Inner Peace

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I was talking to our neighbor a few days ago ...

he is super nice, and I learned that he is a conspiracy theory nut.

We were talking about the events that have been happening 

in Boston over the last week and other things that are going on around the world 

and the gist of our conversation was that what happens around us is 

completely out of our hands - but as long as we have inner peace,

it shouldn't really matter what is happening out there in the

big and getting scarier by the moment world. 

This picture has been floating around Facebook for the last little while,

and I really do love it because this is something that I struggle with.

I spend so much time worrying and being fearful of the bad guys and the extremists

that some days I scare myself into wanting to barricade myself and my

family from everything in the outside world.

This is definitely something that I'm going to work on ...

Random March Fun ... 2013

In between preparing and recovering from my trip to PA,

we did have some other fun through the month of March!!

Rascal kept us entertained and we learned that she LOVES

it when we cut off sections of paper towel rolls so that she can

chase them around the kitchen floor. She does not like it, though,

when they go under the fridge or under the closet door!

We had a low key Easter Sunday! We did get some gorgeous

daffodils and a fun Easter basket from Nate's parents in the mail 

that included one of Nate's FAVORITE Easter treats: 

Brach's Marshmallow Chicks & Rabbits

 

We were picking up a few things at Safeway, and saw this GIANT tomato!!

The picture doesn't do it justice - but trust us, it was huge!

Rascal decided she wanted to snuggle while I attempted to get some work done!

I was doing simple tasks lazily on my couch, so she got spoiled for an evening!

I attempted making our own homemade shower soothers using a recipe

that I found on Pinterest! I don't think I put enough essential oil in them,

because they don't seem to work very well, but it was worth a try, right?

We fell in LOVE with this water (also found on Pinterest).

Lemons, Cucumbers & Mint - we make this concentrate and then

add it to the water that we drink through out the day! It's SO

refreshing and is supposed to be a good detox mix!!

Anyway, as you have seen, March was a wonderful month!!

... First Spring ...

When we first found out that we were moving to Grants Pass,

Nate's little brother, Tom (who lives in Eugene) told us about Springtime

in Oregon! He told us that Southern Oregon has a First Spring

and a Second Spring! When I left for my trip to PA, things here

were green, but there were no buds or flowers anywhere ...

I was gone for ten days - and when I got back, I saw that First Spring had

definitely arrived! Nate drove me home through town and I was just in

awe of how beautiful all of the trees and the flowers are - so the next day,

when it was a beautiful 71 degrees, we grabbed some lunch at Jimmy's and headed

out with Nikki the Nikon so that we could share First Spring with you!!

Also - as we were driving through the City Center, I snapped a few

photos as well - it is my favorite part of town, so I thought I'd share those with you, too!

 

As you can see, First Spring is completely beautiful!! I'm so excited for

Second Spring to come around! I'll be sure to share more photos when that happens!

... PA Trip 2013 ...

Unless you've been hiding under a rock, you know that I spent

a week and a half in PA with my sister Amanda's family!!

We had such an awesome time and I took, of course, a TON

of photos!!  Each day, I took a few minutes to jot down the highlights

of the day in my journal, so in order to keep this post manageable,

I thought I'd just transfer those thoughts over along with the photos

from the day!! So, without further adieu, I give you ....

My PA Trip … 2013

(Oh, and photo disclaimer: I didn't take our Nikon on the trip with me,
these are with a point and shoot camera OR my cell phone -
there just wasn't room in my carry on!!)

March 17^th

The drive to the Medford Airport -
 it was the first time we've driven to Medford during the day, 
so I thought it was picture worthy!!

Our selfie at the Airport before I headed in!! I definitely missed this guy!!

The Medford Airport was hands down the TINIEST Airport I have ever been to.

There were six gates, and I'm pretty sure each gate led to the same plane.

I've never actually walked outside to get on to my plane before,

so I took the following picture of my feet to commemorate the moment!!

