Old McDonald had a....

... FARM!

This weekend we visited a farm in a neighboring town and really enjoyed ourselves. It was sheep shearing day, and that is what brought us there in the first place. However, the grass-fed local organic meat for sale didn't hurt either. Take a look:

Happy birds roaming free

Before the hair cut

And after ... That night must have been cold for the sheep.

In the distance is where the shearing took place

Tribute to Mom O.

It's easy to go on and on about my immediate family, but I have neglected someone very important. My mother-in-law deserves at least her own post! Jared, S and I also recently visited the Ondricek's and had a wonderful, relaxing time. This is the guy enjoying the snuggles and giggles of his sweet grandma O.

Here are just a few of her gifts off my never-ending list that this incredible woman has contributed to my life:

• encouragement to read out of the best books
• books that arrive in my mail all the time
• unwavering optimism
• laughs during the good and the bad
• example of a POWERHOUSE of a house keeper
• a lioness leader of the Gospel
• faith and belief in my abilities as mother and wife
• tears shed when she met her first grandson - a moment I will never forget
• welcoming me into a new family
• conservative, timeless values
• willingness to be unconventional and experimental
• teaching my husband to work hard
• never giving up on those who struggle
• the gift of quilting and sewing
• acting on every thought to lift and serve
• the gift of travel and adventure, no matter the inconvenience
• teaching her kids to prepare their own meals
• instilling a love of music in her children
• the need to improve and challenge oneself more
• educating her children in the importance of education
• patience in the face of insults and childishness
• the ability to conquer over all her foes and setbacks

Mom O: Here's to the trillion million more moments, memories, lessons, and laughs together. I look forward to eternity with you and your family!

Completely Green Salad

Wow. When it rains, it pours. (Much like this morning's weather in DC.) Today is the day to post everything I have ever wanted to blog about. What can I say? S's taking a nap. And it isn't over yet.

Normally I enjoy a more colorful salad, but today's lunch is an exclusively green salad: spring mix, romaine, green pepper, green onion, and avocado. I guess the dressing isn't all green: flax oil with white balsamic raspberry vinegar. Mmmm, mmmm. What did you have for lunch today? Something I should try?

Introducing..... (drum roll)

...Homemade baby food. This time: pureed organic carrots and filtered water. So delicious.

He seems to like them more than the avocado. But not as much as the banana he tried a couple days ago. I was going to give him just a lick of my own banana, and then it sort of became his.

"Getting to know you...

...getting to know all about you." Movie trivia? Anyone? That is from The King and I, which is a movie, yes, but was a play long before a movie. In fact, I was in the play at Tilden Middle School and played Tup Tim in eighth grade. I got the part because (according to the director) I was the only student who could hit those high notes. What high notes, you say? Look up the song "My Lord and Master" and you will see. It still amazes me that I ever performed that song. I couldn't do it for you now because my voice has changed. :)

Anyway... Getting to know my neighbors is the real subject of this post. Last week, Jared and I hosted an open house to get to know our neighbors since we are new to our community. We invited the 17 units closest to us, the apartment managers, the 5 Mormon families in the larger community, and the missionaries. The two full-time teaching missionaries of my church happen to also conveniently live in this complex. We prepared the following arrangement of snacks to lure them all here:

You're looking at crackers with brie & fig spread; hummus & pita chips; sliced peppers, carrots, green beans & ranch dip; and grapes, Clementines, & strawberries. The delicious brownies were brought by the Larson's. Thanks so much!!

Jared also made his mom's yummy peanut butter and chocolate bars, and they went real fast.

The event was a great success because all the church-going, Latter-day Saints came and we had a blast. So much fun eating, chatting, laughing and "getting to know you." But not a single soul from the other units came to even say hi. I even personally invited them and met some at their doors. Some said they would come, others told why they couldn't, and that also made it a success. I got to meet people at their own homes. I invited so many thinking I would be lucky if three people came, and we were EXTREMELY happy to have 19 friends from church come.

The next day the neighbors right next door stopped by and brought a balloon for the guy, and a plate of chocolate cake for us, apologizing they couldn't make it. We are so lucky to have the friendly neighbors and that our open house was a success!

Family Time

I have the most wonderful family:

a sweet sister and snuggly nephew...

...an inquisitive brother-in-law...

...and just about the cutest mom in the world. Can't you just SEE the fun in her face!?! She is especially wonderful when she puts on her grandma hat. Grandpa was there too, but didn't pose for the camera.

Not to mention the cutest baby boy. Yesterday yet another person said he is so cute he should be a model. Any suggestions on how to profit from his handsome face without selling our souls to the media? The only person missing to make this family visit perfect was the world's greatest dad and husband. We missed you Jared!!

Cousins

S and I recently visited my family in NYC. This is him getting to know his cousin Camilo. We are SO happy to have family close enough to visit regularly. The voices you hear are the two moms and the grandma.

Giggles

Like Malea wrote, parents will do anything to make their babies laugh. I hope this makes you laugh too.

S's first food

Saturday the guy got a taste of his first "solid" food: avocado. He has had a bit every day since. It started with the Daddy cranking the avocado (which I learned is technically a fruit) through the KidCo Food Mill, from his aunt Linda. Thank you Linda!

He REALLY didn't like it at first. He made disgusted faces, gagged on the texture (even when it was watered down), and shuttered as he tried to eat it. Poor guy.

By the end he liked it a little more and it has only gotten easier and more enjoyable every day since. In fact, today he impatiently moaned between spoonfuls, anticipating the next bite. :) Here's to a healthy, happy baby!! Thanks Deborah for the pictures!!

Repentance and Lent

First, I regret and ask forgiveness from my 9 followers for not writing more often. Moving to a new apartment and setting up a home out of chaos has dominated my time lately. That and catching almost the entirety of Psych's season 4.

Second, my friend, Deborah Diane has inspired me to observe Lent this year. On Ash Wednesday I was in Manhattan visiting my parents and little sister, and saw dozens of Christians walking the streets of New York City with ash crosses on their foreheads and I loved it! They gave me hope that people DO observe and live their religions through tradition and worship. Today I join the ranks (albeit late) and "take up my cross" in preparation of Easter.

My sacrifice: dairy. Usually I don't eat a lot of dairy anyway. I don't drink milk or eat yogurt. Butter: I could take it or leave it. The biggest challenges for the next 40days will be ice cream (when it is in my own freezer) and cheese. Pizza is a treat in our house, but not for a while! Wish me good luck!

Fatty me in Chicago, deep dish style