Just pics...

Not a lotta time to write much, but I just recently scanned these pics from February (Thanks, Anna!) and wanted to share at least. Nash is 3 months old and dressed in a tux, and Eleni is having a "chase me if you want me to smile" day for the camera. Not surprising.

Throwing His Weight Around

(This is one of the "especially for Grandmas that would like to be closer to little Nash" posts...)

Nash just started rolling to his side yesterday and occasionally rolling from tummy to his back. I just can't believe how quickly he is growing up. He LOVES being more mobile! I put him on his back on a blanket, and within a few minutes he can maneuver his way off of the blanket!

Happy Easter

Children make holidays even better!

On Saturday, the family went to two Easter egg hunts. Cledi loved being pushed around on the long grass that needed to be mowed because it made it nice and bumpy. Nash loved trying to get the plastic egg into his mouth before it slipped out again and again. I loved watching Leni hunt for eggs, open them immediately, and stuff the candy into her already-full mouth. She's never been on such a sugar high! She's pretty sheltered when it comes to sweets (mostly because mom and dad want it all for themselves), and I'm sad to say that she has finally learned the word "candy." As long as she doesn't know the word for something, she doesn't ask obsessively for it.

Darn.

Now church was a different story. Apparently, Eleni doesn't hold her sugar well. She was really on one this morning during sacrament meeting. Between Cledi having a sad morning, Nash being hungry but not wanting to eat (he's teething), and Eleni just being a typical two-year old, we provided a lot of entertainment for the ward this morning.

Nevertheless, you can't go to church on Easter Sunday and not be inspired by the Christ-centered lessons and talks. I'm so grateful that He lives and is available to comfort and strengthen us in our times of sorrow.

The Other Ones

This would be the stack of "not the right houses."It felt really good to throw this pile in the recycling bin!

Drum Roll......

Welcome to our future home in Ohio!

Our bright new home really stands out in an old-fashioned neighborhood with its bright white paint and manicured landscape.

The formal living room is directly to your left when you first step in the front roomand is attached to the formal dining room.The kitchen sits smack dab in the middle of the house, so I can keep an eye on all of the happenings of the house while I'm cooking (or rather if I'm ever cooking).There is a handy island in front of the frig (entirely lined with cabinets) with a breakfast bar (we get to keep the bar stools even!).The yellow wall with painted ivy is going to be the first thing to go, but check out the open feel in the living room due to the vaulted ceilings. Cledi will hopefully love the bright windows.I've always wanted a fireplace, and this is one of the cutest ones that I saw! Yippee!The master bathroom has custom tiling and a jet tub with separate shower.
The backyard has two patios that Cledi will love hanging out on in the summer and fall.

We're just so excited! This home has such a happy ambiance, and it's too bad that the pictures do not do it justice. We are sad to be leaving Boise, but at least we're moving to a fun little house that is so close to Downi and Boyce!! The Lord really came through for us on this one.

Perspective

If you want to see the worst that Chicago has to offer, just watch the nightly news.

If you want to see the best that Chicago has to offer, however, just spend the night in the airport with a young baby.

Nash and I missed our connection flight in Chicago the other night (due to bad weather) and had to wait until morning to catch a different flight. Although we could have gotten a hotel for around $40, I didn't want to take a shuttle 20 minutes out into the snow and sleet and risk bad snow in the morning and not getting back to the airport. So we got comfortable and spent the night!

People were so amazing! One of the workers at Aunt Annie's pretzels found me and gave me a sack of leftover pretzel-dogs and some juice that she was planning on bringing home to her kids. Another lady stopped and offered to buy me a blanket or a pillow. Even after I told her that we were fine, she continued to ask questions to see how she could help us out. Eventually she even offered cash for a hotel. Of course, I helped her understand that I had money, but I just didn't want to take Nash out there without a carseat. I was really impressed with how sweet and insistent she was in making sure that we were going to be fine.

We didn't sleep a ton that night, but it was a cool experience to see all of the good that exists in this world... and even in Chicago.

Making An Offer

After 3 days of agonizing, praying, stressing, and crying here in Dayton, WE FOUND OUR PERFECT HOME! I am on pins and needles until we can officially turn in paperwork to make an offer.... at which point I'll be on pins and needles until it is accepted! It has been a depressing few days here in Dayton because most of the houses that worked for our needs were dumps. But the gloomy clouds were all swept away the moment I walked into this bright, cheery home. Pics are pending. Sorry!

Eleni Quotes

After passing gas:

• "Excuse me, bottom."

Hits herself in the head and says:

• "I so sorry, head."