... the family fishing trip.

This afternoon we were talking about sending Daddy fishing. We asked Rachael if she wanted to go, but she said no. At some point the afternoon, she changed her mind. She woke up her Dad from a nap and announced she was ready to go fishing, but first she would need to go potty and then change her clothes. So after a stop in the bathroom, she came upstairs and completely changed outfits. When I asked her what she was doing, she said, "Getting ready for fishing with Daddy!"

You can't bridle that kind of enthusiasm, can you? We packed up a picnic dinner and headed for the lake. Besides which, it was her best potty training day yet since I've been back from Nauvoo.



This is not actually the outfit she chose... she had a long-sleeved shirt on, so I swtiched her for her "fishing" shirt. Then I pulled her vest out of the closet (can you believe she owns a pink fishing vest? If you know her father you can.) This was her first opportunity to wear it fishing and she was pretty excited. She thought we all needed vests. And yes, she has a princess pole and princess shoes on. She's a pretty good caster, especially for a 3 year old.

Daddy hooked a panfish on his fly rod, and let Rachael help bring it in. The first fish she wasn't sure what to do, but by the second one she knew all about it and was really excited that "we CATCHED it!"

We really had a lot of fun! I'm certain we will do it again as a family activity... we spent over 3 hours at the lake, and everyone went home having caught some fish and with dry pants. Pretty good day.

We also got to see some baby mallard ducklings - so cute! And some white ducks found Rachael and I having our sandwiches for dinner. They are pretty brave - they will eat right out of your hand. I thought that was neat until they tried to eat Rachael's hand. Not quite so neat. She was a good sport, though, and it really didn't hurt very much.

... lunch with friends.

Today we had lunch as a Relief Society presidency because our president had her birthday yesterday. It was so much fun to get together with those sisters and just visit and be social! It seems like we always have so much work to do; it was fun to relax and be casual.

I'm grateful for the wonderful sisters I have had the chance to work with this past year in Relief Society. With our ward split in the near future, and our president & secretary in one ward and the rest of us (probably) in the other, it's time for change.

... and the BBQ redux.

Tonight we held our BBQ that was postponed from Monday. Not as many people as we thought would be there, but still lots of fun and great to get to know the neighbors. And the weather cooperated! Now if we could just do something about those loud cicadas...

... magnolias.

Apparently I really love all the spring flowers... the magnolias are, of course, no exception. Last year we had a late freeze in the spring that killed all the early buds on our tree, so we didn't get any flowers. This year we had an early freeze, too, but thankfully it didn't get them all. Obviously you can't tell from the picture, but they smell wonderful.

... cherries.

Bing cherries are here! Mmmm.... It seems like I need to make myself almost sick on them about once every year. Bring it on.

... another field trip.

Today Ryan took the day off from work, to extend his nice weekend. We went for a drive around central KY and found some new bugs we had never seen before.

Pretty butterfly.

Not quite so pretty, but interesting, millipede. It's about six inches long!

... and we remembered.

Not having anyone in the military or any family in the area, we went to one of the local cemetaries and took some pictures today, to remember those had gone before. There are cemetaries all over in this part of the country! My camera battery died, but I did find the headstone for Richmond's first WWI soldier to be killed in action. He died 90 years ago in France; they brought his remains all the way back to Richmond to be buried.

It was also fun to see that in this part of the country some people remember their ancestor's service to their country by marking the graves with confederate flags.

... at least we had a fantastic dessert.

Today we were suppose to be hosting the third annual Memorial Day BBQ with the neighbors. We have done it the past two years and it has gotten bigger every year - this year there were something like 25 people invited. Mother Nature had other plans... at 3:30 this afternoon it started raining and then poured buckets of rain after that. Oh well. I made a beautiful English Trifle, took some to the neighbors, and we got to enjoy the rest. Maybe we'll have better weather next year.

... at least we have done this before.

Today the stake president came to our ward and announced that in two weeks we will be splitting into a ward and a branch. It's not that big of a surprise; they told us this would happen over a year ago. In fact it was so long ago most of us had figured it was permanently on the back burner, but no longer.

It's always hard to go through a ward split, but I'm glad now that we have been through one before (almost two!) and that we know what to expect. And we will miss all our friends in the new Berea Branch!

... and she can dress herself.

The most notable thing about this entire ensemble is not that she's ready to garden, but that she dressed herself entirely by herself; right down to the socks, shoes and gardening gloves. I helped straighen out the shoes so they would stay on tight, and that's it. (And her underwear is on backwards, but no one can tell!)

... working in the garden.

One of the things I really like about working in the garden is the instant gratification - when it is covered with weeds or grass and we clean it all up, the results are immediately noticeable. Unlike planting the seeds, which requires a litte faith and a lot of patience to see the results. Still, it's a nice garden this year. (Note the cool copper sprinkler!)

