I love hearing about new good ideas from people.  Ideas that make you so excited that you can barely sit still.  While in New York, there was a discussion about talents and it came out that one of the darling girls there had a talent of always having the Ensign with her.  She was always reading good things and had the magazine in her bag.  I just loved this idea and loved what this incredible woman always had to say, so I thought I would try to do that.  Try to fill any moments when you are waiting somewhere or have a little downtime with lots of words of inspiration from the leaders of our church.  Try to have something in the diaper bag that would help make changes in my life, and we're not talking about diapers and wipes.

Well, in Bear Lake there was lots of that hard to find relaxation "downtime" and the idea was put to the test.  I share this because it has made me so happy and things have happened.  Conversations that have needed to happen have had a chance to begin, relationships are being filled with more and more love, promptings are more readily felt.  

I am telling you she is on to something by doing this and I grateful that this unique talent was recognized so that it could benefit others.

And thanks to Hailey and baby Ava for the much needed getaway and to Em and Dave for the family downtime at the pool!  

 (Incredible Jamilyn brought these to the pool and I just love them and can't wait to make them for Caroline's preschool :)

Now that we've been in Utah for several weeks now, being in New York seems like it was a dream.

I have looked through all of our pictures and a huge smile has been on my face thinking of

all of the exciting, unique, tiring adventures that we had.

I have missed the free concerts in Central Park, grabbing a bagel from Absolute around the corner from our little apartment, and the laughing when Caroline shouts and points, "Mom, she is not dressed modest!"

The last weekend I was there was jam packed and we for sure left with a bang.

A trip with my family is always an assured wonderful time and we were able to spend the last weekend there with them.  I had met them up in Cooperstown, NY for our nephews baseball tournament (and so they could watch the girls for a few days..thanks!) and then a wild trip began.

Niagra Falls was as magestic as ever and we loved riding on the Maid of the Mist boat at the bottom of the falls.

Nothing more American than a good old baseball game.  We didn't know how much Olive would enjoy watching the Mets play....

 

but she and I enjoyed drawing pictures with chalk and also putting stickers everywhere.  After a few innings,

she was ready to hit the seats and show us her modified pony dance. 

Our nephews were pumped to see Times Square, and my dad was fired up to see the ginormous Mormon ad that is right in the heart of the shops, taxis, and people.  When you see it among all of the advertising in Times Square, chills spread over your whole body.  People are talking my friends, and big things are happening.  I absolutely love it.

The Empire State Builing was Caroline's favorite part of the day.

and mine was being with family.  It was so fun to be together and to share such a memorable time.

My cute sister has 4 boys and is an amazing mother, they are the dearest boys and we just crave to be around their cuteness.

I am craving a slice of this right now, and if you don't go to Lombardi's, another great place is Grimaldi's.  Grab some pizza and then walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, that is a nice way to spend an afternoon.

Goodbye New York and hello D.C.!  Yes, we stopped in D.C. briefly before our big road trip home.  This was a perfect stop so that I could drop off a lot of our stuff to lighten our load for our flight later on.

I must say that I am not sad that I haven't been living in D.C. this summer, it was even more humid than New York. 

I love sightseeing with my dad though.  He LOVES history and gets beyond excited about it.  Ford's Theater was fun to see again, Olive was into it for about 1 minute and then we hung out and ate Smarties.

The countdown is on though until we return to our home!  Yes, we have a real apartment that now seems so spacious and wonderful.  The schools we know and love are there, friends that we miss, doctors that we know.  It all seems to easy and nice.  It's sad but one thing I am looking forward to most is going through our things and organizing them again.  I am a weird one, but I crave organizing.

While time is counting down, so is the need to keep on enjoying the beauty of the mountains and lakes in Utah and our precious family.

Sweet Reunion

After waiting and waiting for weeks and weeks....

Daddy finally arrived back with his girls and brought shrieks of excitement from them when they saw him.

Caroline helped Adam with his luggage the entire way to the car.  She did not want to let go from being close to him.

