Nauvoo

During our stay in Chicago we made a trip to Nauvoo and Carthage. Knowing that we were making this trip we've been studying Church History with the boys since February. They really took to learning about the Prophet Joseph Smith and other early saints which made the trip meaningful to us all. There is such a beautiful spirit in that place and I personally loved being there and sharing that experience as a family.

This was one of my favorite spots in Nauvoo. The statue is Joseph and Hyrum on horseback as they are about to leave Nauvoo for Carthage. This is where they stopped on top of the bluff to look one more time at the temple not yet completed.

Suzi watched the boys for us early the next morning so Nick and I could do a session in the temple. Both inside and out it is beautiful!

Brothers

Carthage Jail was our last stop before heading back to Chicago.

Jamison was a 2 year old. He had a hard time sitting still, listening and not touching anything. However, he would have loved being a pioneer child with all the open space, fresh air and walking!

Chicago 2011

This year we started our summer vacation with a trip to Chicago to visit Grandma and Grandpa Doll (aka President and Sister Doll of the Chicago Mission). What better way to celebrate the end of the school year than non-stop fun with cousins? Suzi flew in the same day as us from Utah. A few days later Jeff and Melinda drove from Indiana and Jana and Anthony from Baltimore. The boys loved being with Dylan, Alyssa and Zoe and turning the basement into their personal toy room. We went to the Shedd Aquarium, saw Cars 2 and made another visit to the Legoland Discovery Center. However, they were just as content to be at the mission home playing legos or Wii, swimming in the pool and telling ghost stories by candlelight with Grandpa. As we were driving home from the airport a very tired Jamison kept crying "Papa's house" over and over as he was falling asleep. I think we all agree we had a fantastic time being with family and wish we could do it more often.

Shedd Aquarium- Downtown Chicago

Legoland Discovery Center

Help yourself

As of today we are in the market for a child lock for the refrigerator.

How did I get here?

Tuesday was my birthday and I happily turned another year older. I may feel differently in the future but for now getting older doesn't bother me. However, I sometimes find myself wondering "when did I grow up?" There was a period of time that I felt like I was a teenager playing the life of an adult even though I was married, graduated from college and had a job. Even when I first had kids I felt like I was playing family. At some point that all changed, I'm just not sure when. Was it when I had more than one child? When we purchased a house? When I agreed to be PTA president? Most likely it was a gradual shift to real adulthood that I didn't even notice it. Either way here I am, an adult. I like to believe it has been a good 32 years. I don't dwell too much on "what have I accomplished?" thoughts. I have 3 boys who are healthy and happy (mostly) and the fact that I have kept all 3 of them alive, fed, washed, clothed and entertained is a feat. Besides at some point they will take on more responsibility for said feeding, washing, clothing and entertaining and then we'll talk. For now I like to think of all the ways that teenager Kati would be impressed with adult Kati. Like the fact that I met and married an amazing man. So much better than any guy in high school or college that I dated and mourned over. The fact that adult Kati is a runner would surprise both teenager Kati and any PE teacher in my past. It took a long time to make the mental switch from "I run" to "I am a runner". It has been 10 years since my first half marathon and I still love it and choose to do it nearly every day. And maybe the most shocking revelation of all for teenager Kati is that taste buds can mature as well. Who knew salmon, shrimp, Thai food and asparagus really are delicious. However, there are limits to taste bud maturity and some foods like broccoli will never be good. Lest you think I've reached perfection on my way to adulthood let me set the record straight. Just this week it occurred to me that I have still not figured out the daily scripture study thing. I am no better than I was 10 years ago and at times I'm probably worse. Ugh, here's to getting a handle on it THIS year and not letting another 10 years go by. Here's to liking who I was, who I am and all the possibilities of what future Kati can be.

Making Do

It is overcast and a whopping 59 degrees. But the calendar says June and only one more week of school (I swear we are the last district in America still in school). And these two know that means one thing- SUMMER! And summer means things like water fights, popscicles, bare feet, and no shirts. So they're making the best of it, even if it comes with a few goosebumps.

Someday

Someday we'll have a really nice garden.

But today is not that day.

Today we have a toddler who loves the dirt.

And well the garden is full of dirt (and seeds).

That is when I have to remember

we are in the business of raising little boys.

When they tire of dirt and bugs that's when

we'll be in the business of growing vegetables.

Until then I'll enjoy the view...

Multitasking

Who says you can't fight crime and make tasty plastic cuisine at the same time?