... the car.

Last October when gas prices began climbing, we decided it was too expensive for Ryan to drive his truck into work every day. So we began looking for an inexpensive 'commuter' car for him to drive. We didn't have to look very long before we snapped up this sexy number, a 1996 Honda Civic. OK, it's not that sexy but at 65 mph on the freeway it gets 41 mpg and that's AWESOME.

And I feel like a genius every day the price of gas goes up.

... a shopping trip.

Today my next door neighbor and I decided to go out to Lexington and go shopping. This is slightly monumental because gas is rapidly approaching $4 a gallon, and trips to "town" start to seem pretty expensive. But, her kids will be out of school shortly so our chances to spend an afternoon shopping will be practically none over the summer. It was really fun to just kick back and relax! And I got a couple of great serving platters (plastic, $1.49 apiece plus 25% off) for our annual Memorial Day BBQ on Monday.

... the baby birds.

The eggs have hatched! Actually from the size of the birds, they have been hatched for a little while. I have been stalking them for a few days trying to get a picture, but to no avail. They are pretty wary! Still, it's been fun to hear them chirping and watch their tiny heads come out of the nest. They are all beak at this age. I'm grateful for a tiny reminder of renewal!

... the roses are blooming.

First blooms of the spring! My Abram Darby rose is enthusiastic - it grows blooms all over the place. There must be about 30 right now! But the peace rose is about quality over quantity... it only has three blooms, but they are bigger than my hand.

... and she missed me.

All on her own today Rachael gave me a big hug and said "I missed you so much, Mommy." So cute!

... clean teeth.

Rachael had her first visit to the dentist today. I was so impressed with the office; it's a pediatric dentist and that is obvious from when you walk in the office. My favorite part is that they have turned the overhead lights and electrical stuff into a big tree, complete with a few stuffed animals hanging from the branches. So much less threatening than a regular dental office. And Rachael has clean teeth and no cavities - hooray!

... Rachael and Ryan.

Today I got to spend the day at home with my two favorite people. I had a great time on my trip to Nauvoo, and now I am so grateful to be home and cuddle with Rachael and with Ryan.

... and a safe trip home.

Nothing like traveling for a few days to remind me how grateful I am for my home and family. And especially on this trip for my husband to be willing to stay with Rachael for 3 days to allow me the opportunity to go.

... a stop in Carthage.

I have to say I underestimated how powerful it would be to walk in the final footsteps of the Prophet Joseph Smith. What a faith-promoting experience.

The the martyrdom room. Photographs are not allowed inside this room; you have to stand outside in the hall to take pictures.

The window.

... and more time in Nauvoo.

We went on a carriage ride, a wagon ride, and did lots of walking to see as much as we could in Nauvoo in the afternoon. I even managed to squeeze in about 45 minutes of shopping! The most interesting thing to me that we watched was probably the brick making process, although it was fun to learn about making wagons and wagon wheels (and see a cool treadle operated lathe) and watch a blacksmith make a horseshoe.

And I am grateful for all those missionaries that are serving in Nauvoo. We attended the Rendezvous in Old Nauvoo show, and it was all done by senior missionaries. So cute!

... attending the temple.

Ryan and I don't attend the temple as often as we would like, but between the travel time, the cost of gas, and paying the babysitter, it's an expensive undertaking. So I was thrilled to be able to do a session at the Nauvoo temple. It was so beautiful! It was absolutely worth the time just to see the inside, let alone the spiritual benefits of attending the temple. It was wonderful.

... the trip to Nauvoo.

Nauvoo Group

Today we left bright and early for Nauvoo. We have 9 sisters total, four in one car and five in the other. At one point this trip had over 20 people signed up! It was so fun to ride in the car with a couple of sisters that had not seen much of the midwestern United States. Farm country looks like home to me almost as much as anything, but Kentucky does not look like farm country for the most part. One girl even asked me what those big "machines" were on wheels out in all the fields... they are sprinklers. That move. She was amazed - we barely use sprinklers here in Kentucky, and you never see them in fields.

One of Rachael's dolls took the trip with us, too. I decided I would photograph "Dolly" in various places on the trip so Rachael would have some interesting pictures to look at. She really could care less about the Nauvoo temple or the Mississippi River; thankfully Ryan will be interested in my pictures.

We got to Nauvoo about 2:30 in the afternoon (Central Time) so we had some time to do some things around town. We went to the Visitor's Center, then had some dinner at the Hotel Nauvoo, then we walked the Trail of Hope on Parley Street down to the river in time to see the sun set. It was an awesome experience! It made me so grateful that we have never been asked to take only a few precious things and travel all the way to Utah, walking beside a wagon. Being there gave me a whole new appreciation for everything those Saints left behind.

