The Swearing-In Ceremony

Aaron was invited to go to Ambassador James F. Moriarty's swearing in last week, he will be serving in Bangladesh. I felt that it was an honor that he was able to attend! Ambassador Moriarty has previously served as Ambassador to Nepal, and is married to Lauren Moriarty who also served in the Foreign Service as an Ambassador to the Asia-Pacific Economic Corporation. Talk about an amazing couple! Despite their many accomplishments, the many languages they speak and all the imporant ways they've served in the Foreign Service, we have never met a more down-to-earth, more unpretentious, loving couple.

We went to a very casual lunch with them a couple of weeks ago to a home-style Veitnamese resturaunt. SO delicious!! I really enjoyed speaking to them and really felt the Spirit as we found common ground in our faith in God, our love of family (children) and common values. Lauren really inspired me as a woman who is very passionate, balanced & fulfilled; she deeply values family life and has made an huge impact through pursuing a career in the foreign service. James, I think she called him Jim, impressed me with his humility despite his large stature and long list of accomplishments. He's funny too! He said he decided to join the Foreign Service because the test was free and he got in. It was that simple - and now look what he's accomplished. It just shows how true it is that if you are anxiously engaged in a good cause, you can accomplish much.

Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, administered the oath of office and spoke at the ceremony.

Aaron had the opportunity to meet some interesting people. On the left are two language professors from Bangladesh. On the right is a foreign service officer.

Princess Party w/ Audrey

Our pretty Hawaiian girls. Elise loves her cousin Audrey!

We love, love that Aaron's first cousin, Aley and his beautiful family live only 40 minutes away! I know I've mentioned this before but they have a daughter that is exactly two weeks older than Elise. She turned 3 last Friday. Their son is only a week older than Elijah. It's so crazy especially considering that the Harrisons also have a girl and boy the same ages.

Punching the Pinata to get to the candy! So funny but it worked, and the kids had a blast! They also stuck crown stickers on a poster princess. Our little macho men (not really) loved all the activities too! Sarah and I had to laugh how our boys both have sometimes girly tastes, how could they escape that with older sisters? We love the nurturing sides to them.

Sarah, Aley, Audrey Kahawehi & and Aley IV Auna. I think they are a really beautiful family! Audrey is a bright, happy young girl. She is loving & imaginative. I love her sweet laugh.

I told Sarah that she should get into cake decorating! She's amazing, I really adore this cake.

Sweet little Aley.

A day at Virginia Beach

Literally. Aaron had a holiday on Friday and no school on Saturday, so we decided to drive down to Virginia Beach on Thursday night and drove back the next night. Tiana had mentioned in passing that she thought the VA Beach aquarium was better than the one in Baltimore, which intrigued us so we decided to check it out. People thought we were crazy but it was fun. : ) I love road trips with my family!

The kids of course fell right to sleep at 7:30 on the drive down, which I appreciate because Aaron I got to talk a lot and sing (I know, we're cheesy : ). These pics are of us hanging out in the hotel room in VA at midnight... waiting... and waiting... for the kids to fall back to sleep.

This is the view from our hotel room balcony - I really wish I could wake up to this every morning!

We spent the whole afternoon at the aquarium. I was impressed with all the interactive things they had for young children at the Virginia Beach Aquarium, all for half the price of the one in Baltimore. You could pet the sting rays, there were so many quiz type exhibits, a nature trail, and a submarine play area.

Elise was not too keen on posing in the mouth of this great white, but I took her anyways - the things I subject my kids to for a cool picture! : )

Loads and loads of pictures....

Easter Thoughts & Activities

(Everyone who has heard me talk about this already - sorry! I shared this for VT. = ) One of my favorite books/movies ever is Anne of Green Gables/Avonlea. I watched part of it just before Easter and was struck by some of the dialogue between Marilla and Anne.

Marilla was debating whether or not to keep Anne the orphan girl and Anne, being imaginative & a little dramatic, lamented that she was "in the depths of despair." She then asked Marilla if she had ever been in the depths of despair.

Marilla, being a practical and God - fearing woman, turned & replied matter-of-factly, "No, to despair is to turn one's back on God."

I realized that this is true, because to despair is different from being discouraged or saddened, or grieving for the loss of a loved one. To despair is to be without hope - which is what the Atonement is all about - it is the bright hope of overcoming death, sin, & every ailment because of His sacrifice for each of us. To despair would be to reject that precious gift.

I am so grateful for that brightness of hope I feel through our Savior's love and sacrifice. I love the picture of the sunrise on Rachelle's blog which is symbolic of the Son of God who rose on the third day and conquered death and sin so that we might too.

We had two awesome Easter activities that we got to participate in... The first one was the Easter Egg Hunt for Chevy Chase Playgroup. See how much fun Elise & Damon are having - they couldn't smile because they had stuffed their faces with sweets! : )

The whole group devouring their spoils. : )

The other activity was an Easter Egg Hunt for the Bethesda/Potomac Wards at Geoff and Sue Huguely's home. I wasn't there because I was at a friend's sealing, but Aaron said the kids had a blast! My favorite is the huge Easter Bunny!! (The Huguelys were so sweet to host this!)

Mommy happy now!

Silly Elijah! He cracks his self up and loves shmooshing his face into the side of the pack 'n play. He is usually so happy and I get him to laugh so easily.


It is days like today that I need to remember to be grateful for the silly & sweet things my kids do, because believe me - I seriously wanted to pull my hair out today.

