Date with my mate!

This date was long over due, but my man sure delivered. It was a surprise and the only clues I got ahead of time where 1) Jared was wearing jeans and a collared shirt, 2) they might have to kick us out, and 3) there would be only finger foods to eat. What? 

He took me to a beautiful winery with a free concert! We have been wanting to take a tour of a local winery for years. Literally years. We finally got to walk around the grounds and enjoy the earthy smells and sights of the only winery in our county. My favorite part - the band. My man knows I LOVE live music. LOVE. LOVE. LOVE. Luckily, purchasing wine was not required for free entry because we don't drink! That's why Jared thought we might get kicked out. Taking our money in exchange for yummy cheese, sausage, and crackers was good enough for them. They let us stay. Phew. 

The only improvement - dancing with my mister. If only he had agreed to take a chance. :)

Where are all the grapes you ask? In the other fields. Oops.

On the way back we stopped to explore Historic Clifton. Wow, it felt like we left NoVA and went back in time. This quaint downtown spot stole both our hearts. 

 And the best part of all - dessert. Ice cream at Peterson's. I cannot even begin to explain the palpable cuteness of the ambiance here. I tried, but the camera adds 10 pounds of "meh." It was so cute that we vowed to make a tradition of bringing the kids here. It is a TRAY-SHURE.

can you tell we had a blast and thought we were so cool?

I heart him!!

And I have to just finish with this. Their Almond Joy ice cream blend is so much better than the candy bar. I love coconut and almonds! My mister set the bar pretty high for my date next time. I have got to search high and low to find a treasure like this to share with him. THANK YOU MY LOVE! And thanks to Jess for taking good care of our REAL treasures back at home. Such a good babysitter!

If any locals have suggestions for me for hot spots to share with Jared when I plan a date, let me know. Preferably in private so I can surprise him. ;)

National Museum of Natural History with Steph!

Our little S loves dinosaur bones, so that is what brought us to this point. I wish I had gone on a day that my friend wasn't visiting from Idaho because it was a MAD HOUSE and we could barely talk, much less really catch up. It was fun, but the wrong activity for a long lost friend. The guy loved the bones and still talks about how our friends came over and we saw the bones. Steph, he wants to hang out with Ember again and talks about her not walking yet. I promised him we will come see her at her house soon. Let's not make a liar out of me. :)

PS. I promise we did see more than just the giant elephant, although the pictures don't help my case much. :)

Family temple trip

While Jared went inside to enjoy the peace within, we soaked up the sun and enjoyed the peace without. It was a gorgeous day. We walked, touched the flowers, raced barefoot in the grass, and ran up and down the stairs. The guy got to walk inside the front doors and see "where daddy went." We discussed the pictures on the walls in the entry way, and I explained to him the words above the front temple doors: 

"The House of the Lord"

"Holiness to the Lord"

While at the visitor's center, the Guy enjoyed the Cristus statue message and the Book of Mormon videos on faith, repentance, baptism, the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. If you haven't been to the visitor's center lately, go now. Stop reading and go now. :) The recent renovations are incredible. I could spend all day there!

Here you can read more about our temples, and here are some commonly asked Q&As. 

It was an afternoon full of heaven on Earth. 

A musician in the family

"S went to yard sale"

Presented by the Guy

An Ondricek Original

Indeed he did go to a yard sale and came home with that awesome hat. 

My apology for the raspy voice. 8 flights in one week + Spring allergies + a sick visitor in our home = I sound and feel like death. 

And it sounds like L's first word is "at." :) Maybe.

New hair cut!

I have felt for a long time now that I need a makeover. A hair, make up, wardrobe, and home design makeover. The scope of what I just wrote overwhelms me. It nearly paralyzes me too. 

My sister's timing was perfect (thank you Malea!!!) when she introduced me to Dressing Your Truth. It is a profiling system, course, salon, and clothing store that teaches you to identify your energy type so that you may dress the way that best accentuates the movement and energy you already show. I have only utilized the online tools, but it was just what I needed. I took the leap, got a hair cut based on the recommendations, and have been wearing my hair curly every day since. The way I should be. Curly suits me best. Natural, quick, wild, and easy. 

the day I cut it - this is the style they provided, but I haven't styled it like this myself

where did my nose disappear to? :)

What do you think? Does this do match my energy style and personality movement?

m'lady

Brian Adams has asked me so many times, "So tell me have you ever really, really really ever loved a woman?"

The truth is no, not like I love this little woman. I've never loved a woman until now. 

Above is the lady at 7 months old. Below is the guy at 5 months old. They are SO siblings, aren't they?! :)

blessings

Yesterday morning the Guy woke up with a pretty high fever. It started at 102. Later in the day it reached 103 so I gave him a bath. He bounced back, the fever lowered, and finally broke in his sleep between 7 and 10 last night. His only other symptom was a few boogers that I wouldn't have thought strange any other day. He laid in my bed or his bed all day long. He sat at the table to eat but didn't do much eating. He had lots of water, maybe 2 oz of homemade carrot/spinach/celery/apple juice, a few spoonfuls of chicken and broth, and a few more spoonfuls of Persian chicken and rice (compliments of our neighbor Sally!). We did our usual immunity-boosting things: cod liver oil, probiotics, coconut oil, oscillococcinum, sunshine and fresh air.

But the take away lesson little S got out of the experience has to do with the priesthood blessing Jared offered him before leaving for work yesterday morning. The guy agreed to receive the blessing and I believe in his heart and with his faith he really did receive it. This is the conversation we had this morning after he realized he felt better.


S is all better! Daddy make me better.
What did Daddy do to make you better?
Put oil on me head.
What else did he do?
Give S a blessing and help my head.
Yes, it is a priesthood blessing. Daddy has the power of the Priesthood. When you get bigger and are 12 years old you will receive the power of the the Priesthood too.
S help our family! (with a big smile and arms up in victory)

Tears. That's when I cried a bit. There is nothing more rewarding than watching a testimony of Truth grow in the heart and spirit of someone you love. And I love very few people about as much as I love this little Guy.