It was SOOOO strange being held over at the Salt Lake Airport. 
I longed to run out of the airport and catch a cab to make a quick stop in Logan 
to see our families and friends, but there was definitely not enough time for that!

Plus, if I would have left the Airport, I would not have met my new BFF!!
So I was sitting there, playing Words with Friends with Nate,
and all of the sudden, MIKE TYSON came and sat right next to me!
Apparently he was on some type of trip with his wife!
I was too stunned to even attempt some type of photo OF him
(I think the most I would have gotten would have been his shoe, though -
I would have been too chicken to actually ask him for a photo).
I even had Nate send me THIS picture of him so that I could make sure I wasn't hallucinating.
Okay, so maybe he's not really my BFF, but it was sure a cool 20 minutes!!

  

Finally arrived!! 
Amanda looks so chipper and adorable and I look like I'd been flying all day!! :)
We had a fun drive back to her house and talked the WHOLE way!!

March 18^th

     

 

 

  




*** Hearing Ada tripping over my back pack when she came to wake me up at 7 before going to school
*** Running smack at Kaobe to give him a hug before he went to school
*** Watching Leiah run at me with open arms for her greeting hug
*** Watching Indy be her shy self when she first saw me - it didn't take long for her to warm up,
but she was funny about it!
*** Meeting Dexter!! Such a sweet little pup!!
*** Leiah's Dr. Appt - she was teasing the Dr. behind her back - Amanda tried to get her to stop,
but I had to hide my laughing!
*** Checking out Amanda's favorite Grocery Store - Wegmans
*** Having a belated GREEN St. Patty's day dinner of pancakes and eggs
*** PICTIONARY!
*** Seeing an actual snow storm this winter!
*** Making the rounds in the basement - boxing, ping pong, stationary bike, elliptical -
we spent a good 45 minutes hanging out down there!
*** Soaking in the Hot Tub with Amanda after the kids went to bed
*** Lots of snuggles and hugs!!         

March 19^th

Ok, so I look COMPLETELY awful in this picture, I was exhausted,
 but I was having such a good time getting schooled in Chess by Kaobe while the girls where in bed!

*** First solo day as mom to 4 kiddos
*** School delayed due to school meant getting directions from Kaobe & Ada
to their school - they were a little iffy, but we made it!
*** Snow in the morning and Rita's Custard after school
*** Getting my hair done by Indy
*** Seeing Leiah carry a GIANT sugar container and a spoon into the living room
so that we could sweeten her herbal tea - a packet of sweet and low is
actually what we used : )
***Kaobe CLOBBERING me in our first game of Chess
*** Poor Leiah and her cough sleeping on the floor of my room

March 20^th

*** Exploring different hairstyles with Indy & Ada before school!
*** Ada's dance class!
*** Yo Fresh Frozen Yogurt
*** Panera Bread & Chick Filet - I had dinner from BOTH places
because we have neither in Grants Pass!
*** Playing the piano with Indy & Leiah!!
*** Introducing JEM & the Holograms to the girls
*** more Chess games with Kaobe
*** Leiah sleeping sideways in bed!
*** Crazy Dexter trying to steal my lunch!
*** Being reminded by Leiah to NOT play with her pigtail braids!        
           

March 21^st
























*** Poor Leiah with her cough and not sleeping well did not want to get up,
so I had to pull her out of bed with her ankles - (don't worry, she was giggling)
*** Miss Indy being indecisive about her hair for the day
*** A nice LONG skype with Nate while the kiddos were at school
*** The hot tub mocking me as I tried to work!
*** RASCAL'S Arcade - bumper cars, climbing wall
*** Root Beer Floats
*** Helping Ada study for her science test
*** Being able to actually relax before bed        

March 22^nd & 23^rd

These two days were so quick and wonderful that they blurred all
together!! On Friday, Carlynne & her family came down
to spend the night, so we spent Friday evening and Saturday morning
with them!!

 (Beware, there are a TON of photos from these two days and they are very mixed up!!)