My project for today was to clean out my room and do laundry. I think only Gina and Michelle can fully appreciate this because they are the only ones who have seen it in it's full glory / chaos.

Anyway, I kept getting disrupted. The kids were too quiet, so I went to check on them... Full on markers all over their bodies, and on the JoySchool box. Frustrated, I threw the kids in the tub, scrubbed everything all clean, & got the kids all dressed. Elise apologized, "Mommy, I sorry I do that." I soften, feeling her sincerity. I can never stay mad at her for long, she's like her daddy, in that way - quick to say "I'm sorry" and quick to forgive.

I went back to cleaning the back room. The kids grew quiet again. I went out to find Elijah's hands and mouth stained blue, and Elise's body stained yellow. I made play dough yesterday and apparently I left all the food coloring out on the counter. Oh yes, my carpet loves stains and was not left untouched. Exasperated, I threw the kids back into the tub, soaked their clothes, and worked on removing the stains from the carpet. Elise aplogized again, "Mommy, I sorry I do that."

(BTW, This is why my kids are always naked, clad only in their diapers and panties!!)

Aaron came home and straightened up the apartment for me - he's the best! I got to go visiting teaching and felt more uplifted. (Thanks Erika & Kristina!) As I put Elise in her bed, after stories, song and prayer, I teased her about her stains. I asked her, "What's this? Did you get into the food coloring?"

She broke into a big grin, "Yes, Mommy's food coloring!"

We giggled and I started to feel guilty. "Did mommy get mad?" She shook her head, "No, mommy..." I asked, "Got sad?"

"No! Mommy happy now!" She said happily. Thank goodness for her sweet forgiving heart. She's the best.

She is so loving. One of my favorite things about her lately is that whenever Aaron comes home or I come back from somewhere, she'll rub her face against us and exclaim, "Daddy (or Mommy) I glad you home!" That's the sweetest. I really do love my kids! I'm so grateful to be their mother.

Girls' Night Out for Gabee

I saw that Jonathan spelt Gabriella's name "Gabee" and loved it immediately! It's cute & unique and matches her perfectly. Jonathan says there's no one else like her, and I'm inclined to agree; for example (besides being a kind & sincere person), she's a vegetarian that skateboards and knits. : ) Gabee looked like a princess in Tiana's dress - which is kind of fitting because when Elise first met her, she'd try to pronounce her name and it would come out sounding like "Cinderella" instead.

Here are the girls that gathered t0 celebrate: Alexandra, our wonderful hostess, Gabee's stylish mom Zoe & beside her a close friend of the family, Michelle, Sarah, Trina, & Elizabeth. The last four generously brought delicious food to the party! Mint brownies, Cashew Craisen Salad, Cabbage salad, chocolate dipped strawberries and Sparkling drinks.

Gabee and Jonathan are really too adorable! I wrote to Jonathan and asked him some questions, like "How did you know you wanted to marry Gabee?" and "What physical feature and characteristic do you love most about her?" I'd write some of the sweet things he wrote about her but I don't want to embarrass them any more than I already have. But because of his thoughtful (sometimes hilarious) answers, I feel that I know them better and he was a really good sport!

Sarah, baby Issac, and Trina.

Baby Will, Alexandra, Michelle, and Elizabeth. Congratulations, Gabee & Jonathan!! : ) I made an album, with basically the same pictures above plus more.

Calamity in the Kitchen (A story through pictures.)

It was pretty disastrous. I took pictures because I am striving to be a better cook (I did not think I was documenting a terrible mistake!) and I was inspired by Trina so I made a goal to try 50 new recipes this year. I wanted to try Rachelle's "Sizzlin Szechuan Chicken" (Click here for the TRUE recipe.) off the Cooking for the Clan blog - it looked so good, and is healthy to boot.

I stir-fried the veggies and chicken seperately, I didn't have summer squash so I was going to use broccoli instead. Everything seemed okay.

Hmmm.... after I threw in the sauce, everything looked curiously bubbly. I decided to give it a few more minutes... Bad idea!!

Aaron to the rescue! This is what our dinner became. : )

So, what happened? I looked on the counter and discovered I mixed these two up - don't ask me how. So contrary to what it says on the box, not always such a bright idea. : )

Silly Swimmers!

We love having our little friend, Mikael over to play! This is from their lastest little swimming adventure in the bathtub. The next time he came over, right after dinner he started telling me to change him into swim shorts. Gabriella, his mom (who is also getting married soon -yay!), also told me that he made sure that he brought his pajamas! I love Elise's face of pure adulation - you can tell she thinks he's so much fun!

Kickin' it w/ the Caudles

The Caudles have become our Temple night swap couple. We have a nice little arrangement and we all try to go every month. The last time they watched our kids, Elise really did not want to leave! Maybe this is why (see picture above with Adam). : ) Or it could be that Trina always gives them baths when they come. After I got her ready to go, she turned around and said, "I come back later." It wasn't, "I come back later?"; it was definately a statement.

Last week we went to Norwood park with Trina, Summer and Rosemary. Trina had brought some fun bubble sticks in fun shapes: butterflies, a flower. When we got back, Trina put her kids in the car and Elise called out from the top of the stairs: "Bye! I had a fun time!" As all you mothers out there can attest, unsolicited expressions of gratitude are really the sweetest.

Thanks, Caudles! (Trina and Summer with her new haircut, ignore messy couch in the background.)