie cone for super boy.}

9. The Indians' Games - Sports are SO MUCH FUN out here! We just attended a game last Friday where the last guy to bat {bottom of the 9th, 2 outs, 2 strikes, and down by one point} hit a homer with another player on 2nd base. It was perfect. Everyone in the crowd was hugging each other and sharing high fives. My kids had fun high-fiving our fellow Indian's fans all around us. I love the fanatical fans. They also have the BEST fireworks' show I have EVER seen.




8. The Wildlife - We see deer, squirrels, and a variety of birds on a daily basis. My kitchen window looks into a wooded area next to our house and I see birds like blue jays and cardinals. I watch the squirrels gathering acorns for the winter. Deer are constantly walking in our back yard and drinking from the pond near our house.



7. Playhouse Square - We have really loved the wonderful theater district in Cleveland. It's the largest outside of Broadway, you know! We have seen: Wicked, Les Miserables, Mama Mia, South Pacific, and STOMP there. The theaters are so lavishly built and decorated and the shows just amazing.


6. Amish Country - We LOVE visiting Holmes County. The Amish are so clean and kind and just plain fascinating. They have the best food and great stores.


{I picked up this Granny's Garden quilt top all hand-pieced by my Amish friends...now to quilt it}


5. The Metro Parks {The Emerald Necklace} - Oh, we have loved riding bikes and going for walks and hikes in the amazing parks right by our house. My kids enjoy the "really tall swings" and seeing the beautiful wildlife.


4. Springtime - All the daffodils and blossoms are AMAZING. I just love magnolia trees. They are my favorite! Spring really feels like a rebirth and a renewal of life.



3. The Fall Colors - Oh my goodness is this unreal and gorgeous! I have never experienced something quite like this. I LOVE Ohio falls. The colors sometimes take my breath away.



2. Our Yard - we have the BEST backyard. It stretches on forever. My kids have enjoyed it so very much. Riding dirt bikes and tractors, playing soccer and tag, and having good 'ole hot dog roasts are among a few of the things are yard has enabled us to do.





1. The People - I have met people here that I will never forget. I have best friend's that are like sisters to me {who I know I'll see again...just not every day...hate that}. I have friends who are parents of my children's classmates that I love dearly. I have many friends and examples that I have looked to from people that attend church with me. My friends come in all ages. I will miss you the very most. You are my Ohio. My kids have also learned to be the "new kid" and make friends easily. They have been blessed with wonderful friends in their lives just like Matt and I have. Not to mention that I love mid-westerners. The people out here are so friendly. Now let me go cry myself to sleep. Also, don't forget our little Cleveland souvenir, Sam.