 











 




















 























*** After school swim on Friday with Ada & Leiah! Kaobe played on his
computer & Indy worked on a story she was writing
*** Getting ready for Lance & Carlynne to visit
*** Leiah falling asleep on the couch while waiting for them to arrive.
*** The first words out of Eva's mouth: "I'm going to marry my daddy, and he's bald!"
*** Meeting William again! He's SO big now and so adorable!!
*** Ada & Indy's reactions to Lizzie & Eva's spunky energy and messmaking :)
*** Poor Dexter being so good staying in Amanda's room while Lance & Carlynne were there.
*** Hanging out in the hot tub with Lance & Carlynne, then realizing
how late it was and remembering that 6 kids were going to be up early the next day!
*** Playing with Lizzie & Eva after they woke up before Amanda's kids were up!
*** Watching Leiah teach Lizzie how to play the piano!
*** Coloring Easter Eggs
*** Making Popovers for breakfast with Ada
*** Swimming in the hot tub with the kiddos
*** The impromptu lunch we had - sandwiches, cereal, pineapple, cheese,
cheetos - and William spreading it all over the floor!!
*** Having to say goodbye to the Carters. Why are we always doing that?
*** Lizzie & Eva asking if I could come to their house to play, and if I could bring Ada with them!!
*** Having pizza and movie night with the Osolu kiddos!
*** Skyping with Gramps, Grandma & Uncle Blake!     

I am such a blessed Auntie!! We had such a fun time with the Carters and
although their visit was short, I am so grateful that they made the drive
to come and see me while I was close!!  
     

March 24^th

After re-cuping from Friday & Saturday, we got ready for Amanda & Obeta to come
home AND a visit from the Trans!! (I got SO spoiled on this trip!!) 

Again - so many pictures and so out of order :)

 
































*** Breakfast at Dunkin Donuts
*** Old town Allentown - finding our way to the maill
*** Ahhh, a mall ... another thing we lack in Grants pass -
I actually got to walk around an Aeropostale!!
       *** Amanda & Obeta getting home - the kiddos were SO excited!!
*** Anticipating the Trans arrival!!
*** Swimming
*** Hand & Foot
*** Sniping lessons from Ty
*** Funny photos
*** Snuggles from the girlies
*** Easter Egg Hunt - Ty found the giant egg
*** Getting a very fancy hairdo from the girls
*** Having to say goodbye to the Trans, again - why are we
always doing that?     

Again, I am so grateful that Jess & Phuc took time to drive down and spend the 
afternoon with me! It was so good to see them, and even though the visit
was short, my heart was definitely full!!

March 25^th

  























*** Lunch with Amanda & Obeta at LongHorn Steakhouse
*** Hand & Foot with Kaobe & Ada
*** The Ugly Sweater Game - British accents necessary
*** A swim in the Hot Tub
*** Obeta teaching Ada about the stock market
*** Homemade bread and brownies (Amanda rocks)
*** Jamming to the 90's music
*** Hearing Obeta singing along to Hansen
*** LOTS of snuggles
*** Chess with Kaobe

The Long Trip Home

  



  



*** Panera Bread with Kaobe & Amanda  
*** Rushing through the Detroit airport only to arrive to a delayed airplane
*** Being SUPER disappointed about being delayed in Utah,
waiting FOREVER for a Hotel Shuttle,
and being crammed into a Shuttle with 9 other people -
all exhausted and frustrated that they didn't make their connections
*** Hanging out, once again, in the Salt Lake Airport
*** Finding Krispy Kreme donuts to take home to Nate
*** FINALLY landing in Medford
*** Being reunited with Nate!! I missed him SO much!!           

I had such a wonderful trip and I am so grateful that I was able to go
and to spend time not only with Amanda and her family, but with
Jessica and Carlynne and their families as well! 

I am so grateful for our families and for the fact that even though
we live miles apart, we are not separated by them!! I love them all so much!!