Adam was looking forward to driving after not for three months, but the girls wouldn't have it.  They wanted him right by them in the back.  

Oh we love Adam so much and it's good to have our family complete again!

A different kind of workout

Over the past year (and then some), I have found it hard to muster up the drive to get out and exercise.  I have always been a big fan of getting out and burning some calories, it just feels so good.  I don't know why that spark has fizzled or plain just been put out.  

I knew that we would be walking a lot in New York, but I really didn't understand how physically demanding

living there would be.  I was forced to get some much needed exercise.

It was a very different kind of workout, everyday was different.  Each day was sure to include miles and miles of walking and pushing the stroller, which was a perfect introduction for my body to getting in shape.  

Not only was walking and strengthening my legs part of the package, oh no, there was a lot more included.

There were days when working out my arms was the main focus.  Days when the only way to get where we were going in a decent amount time, was to go down hundreds of stairs with stroller and toddler in tow.

Another great way to work out the arms was to be at a subway stop that didn't have an elevator.  Then you get to lift everything again and feel the burn as you walk up or down often several flights of stairs.

Luckily there were many times when I could opt out of this grueling part of the routine and let some New Yorkers help me.

Since being in Utah, I have had a new spark for making time to workout.  I recently read that to help motivate yourself to exercise, try thinking of it as "me" time.  Don't think about how there isn't time in the day, or that it's too early to get up, or that it's a drag to get out and move.  Look at the positive that you can be just with you and your thoughts and your music as you become healthier!  For some reason, this little thought of "me" time was just the right motivator.

My body has been thanking me for taking a healthier route and trying to get back into shape.  

Running among this has really helped for some of the motivation.

And the rainbow helped me get to the top of a hill without stopping one evening.

I also have to thank my awesome sister who should be a personal trainer.  She wanted me to run over 5 miles with her on Saturday and I told her I would really slow her down.  When I told Adam I was going to go with her he jokingly (but somewhat seriously) said, "Did you tell her you might die?"  

Well I went, and here I am sitting with sore legs which feels divine, and I am not dead.

I know I slowed her down and my lungs were hating life, but we conquered steep hills that I would have given up on and we talked and enjoyed our early morning run.  

Erika plans to keep me pumped and make those hills not burn so bad.

2 more days!!

I can't believe how fast time has gone.  In two days, the girls and I will have been away from Adam for 3 weeks.  Luckily it has gone fairly quickly, up until now.  The 3 day countdown has seemed like time is standing still. 

Everytime we have Skyped or called him, Adam always says, "Olive has grown so much in these few weeks."  It really is incredible how many more words she has added to her vocabulary, how many new favorite hobbies she has found, and how her love of things that go has blossomed to an obsession.

Baby O is not so much baby anymore, but is a full fledged comedian wrapped up in a toddler bod. 

I swear she has a new very animated facial expression every day.  The surprised face that she gets though when she sees an airplane or a helicopter always stays the same. 

So, to make sure daddy is aquainted with his dear 20 month old, I wanted to jot a few things down.

She calls the kitty here at my parents Meow Meow, and follows it everywhere.

Picking up rocks that are practically boulders to her is her new love.  She carries one in each hand and says, "Wock" over and over.  We make her say the word over and over because it is pure hilarity!

The Aviary may ask us to never come back after the other day.  Olive saw a couple of peacocks and followed them everywhere loudly shouting, "Pea-cock!!  Pea-cock!!"  nonstop.  All of the other poor birds are probably traumatized.

She ate a strawberry and finally didn't spit it out!  This girl does not enjoy most textures, but this is progress.

Have you seen "Follow that Bird"?  If you have, you may remember the song "Easy Goin'"  (If you have not seen the movie, don't watch it, it is a strange one but yet a childhood memory for me.)  Anyway, she and Caroline sing that song all day, I would love to post the video.  You would die.

If she is mad she will tell you to "Go Away" so watch out daddy.

On the other hand, she will cuddle and cuddle some more.  She doesn't know how much I need and love that.

See you soon daddy!