Sunset on the Mississippi at the end of Parley Street

... planning for the trip.

One of the things I really like about going on a trip is that I try to get lots done before I go - like wash all the laundry, pick up the house, clean out the refrigerator, etc. Some of these things might never get done otherwise!

I also like having a project to work on... and travel is a great project.

... a fit of giggles.

You can always tell when Rachael is tired because she gets such a fit of giggles!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEIjSTXX480

... a friend's new baby.

We took dinner to a friend in the ward that just had a new baby last week. She is a darling girl! Rachael got to hold her for a minute; she just loves babies and was absolutely in heaven.

... mothers.

My mom with Rachael

Ryan's mom with Rachael

Rachael with her birthmother

... friendship bread.

A couple of weeks ago someone gave me a starter for some Amish friendship bread. Oddly enough, it's not sourdough. It takes 10 days altogether to wait for the starter to be ready, then you make four more starters and use the rest to make two loaves of sweet bread.

The orginal bread was good - cinnamon was the predominant flavor. This time, I split the batter in half and added bananas to one and dates, pecans, and spices to the other one. Yummy!!

Now if I could just figure out what to do with all these starters...

... the swallows.

We don't just have birds in the backyard, we have them in the front, too. Last year an intrepid pair of swallws built a nest on the front porch under an overhang. I meant to take the next down this past winter but forgot; the swallows remebered where their last home had been and moved right back in. It's kind of fun to have them so close - we can watch them through the window by the door. Just recently they have been staying on the nest even when I open the door - I suspect there are eggs in the nest.

The drawback is that they consider the porch their territory - they dive bomb anyone approaching the porch. And if you spend any significant time on the porch, they sit on the roof and tweet angrily. Plus they are not potty trained and they leave a big mess!

Still, it's fun to see the new babies when the eggs hatch. Maybe we'll take the nest down this winter; maybe not.

... my cute little fairy.

It was raining today so we dressed up like Rani.

Everyone should have a fairy this cute at their house!

... a day at home.

It seems like in the last few weeks I have had somewhere to go at least once every day. Today I had absolutely nothing on my schedule, and it was wonderful. We didn't leave the house for anything. Bliss.

... we help each other.

Today I have been helping out a family who is in the process of moving from Oregon to Kentucky. Right now they are living in a hotel while they wait for some work to be done on the house they bought. And today she delivered her third baby! I did some laundry for the new baby, and took some diapers over to her sister who is watching her other two kids.

I'm so grateful for a church where we take care of each other. I like to think that if it was me moving clear across the country with no family close by that the ward would step in and help out, so in this case I get to be the help.

... the RS Presidency.

We had a presidency meeting today. Every time I meet with these women I am so impressed at the way they love and serve the sisters of our ward. It's so amazing to work with such a dedicated and wonderful group of sisters!

... she is a Child of God.

We sang the hymn "I Am a Child of God" for our closing hymn in sacrament meeting today. This is one of the songs we sing with Rachael sometimes at home.

You really haven't fully experienced this song until you have heard a three year old singing it at the top of her lungs. Ryan and I almost died from silent giggles.

... and teaching Rachael to fish.

My favorite part is where she drops the bobber while the fishing pole is back over her shoulder.

... beautiful Kentucky.

This afternoon Rachael and I went with Ryan to check out a new fishing spot. Ryan got in a did a little fishing, Rachael and I mostly took in the scenery. Rachael took the opportunity to revel in one of her favorite pastimes: throwing rocks into water. I took some pictures of the area, and the beautiful butterflies.

... Rachael's Derby hat.

I enjoy our annual tradition of making Rachael a Derby hat. We wear it later in the evening to watch the race on TV. This year we started out making a blue hat with yellow flowers, but then she stumbled across a white flower I had from some old project. It's a bridal-type arrangement, but she just oohed and ahhhed over it, so we had to have it.

... I'm already married.

It's the first thought I have at almost any wedding reception: Boy am I glad I'm already married, and I don't ever have to do another wedding reception as a bride.

Having said that, it was a lovely reception for the daughter of one of the families in our ward. (Concidentally her name is Rachel, so I spent the evening at Rachel's wedding reception. Wierd huh?) They were married at the Louisville temple earlier in the day.

And I now am practiced at serving wedding cake.

... my kitchen.

Yesterday I prepared a missionary lunch (with lots of help), today I am helping make cheesecake for a wedding.

In the last two days I have had 9 packages of cream cheese, four large containers of sour cream, over 2 dozen eggs, and many many pounds of cheese in the refrigerator. I have prepared two pans of brownies, one enchilada casserole, four packages of rice, and three cheesecakes. This is all in addition to what we feed our family.

I'm glad I have a fully functional kitchen and a great mixer. Whew. And I'm hoping for a big steak for dinner this weekend.